MAY 7th - Reggie Becomes the Higlander



On this day in 1995, Reggie Miller became immortal. Not actually immortal. He wasn’t killed during a game, only to come back to life to the bewilderment and fright of his teammates then forced into exile where he took up with a Spanish Sean Connery who taught him the rules of fighting, beheading, and generally being immortal. There can be only one. That didn’t happen. Although, Reggie is looking pretty good these days, so there is no telling for sure. However, there is no denying that back on this day in 1995, Reggie was the one. 8 points in 11 seconds to beat the Knicks. A three to cut it to three. Steal. Retreat behind the line. Swish. Tie Game. Fouled on rebound. Swish. Swish. Pacers win. In 11 seconds. And he did it all right in front of Spike Lee. You could see him assuming the power of the Knicks almost as if he had beheaded them all to Queen’s “Princes of the Universe,” and their life forces were passing into him. Was one of the sickest things I’ve seen in a basketball game. There are others that rival it. The Jordan flu game. A young Lebron scoring the Cavs last 25. The steal by Bird. But this was one of my favorites. Reggie was so passionate. So visceral. The choke symbol from the year before. The trash talk. And the utter freneticism of 8 points in 11 seconds. There are so few moments that rise above banality and enter that small touch of gold reserved for the most special. It was just a game. A playoff game, but one of no particular significance in the grand scheme of things. It wasn’t a matter of life or death. Mankind wasn’t utterly changed by it. But I still shake my head in awe remembering it. 20 years later. That is the beauty of sports to me. They provide the possibility to see brilliance in the most tangible, immediate manner. And possibility is the best we can ask for. It’s not everyday you get to witness Reggie Miller become the Highlander.

This day has been Marked.

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