by Fresh8 on Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:43 pm
Chapter 26
“So how did you get in here?”
“Cops think I ran someone down.”
“Oh true.”
Reshawn Tyson and Eddie Griffin were talking in their jail cell; both sitting on the edge of their not-so comfortable beds. Griffin shook his head as he felt disgusted about being arrested.
“Man, what about you?”
Tyson grimaced, “I sort of went a bit crazy at my workout.”
“With the Wovles?” asked Griffin.
“Yeah, your team,” Tyson said.
Griffin laughed, “It ain’t my team and I don’t want to play there no more.”
“Why?”
“The management is bad,” Griffin said softly, “Plus, it’s KG’s team. He rules it and they all bow down to him like he’s some sort of a God.”
“Well, he is a hell of a player though.”
Griffin admitted, “That’s true.”
Detective Vince Thompson then walked up to the jail cell and opened it up, “Griffin, you’re free.”
“Thank God,” Griffin muttered, “Finally see the light.”
“It’s your lucky day, the actual guy turned himself in,” Thompson said in a very disappointed tone.
Griffin stood up and put his fist out to Tyson, “Peace son, hope you get out of here soon.”
Tyson returned the gesture and watched Griffin walk out before Alex Sotirov walked in.
Tyson was a bit surprised, “How’d you know I was here?”
Sotirov laughed, “I know a lot of things. Detective Thompson, we will pay Tyson’s bail and get him out.”
Thompson nodded and told Tyson to get out. It was a little while before Tyson was a free man again.
As Tyson and Sotirov walked out, Sotirov whispered into Tyson’s ear, “We need to get you out of here quickly. Your mother rang and told me what happened, we will go home for now.”
It was a cold day in Brooklyn- a sad day for the Tyson family. Reshawn hid behind his sunglasses as he broke down in front of what was to be his brother’s resting place. Mrs Tyson clung onto Mrs Akonnor who had come to help look after her. Mr Akonnor and Rocky watched on solemnly as they farewelled the youngest Tyson.
“Tayshawn would have been a fine man,” Mrs Akonnor reassured Mrs Tyson softly, “It is a tragedy to lose him.”
She led her away as Rocky and his father followed. Alex Sotirov waited nearby for the group. Reshawn wanted to spend some time alone.’
“I’m sorry Tay,” Reshawn was choking on his own words, “I couldn’t save you. I’m so sorry.”
“Sorry won’t bring him back,” a voice said from behind.
It was Stephon Marbury, “What I didn’t tell you is that I got to know Tayshawn well and if there’s anything that he would have wanted; it would be for you and your mother to be happy. The kid really was mature for his age.”
Reshawn found it hard to control his own emotion and Marbury put his hand on his shoulder, “Tyson, death isn’t the end. It’s only the beginning. Life goes on here for you though. I think you should know that your brother will watch you from Heaven and follow you.”
Marbury patted Reshawn on the shoulder, “His biggest hero was you, don’t let him down man.”
Marbury walked away after putting a teddy bear on top of the grave leaving Reshawn alone. Reshawn took his sunglasses off and wiped his eyes with his sleeve. He suddenly knelt down on the ground and cried for a bit more before pulling himself from off the ground and joining his mom for the silent ride home.
- - -
“And how is that ladies and gentlemen?” yelled Hubie Brown, “Rip Hamilton with the game tying bucket!”
Mike Breen announced, “That’s a great jumper at the buzzer, New jersey really took a big chance at not fouling him.”
“The game has gone to overtime,” Hubie Brown said, “Now we’re going courtside with Jim Gray.”
“Thanks Hubie, I’m here with Darko Milicic of Detroit. Darko, how does it feel to be in the Eastern Conference Finals again?”
Darko wasn’t looking too thrilled, “It’s great. I mean, the warm feeling is the same. The bench is always warm because of me.”
Jim Gray faked a laugh, “And how was Rip’s shot at the buzzer?”
“Oh, that was good,” Darko said, rolling his eyes, “Once again, I got the best seat in the house to see it.”
Jin Gray turned his back on Darko and raised an eyebrow, “Ok, Hubie. That’s it from me at the Pistons bench. I will just let you go to Lisa who’s with the Nets.”
Lisa Salters then appeared on the television screen with Vince Carter, “Vince, you guys will be going into overtime soon. You won Game 1 convincingly, any thoughts on how you’re going to tackle the Pistons now?”
Vince Carter smiled, “Well, we just got to keep going with our game plan and we just got to keep running. We want to win and seal this at home. We’re only five minutes from the NBA Finals.”
Lisa then asked, “And do you think you will get to the Finals?”
“Hell yeah baby!” cheered Carter as he waved to the home crowd.
“Back to you in the studio Hubie,” Lisa yelled over the noise of the crowd.
“Thank you to Lisa and Jim who were courtside,” Hubie said, “Mike, what do you think?”
Mike analysed the game thus far, “I think the Nets have been impressive up to half tiem of this game. They really controlled the tempo but the Pistons have awakened from their slumber and are playing championship calibre defence. They are showing it’s never to late to start playing well.”
“Yeah well,” Hubie said, “They have definitely stepped it up after trailing by 20 earlier today. Who do you think will win?”
“Rasheed is tearing it up down there,” Mike predicted, “I think he will stay that way and the Pistons should win this one.”
