Number 22 In 1963

Number 22 in 1963 The prior season and many seasons past had been great for our school. However, the ‘62-’63 season was to prove disastrous for our school. I had been looking forward to the 63-64 season when I knew that I would be ready and prepared, but the district changed the rules and eliminated the concept of ‘Junior High Schools’. In so during, the best possible players were sent to high school, and the school was stuck with the likes of me and others just a little better. I was the shortest on the team and played the two guard position. However, what my school and the entire county did not realize is that #22 was about to become the super stars of super stars. #22 was about to set the gym on fire, because he was so ‘hot’ with the ‘shot’. He was about to redefine the meaning of ‘underdogs’, because he was indeed a ‘hot dog’ at shooting the ‘long ball’. #22's long ball caused the NBA to create 'The three'. Number 22 became the district's ‘Most Valuable Player’. He was voted #one and made team captain. There was one game that everyone pointed to as the key turnaround for their season. #22 had a most spectacular game, giving hope and leadership to his team. Prior years had left the team either in the #one or #two spot; but the 62-63 season would have been declared successful if they finished any place but ‘last’. However, #22 and his team succeeded by not finishing last. But also. They finished first. They were loosing that turnaround game, and being so inexperienced, there was no ‘go to guy’ when the chips were down. But #22 made himself the ‘go to player’ and took the ball rapidly down court and put up a shot just beyond half court. Before Marv Albert became famous with his “Downtown!” description of a long shot, #22 clearly went ‘Downtown’. The crowd went wild! #22 wasn’t done. So again, he took the ball rapidly down the left side line and shot just past half court. You guessed it! Again! “Downtown”! And again the crowd went ballistic!!! He would not score again, but came down the court again on the left side. But this time, he drove the left side of the key, and attempted an acrobatic lay-up and missed. Even his miss caused a cheer, and sent the stands into a frenzy. By then, his team was ready to take over and finished off their opponents, because the spirit and quick three plays of #22 had done the damage. His team then went in for the kill. 07022016 PS Contest, Tell a Tall Tale by Jesse Day