Give Me The Rock
this is fantasy basketball
or: Memory can change the shape of a room; it can change the color of a car. And memories can be distorted. They’re just an interpretation, they’re not a record, and they’re irrelevant if you have the facts.
or: I don’t feel drunk
My name is Nels. I am a basketball addict. I wasn’t always like this.
Most of the time I can safely ignore the period of professional basketball that started in 1994 and continued through 2001. It’s really kind of a long time. And I do, generally, try to ignore the fact that basketball was played professionally during those 7 years. Not because I disapprove of any of the players or teams or styles or anything, really. The truth is, I didn’t follow basketball for those 7 years. Why this sudden confession?
Well, it started with this article on CelticsBlog.com about Boston’s team in 1997. It continues like this: I could not tell you who was drafted in what year for anyone drafted during that time. I’d even be stymied to come up with the correct year for the #1 picks. I watched Jordan dismantle (or just beat, depending on your perspective) teams in the Finals and that was about it.
So, what does this have to do with an article about one of the worst teams in the Celtics (and perhaps League) history? Well, two years before that 97 team, Dominque Wilkins played for the Celtics. So what?
I DIDN’T KNOW THAT. That’s right. Before reading that post, as far as I was concerned, Nique – the Human Highlight Reel – retired with the Hawks. Fans of his may very well wish that he had, just as many Jordan fans wish that he’d finished with what Bob Costas called possibly his last shot. But Nique went on to play for the Celtics (among others) and scored almost 18 points a game for them. That ain’t bad. I mean, that’s definite fantasy relevance. But I didn’t know that.
Whew. Okay. Just had to get that out there. I’m sure no one would have ever found out, but really, sometimes, you just have to lay yourself bare for your own edification.
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