Tommy Mann

Micah was crying in Nashville again. One year ago the University of Florida’s 7’1 center Micah Handlogten suffered a devastating injury in the championship game of the Southeastern Conference Tournament. The sophomore endured a compound fracture to his lower leg, a gruesome sight on live TV. His teammates gathered around him as he cried in pain, knowing he may never return to the sport he loved.  Over the course of the season Handlogten recovered and rehabilitated his leg, with hopes to play again, not this year, but next. He was medically cleared to play in February, but the plan remained to sit out this season. After Florida lost two other big men to injuries, Micah decided to forgo his medical redshirt and suit up for the Gators. That meant he would be returning to the scene of his horrific injury: Nashville, and the SEC Tournament.  Not only did he play on the same court where he got hurt, Handlogten’s Gators returned to the championship game and hoisted the trophy in vict...

  When I was in junior high the Orlando Magic signed Spud Webb. At 5 feet 6 inches, Webb is one of the shortest players in NBA history, and the fact that he was successful made him a sensation. To introduce him to the community, Webb held an autograph signing at a local shoe store, so I joined a group of my friends to go meet the little legend.    There were signs posted everywhere that told us there was a one autograph per person limit. I came with a basketball card from Webb’s days with the Sacramento Kings, and they were giving away 5x7 card stock pictures of Webb in his Magic uniform. I wanted to get both signed, so I decided to try.    When it was my turn to approach the table I put my card down and he signed it without looking up. I casually slid the other card his way, and without skipping a beat he flipped it back to me and reached for the next person’s card. The security guard told me to keep moving, and reminded me of the one autograph maximum.  ...