Though I’ve lived in America for the last 9 years, I’m originally from Scotland, where I lived until the year 2000 when I was 20. I went to College in Edinburgh, and thankfully, that was the only Scottish city where there was a team in the British League. Though I was never that into British basketball, and I was actually a fan of the Bulls back then, I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to watch some live basketball being played at a high level. The Edinburgh Rocks weren’t a great team if I recall correctly. I managed to catch about a half dozen games that season, most of them losses. I somehow had talked my friend from computing class into going to the games with me and despite him having no interest in basketball, he really got into the games which made the experience that much better for myself.
So on this particular occasion, the Rocks were playing one of the premier teams in the league. I’d be lying if I said I remember which team, but it was a team good enough to seemingly put the game away in the first half. The Rocks had an abysmal half. If fact, to be honest, they didn’t have a great team at all. I remember their back up center came to my pick up court once. I matched up with him, and I didn’t do half bad against him despite him being about 6 inches taller. They did seem to have one talented player, who was freakishly athletic, and a good defender, but I don’t remember him being much of a shooter or ball handler.
Anyway, this player (who’s name I don’t remember), started to get things going for them in the second half. I feel like they were down by about 20, and this guy seemed to be single handedly getting them back in the game, mostly on dunks. I feel like there was about 5 minutes left in the game when he stole the ball and looked to try and beat the defense down the floor for an easy basket that would tie up the game. The defense did catch up to him, but they couldn’t stop him from raising up for the dunk and dunk he did! He shattered the entire backboard, Shaq style! Everyone was on their feet. The place went crazy like I have never seen in person before or since. He wasn’t even a big guy, probably 6’6” and 220lbs or in that vicinity, but it was just such an aggressive in your face dunk that the backboard had no chance.
So there we are. A few minutes left in the game, with everything tied up, and no one is sure what to do. They can’t seem to come up with an alternative basket or backboard, so eventually the PA announcer lets us know that the game will conclude in their practice gym at the other side of the building. Of course, this gym has no bleachers, so the majority of the crowd couldn’t even get in there. My friend and I were lucky enough to squeeze in.
The game resumed, and the Rocks kept the momentum going their way. They started pulling away and it seemed like a victory would be the perfect finish to the crazy comeback and backboard shattering evening. But the athletic guy who previously shattered the backboard wasn’t finished. He got the ball on another fast break, and did the exact same thing! Yes, he just shattered his second backboard of the night! From the few fans that squeezed into their practice gym, there seemed to be as much noise as there was when he did it for the first time! I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing. No one could. It was out of this world.
After some further discussion between officials, and employees of the venue, they decided to declare the game over, and the Edinburgh Rocks victorious!
Go Scotland!
P.S. – some details might not be exactly right. I have a terrible memory and this was almost 10 years ago.
Topic: What's the Greatest Sporting Event You've Seen in Person? (Read 13831 times)