Terry Davis: (MCI) Center of Attention - survival,

just getting the strength back and getting the mobility. The New York City University Then you are in our spirit right now. You're talking in the basketball. You're talking great teams, you're talking great individual players. Takes it off and there's number 23 and of course Johnny goes nuts. That's a wrong game. There's a bunch of things about it now. I just tried to go up there with

playing my game. I have no idea what you're talking about now. I don't like anybody. I'm not a peeper person. Grant, you made the pass. Yes. You catch the ball. Yes. All the stars are aligned and all the muscles are spotted at the right time and I was able to get off the ground and throw one down. I was saving that as a price for you.

And now introducing your host for in all airness at a Ryan. Welcome to episode 120. Thanks for joining me. A new format for you today. I welcome your feedback on whether you'd enjoy more episodes for the last in this style. I'm pleased to welcome 10 year NBA veteran Terry Davis. All going to plan. Terry will join the show at a future date for a deep dive

on his life in basketball. Here Terry reflects on his NBA return and pivotal role in the debut of Washington's MCI center early in the 1998 NBA season. Shout out to great friend of the show Jim McElvone who's VHS tape of this game. His son explain against Terry's wizards is the source audio you're here during this episode. Now normally you're going to be able to see the

show. I'd preface a conversation with facts and figures about my guests. However, in this format, it's best to listen and learn as the episode unfolds towards end of the episode. I'll share another great podcast review. If you can spare a moment or two, please add your review via your listening app. It'll be most appreciated. Show notes for this episode and access to a huge archive of

past episodes are available at in all airness.com. Now on to the show. In 1994 NBA All Star and 19 year veteran enforcer, the great Charles Oakley has had a notable influence on Terry Davis's life. They are both products of Virginia Union. Here's Terry on the impact of his mentor Oakley. Oh man. Adam Charles is like a big brother to me. First of all, coming out of

high school. I wanted to be the next Charles Oakley. It wasn't Michael Jordan. Charles Oakley was my role model. And I just loved everything about his basketball game. And once I got to Virginia Union, he just came back and took me on this wing as a little brother and started working with me and put me in the waiting room. And he wanted me to put on

size and be a big and force alike him. And he made sure that he was preparing me for the NBA every summer. He's the reason I came to Virginia Union. I had saw with my college coach and Coach Robbins had done with him in his four years at Virginia Union. And how he had made it. He made him such an outstanding and great player. In Virginia

Union during the summertime, that's where a lot of us come and practice and train. And in that little bit of jammer on campus, we don't have air condition or a nor heating system. And it's like 120 degrees in the summer. It's very hot in there. And it's very good training in Adam because it really gets you in shape. And it really gets you in condition to

prepare you for the NBA. So a lot of guys like to come over there in that little sweat box. And I hope that it is all about hard work. It's all about discipline. It is all about details. That's what he passed down to us. And he just prepares, man. And we so thankful to have a Charles Oakley to be able to be our role model. Prior

to the 1992 NBA season, Terry Davis signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Dallas Mavericks. He had been recently released after two seasons with expansion franchise, the Miami Heat. And the second season with the Mavericks, Davis was putting up Charles Oakley type numbers per basketball reference.com. Terry averaged 11.5 points and 9.6 rebounds in just 32 minutes per game. He started 141 of a possible 143

games. In his second game of the 1993 campaign, Davis exploded for a career high 35 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in a victory over the visiting Atlanta Hawks. Though Terry's 93 Mavericks struggled mightily, their 11th win was the team's final regular season game. Life was good for Davis. He was 25 years old, playing great basketball, and about enter his peak years as a pro. On my

second, 1993, just eight days removed from Dallas's regular season finale. In the blink of an eye, Terry's life changed forever. He was involved in a one car accident in South Boston, Virginia. Per the Odessa American newspaper, Terry lost control of his car and struck a tree. Among numerous injuries sustained, Terry suffered a shattered left elbow. Tragically, one passion to died in the wreck. The Mavericks team

physician, one of three doctors to perform reconstructive surgery on Davis's shooting arm, cautioned that even with hard work and a positive attitude, Terry may never recover sufficiently to be an effective player again. I was in the early summer at the I had an outstanding season with Dallas that year, and they had just gave me extension with the team. I came home this summer, and I was

in a serious car accident, back in my hometown, and crushed my elbow in the 20 different pieces. My shoot-known at that, my left hand. At that point, I just knew that my basketball career was over, which taken to the hospital. I took that arm, and at that point, I called Norm Sandrew and the Dallas Mavericks Norm right off the back. He wanted to know where it

was I, and how could he help me? And he said, okay, I'd be there first day in the morning to get you from Dallas. I sent a jet bear, and he did, and he brought me back to Dallas. But 30 days, I was there in the hospital. Seven surgeries on elbow, and pins and wires. I was there with my crew, and I still have in it.

