2022: Trouble finding the E:60 Sports Center Special. The guardian documentary analyzes a court case focusing on the rights of special needs and physically challenged. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
“Unfortunately I think they (the world) see a boy with down’s syndrome.”
“1st MMA fight. Few understood Why did a 5 foot 135 pound man with down syndrome want to fight.”
Why do you fight? “I fight, that makes me happy. It makes me feel good.”
October 1989 She gave birth to Garret and her fears were/ Of
“My goal was to give him every opportunity to develop and grow, just like I do with my other two kids. I want to give him a clear playing field to run. My job is to make sure nobody gets in his way. ”
What is today for you? “Today is school.”
“Garrett attended as many mainstream classes as possible. He played basketball and baseball. He yearned to be included, but also rejected others who were different.
“Unfortunately, he was very discriminatory against other persons with special needs. He feels standing next would reflect poorly on him. Disability”
“The only way I can describe it, he is almost like a “disability bigot.” Inclusion
“I don’t want to be called Garrett because Garrett he has Down Syndrome. He is dead to me.” (End the Word)
“Garrett is very highly functioning. He reads, but at or below a 3rd grade level. He has the cognitive ability of an 8 year old. He will likely live with his parents.”
He understands his challenges in his own way.
“The stuff I have rheumatoid arthritis, Down Syndrome, things exactly more challenging.”
How does Down Syndrome affect you? “It does not. I just ignore it.”
Father-Son / Parent-Child Sports Activities: He entered the world of MMA in 2010. After his Dad’s Challenge to his children. Garrett was the only taker.
He picked up on moves. What a second. I think we have something here.
Rodrigo “Baga” Ramos He had never encountered a special needs students. “What do I do with this guy. How do I teach him. I am harder on him than anybody else. He needs to know that life is tough. That people will be rude, be unkind. That’s my philosophy with him.”
It became a passion. He
Reshaping his body. “When he graduated high school he was 5 feet 175 pound, he dropped 40 pounds.”
How strong are you? “I am a rock solid muscle guy.“
It provided a stronger connection. He formed a bound with UFC fighter, Stephen Bonner – stare down pose. “He didn’t like Through Martial Arts he found himself, the found a passion and a purpose for life.”
There are many who train who do not fight. The asnwer wasn’t that simple. “as to whether he should fight, should he step inside the ring and face a risk?”
“Is is something that people have inside them. Facing that fear make you more confidence in yourself and more comfortable with yourself.”
“There is an undeniable gap in his reaction time.”
“They lost respect for me as a parent. You are putting your son in jeopardy. How can you do that?”
Monster Mike Wilson: Garret found another fighter his size. Mike Wilson agrees to face him. “I am gonna make him feel a punch. I am not gonna make him feel a slam. He has to know what punches feel like. He is gonna feel better about what he has been through. He has actually been through a real fight.”
Garrett “G-Money”: “I took that punch as a man. Did you think about quitting? I will never back down from a fight. I not ever back down from a fight. I will keep going. Fighting changed me. Fighting changed me.”
As the round went on.
Rodrigo “Baga” Ramos:” People were scared because a guy without any disability beating up a guy with a disability.”
Dad: “I am sure people were shocked. Why don’t you take a lamb out and sloughter it. I knew in my hearr he was going to step up. And that he trained really really hard.”
Reporter: “The opponent choosing when to strike and when not to strike, The fight lasted all three rounds. When it was over, both hands were raised.”
Garrett: “I felt a lot proud for myself and then the crowd cheered for me.”
“Knowing that don’t put limits on people. You are going be amazed at what people when you give them the opportunity. He is expecting his title shot at some point.”
GIVING BACK
“What matters most is not in the mirror, it’s in the view, the way others see Garrett and how that helps him see the best in himself.”
Reporter: “Last year, Garrett started teaching kids at a gym his father bought and put in his son’s name. He also started teaching DJ. his first student with Down’s syndrome.”
Garrett Why did you work with DJ? ”Because I do want to help more a lot more kids like him.”
“I truly believe he has found an outlet. He now sees himself as a role model. He has accepted the fact that he has down’s syndrome. It is the first time he has made friends with special needs.”
“He looks to me as a hero or a super man because them need a he needs a super hero!”
This in incredibly inspirational story of a father helping his son find his passion and purpose. Some people do not agree.
Garret Hoeleve is in incredible young man who is making a huge difference is showing You decide.
