Howard Mass wrote:Yesterday marked 25 years since Shaq broke our hearts and left Orlando.
I still remember so many things about that day like it was yesterday.
That day all the haters won and it was the probably the worst day in Franchise History. It was the end of an Era and excitement of our youth (For those of us that were alive) that was taken away with the stroke of a pen.
Since then, The Magic have had their Stars and even got back To The NBA Finals. The Magic have had better days and the fans better memories than a lot of other teams.
When Shaq left, it was hard as I was a month from starting high school and it wasn't the best 4 years of my life.
After that though, things drastically changed for me as my teenage years were close to an end. I found out about a new website launching. First, I compared research with them and almost 21 years later and almost 40 years old (Years go by fast) here I am today.
This Anniversary sucks but I rarely think about it much today because we move on and Shaq was always going to leave no matter what. Don't buy that crap about the so-called low-ball offer or that damn poll. It only gave him the excuse but it would have happened anyway.
I made it through him winning 3 with The Lakers and saying "Can you dig it" and then going down to Miami and winning one.
I have made it through all the Heat Fans packing the Arena for Magic games and chanting "Let's go Heat" through the years.
I have made it through the years of losing as well.
The thing is, All of us although some teenagers might have missed some of those or not been alive or old enough to watch The Magic when Shaq was here have made it through that.
and then, the bad Lottery Luck that seems to be a curse of that miracle Lotto win in 1993.
Still, we are here and fans.
What more can you do to us as fans?
Other than this getting sold and moved, NOTHING.
For the past decade or so, everyone bashes this team including and I am sick and tired of it.
The Magic are in a great position because one week from Thursday they pick #5 and #8.
For everyone upset about the Top-4, how many times do the so-called Top-4 Players turn out to be the best players?
Go check Draft History like some of us have
https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/past-draftsthe key here is The Magic making their own luck and they well are in a position to do it.
Will WeltHam make the right picks? Who knows?
But regardless, I am excited about the future of this team and look at the playoffs this year...........
Look at the parity...............
Look at the lack of a Super Team......
If you play your cards right in this NBA, you can be back in a few years.
All this team needs is a Title to stomp out recent history.
The Magic do have to make the right moves but there is hope and sometimes that's all you need before something great happens in life.
That hole many of us feel we are in as fans was darker 25 years ago and 4 years later, The Magic landed another Star and the beginning of my time here.
There is no reason to think that things can't turn around.
Have hope everyone and to the haters living here or claiming to be Magic Fans, I've had it. Stop ********* (I typed stars and that is not the filter) on this Team.
Here is to a great Draft Night a week from Thursday.
