I was working at a sporting goods store in Lafayette Square Mall called “The Athletic Department,” and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar came into the store to sign autographs. I imagine it was something like having the president visit, because he basically swept in, sat at the table signing autographs, and swept out.

We sat way out in the hinterlands, but not as far out as I was when I saw the 1984 Olympic Team with 63,000 of my closest friends in the then “Hoosierdome.”

The game was fun, and I remember Sampson being awesome. I think they did the three-point competition and the dunk contest at MSA, though. ‘Nique and Jordan put on a helluva show in what I think was the second NBA contest. I had a program (lost to the ages now), and what I remember was a picture of Larry Nance, who had won the previous year, basically being at eye level with the rim for a dunk.

Terence Stansbury was the only Pacer involved that weekend, making it to the second round of the dunk contest. Still, it was fun.