Jay Mac: Autistic student manager lights it up with six 3-pointers in the closing minutes of a high school game. (Magic Johnson to make a movie) “In April 2016, the Rochester Razorsharks, a professional minor-league basketball team, signed McElwain to a one-day contract for their regular season finale against the Western New York Thundersnow.[20] With the Razorsharks leading by more than 40 points late in the game, McElwain was put in and scored 10 points, including 2 three-point shots.[20]” – Wikipedia
The Butterfly Child: “It’s the worst disease you’ve never heard of.” 14-year-old hockey fanatic Jonathan Pitre suffers from a rare skin condition known as EB, but the disease is no match for his indomitable heart. E:60’s Tom Rinaldi shares the story of The Butterfly Child.
I can’t thank you and your team enough for your role in Sam’s scoring his first basket in our game on Saturday. It was a great moment for everyone who was lucky enough to witness it. I wanted to pass along the note that Sam’s mom shared on Facebook this morning.
Please let your team know what a difference they made for Sam and his family. Sam’s moment in the sun was a great reminder of what youth sports can do, not just for individual players, but for teams and coaches as well.
Good luck this weekend – we’re certainly hoping you win!
See you soon,
Andrea
Parent Email
Saturday was a day my family will never forget.A life-changing day for Sam one that is forever etched on our souls in the warmest way possible. I have seen these beautiful moments on TV or on YouTube but this past Saturday it was about Sam and his amazing team of friends and the best coaches in the world.
(Do isolated stories of special needs success in sports AND viral social media create unrealistic expectations?)
Picture this….
It’s the basketball playoffs. As usual Dad Gram and I are there in the bleachers just like we’ve done every other Saturday. It’s exciting this is Sam’s first season of basketball. For that reason alone it’s a joy to be there every week and it’s one of our favorite activities.
As we cheered the kids on as they ran up and down the court giving it their best effort we watch as they high-five each other and support each other through the whole game win or lose.
(Team was winless)
There sportsmanship is awesome and it is the result of incredible coaches. As the game continues our team is down about 12 points but still trying hard.
With just a couple minutes left on the clock I noticed something is different. I put my hand on Craigs leg and began to squeeze and said honey what are they doing what’s going on? All the kids kept passing it to Sam. He made three attempts missing each time but nonetheless we were cheering just like we do every time his hands even touch the ball.
(Different expectations catching is a success)
I’m still unsure as to exactly what is happening at this point all I know is Sam is on the court and he’s getting a lot of action. Craig, Gram, and I sitting holding our breath unable to move praying cmon Sam get it in.
One minute left on the clock. It was all happening so fast . That is when reality started to set in and the lump in my throat grew to where I couldn’t even swallow. Craig said look Ker they’re doing this for him I think it’s planned oh my god there helping him they want him to get a basket!
Look at all the boys they keep passing it to Sam. My eyes filled up with tears as I heard a little boy say I’m passing it again to Sam. Both teams aware of the plan backed off so Sam was able to get the ball.
We couldn’t believe what was happening, we all began to cry as we watched Sam take hold of the ball and toss it up towards the basket. There it was SWOOSH BASKET IN THE PAINT! HE DID IT!! HE GOT A BASKET!
Sam then leaped into the air with the biggest smile we’ve ever seen as he ran down the court leaping with his arms up above his head and his fingers pointing in the number one! All the while children from both teams are giving him high-fives! At that moment it really started to sink in.
All these boys supporting Sam as the adults witnessed the true meaning of friendship and kindness. Without all these amazing boys on both teams this never would’ve happened. How proud their parents must be of them and how proud they should be of themselves. I just want to hug each and every child on those teams. They changed our lives forever and maybe in some way Sam change their’s.
As you might imagine we could not keep ourselves together the tears just started flowing as we ran to Sam and to the coaches to hug them and to say thank you because we knew that it took great effort to make that dream for Sam come true. It was a group effort and craigmy mom and I were so overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness and kindness of these children and the coaches. To say it was a life-changing day for Sam is an understatement. He is on top of the world and has not stopped talking about it. He will remember that moment for the rest of his life and every time I tell the story I will cry. Craig and I and my Mom are eternally thankful to the coaches for there thoughtfulness. They did not just teach basketball they taught all of our children about love and acceptance and in the process they made Sam’s dream come true.
While one of the pre-tournament favorites, Michigan State, worked its Magic in the Mideast, three upstarts—Penn, DePaul and, most notably, still-unbeaten Indiana State—qualified for trips to Salt Lake City
Now that Larry Bird has shot, passed and tight-lipped his way to the NCAA final four in Salt Lake City, the tournament committee should tell the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to get ready. No matter what Bird and his Indiana State buddies do this week, there will be plenty of cause for a few verses of the Hallelujah Chorus. Sportswriters will be happy to say bye-bye, Birdie because they can’t get one word out of him. Opposing coaches will be delighted, because they can’t beat him. And the NBA will be overjoyed that Bird finally is ready to bring his game into the league.
