After decades of decline, the hotel was purchased in 1983 by an investment group made up of NBA players, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Ralph Sampson.
Ralph Waldo Emerson | Ralph Lauren | Ralph Nader | Ralph Vaughan Williams | Ralph Fiennes | Ralph Steadman | Ralph Macchio | Ralph Bunche | Ralph Bakshi | Ralph Richardson | Ralph Stanley | Ralph McTell | Ralph Ellison | Ralph Jordan | Ralph | Ralph Abercromby | Ralph Molnar | Ralph Records | Ralph Peterson, Jr. | Ralph Klein | Ralph H. Fowler | Ralph Tresvant | Ralph Moore | Ralph Wilson | Ralph Terry | Ralph "Shug" Jordan | Ralph Peterson | Ralph Percy, 12th Duke of Northumberland | Ralph Inzunza | Ralph Darling |
Virginia, which featured Ralph Sampson and Rick Carlisle, was the top-ranked team in NCAA Division I basketball entering the game after posting victories against Georgetown (with Patrick Ewing) and Phi Slama Jama of Houston.