In the depths of the dark and mysterious forest, there resides a witch. Legends and tales have circulated throughout the land, whispering of her powers and malevolent ways. She is said to have an uncanny ability to communicate with unseen forces, utilizing her knowledge of herbs and spells to concoct potions and cast spells that can heal or harm. Many fear the witch, associating her presence with evil and danger. They avoid the forest at all costs, warning children of the consequences that may befall those who dare to venture too close to her domain. Her appearance is often described as eerie, with long, tangled hair, a hunched posture, and a cackling laugh that sends chills down the spines of those who hear it.
Her appearance is often described as eerie, with long, tangled hair, a hunched posture, and a cackling laugh that sends chills down the spines of those who hear it. Yet, despite the fear and distrust that surrounds her, the witch possesses an undeniable allure. Some seek her out, driven by curiosity or a desperate need for her magical assistance.
Flashpoint: Game 1 of 1991 NBA Finals
Basketball in 1991 was my 3rd favorite sport behind baseball and football. I liked basketball but didn’t yet have the attention span to fully invest in watching a full game. I only knew the star players on each team, and at the time, baseball was still the most popular sport in my neighborhood. I had a Magic poster in my room, A Bo Jackson poster, and 2 Michael Jordan posters. Magic was my favorite player and my dad had even taken me to a playoff game in 1986 when the Lakers faced the Mavericks. I liked Jordan as a player, but the Lakers were always in the Finals growing up, and I’d grown fond of Kareem and his skyhook.
I was too young to know it, but this series was the passing of the torch. The Bulls would win the series 4-1 and Jordan would become the new face of the league. The Lakers’ dynasty would be completely shut by the beginning of 1992 when Magic would get diagnosed with H.I.V.
Even though the Lakers would win Game 1, in hindsight, you can tell there was blood in the water with the Lakers front court dominating the Bulls front court and only coming away with a 2 point victory. Anytime I was by myself on a court that summer, you could find me spending at least 20 minutes trying Mike’s left handed layup where he switches mid air (Game 2). By the end of that series, I was just as much a basketball fan as I was football and baseball.
1st Quarter
- Look folks, it’s the 3 best players from the 1982 UNC title team. Damn near a ten year reunion. James Worthy and Sam Perkins versus Michael Jordan and Scott Williams. 1991 was a great year for Carolina fans. The team made the Final Four. And four former players played in the Finals (Scott Williams was a reserve for the Bulls). I’m sure Coach Dean Smith felt like a proud papa.
- Vlade Divac starts off by hitting a left handed hook shot. Coming from the Yugoslavian National Team, he was in the first wave of European players to come over to NBA.
- During one old broadcast (on NBC I think) one of the play by play guys called Chicago Stadium the loudest in the NBA. Those old buildings had better acoustics despite being dumps. Boston and Chicago and eventually Golden State lost a lot of ghosts on their side when they modernized. Not too many old arenas anymore. None in the NBA at least. Carmichael still stands in Chapel Hill, then of course you have Allen Fieldhouse.
- Jordan just played the best quarter of basketball I’ve ever seen by one player. He threw dime after dime for some assists, rebounded with aggression, and had some powerful dunks. I can only imagine what those pickup games in Chapel Hill were like in the 80’s and 90’s. Speaking of Carolina players, here comes Larry Drew II’s dad checking into the game for the Lakers.
2nd Quarter
- WoW! Just found out that Mike Dunleavy was 36 years old at this day in history. Dude looked 46 (no disrespect).
- I didn’t realize this, but James Worthy, Magic Johnson, Byron Scott, A.C Green and Sam Perkins were the first players I’d ever seen in person when my dad took me to the Lakers vs Mavericks playoff game. Back when I was in college, a few of us drove downtown to Dallas to see Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra. After the show, we’re hanging out by Cafe Brazil, and to my right is a very dapper dressed, Sam Perkins wearing like some huge dress shoes (Looked like Steve Madden) and talking to this beautiful young lady. My friend didn’t think it was him so we decided to yell “Go Tar Heels!” to see his reaction. Sure enough, he turns and looks at us smiling and says “mannnnnnnnn” The funniest part was my friend Teresa yelling “Are you him?” which in 2004 had completely different connotations. Yes. It was him. And 20 years ago, he was HIM. That was a really good night.
3rd Quarter
- Jordan throws another outstanding dime of a pass, but Horace Grant blows it. Magic immediately takes the ball down to the length of the court and dishes off something nice to Vlade Divac for a layup. Magic put it in a place where only Divac could catch it and still take it to the rim in one motion. Wow!
