A Letter to my Nephew Concerning the Musical Hamilton
Dear Nephew,
I took a listen to the soundtrack of the musical Hamilton based on your enthusiasm in your Facebook posts. It was fine. Yet, I was disappointed that the musical was about Alexander Hamilton and not 3 time NBA All Star Richard Hamilton. I remember December 26th, 2007. Madison Square Garden. New York City. Hamilton stands at the free throw line. He’s sitting on 49 points for the game. He hits the first free throw. 50. He must be finished, yes? NO! Richard Hamilton can never be satisfied. He hits the second free throw. 51. The 6th 50 point game in the history of the Detroit Pistons. That man was Richard “Rip” Hamilton aka The Masked Man. It was truly a night all sports fans will remember until they go to the big arena in the sky. Richard, not his distant cousin, Alexander should have been the subject of the Broadway musical Hamilton.
Just think about it, nephew. Propelled to stardom by his star making performance in the 1999 NCAA Finals, Hamilton was drafted 7th overall by the Washington Wizards. He spent three seasons with the lowly Wizards until he was a part of a six-player deal to get scoring threat Jerry Stackhouse from Detroit. Who’s Jerry Stackhouse, you may ask? Sweet nephew, I know you’re a theatre major, but if you know who Eliza Schuyler is you should know who Jerry Stackhouse is! Anyhow, now in Detroit, Hamilton was not going to throw his away his shot. With the Prince of the Pass Chauncey Billups, the Pistons had a monster backcourt. The Pistons were an immediate success but fell to the villain New Jersey Nets. As you know, everything is legal in New Jersey especially the refs calling the series in favor of the Nets. The Pistons, however, were willing to wait for it. The following season was one to be remembered. The Pistons also added the fierce Rasheed Wallace to bolster their offense. Oh man, that was a starting five right there. Ben Wallace, Tayshaun Prince, Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace and Richard Hamilton. Aaron Burr, John Laurens, Marquis de Lafayette, Hercules Mulligan, and Alexander Hamilton look like a bunch of pansies compared to the Motor City Monsters. My heroes, unlike yours, understood the game of basketball and turned the world upside down by beating the Los Angeles Lakers to bring the broken city of Detroit its first championship in 14 years.
I take it that after reading this, you can better understand my disappointment. I’m glad you really like the Hamilton but it isn’t for an old timer like me. When you get to my age, you only have time for things that are important in life like mid 2000s basketball, not esoteric events like the American Revolution. Nephew, if I can offer you some free advice: Talk less, root for the Pistons more.
How ‘bout those Pistons, Uncle Donny
