The beauty of all sports can be summed up in one word, Joaquin Andujar
once opined in regard to baseball. That word? "You never know." Okay, maybe
Andujar's curveball was better than his English, but he was absolutely
right. Sports highlights are filled with unbelievable plays, outstanding
performances, thrilling contests, and shocking upsets. And basketball has
provided more than its share of highlights. It's easy to see how a Michael
Jordan, a Larry Bird, a Jerry West, or a Wilt Chamberlain (just to name
a few) and the dominant teams they played on have earned their places on
the highlight films. A more interesting phenomenon occurs when players
and teams such as Manute Bol, Dennis Johnson, or the 1994 Denver Nuggets
(again, just to name a few) also make their way onto the highlights. The
question begs to be asked: How did they do it?
How did...
...Manute Bol, a 21% three point shooter for his career, erupt one night
in the 1992-93 season for a 6-19 (31%) barrage?
...Tony Delk score 54 points in a game last season?
...the Portland Trail Blazers blow a fifteen point, fourth-quarter lead
on the road in game seven of the 2000 Western Conference Finals?
...the Blazers get to that point in the first place? (They trailed three
games to one earlier in that series.)
...Kevin Johnson throw down that nasty dunk on Hakeem Olajuwon in the 1995
Playoffs?
...the Milwaukee Bucks sweep the Boston Celtics in the 1983 Playoffs?
...Bill Walton even have a playing career, as injury-prone as he was?
...Marko Milic (while playing in Europe) jump off of two feet, from about
twelve feet away from the hoop, over a car for a dunk?
...Willie Burton score 53 points in a game during the 1994-95 season?
...Jamaal Wilkes ever get a shot off with that weird delivery of his?
...Bill Cartwright, same question?
...Dominique Wilkins get hung doing the windmill dunk in the 1991 All-Star
game? That was his dunk, for Pete's sake!
...Julius Erving do that layup? (You know which layup)
...Jeff Hornacek make those crazy runners in the lane? Did he practice
them?
...Christian Laettner make an All-Star team?
...Tyrone Hill, Xavier McDaniel, Dana Barros, Joe Barry Carroll, Mark Eaton,
Sleepy Floyd, same question?
...Adrian Smith win an All-Star game MVP?
...Who was Adrian Smith?
...No, I'm serious! Did he play basketball?
...Havlicek steal the ball?
...MJ move the ball in four distinct directions in mid-air while converting
a layup against the Nets?
...Sean Elliott make that tiptoed three pointer against Portland in the
1999 Western Conference Finals?
...Bill Willoughby manage to block Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Skyhook?
...the 1994 Denver Nuggets (42-40) defeat the Seattle Supersonics (64-18)
in the first round of the Playoffs?
...6'5" Charles Barkley have the type of career that he had?
...Bernard King get up for that tip jam against the Pistons in the 1984
Playoffs?
...Bird or Magic know where his teammates were when they passed the ball?
They weren't looking at their teammates!
...Karl Malone learn to pass like that?
...Lafayette Lever grab so many rebounds?
...Jerry Lucas, same question?
...the 1995 Houston Rockets (47-35) beat the Utah Jazz (60-22), Phoenix
Suns (59-23), San Antonio Spurs (62-20), and Orlando Magic (57-25) to win
their second straight NBA Championship?
...Vince Carter do any of his dunks?
...Dennis Johnson, a 6-3 guard, block seven shots in an NBA Finals game?
(The record is eight, held by four seven-footers)
If anyone out there can answer these questions, you're quite an astute
observer of the game of basketball.
