17 Years Later the Memories Still Remain

17 years ago today, I was eagerly anticipating going to Northeastern University's Matthews Arena the following morning, awaiting the arrival of the best player on the Celtics, Reggie Lewis. I was a camper at the Northeastern basketball camp and Lewis - the greatest player in school history - was scheduled to give a lecture and sign autographs for all the campers. Lewis was my basketball hero at the time, the one chance that the Celtics had to remain relevant in the NBA that was being dominated by Michael Jordan and the Bulls. A 6-7 swingman, Reggie was a wonderful all-around player who was using all of his skills to keep Boston competitive. Tragically, he died of heart problems while working out at Brandeis University at the same time that I was preparing to impress him with my newly learned skills. Just months before, Lewis had collapsed during a playoff game against the Charlotte Hornets but no one believed that a 27-year-old athletic god would be lost at the height of his game. Coupled with the 1986 death of draft pick Len Bias, Lewis' death marked the end of a 36-year stretch of dominance for the Celtics that lasted from their first title in 1957 until the moment Reggie Lewis took his last breath. The Celtics did not recover until 2007 when Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen began the process of bringing a championship back to the Boston Garden. However, for fans like myself who worshipped Reggie Lewis, the glow of the championship did not return our hero to the court. Reggie Lewis will always remain in my memory, a gifted hoop star ready to drive by the opposing defense and continue in the Celtics tradition of great small forwards from Sam Jones to John Havlicek to Larry Bird. Rest in Peace Reggie, #35 will forever be remembered.