Bird was his typical self—remarkable—last week as the Sycamores provided an affirmative answer to college basketball’s most pressing question: Is Indiana State for real? On Thursday night, in the Midwest Regional semifinal in Cincinnati, the 6’9″ Bird‘s all-round game accounted for 29 points and five assists in a surprisingly easy 93-72 win over Oklahoma. He then scored 31 to lead the Sycamores to a 73-71 victory over Arkansas that, ironically, was decided on a shot that should have been hauled away on the garbage truck that Bird used to drive back home in French Lick, Ind.
So now the team from Terre Haute is only two victories away from completing a most improbable success story. Ordinarily, considering that Americans are suckers for underdogs and small towns, it would be hard for anyone to pull against Indiana State at Salt Lake City. But there will be some other teams there bidding just as hard for the nation’s heart. Upstart DePaul surprised UCLA to earn the semifinal spot opposite Indiana State for Ray Meyer, their aged, beloved and unsung coach. And in the championship game, the Indiana State-DePaul survivor will have to solve either the Magic of the Mideast Regional winner, Michigan State, or the mystery of the surprising Eastern champ, Penn.
The Sycamores arrived in Cincinnati with something to prove to the skeptics among the nation’s journalists and fans. The prevailing notion has been that while Bird is a great player, Indiana State had built its 30-0 record at the expense of a bunch of weak teams. In the semis, Indiana State figured to get a stiff test, at last, from Big Eight champ Oklahoma.
The game was close until Sooner Center Al Beal got a third foul with 7:43 to play in the first half. With Beal out, Bird led a spurt in which State turned a 33-30 deficit into a 45-37 halftime lead. In all, Beal played only 17 minutes before fouling out, which allowed the Sycamores to outrebound Oklahoma 50-22.
Across from the Indiana State bench, Arkansas Coach Eddie Sutton munched popcorn and looked for Sycamore weaknesses he might be able to exploit. The Razorbacks and their jewel of a guard, Sidney Moncrief, had earned their way into the final with a 73-62 win over Louisville. The Cardinals were uninspired until the Hogs took a 17-point lead midway through the second half. Then, with head dunker Darrell Griffith on the bench and a madman named Roger Burk-man in his place, Louisville woke up and used a press to lead 56-55 with 5:50 to go. Now it was time for Moncrief to take charge, and he scored seven of his game-high 27 points in the next three minutes. Steady again, Arkansas pulled away.
The morning of the final game, Sutton tried to digest Bird with his bacon and eggs-over-easy. “You’re not going to stop him, but you can slow him down,” he said. “Where he hurts you most is with his passing. He’s the best passer for a big man I’ve ever seen. We’re going to start Alan Zahn on him, but we’ll put Moncrief on him after a while. Sidney should do a good job, except inside, where Bird‘s got five inches on him. When we have the ball, we’re going to try to be patient. Their defense is good for five or six passes, but then they have a tendency to get unaggressive.”
A few hours later Sutton was nervously watching the end of what had been a beautiful game. His plan had worked at least well enough that the score was tied 71-71, and Arkansas had the ball. All the Hogs had to do was hold it until a few seconds remained and turn Moncrief loose. Once again he had been splendid, with 24 points and eight rebounds. But Moncrief never got the chance to win the game, because Arkansas turned the ball over with 1:08 to go.
Now it was Indiana‘s turn to hold for one shot. “We decided to try to get the ball to Larry,” State Coach Bill Hodges said. “If he could get something, fine. If not, we’d have to take it to the other side and see what we could get.”
Bird had scored 25 points in the first 27 minutes of play. Then Sutton decided it was time to put Moncrief on him. That created a tempting mismatch in height, but Indiana State smartly elected to take what Arkansas gave instead of trying to force the ball to Bird, who was rarely left open for an easy pass by the quick and tenacious Moncrief. Bird scored only six points down the stretch.
On the game’s final play, Bird got the ball with some 11 seconds left. Moncrief was swarming all over him, however, so Bird passed to Guard Steve Reed, who went up as if to shoot. But because of defensive pressure, he abruptly dumped the ball off to Bob Heaton.
