Orlando Magic Notes: Gainesville kids, ‘Basketball cop’ get full Orlando Magic experience
The Orlando Magic invited the viral sensation ‘Basketball Cop’ and Gainesville kids to Sunday’s game, honoring the officer for his handling of the call.
Sunday the Orlando Magic honored Gainesville police officer Bobby White as part of its Harris Hometown Heroes program.
White was the police officer who responded to a noise complaint lodged at a group of kids playing basketball on the street not by chiding or citing the kids but by playing basketball with them. The Gainesville Police Department stood by their officer saying they would not get kids into trouble just for being kids and playing basketball on the street.
The video of the initial encounter went viral and White was applauded for his handling of the situation.
He promised to return with more officers to play basketball with the kids with the future and surprised them by returning with Shaquille O’Neal.
The Orlando Magic not only had Officer White at Sunday’s game but also invited the kids who played basketball with him initially to the game. They bussed the group down to Orlando for what was for many their first NBA game.
According to Morgan Watkins of The Gainesville Sun, the Magic reached out to Officer White through the Gainesville Police Department shortly after the video came out and went viral. The group attended Sunday’s game, sat courtside pregame, received goodies and met a few of the players including Victor Oladipo.
The Gainesville Sun posted this video of the experience courtesy of the Orlando Magic:
The Magic also donated $1,000 to the Gainesville Police Department as part of State Farm’s Exist to Assist program.
Checking up on the Orlando Magic on SportsTalk Florida
This Monday before the Orlando Magic took on the Atlanta Hawks, I joined Tuck and O’Neill on SportsTalk Florida 1080 AM in Orlando.
On the radio segment, we discussed the Magic’s current situation and struggles, we recapped the first half of the season and looked forward to the Playoffs and the potential still for a Playoff push. We also discussed the trade deadline some and what the Magic might do in the next week.
You can listen to Tuck and O’Neill every weekday from 3-7 p.m. on SportsTalk Florida 1080 AM in Orlando and on SportsTalkFlorida.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter @tuckandoneill.
NBA admits mistakes in Magic-Hawks finale
As it does for every close game in the NBA, the league released its two-minute report for Monday’s game between the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks.
The league admitted there were three incorrect calls made during the final two minutes and overtime.
With the Magic up one with less than 20 seconds to play, NBA officials say Al Horford should have been called for an offensive foul for jutting his hip out to impede Aaron Gordon. The move enabled Paul Millsap to come free at the top of the key and drive on Gordon as he recovered.
Gordon would commit a foul that sent Millsap to the line. He split the free throws. The league agreed with the officials at the game that Gordon did foul Millsap on that play.
After the Magic turned the ball over, the NBA says the Hawks should not have been awarded a timeout trying to inbound for the win with 1.2 seconds left. Instead, the Hawks should have been called for a five-seconds inbound violation.
Finally, with the Magic up five midway through overtime, Horford was incorrectly called for a foul defending a Vucevic hook shot.
Next: Orlando Magic Daily Podcast: All-Star Break
In another big play, the NBA agreed the referees made a correct non call when Evan Fournier appeared to have shoved Kent Bazemore before draining a big 3-pointer with 30 seconds left to extend the lead back out to five points. The league said the force of Fournier’s forearm was not enough to send Bazemore flying like he did.