Time takes its toll for the master of the game clock

The clock was always ticking on Rick Majerus. Ticking when he finally fell asleep in the darkest hours of night, and as the sun rose.

Ticking through the pulsating games, and the three-hour practices, too.

As a coach, he was a master at managing the clock. But the clock also managed him. It was there at dinner time, and in-between snacks, reminding him he could be eating himself into a shorter life. There as he coached, hinting that his days as a big winner might be dwindling.

Eating or coaching, it was all the same to Majerus. The rush of the moment overruled all else, moderation included.

In Rick Majerus' world, there are no moderates.

That is the story of his life, and thus, there has always been the clock. The best way for a reporter to reach Majerus away from the gym was to leave a message and wait for the return call. Invariably, it came at one or two in the morning. Even then, he would say at the outset he had only a moment.

Time was always on his mind.

As he made the circuit of great restaurants around the country, he knew he was taking a chance. Doctors advised him long ago to keep to a strict regimen of exercise and diet. He jogged religiously, at least for periods, but rewarded himself by eating back the calories he had just shed.

Two heart surgeries didn't bode well for a man in a life filled with stress.

Finally, somewhere in the deep hours of Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, he decided to quit as coach of the Utes. One trip to the national championship game, 10 NCAA Tournament appearances, 10 conference championships, 11 20-win seasons, seven former players in the NBA. A history nearly any coach would envy.

A life to savor — if only it weren't for the unforgiving clock, marking his time as the Utes' coach.

Majerus resigned, effective at season's end. The news release said he began suffering chest pains at dinner, Tuesday, which spread and increased until he sought medical help. Soon he was in a Santa Barbara hospital. Why he flew to Santa Barbara is up to conjecture. He does know a world-renowned cardiologist there. Aside from that, he surely knew if he stayed in Utah the requests for interviews would never end.

Official word is he could return to coach this team later this year. More likely he won't.

Because of the clock.