| 02 September 2010
The Amway Center is set to open its doors to basketball on October 10 for a preseason game between the Magic and the Hornets. The regular season starts October 28 as Orlando takes on Washington. With the countdown on to the premier of the Magic's new building, I thought it would be good to give Orlando Arena a proper send-off and recount some of the best memories from our old home.
We are t-minus 56 days until regular season basketball in the Amway Center!
And now a file from the strange occurrences that happened at the Orlando Arena. This is the kind of event that proves even a humdrum game in the middle of the regular season can turn into something, well, different.
There is a long list of athletes damaging equipment in a stadium. From Ron Artest throwing a TV in the tunnel to the locker room as he walked off the court or a baseball player taking his frustrations out on a poor, defenseless water cooler, athletes have a funny way of showing their frustration.
There have been few players that were as boisterous, passionate and intense as Tim Hardaway. Hardaway made his career leading the Run TMC crew in Golden State. His killer crossover earned him plenty of YouTube-worthy highlights and a cover appearance on NBA Live. His career really took off when he was traded to Miami and, along with Alonzo Mourning, made the Heat one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.
Hardaway and Magic point guard Darrell Armstrong had something of a history before the Nuggets came to town in March 2002. Armstrong really started to work his way into the hearts and minds of Magic fans with his surprising play in the 1997 NBA Playoffs against the Heat. Armstrong's fire was hidden by Penny Hardaway's super nova performances in Games Three and Four to stave off elimination, but Magic fans would soon know the name of Armstrong.
Armstrong gave Hardaway all kinds of problems with his speed and quickness. Tim Hardaway was getting long in the tooth at this point, although he was still an elite point guard in the NBA. He did not want to deal with this young up-and-comer.
Miami won that series despite Tim Hardaway struggling in the decisive Game Five. Armstrong went on to become one of the darlings in Magic history and probably the most popular player in team history.
What happened on March 15, 2002 probably endeared him to the Orlando Arena faithful more.
It was literally a ho-hum game. Tracy McGrady and Troy Hudson were pacing the Magic to a pretty easy victory over the Denver Nuggets (remember this was the pre-Carmelo Anthony days). As we have learned with Tim Hardaway, though, things are rarely easy.
Hardaway was ejected after arguing a call with Magic forward Monty Williams. Hardaway was not happy to say the lest. He continued barking with the officials as he walked off the court. As he turned to go toward the visiting locker room, he grabbed a television and chucked it half way across the court.
While the crowd continued to boo Hardaway as he walked off the court, Armstrong sprung (literally) into action.
He grabbed the television, put it back where it was and plugged it back in for the fans sitting courtside. Surprisingly it still worked.
One of the odder moments in Orlando Arena history.
This story has a happy ending too. At that year's Black Tie and Tennie's Charity Gala, the television was auctioned with Armstrong and Hardaway's signature on it.
We will be reminiscing about Orlando Arena for the rest of the summer. Have a memory you would like remembered? Tweet us with your memories @OMagicDaily, comment to this article or contact us through the Web site.
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