“I sort of lost the ball in the shuffle,” said Heaton, a 6’5″ sub. “I was going to take it up with my right hand, but I was afraid of getting it blocked, so I just sort of threw it up with my left. I was hoping somebody would tip it in.” The ball hit the rim and bounced around for what seemed an eternity. Finally, with :02 on the clock, it fell through.
Nobody knew what Bird thought about the day’s events, because he again declined to meet the press. Well, perhaps genius doesn’t have to explain itself. At least he took part in the celebration on the floor. As he walked off, the Sycamore fans chanted, “Ayyy-men, Ayyy-men, Ayyy-men, Ay-men, Ay-men.” The Mormon Tabernacle Choir couldn’t have done it better.
Bryant Gumble: JC transfers and a rookie head coach. Put a small town on the map. A man named Bird. One reason. We wanted to raise our game up for him. They just kept winning. 20-0. Terre Haute was the epicenter. Coach carried off. 29-0. #1 seed. 1st Mid-major school to go undefeated and win a National Title. Beat Virginia Tech, Arkansas State. Depaul Final Four 35, points, 16 rebounds, 9 assists.
Championship:Highest rated NCAA final ever. “It broke my heart. That I wasn’t able to bring back a championship to Terre Haute. I knew I had to play a perfect game.”
Very disappointed. We still felt like we were champions.
In the 40 year, Indiana State has Only 1 tournament victory since.
Larry at Celebration: Perspective. If you give your best and people around you give your best, good things are going to happen.
That team brought them to life. The basketball gods.
Free Throw Record = 2,750 (12 hours / 3.8 per minute / 299 per hour) What is your strongest athletic skill? Who are the individuals who are recognized as world experts?
The Final Four: March 26, 1979 – Highest rated College Final. A prologue for a rivalry. The 1st time Larry and Magic played against each other. Two stars thrown together by the cosmos to compete. But only one was groomed for the spotlight.
Magic: Grew up one of 10 kids in Lansing, Michigan. Dad won an award for never being late or missing a game. Before school. “I was out there ALL DAY LONG!” My mother had to bring me food.” My dream was to play in the NBA
Writing Prompt Sports Dedication: Magic used to work on his game before going to school. Explain your dedication to a sport or hobby. Describe the ways you would work to get better.
High School Tradition: Bussing sent him to Everett High School. No body white would speak to anyone who was black.” Whenever there were racial problems. The principal went to Magic.
“Magic” Nickname given to him by a local high school reporter. He liked the name. It fits my game. “He felt he had to live up to his name.” I knew the players and the tradition. Local reporter named him Magic. Nickname sticked. He felt like he had to live up to his name. He wanted attention from anybody he could get it from. He loved to dress. Always had to look the part, player the part. He had to have his afro blown out. “He was the first person to have a posse. (black and white)” Kegger with the white students. Kegger starts at 7:00. We had a good time. The music was kind of bad.
Writing prompt: High School Drinking & Athletics is a combination that exists in high school sports today? (MIAA violations)
Senior year Magic wins the Michigan State title.
Larry Bird in National News: “Blown away by his states. But let’s see if he can do it against us. That is the mind set of black players.”
US Global tournament: Larry Bird is eating national player of the the year. He is the baddest white player I have ever seen.” You want to make the extra pass. “This guy got game. They spoke to each other like 4 times.” Played together on Team USA “This is the baddest white dude I have ever seen.”
Writing prompt Elite Sports: Pick a sport that you reached the highest level. What level was it? in-town, travel, high school, club AAU, OPD, Describe the talent level and level of commitment.
Magic: Grew up one of 10 kids. “I was out there ALL DAY LONG!” My mother had to bring me food.” My dream was to play in the NBA “Magic” – nickname given to him by a local high school reporter. He liked the name. “He felt he had to live up to his name.
Always had to look the part, player the part. “He was the first person to have a posse. (black and white)” Kegger with the white students.
Larry Joe Bird
Larry Bird one of college’s best players, but the biggest mystery.
Larry and the Media: Did not like it.
Background: Family lived on $50 a week. Larry grew up in one of the poorest towns in Indiana. Spring Valley. He was 4th of 6 kids. Bird family always considered “trouble. If I got in a fight and my brother did not step in, he would get whipped. “Larry and my dad were best of friends.”
Writing Prompt: Describe the role of siblings and parents in your sport career? Who competes with either a father or sibling? Describe the competitions and emotions? How hard to you play? Do you have fights?
Trouble maker & siblings:
Joe: Dad had a bad experience in the Korean war, who struggled to hold jobs. He sometimes would drink a little too much and money would not come home. If you wanted money you had to get it on your own.
