Finest recreation coated: Dec. 11, 1982. Capital Centre, Landover, Md. Ralph Sampson vs. Patrick Ewing. No. 1 UVA beat No. three Georgetown 68-63. Greater than 19,000 had been within the constructing, which actually, truly, no-kidding, certainly, shook with pleasure.

A memorable quote: “Like floor glass in your meals. You don’t comprehend it, however he’s killing you.” — Highland Springs basketball coach George Lancaster on the remarkably productive and constant, however unspectacular, Fred Facka of Douglas Freeman. Facka went on to play at Previous Dominion from 1982-85.

Favourite athlete/coach to work together with: Virginia Union soccer coach Joe Taylor was at all times out there, at all times cordial, at all times trustworthy, and unapologetically old style. One among his unforgettable traces applies to all endeavors: “Success comes earlier than work solely within the dictionary.”

Craziest play: There was a door in The Diamond’s outfield wall. Wendell Magee discovered it on July 21, 1998. Magee, enjoying middle subject for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, sprinted after an extended fly hit by Richmond Courageous Ricky Magdaleno.

Magee hoped to make a operating seize a number of ft from the wall after which bounce off it. As a substitute, he missed the catch and barreled by means of the closed and locked door. It sprung open when impacted by Magee, a 6-foot, 220-pounder who beforehand performed operating again at Samford College.

The ball fell to the turf. On the bottom, exterior the ballpark, Magee was surprised however unhurt. Magdaleno circled the bases for an inside-the-park dwelling run. That was adopted by a 12-minute delay so staff might reattach the door.

On the highway Half I: Colleague Paul Woody and yours really, following our writing obligations, had been locked in Prince George’s Stadium following the Richmond Flying Squirrels’ inaugural recreation in opposition to Bowie in 2010. Didn’t know, till then, that fence-climbing was a part of the job.

On the highway Half II: Longtime College of Richmond broadcaster Bob Black requested a trip to a Spiders’ basketball recreation at Duquesne years in the past. Firm automotive broke down on Pennsylvania Turnpike (timing belt, toast). Walked to nearest exit, borrowed a automotive from the operator of a vacuum retailer. Delivered Mr. Black to a microphone at Duquesne proper because the pregame present was scheduled to start out. Additionally, it snowed that day.

Mr. Black took the UR group bus dwelling. Your RTD consultant the subsequent morning returned the automotive to the vacuum retailer, whose proprietor drove me 30 minutes to a small airport in the course of Pennsylvania, from which a automotive was rented for the journey again to Richmond.

Favourite venue: Denver’s Mile Excessive Stadium, previously dwelling of the Broncos, for baseball. The Richmond Braves performed a collection within the 76,273-seat facility in the course of the 1991 season in opposition to the Denver Zephyrs (Milwaukee Brewers affiliate). The lodge during which our journey occasion stayed was adjoining to the stadium, and there was a strolling path alongside the South Platte River that led to downtown Denver. Might have stayed a month.

Least favourite a part of the job: I-95 to/from D.C., Philly, NYC.

A superlative particular person efficiency: The College of Richmond’s Lawrence Sidbury, with 4 sacks, dominated Montana within the 2008 FCS title recreation, gained 24-7 by the Spiders in Chattanooga, Tenn.