Ted Kennedy’s appearance at the Democratic National Convention Monday night brought back memories of one of the greatest moments in sports history. That was on May 8, 1970. The New York Knicks were playing for the NBA championship and the 7-game series was tied 3-3. Willis Reed, captain of the Knicks, had been injured late in Game 5 and was forced to sit out Game 6, a contest in which the Lakers crushed the Knicks. Even as the Knicks took the floor for warm-ups, no one knew if Reed would be able to play. Moments later, he limped from the dressing room and bedlam erupted. Madison Square Garden, already one of the noisiest venues in professional sports, went into a frenzy when Reed bested a taller Wilt Chamberlain for the opening tip-off and then scored his team’s first two baskets. Reed didn’t remain in the game long but it was enough to inspire his team to a 113-99 victory over the Lakers.
Monday night the Pepsi Center in Denver had every bit as much drama as Willis Reed’s dramatic performance in Game 7. Senator Edward Kennedy, battling one of the most serious forms of brain cancer, ignored his doctors’ advice and flew to Denver to inspire the troops. Despite reports that he would speak, no one knew for sure whether he could make it. As he walked slowly to the podium, delegates went wild, some of them openly weeping. He drew parallels between Barack Obama and his brother, former President John F. Kennedy, and said not only “Yes, we can,” but “Yes, we will.” It will be remembered as one of the most courageous episodes in American politics.
