Bad History Theater presents: La Vie de Hussard de la Mort, as Allegorically Explained Through Basketball.
Part One: Reggie Miller Vs. The United States Marine Corps
As you probably don't know, I have recently taken a job working at a veterinary emergency clinic. This has been of great advantage to me, since I now have full time hours and a work environment that's now dominated by the veterinary equivalent of Weyland-Yutani. The veterinary field in general has some advantages for a single and allegedly charming fellow like myself, as it is majority female and generally filled with people with sick senses of humor. I enjoy both of these qualities.
Flashback to May 24th, 2004: my beloved Detroit Pistons are clinging to a two point lead against the Indiana Pacers on the road and hoping to even up the Eastern Conference Finals before going back to The Palace. After a ferocious block from Jermaine O'Neal, Chauncey Billups recovers the ball, but pushes too hard against the shot clock and dribbles it away.
Jamaal Tinsley feeds the ball ahead to Reggie Miller. Somebody forgot to tell these kids about the Knick Killer. He dropped 25 in the 4th against Ewing in 94. This is a breakaway layup.
Facebook, in its wisdom, has begun to suggest that I become friends with some of my new coworkers. One of them, who is both extremely good looking and a joy to work with and generally be around, popped up two days ago while I was on my phone. I recognized the name, but the photo was hard to make out.
A shadow stalks Reggie Miller down the court. It wears the number 22, in defiance of the 22 other teams who passed on him before the Pistons took him with the 23rd pick of the 2002 Draft. Tayshaun Prince is five steps behind Miller. This is an insurmountable lead. But Tayshaun Prince is young and he can fly. So he does, with all his might.
As a I quickly realize, this is a picture of her (sans glasses) standing next to her boyfriend, who is wearing his Marine dress blues. Georges Danton talked of audacity, but there are simply some fights that bravery and élan cannot win. This is one of them.
Tayshaun Prince's left hand connects with the ball, flipping it away. As he careens into the fans seated on the baseline, Rip Hamilton collects the ball and is fouled in desperation by the Pacers.