New assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder Maurice cheeks has been a member of the NBA for quite some time. The former member of the 1983 championship winning Philadelphia 76ers and the former coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. He became an icon of kindness during a 2003 playoff game between the Trail Blazers and the Dallas Mavericks. It is now remembered as the ‘Maurice Cheeks Moment’.
The setting is Rose Garden, home of the Trail Blazers who were in a must win situation against a Dallas team that already had a two game lead in the best of seven series. Natalie Gilbert, a 13-year-old eighth-grade winner of a promotion walked out to center court to perform the National Anthem. She woke up with the flu that day, though, and felt awful as she stood before 20,000 amped fans.
She began the hallowed anthem and after the first few lines stumbled and attempted to shake it off. After a few moments she covered her face with her hands and began feeling the crippling pain of embarrassment. She looked around for any familiar face, the crowd cheering on for her to continue, but needing immediate help, she continued scanning the crowd for relief-nobody did anything.
There she was, alone in the center of 20,000 individuals until Cheeks walked up to her, put his arm around her, and held the microphone to her mouth while helping her remember the words. Her confidence returning, Gilbert began singing again and was joined by the entire area; crowd, players, coaches, everyone. They finished the anthem with a bang.
Cheeks had no idea the impact his actions would have. But the then 46-year-old coach had a daughter, Maura, just two years older than Gilbert. And Cheeks’ heart skipped more than a few beats at the sight of what the little girl was going through. Instead of the experience ruining the girl, it taught her how to fight through difficult events. Gilbert who is now 20 will begin auditioning for Broadway shows a year from now.
After the event, Cheeks and Gilbert appeared on The Tonight Show, were interviewed by CNN, and also did interviews with Good Morning America and ESPN.
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