The Real HU?

The Big Apple Classic went down Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. The games were Virginia Union vs. Bowie State and Hampton vs. Howard. I got there late and the PR people had wrapped up for the evening. Therefore, they didn’t have the credentials and didn’t know who had what information (does so-and-so have this or does she have that?) The media seats were assigned, but no one told us (SLAM mag Senior Editor and myself) where to go so we just sat wherever – later to find our real seats.

I tell you, the first game was a blur. The boys playing looked like grown-ass men. They were all tatted up, full beards, some even looking like they owed child support. The VA Union team’s coach was just screaming. I’m like ‘For what?’ We sat next to their bench so we heard all the antics. The team looked frazzled. I don’t even think Union had a personal trainer. At one point in the game, the athletes had to massage each other! Lol

So the game I really came to see was Hampton vs. Howard. Hampton Institute University holds a special place in my heart. My family has a looong standing history with Hampton. My grandfather helped to build one of the dorms while a student at the Institute (his father, Charles Wesley Murrell, Sr. - was the head master of Hampton Normal School for freed Black slaves and Native Americans. There are archive letters between he and my great-grandmother while she was living in Cuba (before she came the States)); numerous cousins attended; and my Mom was Ms. Hampton 1974-1975 (she was the first Ms. Hampton to be in Ebony magazine – the first time they did that campaign).

When the announcer called ‘The Real HU’ game, the crowd went WILD. Our true media seats ended up being directly in front of the Hampton crowd. They were quite entertaining. All you could hear was, “H.I.U. I love, I love, I love my H.I.U!” An administrator told us they brought 5 bus loads of kids. They were so proud to be there – drinking beer, painted faces, singing songs. The Howard side got ready and did their thing. Their band was on point and the cheerleaders were much better organized. Even the Bison mascots had it together. They brought two the male and female. Hampton’s mascot is a Pirate, however, I don’t understand why and HBCU had a White, blue-eyed Pirate.

Hampton’s starting line-up was:
#1 – Matthew Pilgrim, Forward, 6’8, 225lbs.
#3 – Rashad West, Guard, 6’1, 175
#13 – Jordan Brooks, Guard, 5’9 (Um, he was more like 5’4) 165lbs.
#21 – Mike Freeman, Forward, 6’8, 220lbs.
#31 – Donte Harrison, Forward/Center, 6’9, 220lbs.

Howard’s starting line-up:
#00 Curtis White, Guard, 6’4, 195lbs.
#1 – Kandi Mukole, Forward, 6’8, 215lbs.
(the Hampton crowd had a field day with his name telling him that his Momma knew he would be sweet, that’s why she named him Kandi. I just knew someone breakout singing Cameo)
#5 – Adam Walker, Forward, 6’8, 190lbs.
#10 – Randy Hampton, Forward, 6’5, 190lbs.
#33 – Eugene Myatt, Center, 6’5, 210lbs.

Myatt scored the first point of the game which was a 3pt for Howard. Hampton screamed ‘Hey, you, #54 you suck!” So Paul Kirkpatrick, Center, 6’9, 220lbs came back with a gentle slam dunk. Hampton couldn’t get it together from the right wing. They couldn’t shoot worth a damn from the sides. But when it came to antagonizing the opposing team, the sideline had the players back. It was amusing. The crowd told Howard to miss and they did. At one point, Howard’s #15 – Kyle Riley, Guard, 6’3, 180lbs. got faked out by someone and fell. It was quite embarrassing. As he layed on his back, everyone in MSG said “Ooooo”. It wasn’t expected and happened so fast. I can’t even tell you who broke the kid’s ankles.

By ½ time the score was 28-13 Hampton. Sad. I didn’t think Howard would make 30pts. I mean even in NBA Live, if you’re down by 21pts start over. Well this was read life and Hampton kept on… like a big brother teaching his lil bro a lesson.

As you can probably tell, most of my excitement came from the sideline commentary. Hampton shouted at their own coach to put them in the game so the players could rest and not waste their time. They yelled at #33 Eugene Myatt saying “Eugene, I know you must be mad. You should tell your coach that you hate him. Tel him that you don’t want to play anymore. Tell him that you want to go home and read a book.” One kid said, “This is the worst blow-out I’ve seen in the last 20yrs and I’m only 18!” Hilarious. Lmao.

Howard’s sideline was quiet. I mean what could they say. They were getting whooped. The cheerleaders kept a goodface – uh, well, they should. It got to the point where Hampton cheered when Howard finally made 30pts off a foul and they sighed “Aw” when the kid missed his second freethrow.

The game ended with Hampton singing “Hooooward. H.U. We whooped that ass. Whooped that ass” while doing the soul clap. Score 65-31 Hampton.

If anything, it was entertaining.


Until next time…

Be Seen at the Top!