- Watching this series proved that even Magic had his (small) share of goofy turnovers. There were a couple of “my bad” moments where he tried to force in some passes when the play really wasn’t there. Just watching highlight footage of certain players will have you thinking they were perfect when in reality, even the greatest point guard to ever lace em up made a few mistakes. It’s kind of refreshing to see–like watching your favorite comedian bomb once in a while on stage.
- Pippen blows another would be dime from MJ on a tough layup attempt.
4th Quarter
- Mike comes back in the game and immediately starts going to work: He immediately gets a layup, goes back down next possession and assists on a basket, makes a steal that leads to a fast break basket. He then proceeds to score on the next 2 possessions.
- Pippen gets his 5th foul early into the 4th quarter and Jordan picks up his 5th foul with 6:00 to go.
- Jordan hangs in the air on a layup attempt just long enough to feed an open Horace Grant on an “and 1” Jordan’s stats at this point are 33 points, 8 rebounds, 12 assists, and 3 steals.
- Perkins hits an open 3 pointer with 14 seconds left to give the Lakers a one point lead.
- Jordan’s jumper rims out with 2.7 seconds left . Lakers rebound and get fouled. Byron Scott misses the first free throw and hits the second. Bill Cartwright inbounds the pass to Scottie Pippen who launches it from center court and hits the back rim.
Final Thoughts:
At this point, the Bulls have to feel confident. They lose by a basket despite their front line getting dominated and Jordan barely getting help offensively from anyone other than Pippen and John Paxson (the blown bunnies that didn’t go in off the dimes by MJ were enough to win by themselves). Sometimes a win isn’t always a win. If I’m the Lakers, I’m happy to take game 1 on the road, but I’m probably thinking as a player, that we haven’t seen the best version of the Bulls yet. Conversely, I’m sure the Chicago locker room is disappointed at losing the 1st game, but feeling extremely confident going forward.
Next Entry: Game 3 of this series. “Blood in the water”
Bob E. Freeman is a part time teacher, part time writer, and full time basketball junky. When he isn’t involved in some basketball related activity, actively looking for parties to deejay or venues to perform comedy, you can find him banging his head on the keyboard, and trying to finish his backlog of writing projects. For booking inquiries or content proposals, send contact info to [email protected]
They come seeking love, wealth, or protection from an enemy. In exchange for her services, the witch demands a heavy price – a piece of their soul, or an act of servitude that may have dire consequences. To some, the witch is a symbol of rebellion and empowerment. They see her as a woman who has reclaimed her power and refuses to conform to societal norms. Others view her as a cautionary tale, a reminder of the dangers that can arise from dabbling in the occult or straying from the path of righteousness. But who is the witch in the forest? Is she truly evil, as the stories suggest? Or is she simply a misunderstood figure, forced to live a solitary existence due to the superstitions and fear of the people? Perhaps the truth lies somewhere in between, an enigma that may never be fully unraveled. As the story of the witch in the forest continues to be passed down from generation to generation, her legacy lives on. She remains a symbol of the unknown, a reminder that there is more to the world than what meets the eye. Whether feared or revered, the witch in the forest will forever be a fascinating and haunting figure in our collective imagination..
Reviews for "The Light and Shadow: Balancing Good and Evil in Forest Witchcraft"
1. John Doe - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Witch in the Forest." The plot was incredibly predictable, and the characters felt incredibly one-dimensional. The film tried to build suspense, but it ultimately fell flat. The acting was mediocre at best, and the special effects were laughable. Overall, "Witch in the Forest" lacked originality and failed to deliver an engaging, captivating story.
2. Jane Smith - 1/5 - "Witch in the Forest" was a complete waste of time. The storyline was confusing and poorly developed, making it difficult to follow. The acting was subpar, and it felt like the actors were just going through the motions. The film had potential to be interesting with its supernatural theme, but it failed to deliver any real scares or excitement. I would not recommend "Witch in the Forest" to anyone looking for a good, thrilling horror film.
3. David Johnson - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "Witch in the Forest," but it fell short of my expectations. The pacing was slow, and the movie dragged on unnecessarily. The characters were shallow and lacked depth, making it hard to care about their fates. The scares were predictable and lacked any real suspense. "Witch in the Forest" tried to be a haunting horror film, but it failed to deliver anything memorable or chilling. I was left feeling bored and unsatisfied by the end.