Random Nets Crap - Ed O'Bannon Banner (O'Banner?)

As a long-time Nets fan, I've compiled a shitload of Nets memorabilia and freebies throughout the years. Dating back to 2001, I've made dedicated effort to save almost everything. Now, feast your eyes on the more ridiculous and obscure paraphernalia in a blog feature I call....RANDOM NETS CRAP!

ED O'BANNON BANNER!

(Click on images to enlarge)





Wow, what a find. I'm finding this difficult to write about, because of the level of ridiculousness this reaches. Even though I know it is just a cartoon of Ed O'Bannon, is there something about that depiction that is racist? Because it sure feels this way.

This is, so far, the oldest item featured on the Random Nets Crap segment of this blog. My memory is a little fuzzy about how this was acquired. But, it clearly shows my unhealthy NBA obsession in 1995.

As a young kid, I started dabbling in basketball in 1994, but it became a full-on addiction in 1995. I was 10 at the time, and was following the Orlando Magic. A shocking confession, but I was (still am) very dumb, and just picked the team at the top of the standings. I loved Penny, Shaq, Horace, Dennis, and Nick. Basketball was all I talked about. It even affected my loved ones. My mother, who never even heard of Michael Jordan until I started watching basketball, is now a die-hard Nets fan like me, and goes to more games than I do a season. My brother, who has absolutely no interest in basketball today, can still rattle off a couple random players from the mid-90s like Shawn Bradley and Muggsy Bogues.

During this time, I absorbed everything I could. I remember watching almost every game I could on TV - even teams like the Sixers and the Warriors that were awful that year. I spent way too much money on basketball cards and magazines. So, it must have been during this time when I acquired that crazy looking banner above.

This need for taking in all things basketball is what made me jump off the Magic bandwagon and root for the home team. We had the Star Ledger delivered at home, so all I read was Nets coverage (this was before the Internet made it possible for us to read every paper at one spot - thank you NetsDaily!). My mom bought our first Nets ticket package in the 1995-96 season, so I was seeing more Nets games live, and my bond to the Nets was strengthening. By 1996, the Magic lost Shaq, therefore they were televised less, leading me to watch more Nets games. Mix all these factors together, and you get the bitter, sarcastic Nets fan you see today. So, this banner is a symbol of the end of my innocence. This banner was the first step on the endless journey that has caused me to waste an incredible amount of time and money. DAMN YOU, ED O'BANNER. DAMN YOU TO HELL!