Mom: Worked
“Actions spoke louder than words. He took and F in an English class because he did not want to speak in front of the class.““Basketball came to me easy.I didn’t have the quickness or jumping ability. I just thought the game out. He always had a chip on his shoulder.”
Indiana University: “I was out of my cocoon. It had over 30,000 students, this wasn’t gonna work. Left Indiana University after 24 days. Joe and Georgia were divorced. “You guys will be better off without me.” His father killed himself.
Father’s Suicide:“Larry didn’t say much. I never heard him speak about it. I was madder after the funeral because I felt like he cut out on us during a tough time. He did what he had to do.”
Bill Hodges Assistant coach recruits Larry to Indiana State. If he did not recruit him, we would not know Larry Bird. A school that never went to the NCAA. Indiana State 31 – 0.Larry Bird and Magic get national attention.
Larry Bird: The talk of college basketball “I wanted to say hi. “I probably did snuff him. I didn’t want any “lovefest.” hugging and slapping high fives with an opponent. You are there for a reason. To win a game.”
Charm of the attraction: “They were polar opposites. One black one white. One shy one outgoing.“
Double team: “I didn’t play well at all. The biggest game of my life and I didn’t play well. I didn’t shoot well. I think I missed 3 free throws. I battled them, I just didn’t have it. It was over. It was done.“It was over. That was my 4 years. I was done. It still hurts. We win 33 in a row. I expect to win. We didn’t win. Toughest loss I ever took.”
Writing Prompt: Describe your toughest loss as a high school athlete (or pro sports fan). (Hanover High: Toughest Losses)
Magic: Our length and our size bothered him. Coach gave us a good game plan. We just went out.
Competitive Rivalries – Rarely there are competitive rivalries that
Race and Sports: My 1st day at Everett high school. Nobody white would talk to anybody black. Whenever there was racial tensions, the principal would get Earvin. Can he do it against us (black players)? “This is best white dude I have ever seen. This guy got game.” That was the charm of the attraction.
NBA & Race: “To black a league” NBA “Fan interest may be waning.” “I don’t enjoy going to basketball. It is too black.”
“All black league with a bunch of guys doing drugs.” “You need more white ball players for the white fans to identify with.” Kcikerbockers “Niggerbockers” “Now why would I route for those white boys.” Boston native, Lakers fans. Image of race division – White man attacking with the American flag! BOSTON
The Great White Hope vs. The Great White Hype: “You need more white player so the white fans can identify with the NBA.”
“I find a way. Damn this white guy can play. I used to think . He knew how to fight. He was from the old school. There was nothing smooth about Larry.
“I Played the Game Hard / I Played the Game Rough” “My whole life was basketball.” “The hick from French Lick.” ‘The Great White Hope!” From day #1 “The great players are the black players. They are the best. “The great white hype. Most black players were racist.” “Here comes the white savior” I like this. “He’s slow, he can’t get off his shot. BAM knocks down another shot 2o feet, 25 feet… Damn this white guy can play!” Cedric Maxwell
Celtics off worse season in 30 year. “I used to think up things to rattle me before the game.”
Simple Life: All basketball “I try to do my game.” “It was all about basketball.” “The Hick from French Lick.” Syntax is not intelligence. People could come to watch him mow the lawn. “Larry is about doing things himself… That made him beloved in Boston.”
“Magic” Celebrity Status: “I gotta go pick and orange. I had never seen an orange tree. I had never seen a lemon tree. I was fascinated.” He was the 20-year old 1st round pick of the Lakers. He changed the attitude from the very first game. 1st game of a long season and Magic hugging Kareem after last second shot on the first game. It was like the won the 10th straight championship. This is a different kind of dude.”
Arsenio Hall: He waked up like he did not have an alarm clock. Pat Rile “He had “IT. The “it” was his attitude, leadership, his mind.”
Rookie Season “Game 6 he played all 5 positions, scored 42 points, rebounds. and dished out assists. In just 4 years he won titles in high school, college, and the pros.”
“It’s Magic!” Newspaper headline.Game 6 put him on another level. That game made him the star in town. I wanted to meet the celebrities. They wanted to meet me.“
He was young, famous and very rich. Magic Signed to a 25 year 25 million dollar contract.. I am going to take you to the Playboy mansion. I am backing up away 10 guys to 100 women. It is a great experience. I had fun there. “Which one do you want? I am going to take you to the Playboy mansion…10 guys to 100 women.”
“He came to LA like he was the pied piper. He stayed pretty grounded to the game. You can’t even smoke a joint around him. He had real old-school, down in the trenches, work ethic.”