Norm came by every day and ran the Bible with me and prayed over me, and just told me to keep the faith, and don't worry about the contract, and everything worked out. And it was him, man, that gave me the hope and care, and to continue on. And don't worry about the financial side ever, just get healthy. And that's what I did, man. I just had

that big support team from everybody, and from Michael Jordan, and Matt is John, and he was calling the hospital. Just supporting me, and I just continued to work and rehab, and at the time I had him, I couldn't even put a spoon to my mouth, and it was a fight to come back. I was out a whole year, just rehabbing the arm, and just getting the

strength back, and getting the mobility. My thoughts were, at the time, I just always had a passion for basketball. I thought that if I was taking off the cord, and I wasn't able to play again, that I still wanted to be around basketball, and I wanted to be a part of it. Because I just had such a love and passion for it. Even in college, I

got a degree in elementary education, and my thoughts was that, even after my basketball career was over, I wanted to come back and coach slash teach. And coaching has always been something that I wanted to do, and even after I retired to NBA, I came back to Virginia Union in coach for three or four years, where we went back to back championships, and a national championship.

I wanted to still be on the bench, and wanted to be around the table. I wanted to be around basketball, and I know coaching would keep me around it. And by grace of God, I was able to rehab and come back, and that's how I got the bigger staff in the Wizards. Almost a year to the day after being waved by the Dallas Mavericks, on October

27th of 1997, Terry signed as a free agent with the Washington Wizards. It was coming from this summer, working Ben Wallace out at the gym. And basically I was in retirement, and he went to the gym. And back and Ben expressed the Wes Unzel that I was still in pretty good shape. And that's when Wes Unzel gave me the call and asked me that I wanted

to be a part of the organization. And he had a spot for me because George Mirerson was hurt. And that's how I joined the Washington Wizards, and had the opportunity to play in that game. In a late November, 1997 article by Mitch Lawrence in New York's Daily News, Terry was quoted, I feel like this is my rookie season. I'm more excited than I've ever been about

basketball. In that same article, his coach Bernie Bickerstuff. Terry has been a godsend. We needed a guy like him, someone willing to do the dirty work. I was just like a kid in a candy shop to get back on the basketball court again, and have the opportunity to play again. And this time around, man, it wasn't taking for granted. And I just had a whole nother

passion for the game and for life and for basketball. And just to December the 2nd, 1997, Seattle Supersonics at the newly renamed Washington Wizards. This would be the first game played in the new MCI Center. Purpose built and financed by the Wizards owner, Abe Polin. The game was telecast on TNT. Commentators were Vern Lundquist and Doc Rivers with sideline comments from Brian Burwell. Based to it

by earlier tonight, as the retired numbers this franchise were unveiled and the championship banner from 1978 moved the old arena to the new. And among those in attendance tonight, the president of the United States. President Clinton is one of the 20,600 fortune and up to have a seat in this magnificent new arena. The culmination of a 30 year plan for Abe Polin built privately for the

New York City. And excessive amount of $200 million. Exactly 24 years earlier, in 1973, Seattle met Washington for the opening game of its then new home, the Capitol Center. Back to the future. Due to a delay with the completion of the MCI Center, the first five home games of the 1998 season were played at US Airways Arena in Land Over Maryland. When you start out, Oh

and five, you need excitement at home. Now they don't count those first five games. It's really amazing. The home games. This is the true one. President Clinton visited the Wizard's locker room before tip off. It was amazing because we need a president was coming in and they had to hold security thing sitting in the locker room. The president came in and he was speaking to all

the players and then he came out to my locker and he was like, Hey, Terry. Now like, whoa, the president is speaking to me. And I had no idea that the president would even know my name. But after I thought about it, I'm like, okay, you know, the president reads the news paper every day. He knows who to watch him with his lips. I mean, he's

just like everybody else. So he was a sports fan. But I was just so amazed that the president spoke to me and it was just amazing day. Welcome back to downtown Washington DC game number one and the MCI Center. Terry took part in the ceremonial opening tip against the Sonics of Vinnbaker. Wizards owner, Pauline did the honors. Thank you for coming, Mr. President. Thank you. You

