Tracie will have a cheese enchilada. And how is she paying for
it? With a free throw.
Now as far as I know, you can’t normally buy stuff by
making free throws. (The last time I brought a basketball on a
date, it was trouble.) But with the Cingular Wireless Halftime
Supershot contest, you can.
At Saturday’s men’s basketball game in Pauley
Pavilion, Tracie Browning was one of three students who had a
chance to win prizes ranging from gift certificates for Westwood
eateries like Acapulco Mexican Restaurant to the grand prize
““ books and tuition for an academic year. From a layup to a
half-court shot, the contestants have 30 seconds to make
increasingly difficult shots and collect exponentially cooler
prizes.
I bet I know what you are thinking: “Oh man, every time
the announcer at Pauley reads the winning ticket numbers for the
halftime contest, I hope it’s not mine.”
Well, then you and I have a lot in common. It’s a
conundrum because I think I would crack under the pressure, and
that makes me never want to try the contest. But, if my ticket
number was called, how could I pass up all those free enchiladas
and a shot at the whole enchilada?
There were three students brave enough to accept the challenge
on Saturday ““ Browning, Matthew Tharp and Robert Lettice.
I followed the moves of these daring souls before, during and
after their brush with glory. And since I’ve never attempted
the challenge, I had to go to an expert for some insight. Enter
Greg Bowser, who sunk the half-court shot at a women’s
basketball game last year. Bowser, who plays French horn in the
UCLA marching band, was there to give me commentary on the form,
style and execution of each contestant.
Both Tharp and Browning made their layups and free throws but
failed to sink their three-pointers.
“What was missing from my performance was range, accuracy
and finesse,” Tharp said.
After his performance, Tharp said he would treat himself to the
extra calories of a chimichanga at Acapulco. Browning, a civil
engineering student, would order either an enchilada or a
quesadilla.
“She went into it like most people should, not worrying
about her shot,” said Bowser, who is also a civil engineering
student. “She represented civil engineers well.”
But Lettice represented UCLA best. Before his attempt, he was
anxious.
“I just want to make a free throw,” he said.
Lettice did more than just make a free throw, he made his
three-pointer with 20 seconds left and ran to the half-court as
fans stood and cheered.
Before his performance began, I asked Lettice what he would do
if he had a chance at the half-court shot. He looked at me like I
was stupid and said, “Try to make it.”
Robert, I meant on a metaphysical level.
Lettice mustered two shots from half-court and both drew iron,
but neither fell. So, while Lettice (not to be confused with the
popular salad ingredient) came close, one can only imagine what
it’s like to win the whole thing. Time for a chat with Bowser
(not to be confused with the bad guy from Super Mario
Brothers).
On a fateful day last winter, Bowser sunk the half-court shot on
his first try and was given $4,800 ““ what the university
considered to be the average for books and tuition for a year.
Although Bowser actually spent the money on books and tuition, I
had to ask him if he thought about spending it on more sinister
items.
DM: Did you think about spending it on drugs and Pop Tarts?
GB: No.
DM: How about booze?
GB: No.
I guess Greg and I don’t have much in common.
I would have spent it all on Pop Tarts.
Jmack, happy Valentine’s Day. E-mail Miller at
dmiller@media.ucla.edu.