In an earlier post I mentioned that I’d be posting entries highlighting events that I have been able to cross off of my “Basketball Bucket List”. Here’s the first installation.

Private conference with Teddy Valentine and Stephen Curry: Been there, Done that

I’m going to fill you in on a secret that is just one of the many reasons that Davidson has been so successful in the Southern Conference for the last few years: Davidson plays extremely physical defense.  They have mastered the art of doing as much as you can get away with without getting whistled for a foul.  If you can get away with it, why not do it?

This year against Davidson towards the end of the first half, I start to cut across the baseline.  Sure enough Curry is holding on to my jersey.  I threw his arm off me but before I could cross the paint I hear a whistle.  The next thing I know, Stephen and I were standing at the free throw line on the receiving end of a Teddy Valentine lecture.  For those of you that don’t know who Teddy Valentine is, he is a very high profile referee.  He actually gave Bobby Knight 3 technicals in a single game in 1998.

Teddy V: You (me) don’t mess with him and you (Stephen) don’t mess with him. Cut that s*** out!

In case you were wondering, yes it did feel like I was in the 3rd grade being sent to the principles office.