PROLOGUE

After months of preparation, hundreds of hours in the gym, and countless moments of visualizing the final result, everything was beginning to culminate to that one moment. The moment that I stepped forward from being a nobody, to the moment I became a somebody. But the best part was…

…It was something I did on my own.

*BUZZ!* The sound of the scoreboard buzzer rang out as a packed arena with thousands of raving basketball fans cheered on.

Commentator 1: And there it is folks, the start of what could be the most important game of this incredible season.

Commentator 2: That’s right. The fans here in Chicago are chalked to the brim with excitement.

Down the hallway, leading to the snack bar, a dark figure kneels to tie his sneakers. Before him are two of the greatest teams to ever play the sport, hustling up and down the court as fans cheer on. Millions were watching at home. The pressure was on like never before.

Commentator 1: Ladies and gentlemen, what we’ve seen here tonight is nothing less than a pure spectacle of athleticism. The score is nearly tied at 98-99. Forty five seconds remain on the clock.

Commentator 2: Lakers are taking their final timeout. No more time to plan a change in tactics.

The dark figure slowly makes his way through the shadows, only emerging into the light right before reaching courtside. His easy gait lumbered before turning into a heavy stride.

Commentator 2: Just twenty-five seconds remaining, Lakers lose the ball, Pippin passes to Jordan...

Commentator 1: …wait, what's this?! Some guy is dashing out onto the court!

Commentator 2: It appears to be a crazed fan!

The figure emerges from the shadows, donning a number 33 green and white Jersey with matching headband. He makes a blitz across the court, snatching the ball right out of Bulls number 23’s hands. He dribbles the ball four times and makes a juke towards the goal. Taking flight, he dunks the ball just before the buzzer goes off.

The arena erupted into chaos as the crowd came to their feet in shock as the intruder fell to the ground, landing on his back as the ball bounces from hitting the floor next to him. The players of both teams throw their hands in the air and shake their heads as police and arena ushers rush the court to apprehend the assailant.

Commentator 1: I’ve never seen anything like this, people. I’m completely stupefied.

Commentator 2: *shakes his head*

I felt completely elated as they placed me handcuffed into the back of that squad car. All my hard work and training had paid off. I did what no one had dared do before. Once at the precinct, I answered all their questions with a smile on my face. Getting myself into peak physical condition, gaining mental fortitude, and transforming that into outright balls. Hell, it took me over six months before I could even dunk. Another three to get myself to a level confident that I could ambush Air Jordan and assuredly pull off the shot, even if everyone was taken by surprise.

I had done it. I had taken myself from being a nobody into becoming somebody. Except for one problem. It was all a dream, and then I woke up…