Opening Night and 20th Anniversary season have arrived
By Marc D'Amico | October 27, 2008
A 52-win season, Southeast Division championship, first round playoff win, rebounding title for Dwight Howard and Most Improved Player Award for Hedo Turkoglu are all in the past. Those accolades are lost in history as part of the 19th season of Orlando Magic basketball.
At 7 p.m. Wednesday night at Amway Arena, a new season will emerge and new goals can finally be met. The 20th Anniversary tip-off has finally arrived.
Opening night is always special, but this year it’s different. In Orlando, this year is supposed to be (pardon the pun) magical. This year celebrates 20 FANtastic seasons in Orlando and one of the brightest futures of any organization in the NBA. With a 52-win season behind them and a new Events Center right around the corner, this is the year Magic faithful are hearing whispers of the word “championship” floating around daily.
This is all why the electricity in Amway Arena Wednesday night will be out of this world. It’s also a call for a special celebration, and that’s why fans are encouraged to be in their seats by 6:45 p.m. in order to catch every second of the action.
In commemoration of the 20th Anniversary, the 1989 Orlando Magic team will be introduced in a pre-game ceremony. Otis Smith, Morlon Wiley and Nick Anderson, who are current members of the organization, were part of that first Magic team.
“I think it’s a great thing for the franchise and a lot of fun for the fans,” Head Coach Stan Van Gundy said of the opening night cermony. “I think it’s a great thing they (the Magic organization) are doing.”
The players are taking notice of what will occur before the game as well. Magic rookie Courtney Lee believes that the pre-game events will play a role in energizing the players prior to tip-off.
“Going out for the first game, everyone is going to be excited,” Lee said. “The adrenaline is going to be pumping and then having the 1989 team be there is going to be extra motivation for us to go out there and prove ourselves tomorrow.”
With all of the championship talk that the players and organization have put on public display over the past couple of months, they know that after the pre-game ceremony are over, it’s time to play ball. Tip-off Wednesday night means it’s the real deal and from here out every game counts.
Coach Van Gundy stated that he will be enjoying the ceremony before the game, but his mind will certainly be concentrating on the Atlanta Hawks and how to win the game. Dwight Howard is in the same boat, as he realizes that this game is important not only because it’s the season opener but also because it’s in Amway Arena.
“It’s important to start any season off with a great effort from everybody,” he said. “Showing the fans and everybody what kind of team we’re going to be starts off tomorrow night.”
It’s going to be a night of celebration in Orlando; a celebration of the past, present and future.
In 1989, the Magic, Otis Smith and his teammates were all NBA babies. In 2008, Howard and his teammates want to show everyone that the Orlando Magic are all grown up and ready to bring the Larry O’Brien Trophy home. Wednesday night at tip-off, they’ll have their first chance to prove it to the world.
