| The Best Charlotte Player of All-Time – Part 3: The Fort Mill Bracket Authored by David Mosley - April 3, 2005 - 8:36 pm
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First Round Highlights:
(1)Larry Johnson vs. (16)Marty Conlon
(2)Muggsy Bogues vs. (15)LeRon Ellis
(3)David Wesley vs. (14)Tony Delk
(4)Derrick Colemen vs. (13)Melvin Ely
(5)Elden Campbell vs. (12)Marty Conlon
(6)Brevin Knight vs. (11)Michael Holton
(7)Armen Gilliam vs. (10)Ricky Pierce
(8)Primoz Brezec vs. (9)Matt Geiger
First off, let me address some rumors that are flying around. A few of you have the audacity to suggest that I am making this stuff up and that I am biased. The second part is true, I am biased, but I assure you I am merely reporting the facts here. I’m sorry you don’t believe in the miracles of modern science. Maybe you should move to Alabama. I hear science is illegal there.
The early morning games went as scheduled. It wasn’t until Derrick Coleman took the court that things got interesting. Derrick entered the arena followed by a crowd of reporters and an angry soccer mom yelling “He’s drunk! He’s drunk! Give him a breathalyzer. He kicked a homeless man in the parking lot.” (See, you can’t make that kind of thing up.) Unfortunately for Melvin Ely, a hammered Derrick Coleman is still too much to handle. In fact, considering the way Ely played, maybe he’s the one that needed the breathalyzer. Somebody call Ely a taxi. Coleman won the game 11-4.
Everyone has been waiting patiently for the 5-12 upset and Marty Conlon did not disappoint in his game with Elden Campbell, who showed up wearing an “I’d rather be fishing” hat. Conlon, showing that insane looking jumper with his elbow flying out, hit from the left side, the right side and the top of the key. There’s no stopping Conlon, at least not by Campbell who kept asking, “Is it over yet?” During a timeout Campbell even took a nap on the scorers table. That’s one sleepy dude. He makes Sam Perkins look like Bam Margera at a Mini Thin convention. Conlon continued after naptime and finished Campbell off 11-5.
Brevin Knight, a.k.a “Little Nickels”, because he’s too short for a dime, was up to the task against another expansion point guard, Michael Holten. Poor Holten, he’s one letter away from being the Devil. As expected, Knight was too quick for Holten and routinely beat him to the rim. Knight, who’s like the anti-Curry, didn’t shoot outside of 3 feet and still managed to win 11-8.
Primoz Brezec won by default when Matt Geiger decided to meet fellow boozer Derrick Coleman at the Crown Club for drinks halfway through the game. “Primoz shoot ball...Primoz win game…Primoz good.”
Other first round winners included Larry Johnson, Muggsy Bogues, David Wesley and Armen Gilliam.
Second Round Highlights:
(1)Larry Johnson vs. (8)Primoz Brezec
(2)Muggsy Bogues vs. (7)Armen Gilliam
(3)David Wesley vs. (6)Brevin Knight
(4)Derrick Colemen vs. (12)Marty Conlon
Larry Johnson was a running late after shooting a shoe commercial before the game. He showed up to the arena in his Grandmama outfit and didn’t have time to change. It didn’t matter. Johnson, wearing a dress, punked Primoz Brezec in a blowout, 11-2. After the game, a distraught Brezec refused to come out of the locker-room for an hour. “Primoz lose to woman…Primoz disgrace family” Man that’s tough to swallow.
Armen Gilliam could barely get the ball past the 3 point line without getting it stolen by Muggsy Bogues. What Muggsy lacks in height he makes up for with quickness and strength. In this game Muggsy’s quickness was the deciding factor. The only thing Gilliam had going for him was Muggsy stopped playing on five occasions just to point and laugh and Gilliam’s haircut. You know… that ridiculous high sloped fade with the stripes in the side. You’ve gotta love the 80’s. Muggsy won the game 11-4.
Watch out! Here comes the battle of the nice guys. Brevin Knight was able to win his first game based purely on his speed, but he won’t be able to get away with that against David Wesley or so I thought. Knight, displayed his relentless attitude and took the ball right at Wesley every chance he had. Wesley spent so much energy trying to keep up with the quicker Knight the he didn’t have his legs or his jumper. Chalk one up for Little Nickels. He’s moving on with a win over Wesley 11-7.
Derrick Coleman showed up to his game with Marty Conlon wearing sunglasses and the same clothes he wore the previous day. Not a good sign for Coleman. We know that a drunken Coleman can play but how does a hung-over Coleman play? Apparently the drunken Coleman is better. Today his first 3 shots were air balls. However, Coleman played just good enough to nudge past Conlon 12-10, setting up a match with Larry Johnson.
Regional Semifinal Highlights:
(1)Larry Johnson vs. (4)Derrick Coleman
(2)Muggsy Bogues vs. (6)Brevin Knight
You must be kidding me, right? Where’s Spud Webb when you need him? Brevin Knight must feel like a real NBA player for once going against Muggsy Bogues. Since neither player could rely on their quickness nor could either player shoot outside of 10 feet, this game turned into match of post moves. You would think Knight would have the advantage in the paint since he stands a full 7 inches taller than Bogues. Not so fast. Bogues was an All-State wrestling champ in high school. He isn’t going to be backed down by measly Brevin Knight. Then, in a shock to the entire arena, Bogues displayed his arsenal of post moves that he must have been saving since 5th grade. Who knew Bogues was a Kevin McHale fan? First, the baseline fadeway, then the jump hook and finally the game winning up and under move. NO HE DIDN’T! Yes he did. Bogues won the clash of the Lilliputians 11-9.
I’ve been waiting 14 years to see Larry Johnson and Derrick Coleman in a game of one on one. We get to find out once and for all who was the better former number one pick. In another marvel of modern science, the creator if this tournament is going to allow the Derrick Coleman from 1992 (not the fat, lazy Coleman Hornets fans grew to hate) to go against the Larry Johnson from 1992. Now we are talking. Johnson, sans the Grandmama outfit, looked like he was on a mission from God. Johnson displayed skills as flashy as his sparkling trademark gold tooth, but Coleman, not to be outdone, matched Johnson basket for basket. Both players were hitting 2’s, driving for dunks, and handling the ball like Magic Johnson on steroids. The game was tied 10-10 when Johnson called the infamous Dallas play. He spun left, spun right and then pulled up and drained a 25 foot bomb to win the game 12-10. The crowd erupted as they were obviously rooting for the loveable Johnson to win the game, except that one guy with the bright orange Rony Seikaly Syracuse jersey sitting in the nosebleeds…tough luck Rony.
Regional Final Highlights:
(1)Larry Johnson vs. (2)Muggsy Bogues
Do we really have to play this one out? Just to make things interesting, Larry Johnson spotted Muggsy Bogues 7 points to start the game. He could have spotted him more. Johnson won the game easily 11-8.
Winner: Larry Johnson |