Earvin (East Lansing) vs. Magic (Hollywood): SHOWTIME: He had the alter ego for Showtime. Magic was his stage name.
Magic was so serious and dedicated to his game. Magic has a crazy, crazy competitor. “Magic got a crazy ego. And winning is everything.”2 NBA Titles in 1st 4 years in town.
Earvin vs. Magic He had “it.” The “it” was his attitude, his leadership, his attitude.” Pat Riley
“There’s 2 people Earvin Johnson from Lansing Michigan and Magic from Hollywood. Magic was a crazy, crazy competitor.” “
Competitiveness: “He could still play the same game, I couldn’t.” It burned Bird that he lost to Magic. Bird wins Rookie of the year. When Magic heard “was it close – ONLY 3 votes.” He went to prove to Larry Bird.
“When he won that championship. I was pissed. I wanted one. I had to have him there for some reason. I had to have him there like a crutch. I needed to compare myself. ” Larry
“The 1st 4 or 5 years it bothered me a lot (that others said he was better.)” Magic
‘It’s finally gonna happen. Let’s just a matter of rolling the ball out there and get it on.”
Similar Skills / The Same Player: AMAZING HIGHSLIGHTS: They both played so similar. Same craziness to excel.
I would get up in the morning and look at the box score, a crutch someone to compare myself too.” Similar in the way they competed. Playing the game the right way. “That is why we hated each other, we were the same.” “It bothered me a lot.” Magic Same craziness to excel. Basketball IQ. Play the game the right way was everything.”
The could control the game with 12 shots.
That is why we hated each other. They began to change the game.
Bird & Race: Blacks and whites were lining up to support. “I want you to crush the Celtics…. I don’t root for the white guys.” Is Boston racist?
“If he was black, he’d be just another good guy.” The home of the KKK. I knew the waiters who were black and older. The treated me good. Press conference it doesn’t bother me, it should not bother others.
NBA Marketing: Struggling rates and tape delayed finals. Rescue plan was simple. Sell more Bird and Magic. In 1979 this idea was created. CBS double header Celtics the early game, and Lakers 2nd game. ‘Showtime African-American. Lunch bucket floppy headed blue collar worker with bruises over his body.” League rejoiced. The highest rated game 7 was the highest rated game the NBA had ever produced!
Boston: “I hated you. I wanted Magic to win. They looked at us a team a whites.”
Friendship: “I am choked up because he did call me. When something happens to you, and then you find out who your friends are, and the people who care about you….. Here is this man that says you are okay. That was the greatest moment to have him check on me and to make sure I was okay.”
1983 Finals Head to head: Each of last 4 NBA Championships either the Celtics or Lakers have been in it, but this is the 1st time. or las C eltics Win 1st time players go head to head.
Game 1: Lakers win 115 – 109.
Game 2: Henderson steals the ball – OT win for Celtics! 113 -113
Magic dribble out the clock. “Cheesy Johnson dribbling the time out. What are you doing?”
Game 3: Lakers
Game 4: Celtics take out Rambis. “We were not mentally tougher than the Celtics.” (2-2)
Magic turnover, Tied at 123 and Magic Johnson misses 2 Free Throws late in the game, Bird hits game winner.
Game 5 to Celtics (3-2)
Game 6 Lakers (3-3)
Game 7: 1979 ALL over again. “I thought we would sweep then in 4. “There ain’t no way they are walking out of here with a win. No way.” Larry Bird
Ain’t No Way we ain’t walking out here with a win: “I pride myself in being the guy who is going to win it, to deliver under pressure.” Magic
“Knowing the other guy is suffering.”
“We were in the shower crying for about 45:00. Not only had we lost to the Boston Celtics, but he had lost to his nemesis, Larry Bird.” Michael Cooper
“I got him. I finally got him.” 11:30 at night to Quinn Buckner
Magic “I pride myself in delivering.”
“I hope it hurt. I hope he was suffering. And you knew he was.” Bird RUTHLESS
Cooper and Magic: In the showers crying for 30 to 40 minutes after the game.
Larry outbursts: “I go him. I finally got him.”
Big $$$: Game 7 is the highest rated game the NBA has ever produced. The absolute
Media Beating & Tragic Magic: I took a media betting. It is probably the 1st time in my life I was depressed..” It redefined the rest of his career. He never stopped working after that.
Magic Redemption 1985 Series: “They won the East, they won the West. Let’s sit back and enjoy.”
Cedric Maxwell “I would drink the water and watch them burn.”
