The Inbounds Passer

Some might say, “Well they were up 5 with the ball and 7 sconds left”

Some might say, “It was the bobhorncatnets, they weren’t going to catch up, and who gives a shit.”

But I say, “It all came down to that inbounds pass and the man that did it.”

All three of us are right, but I’m the most right. 110 percent more right in fact.

It came down to 7 seconds left in the game with the Chicago Bulls up 5 points to the Charlotte Bobhorncatnets (side note: Let’s give a final hat tip to the “Bobcats” the most egotistical sports name in history, they were named so because the owner’s name was Bob, imagine the Mavericks being the Dallas Cubans). The Bulls have the ball in their half of the court and just need to run out the clock. There’s only one man to call in this situation. He’s presently sitting on the bench looking good in a sweet Chicago Bulls warm up jacket. Coach Thibodeau looks in his direction and immediately benches Carlos Boozer. Thibs gives out the play and the Bulls head to run an inbounds play.

Our (read:my) hero takes the ball from the ref, and the play begins. Bodies fly around in a swirling sea of Red, white, whatever blue that is, and I guess orange (seriously what are the Charlotte colors?), but never long enough for an opening. The Referee is diligently counting out the seconds allowed for an inbounds play. The play seems thwarted as every ’Cat is on their man like white on rice (or brown on rice depending on the rice you decide to eat that day). Quickly our hero has to make a strategic move and calls one of the remaining time outs. He looks dejected as he skulks back to the bench. Fresh from the bench he was not able to deliver when his team needed him most. Luckily enough he still had one more chance.

Thibodeau knelt before his men, Derrick, Kirk, Luol, Joaquim, and our hero, and diagrammed his play. By the end the white board was so full of lines and arrows that no one could possibly accurately diagram the play  backwards, and the players were making their way to their positions on the court. This time a slight skip in their step. For this was the time to end the game. This was the time champions are made. Each win matters in a season. It could mean home court in the playoffs, or if the playoffs are even attainable.  A whistle is blown.

The ball is handed over. Movement is incessant around the court. Finally after going through what seems like a billion picks Derrick Rose comes sprinting from towards the half court line. Our hero passes to him. Rose lands on the offensive half of the court but his momentum is pushing over the line for a half court violation and a chance for the Hornbobnetcats, Rose jumps in the air and passes it back to the inbounder. He of fleet foot has quietly taken one step inbounds and has been completely ignored by the defense. He gets the ball and quickly passes it to another Bull across court as the last precious seconds are ticking down. The Bulls victory is literally clinching as another cross court pass ends any hope for the Charlotte Hornbobnetcats to win this game. The Bulls are victorious.

The Inbounds passer in this tale is of course is the one, the only, Mike Dunleavy.

Nailed it.

Email: seamusfennell@gmail.com   
Twitter: Kevin_seamus