Play had started again and Vince Carter flushed the ball into the hoop to the delight of the crowd. Carter celebrated and gave high fives to Jefferson and Kidd. That would be the last time Carter would be smiling.
Ten minutes later, Hubie announced, “Well, Game Three is on the cards in both Conference Finals this year. The Pistons won tonight’s game 106 to 98 and tune into ABC in three days for Game 3 between the Detroit Pistons and the New Jersey Nets!”
Sit switched his TV set off and propped his feet on his couch. He reached for the phone and keyed in a number.
Flo’s phone rang and he answered it, “Hello?”
It was Alex Buckley, “Hey Flo, ESPN has asked if you would be interested in writing a draft article.”
Flo smiled, “Sure, of course I would!”
“Ok then, when you get back to Minnesota, I will hook you up with the details Sir.”
Flo hung up before another call came in, “Hello?”
This time it was Sit, “Hey Flo, how’d your mission go?”
“It was good man,” Flo said, “Looks like our friend Grant Galanov is looking at being drafted in the Top 3. Moses should stay there too. This Liu Ishito guy is pretty good too.”
“Sounds like the Americans have overtaken the international players,” Sit said.
“Sure have,” Flo agreed, “But we should be able to get our hands on someone good. This draft looks promising.”
Sit then asked Flo, “Is Mark there?”
Flo tapped Mark on his shoulder and handed the phone to him, “Hey mate.”
“Hey Mark, I just talked to Flo. What are your thoughts?” Sit asked.
“I think Moses Chara is the guy to get but if it backfires, Liu Ishito is a good option,” Mark replied, “I’m a fan for undersized shooting guards after all.”
Sit laughed, “You know we already got McCants.”
“Yeah, I know,” Mark said.
“Well, I hope you guys get back to Minnesota soon,” Sit said, “Pretty crazy right now. I’m having a poker night when the Lakers play in two days so you guys better be here.”
“No worries boss,” Mark assured Sit before hanging up.
Sit, Jing, Peter, Flo and Mark sat at the table playing Poker as Game Three of the Western Conference Finals was being played out.
“How’s your new job Jing?” Sit asked him.
“It sucks man,” Jing said, “When will I get a real job?”
Peter laughed, “When I leave mine. Thanks man, I needed help cleaning anyway.”
Jing sarcastically replied, “Oh, I love to clean toilets too.”
Mark then threw his hand of cards down onto the table, “Look on TV, the Lakers are making a comeback!”
Kobe Bryant held the ball up high over his head and looked to pass the ball. The Lakers were playing in Houston and it was do or die. They had trailed by 11 entering the final period but a spirited comeback had them down 83 to 78 with three minutes left. Kobe passed to Odom who was down on the low block and backing down Juwan Howard. Odom showed great vision as he passed behind his back to Kwame Brown who had cut into the paint. Brown caught the ball and softly lay the ball in.
“That’s what I’m talking about!” Sit yelled out, spilling his drink.
“Man, clean that up!” Flo shouted.
Sit ignored him and cheered on as the Lakers stopped a Rockets attack and pushed the ball up the floor. Kobe got the pass from Walton and went up for his trademark jumper over McGrady. The ball swished through the hoop and LA was only trailing by 1 point.
Marv Albert commentated, “The Lakers are just 1 point down in this game! It looks like the series is still going! They are still alive!”
Sit was jumping up and down and Mark was joining in the celebration.
“You’re drunk aren’t you?” Sit asked.
Mark fell onto the floor and was lying on the ground, “Sure am.”
Flo and Jing were rooting for the Rockets and groaned as Bryant seemed to come out of nowhere to block McGrady’s shot from behind. They laughed though as Bryant collected the ball and took it down quickly and finished with a missed dunk.
“Oh man!” Sit cried, “Don’t miss now.”
The Rockets got the ball back and set up their half court offence. They shared the ball around as the Lakers played defence. Yao Ming missed a close shot and it was Luke Walton who got the rebound. He passed the ball to Odom who ran the clock down by holding onto the ball. Houston didn’t want to commit a foul.
“Times running out,” Peter said under his breathe.
It was at that moment that Lamar went up for an unexpected three pointer. He launched the ball at the flick of his wrist and it spun in the air towards its target. Flo and Jing had their eyes fixated on the screen while Sit was on the edge of his seat.
“No!”
It went in and Sit was on his feet screaming, “That’s what I’m talking about baby!”
Marv Albert was heard on TV, “The Lakers take a slender lead at 85 to 83. The Rockets missed another shot. That was McGrady and he’s fouled out now. The Lakers get two free throws and time has run out. There are only 18 seconds remaining.”
Lamar Odom made his first free throw but missed his second. Kwame Brown was composed and grabbed the rebound before he was fouled too.
“Kwame makes both free throws,” Albert said, “And the Lakers are up by 5 points with just 15.7 seconds left in the game and it looks safe from here unless a miracle happens. Rafer Alston misses a long trey and Kobe holds onto the basketball. And the Lakers are going to the NBA Finals!”
Meanwhile in Detroit, Vince Carter was watching the Lakers Rockets game in his hotel room.
“That’s going to be our next opponent right there,” he boasted to Jason Kidd.
One night later, the Nets lost 119 to 85 and Vince Carter was proven wrong.