honor us with your presence. Thank you, sir. And now, ladies and gentlemen, David Stern will pass the ball to Mr. A. Poland, who will throw up the ceremonial first jump ball in MCI Center. So they knew I wasn't going to score. They knew that Johan Howard or Chris Weber or Ross Strick, you know, Kyle Botanie. One of them was going to see that I was the

last one that was going to win that million hours. Quick fast down to Kyle Botanie. He'll take the first shot in the new arena and it will not fall rebound. Johan Howard back outside. Chris Weber, they double him. He goes underneath. Calvert J. N. LeTry. Yeah. The tip is good. Terry Davis gets the first basket in the MCI Center. How about a grace of God? The

shot went up and I was able to get the tip in. Terry Davis got the first to. Yeah, there's your question right there for trivia. And it's nice that he got it. Here's a guy who's been out of the league and has fought his way back in the lead. And he gets the first basket. I'm kind of nice for him. I asked Davis how often he'd

washed the game in the almost 25 years since it happened. And I'm surprised to hear his response. I'm so grateful. Thank for that. You said for me. I hadn't seen it. I know I played in it. I know the moment. But I never actually seen the play. I never even know how it happened to actually get the seat of record. Man, I was like a kid

in a candy shot. I was able to show my grandkids the other day. I was like, I'm really grateful you said the footage man because I would have never probably seen it or know what happened on the play. And man, I'm just so glided to know what happened and see how it happened and to see my young self again. In the paint Davis gets caught. Davis

has a red dot on his shirt tonight because he's going to be the guy that's going to have to score for the Wizards. He connected on another tip in this time of the day. Davis was shot giving him six points inside the game's first three minutes. Terry couldn't have asked for a better start to the game. He's really happy right now. He likes having that down

on his head because he's going to get off. We just over six minutes left in the first quarter. Davis scored another bucket. A put back offer. Jawan Howard miss. Howard left alone. And the put back from Davis. He's got eight points. We took a quick detour when I asked Terry to describe being teammates with former Fab Five members, Howard and Chris Weber, not to mention Rod

Strickland. High group Lee, the greatest player to never be named an NBA All Star. When I came in the lead out, played against a lot of guys that post up and played with their back to the basket. And they were strong and it was big. But Jawan and Chris, they was doing things that I hadn't seen before. They were taking guys off the drill. And they

was facing up. And Chris, he was just dunking in any way he wanted it. He just wouldn't do anything simple. He had to twist and turn it and turn around and do it backwards. And I was like, my God, man. And Jawan, he was just so gifted and talented. And he can just hit the jumper from anywhere on the floor and just so smart. Man, they

were just great to play with because it was like we played on the string. They know where to be. And they always have my back. And all I had to do was just rebound and play defense because they were so gifted off. And so I didn't have to think about scoring because if it touched even one of their hands, they were going to score or get

to the free throw line. I agree. 100% with Rod playing with Rod. I was like when I played with Jason Kidd and Dallas. I never played with a point God like that. That thought passed first and then shot second. It was just so unselfish and just ran the team. And just knew what he wanted you to be. And a great leader, man. And he definitely gets

my vote for Hall of Fame. 100% for night in, night out. He played hurt. Just so talented. All I had to do was just play my role, man. And that's what it made a lot of fun for me. And I was just excited to be on a team. And we came very good friends. And they had a great group of guys, man, off the court. And

we had a lot of fun. And they see, man. And they were pushing off a bounce pass to Davis near the rim. He put it in and had 10 points with four minutes left in the first. Terry also nabbed five rebounds in the opening quarter. And then 25. Nice food by Gary Peyton. Good ball movement from Ellis to my twin gate. And then the shot won't

fall. Davis clears for the wizards. Five rebounds for Davis to compliment his offensive work. I take her and Davis. Oh, they're going at it. I can't believe this. Oh, and there it is. Oh, my watch the battle with Davis and Baker. I thought it was a fight at first down there. I mean, they're they are really going at it. And what Baker is doing, he's trying

to fight him off. He knows the last time he got the best of him. He does not like it. And you can see it right there. Wow. Well, at the end of all of that, the foul was called on. Ben Baker. He is third. So he has to sit. So Davis did exactly what he wanted to do. He's getting points. He's keeping Baker off the board.

