(This is from my New York Diaries I thought it might make for some reading. Of course I edited out portions that are personal and have no bearing in a sports blog. I have extensive material on my life there from videos, pictures, stories, and various memorabilia. I just really need a lot of time to sort it out and put them out in book form. If you ask if I am going back, yes I am. I was supposed to go this January 19, but have put it off since someone made a generous offer to stay. As for Ateneo sports, this is the last for my UAAP teams. Let someone else write it for a change.)
November 12, 2003
I arrived at the Continental Airlines Arena an hour and a half before the gates were opened (venue security allow patrons to enter an hour before the 7pm tip-off). This was before it became fashionable to watch the New Jersey Nets. The Nets had a young and exciting team then… Jason Kidd, Kenyon Martin, and Richard Jefferson, and Kerry Kittles, but somehow the crowds weren’t there. In a few weeks time, team management would announce a move by the Nets to Brooklyn and the Arena would be playing to packed crowds.
And today, I was treated myself out to some expensive seat (for it was my birthday the day before) for a game between the Nets and the visiting San Antonio Spurs.
When I got ushered to my primo courtside seats, there were very few people yet in the stands. And there was only one player on the court… the Spurs’ Manu Ginobili.
I’ve always been a fan of this player even during his days at Kinder Bologna. The only chance I got to see him play was when the Euroleague was on TV. But this is Comcast so you get hundreds of channels. I think I have like six ESPN channels! And there’s the Yankee Network and Fox Sports among many others. So I could learn to love being a couch potato. You just have to stay tuned and surf and hope you catch the Euro teams.
And now Manu was like 15 feet away from me shooting baskets.
One ball bounced my way and I tossed it back to him. “Need help rebounding,” I mustered the nerve to ask.
“Nah, it’s okay,” he said in perfect English with a slight accent. “Thanks.”
A few minutes later, the ball rolled my way once more. “You sure,” I asked this time. I suddenly thought of Robert De Niro trying to befriend Wesley Snipes in The Fan. What are you thinking of, Rick?
Okay,” he smiled and I got up and jogged onto the court. I felt my knees go weak. Jeez, I’m on the same court where Jason Kidd passes to K-Mart for those death-defying slams. And Manu Ginobili is right there. Holy Shit!
I haul the ball down in my best Malik Rose impression. What am I thinking of? How does Malik Rose even rebound? It’s hard to keep one’s composure when you’re on the court with a bonafide hoops star. Sort of reminded me when I used to suit up for the Manila Broadcasting Company team in the San Miguel BIBATO league where we’d play a San Miguel team that had Allan Caidic, Hec Calma, Samboy Lim, George Ella, and Jimmy Santos and the PBA Press Corps team that had Norman Black. You’re awed by them and at the same time you want to impress them and hope you’re not posterized. Well, in case you all want to know, Norman once rejected my shot that sailed out of bounds to a chorus of “Ooooooooooooos” and the Triggerman had a four-point play off me. Thank God this was nothing more than a shoot-around with Manu.
I said not a word lest he tell me to take a hike. I knew he was getting himself psyched up for the game. A few minutes later the team’s ball boy came out and said he’ll take it from there. Then Tony Parker walked out. And right after him ran out Steve Kerr.
I was walking back to my seat when Manu trotted over and offered his thanks. “What’s your name,” he asked.
I suddenly developed a stutter. “Rrrrick.”
“Thanks, Rrrick,” he joked and shook my hand. “See you around.”
The Spurs beat the Nets 85-71 in the team’s first meeting since they battled in the previous NBA Finals. The Nets looked like they were afraid of the Spurs. The Big Fundamental scored 30+ points as no one could stop him down low. Manu I remember notched 12 points, 8 rebounds, and I think four assists.
One guy in the stands yelled at me that I was lucky to get to the court and rebound for Manu Ginobili. Well, in a sense I guess I was.
My driving song list:
Counting Crows - The Rain King
Mighty Mighty Bosstones - The Impression That I Get
Coldplay - Don't Panic
Rancid - Time Bomb
Dave Matthews Band - Gray Street
Alien Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal
Bob Marley and the Wailers - Exodus
Club 8 - Blue Skies
Everclear - Santa Monica
Next: Balls in my throat in Rucker Park and West 4
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