not really a Christmas gift, but a cool one that means a helluva lot personally. 1985 SEC Basketball Tournament in Birmingham, Gerald White in OT hit 2 free throws to win the game then Mark Gottfried traveled and Chuck Person threw a full court pass to Frank Ford that dunked it at the buzzer. Frank passed in Dec 2018. Gerald in April. I haven't been on Ebay in years but did recently to look for a book in hardback my daughter is getting for her Christmas gift. found it and then this pops up. 1985 SEC basketball tournament watch. so I did something that shocked my friends and I spent money. not a lot to them but I got the watch. the lady said she bought it at an estate sale in Tampa and was hoping someone that liked Auburn would buy it. I don't even wear a watch. then I tell the UPS man what is in the box and he said he's a huge Auburn fan and asked if it would be ok if he sees it. I said sure and he told me he's taking his 2 young sons to Auburn for the first time ever for the Iron Bowl.
I had that game on VHS and copied to DVD about 15 years ago or so. One day about that time we are in the Auburn hotel conference center in a big room and some of us watching it on a laptop. the hospitality guy brought in a projector and we watched the game on the wall while Sonny made hilarious comments just like the game was yesterday. The coaches had never seen the game because they had to prepare for the tournament and 1985 isn't like today, when everything is recorded and available. coach Lawrence Johnson told me they had never seen it and asked if I could mail him a copy. I gave him that copy. I got a great note in the mail like our parents used to do and now young people text. it was on my PC and easy to copy I told him. 2019 I saw him in Auburn and he told me how much that meant. he said when his wife had passed and his children were boxing up their house for him to downsize, he watched that dvd all day long and it helped him through his grief and think about the great times they had together. that was emotional for both of us.
probably a little cheesy, but those 2 guys were a big part of my life and my kids, they loved each other like family. they were my brothers.
here is a link to the entire game.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtDekZR6B4g
