10 Years at the Verizon Center
By JohnnyFor the past few months, there have been signs around Chinatown celebrating the ten year anniversary of the Verizon Center: “Ten Years at the Center of the Action.” This weekend, sports fans in D.C. got to see the Washington Wizards celebrate the event as they gave out miniature ceramic arenas and retired #10 Earl “The Pearl” Monroe’s jersey at their game against the Toronto Raptors. For the Hoyas, it was ten years ago today that Georgetown played their first game in their new home.
Georgetown fans had been awaiting the move for quite some time, and there was plenty of excitement as the Hoya faithful got their first glimpse of what was then the MCI Center. The brand new arena looked sharp and had what was at the time a fairly impressive jumbotron. With their commemorative opening day pins and their unusually large ticket with Jahidi White’s photograph on it, season ticket holders were ready for a new chapter in Hoya History.
Unfortunately, it didn’t start out as well as the Hoyas had hoped, as Georgetown fell to Villanova in their inaugural game 73-69.
Georgetown was led in scoring by Daymond Jackson with 13 points. Boubacar Aw, Kenny Brunner, and Nathaniel Burton each added 10 points. The game was close throughout, and the Hoyas might have come away with a win if their free throw shooting had not been so poor. Georgetown shot 8 for 22 from the stripe - 36.4%.
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December 3rd, 2007 at 12:59 pm
In addition to the poor free throw shooting, this game was also very poorly officiated, if I recall. I have a vivid memory of screaming at Jim Burr to crawl out of then coach Steve Lappas’ ass and watch the game. He could definitely hear me, although I didn’t get a response from the profane old codger.
December 3rd, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Speaking of bad officiating, check out this “blind praising the blind” quote from Ted Valentine on Jim Burr:
“(NCAA Division I men’s basketball referee) Jim Burr is the greatest official of his time for a number of reasons. He’s a stand-up type individual who is constantly concerned with doing the right thing for the game. He is not intimidated by coaches or players and brings a tremendous amount of integrity to the profession and the game. I learned to referee from Jim Burr and was a pupil of his in the beginning. He has helped me become the official I am today.”
source: http://www.referee.com/more/Samples/non_subscribers1205/free_25on25.html
That explains a lot doesn’t it?
December 3rd, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Hey Paul, I’m not sure it is all praise. Teddy says, “He has helped me become the official I am today.” I can’t think of a bigger insult than saying Jim Burr is responsible for Valentine’s officiating ability!
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:44 pm
Agreed, although for some reason, I believe that in Valentine’s own mind, he is the greatest basketball official to ever take over a game and draw attention away from the players and onto himself (where it rightfully belongs!).
December 4th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
I think the attention is normally grabbed but Valentine’s big buttocks being stuffed into those tight pants. Now that’s what I call FOUL!