The Power of the MIC

I have over the years had an opportunity to meet many people who when you hear their name you eye brow raises just a little.  The US Olympic Basketball is in London this week and Nate McMillan former product from Broughton High and Chowan College is one of the assistant coaches on that team.  He became famous when he played for Jim Valvano and N C State after he left Murfreesboro.  He played pro ball in Seattle and if they still had a team his jersey would hang in the rafters but they are now in OKC.  Just this year he was fired after coaching both Seattle and Portland in the NBA.

I had the pleasure as the play by play man for Chowan College to cover his two years playing for the Braves.  His senior year in Raleigh one of the civic clubs in Murfreesboro got the Traveling ACC All Stars to come to Murfreesboro.  This was 1986 which was Coach K's first final four team at Duke and he had four seniors who graduated that year.  Jay Bilas, Mark Allarie, Johnnie Dawkins and David Henderson.

This just happened to be the Thursday night after the Duke boys lost in the championship game on Monday.  The gym at Murfreesboro held about 800 folks and it was packed.  Nate was the one player that everyone came to see since he was back home at Chowan.  Just to come along for the ride was another State player who had nothing else to do that night so he came with Nate.  Derrick Whittenburg.

I was asked to play in the game representing the news media.  I really know the reason they needed some shooters and I was neighborhood famous even then at about 33 years old for being a great h-o-r-s-e player.  If you could compare me to an NBA player when we played two on two in the back yard I was Steve Nash, all offense no defense.  Don't leave me open just because I was short I could drill it.  But guard somebody four or five inches taller than me and they would score all game long.

The game started and it wasn't before long I am standing alone about 20 feet from the basket so I fire up my first shot of the night.  Out of no where I feel this whirl wind slap at the ball and it is heading right straight back at the bridge of my nose.  Mark Allarie  has swatted it away.  I still have a dent in my nose today.  The news media guys hung tough for a while.   Finally late in the game I think I am 0-3 shooting  I have now backed away from the basket far enough nobody is going to block my next shot.  B I N G O a three pointer  which cuts into the ACC All Stars 70 point lead.  I think the final score is something like 119-49.

As they say in the song when CBS signs off after the National Championship game my shining moment to be on the court at the same time as Nate McMillan who I have a feeling is going to be working in Charlotte before long.  Jay Bilas  who is all over the TV during college basketball season.  Johnnie Dawkins who just might be the next Duke basketball coach. Derrick Whittenburg who is seen every year during the NCAA tournament when ever the 83 Pack team is talked about.  David Henderson and Mark Allarie two legends of Duke and college basketball.

I was there right on the same court with them.  I know if I didn't talk on the radio I would have never been there.  That's just the power of the MIC.