It is the most one-sided rivalry; Celtics have won 8 – 0. Clinch at the Garden
1985 – Finals Magic changed the script. “It was a long year last year.” Do the right thing movie
Converse Commercial How would they get along off the court: “I would never do a commercial in LA. If we we’re going to do a commercial, it was going to be at my house.” How would we react off the court?” “I play here if it not windy. This is where I do my work.” Larry Bird work on a tractor!!!
Lunch break. “My mother prepared lunch for us.” “He charmed them. That’s Magic, he makes everyone else feel welcome warm. He is a con-man.” He met Earvin at lunch. ”“Earvin is a good dude. I like him a lot better than Magic.” “That was a great day. A beautiful day.”
“I said no, they didn’t sell themselves out.” The Bird Shoe vs. the Magic shoes. Choose your weapon. White vs. Black.
The basketball players. They had morph into cultural rivalries. RACE Easy for people to understand. “Do the Right Thinkg
SNEAKERS TODAY: The 2 best players (maybe ever). Shared shoes “The weapon.”
1986 Celtics win the NBA finals.
Bird “polarizing” racial figure: The more he won, the lest he could escape it. NBA title & 3rd straight MVP. Resentment.
Press biased in favor of Larry Bird. “He made that possible. Give
The white fan
“I am doing something wrong”
Rodman “Bird is overrated because he is white.
“Detroit Piston guard told reporters last Saturday that if Bird were black he ”would be just another good guy” instead of being portrayed as the league’s best player. The remarks came after an emotional seventh-game loss to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals.” NY Times
“They don’t mean anything to me. I don’t know why. Am I doing something wrong here.”
“I said so. It didn’t matter what they said. It has no bearing on my life.”
“How he managed not.”
“”They were black and let me play. I couldn’t wait to play against the best. They were the best.”
“This was a distraction.”
1987 Finals” “The real, real junior hook.” “Oh I am taking him (Kevin McHale).”
“They were lucky. It was right on line. You gotta be kidding me… It changed the whole series.” The passing of the torch. NBA half court rule (Whose your Daddy – Pedro Martinez)
1988 beat Detroit to be the 1st repeat champions in over 2 decades. 5 Titles
Magic’s Vice: “The prince of LA was now King.” Mail slot would be so packed (name and a phone # – every city and every time.” I was at the top of my game and I needed that – the women, Hollywood.) SIX? women groupies.
“One time I had 6 at one time. The Magic ego probably… “He still kept basketball as his #1 priority, he never lost focus.”
Bird’s Back: Larry breaking his back literally shoveling gravel in 1985. “There were days he couldn’t stand up straight.“ “I will see you this weekend.” “If you get paid to go to work, you gotta go to work.(Brandies Ball Boy watches away games at Bird’s house! What a great work study program.) Dad stood up limping. Ankle black and swollen. If you get paid to go to work, you go to work.) ” I was wondering if I could walk on the beach or hold my kid.” It was Larry’s issue. ”“I probably should have retired in 88 – 89. It is the competition. Maybe able to play Magic one more time.”
Magic HIV: “Hey. You gotta come back to LA. Dr. Melmen starts to tell me that they discovered I had HIV. First time ever in my life I am out of control… it was everything. Wow did it happen to me.” Magic had gotten married and his wife was pregnant. (neither wife or kid has HIV)” I did not have control of it. “You gotta call him now. Earvin is HIV positive. I thought Earvin is going get skinny and die.” Arsenio
Life Changing: Larry: “I lost my love for basketball. It shook me up.” (like when Dad died) I wanted to hear from him. “I am choked up because he did call me. (choked up again). “When something happens to you, and then you find out who really your friends are. The people who really care about your you. You figure all those battles. All the things we had to go through as warriors, or competitors, as men, and this man says your ok. And to make sure everything was ok.” That was the greatest moment to have him check on me.”
McHale: big impact. It really set him back. Larry found Earvin. The behind the back pass to Reggie Lewis (Jack Molloy) newspaper.
Homophobia: 1992 All-Star Game
Dream Team: Playing with Larry “Playing with Larry was very important.” “It didn’t matter. We were together.” 14 years back together at Barcelona. As far as they had come, they were different.
“He didn’t want no side door. You know Earvin.”
“I respected him for that. Hell I would try to a find a side door.”
“Magic and Larry saved the NBA.”
“A private little club.”
“He makes your feel good, he really does.”
“He is a straight shooter. ”
NBA Finals:
Being the Best:
The Rivalry: “The vice was nasty. We didn’t like each other.” “That was my main competition.” “Tragic
“Was it close? 60 – 3” “I would get up in the morning and check out his score.” “Playing the game the right way was everything.” The first time in my life I was ever depressed. Tragic Johnson.