And now he's out of the game. At the half, the wizards lead was six, 51 to 45. And here's Davis. Why not when you're hot boy? I see guys in the bits giving each other high fives right now. They're excited to. Terry Davis is seven of eight from the field. Terry Davis for another rebound. That's seven for Davis tonight. All for. He's a warrior. After three

quarters, the wizards had a commanding 74 to 63 lead. I mean, that's just pure effort. Where's the rest of the unsell when you need them? Because that's him right there. Can rebound tonight for Terry Davis. Final score, wizards 95, Sonics 78, Washington improved to six and 11 Seattle dropped to 13 and four. 95 78, the final of Washington, wizard, when it convincingly over Seattle. And let's

check in with Brian Burwell. Thank you, Vern. Now 20 years from now, Terry Davis, you're going to be the answer to a trivia question. Who scored the first basket in the MCI center? Was there much talk among the team about who was going to break the ice on that first basket? We had to come out of the team to get a win tonight. We've been tough

at home. We haven't got a win at home. So we just happened to get a win at home tonight. It seems as though there was a whole lot more energy here. Was it tough playing those first five games in an arena that you knew you were getting ready to get out of? It was very tough. You know, we want some tough games on the road. So

we just wanted to come in tonight and come out with a victory. President Clinton visited both teams. What did he have to say to you guys before the game? You just want to say hello and good luck. And I think he gave us a good luck tonight. All right. Well, thank you very much for the opportunity. Terry Davis and he was a hard working man under

the boards tonight, Doc. Very hard. How does working man is show business the night? He was 14 points total for Terry Davis. 10 rebounds, 95 78. The final Terry Davis are but player of the game. Davis registered 14 points on 7 of 10 field goals, 10 rebounds, 4 on the offensive boards and 2 steals in only 33 minutes. For the Wizards, Johan Howard had 8 end

points and 10 rebounds. Tracy Murray had 8 end points. Rod Strickland had a terrific game with 13 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals and 1 block. For the Sonics, Vin Baker, let all scorers were 22 and former guest and great friend of the show, Dattler Schrempf had 17 points, 6 rebounds and 10 assists for Seattle. Terry reflects on his post game interview on TNT. Oh

man. It was really a special moment for me, man. And that's what I was saying to him, how grateful and thankful I was to even be back after I was out of the game and fight my way back and then get the opportunity in the NBA and be able to get that start to even be able to get the tip in and get the first shot.

It was just overwhelming, man. To note that I was sitting at home and out of basketball and out of the NBA and then be standing here and to be player of the game. I'm the player of the game. Are you serious? And I'm looking at Johan Howard. Chris Williams, I'm a player of the game. I started walking behind me and they tell him, he'd come over

there with the mic and I'm like, okay, well, I'm like a Jordan today. And I'm gonna get my moment. Come on TNT. So hey, everybody home, son Foster. Thank you. And that moment, man, was like one of the biggest moments that I can ever accomplish for myself at a non-back. I was out of the game and they'd come back and I was in a starting role

and got the opportunity to hit the first basket. And I just knew that God gave me the opportunity. And I was just grateful, man, more than anything. Terry, on his NBA journey and his moment in NBA history. That's my claim to fame, man. That's all I have. You know what I mean? That point I scored in this. Yeah. You never forget your claim to fame, man.

I had my whole family there. My mom was there and the whole church family was there. I don't really care about being on the R-star team. Being this great player, whatever. But it's those moments, man, that I look back and made my career. It's always the journey and things that happened in the journey that I look back on. And really made the NBA fun. And those

was one of the games, man, that I always cherish. And I was so grateful that I went down in that little history. And I'm only two hours away from it. So a lot of times I ride up. And I stop by the R-star team. I'm going to see MCI center and give it a salute and say, hey, that's the building. I scored the first basket. The

MCI center would become Verizon center from 2006 through 2017. And is now known as Capital One Arena. Will Terry return to the show and discuss more of his playing career? Well, thanks for having me. But you got to keep on sending me footage and I keep on coming on. So. Thanks a lot for having me. Thanks for listening. I welcome your interaction with the show. You

can suggest topics or guests. You want to hear conversations with. Send me an email and audio clips. I welcome in all. This is history via Apple podcasts USA. It's titled top notch pod and is rated five stars. Thank you very much. And it reads. I just listened to the podcast you did with Joe. It was great to hear the background of how you started and how

you made contact with the many guests you've had over the years. Wonderful. Behind the scenes info. Keep it up. Jim. Thank you very much. Jim. I do appreciate that. Jim is referring to episode 118 of the show. I guess it on the NBL Pocket Pod. If you enjoy NBA history and let's be honest, if you're this far into the episode, you clearly do. Check out Jim's

online presence. His Twitter handle is at 77 the number 77 blazers. And his website can be found by visiting 77 trailblazers.weebly.com. Worldwide the show has 180 ratings on Apple podcasts with an average of four and a half stars with 95 reviews across all providers. Thanks for your continued support. If you had a review, I'd love to read it out on a future episode. Your ratings and

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