Buzzer Beater

West Orange, New Jersey, December 22, 2005

Perpetual also-ran Ron doesn't have a lot going for him. But he's got game. Ron, who has one of the lowest acceptance ratings of any New Jersey politician in history, won tickets to a New Jersey Nets game when he hit a half-court shot during halftime at a high school basketball game Wednesday.

The crowd roared, and in his best ESPN-highlight impersonation, Ron dropped to one knee, pumped his fist, high-fived his running mate Brad, and chest-bumped a player from Solomon Sphincter High School.

"I saw it was right on," he told The Star-Ledger of Newark for Thursday's newspapers. "Ninety-nine out of 100 people are short with the shot. You've got to get your legs into the shot."

Ron sounded like a pro describing his technique, but never excelled in the sport. He was cut from several youth teams growing up.

"Mostly for mouthing off," he commented.

Ron, who was at Wednesday's game to "review the cheerleading squad" bought a $1 raffle ticket to win the opportunity to take the shot. He plans to attend the game with longtime friend Brad.

Posted by Bittle at December 22, 2005 08:04 AM