Notes
Magic: Grew up one of 10 kids. “I was out there ALL DAY LONG!” My mother had to bring me food.” My dream was to play in the NBA “Magic” – nickname given to him by a local high school reporter. He liked the name. “He felt he had to live up to his name.
Always had to look the part, player the part. “He was the first person to have a posse. (black and white)” Kegger with the white students.
Senior year Magic wins the Michigan State title. “I didn’t play well. I didn’t shoot well. I missed 3 free throws. I battled them, but I didn’t have it. It was over. It was done. It still hurts! I expect to win, we didn’t win. It hurt.”
“Blown away by his states. But let’s see if he can do it against us.”
Played together on Team USA “This is the baddest white dude I have ever seen.”
EDIT
“If he is your friend he is your friend for life. I wish I had that.
Magic had gotten married just 2 months earlier. “I was lost for the next two weeks.”
Because the HIV virus. I plan on going on and bugging you guys. I am gonna go on, I am going beat this. Different games different roles. Thank you again and I will see you soon.”
“Probably the two toughest days since my father died. I am depressed.
“It wasn’t a good night out there.”
“This is first time I am hearing ignorance. Do you know anyone else who is heterosexual who has this?”
He loves to be loved.
“The worst thing of all of this is I couldn’t play basketball.”
Magic performed ably in his role.
“Proved to people you were not going to get the disease playing against me.”
During the 2015 ACC Tournament, six seconds of Scott Park’s life went viral on social media – creating laughter and snide remarks at his expense. But that episode could never define Scott Park. This is the rest of the story.
Eyes, Ears, Engaged (Class discussion / Written responses / Worksheet)
Describe the most lopsided game you have been involved with as a high school athlete and an athlete at the youth or club level. Include individual and team sports. (Have you ever officiated a lop-sided game?)
What are some of the strategies a player or coach can use in these situations? What do your coach and teammates do?
How could this problem be avoided in the future?
Class of 2018
Football (2018) Scituate 38 vs. Hanover 0, D-Y 42 – Hanover 7
Wrestling Hanover 84 vs. Norwell 0 (largest margin possible) Sophomore Year:
Boys Soccer: Hanover 7 vs. Plymouth South 1
Silver Lake / Duxbury
Loss St. John’s 56 vs. Hanover 14
Rugby (2017) Hanover 95 – Malden Catholic 0 MC lost 108 – 0 week before vs. Algonquin
2016
Football 56 – 0 Hanover defeats North Quincy
Lacrosse:20 – 2 Hanover vs. Nantucket (state tournament)
Softball:24 – 2 Hanover vs. Scituate
Girls Soccer: 8 – 0 vs. Whitman Hanson
Former Covenant school girls basketball Micah Grimes discusses winning 100-0 and the reaction that came from the game.
Part 1 (8:57)
NOTES:
February Team lost to the eventual state champion. January 13, 2009 “A district game, a game we won. After the game was over moved on.” “To mainstream media it was a team that decided to run up the score.”
Some people may view that as running up the score.
STOP & Discuss Grimes was fired for not apologizing. The headmaster described the game “shameful and embarrassing.” We should not apologize. Fired for refusal to apologize. 10 minute edited version 27 – 0 stopped pressing. “I don’t want to tell my girls not to play. Let’s not do anything that would be unsportsmanlike. – he rotated in this 3 non-starters.” 59 – 0 at the end of the half. 29 points “The 2nd half was steal, fast break. It was like a lay-up drill.”
88 – 00.
“Spectators cheering for 100 points.”
What would you do differently 1.Run the clock 2. Turn off the scoreboard 3. If the opposing coach thought a player would get hurt, we would stop the game. “We did not do any wrong.”
Post-viewing questions
What do you think about the coaches comments?
Are the “mercy / slaughter rule suggestions good?
What is the justification for firing the coach?
Cliff McGrath “Soccer Saves.” 2nd winningest coach in college history.
“It is totally humiliating. Dallas Academy has not won a game in 4 years. I would hold their [administrators] feet to the fire. Why does the zero fascinate us?
Basketball clamors for 100 points. By at least accident they would score a point. 0 is shocking.”
LZ Graderson “Why does the girls team have a varsity team? This is more about Dallas Academy than Coventry. Why are they allowed to play a varsity team? He could have told the girls not to shoot.”
How do you throttle it back?
“I would fire the administrators at Dallas Academy. Year after year they have not won a game.”
