A dream come true at the Aud
Toolbox
By Matt Lash - Published: March 19, 2007
I had a dream growing up: to play professional basketball.
The course was charted in my mind. I would attend perennial power Duke University and make the hoops team as a walk-on, then improbably claw my way to the pro game. The only problem was I lost the roll of the genetic dice – no towering height, long arms or lightning-fast legs on this body. I did not have jump-out-the-gym dunking ability or a break-their-ankles crossover to boot.
But, a kid from Barre can dream, can't he?
I still had the itch through my teens, especially when I attended another college basketball frontrunner and alma mater of several pro players, St. John's University in New York City. Manhattan's Rucker Park and the West 4th Street courts, where the city's best street ballers compete each summer against college and pro athletes, were only a subway ride away for a wide-eyed spectator like me.
No one would have guessed my dream would be realized in my hometown of Barre on Feb. 24. That day, I played in the American Basketball Association – albeit only for one night – when I suited up for a battle against the Newark Express as the Vermont Frost Heaves' Northfield Savings Bank Community All Star. Apparently, through my role as executive director of the Barre Partnership, I had made enough of an impression on Frost Heaves owner Alex Wolff to spur the invitation for the team's final home game at the Aud.
Before scooting to the venue in my Ford Taurus, I dug my tired Nike sneakers from deep within the closet. I arrived at the vaunted Barre Auditorium 90 minutes before tip-off and headed straight to the locker room. It was just myself, Heaves Coach Will Voigt and 6-foot-8, 230-pound forward Issa Konare inside the drab dressing area. Issa welcome me to the fold as he rubbed his knees with Bengay. Truth be told, I probably needed some of that wonder cream head-to-toe for my tense 5-foot-11 body.
The Frost Heaves warmed up as I emerged onto the glossy hardwood. My teammates were throwing down thunderous dunks with absolute ease. Legs still flat from a multi-year basketball layoff, I joined the lay-up line and missed my first two attempts. After that, my shots started falling and any hint of nervousness vanished. All of a sudden, the Granite City's hometown boy was back in the saddle on the same court where he played in the local youth leagues a seeming eternity ago.
The Heaves stormed out to a 59-32 halftime lead. On his way into the locker room, guard Tyrone Barley uttered in my ear, "At this rate, you may actually get some burn, man. Be prepared!" There was no arguing – I would be geared up if Coach Voigt called me into the game. After all, I was living my dream.
During intermission, it is customary for the Community All Star to take a lay-up, free throw, 3-pointer and half court shot for charity during a 24-second timeframe. The more baskets made, the more money goes to the cause. My goal, as I told co-workers, friends and family before the game, was to simply hit the rim.
Boy, did I do just that – and then some.
As expected, I made the lay-up. Easy enough! My foul shot was on the money. Nothing but net! Stepping back a few feet, I launched a jumper from beyond the arc. Lights out! A late inbound pass did not allow me enough time for the half court heave, but sinking 3-of-3 previous attempts was impressive enough. No air balls in these parts!
With a commanding advantage in the fourth quarter, the proverbial stars were aligned for my professional debut. When the clock drew under two minutes, Coach Voigt signaled for me to enter the game and called a timeout to strategize. My 90 seconds of fame had come.
In the huddle, Coach Voigt's instructions to me were blunt – "Just Shoot It." According to his dry-erase board, I was to come off the block and set a pick for guard Dana Martin, and then curl around for the pass and an open (hopefully) shot. Once on the court, the Newark Express knew I would be vying for the ball and stuck a defender to me like glue. I executed the play as ordered, but the tenacious defense and superior speed of my opponent prevented me from launching a jumper. Funny thing is, I did not care. All I wanted to do was play.
And I did.
The crowd erupted over the final buzzer signaling the 124-75 Frost Heaves victory. As is tradition after a game, the team lined up for autograph signing and photos with fans. I cannot lie – in the days leading up to the contest, I scribbled more than one test signature on my Steno Pad. Good thing I did, because the line of must-sign posters, t-shirts, basketballs and ticket stubs was never-ending. My Sharpie definitely got a workout that evening.
After closing up shop, I retreated to the locker room to dress. Despite an aching knee that ruled out any sort of future comeback other than an occasional pick-up game, the Frost Heaves made my childhood wish come true. My time with the Heaves showed that even long-forgotten aspirations could be realized at the most unsuspecting times. All of the hoopla generated by 1,650 raucous fans made me feel like a homegrown basketball luminary.
For a night last February, I was that superstar – just as my adolescent soul had planned.
Matt Lash is a resident of Barre City and executive director of the Barre Partnership, the local nonprofit committed to fostering a vibrant downtown. He can be contacted at 476-0267 or barpart@barrecity.org.
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