Thunder and The Doc.

Nothing like the sound of thunder to help a Brother get to sleep. 

I had planned to go out last night, maybe just for a little while. When I returned home from My day at Northside News, I turned on the television to be informed that it was about to come DOWN. I think the exact wording the weatherman used was, 'It's finna rain like a mug, get your ass under a table or some shit.'

I made the decision to stay in the house. Watched the Boston Celtics beat the Detroit Pistons, which brought me infinite joy. I will hold onto this grudge against the Pistons for a long time; they ruined Uncle Reggie's best chance for a ring, or did y'all forget...?

I will never forget, yo. Things haven't been the same since here in Indiana.

...and I am an old-school Celtic-Hater. It was really hard for me to root for them. That damn Larry Bird (who is now the President of the Pacers) and them kept my beloved Dr. J from getting all the rings I so desperately wanted for him. Man, The Doctor was THAT DUDE.

Ahh. the good ol' days. My Uncle Tim met The Doctor once when the Sixers were in town to play our Pacers. The Doc was at Mickey D's (this is when athletes weren't so dad-blamed health-conscious and McDonald's was still a viable option for regular meals. Remember how Larry Bird and Vlade Divac would smoke at their locker?) Unc went up to Doc and asked if he could get an autograph for his nephew (ME!). Doc had to shoot him down. With Big Mac in hand, the Doc told my Uncle...

"I'm eating, man."

Right on, Doc. Tim wasn't even mad. He even explained it to me and it gave me a whole new understanding of 'celebrity' and 'personal space'. As a kid, I probably woulda been heartbroken if he had said it to me. My Uncle had to be about 26 or so and the Doc probably had people running up on him all day. He was the face of the league at this time. So, when some Brutha comes up to him asking for an autograph 'for his nephew', I am pretty sure the Doc had a reaction like 'YEAH, RIGHT.', wiped the Special Sauce from his hands, and waved my Uncle off. And I woulda too; shoooooooot....'I'm eating, man, and make sure you take your nephew to see 'The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh.'

Doc rules. Click the title for proof.