Dale8R
01-27-2010, 10:51 PM
I'm surprised no one has posted this yet. (Actually, I hadn't heard it until just a few minutes ago) :):)
Here's the story from USA Today http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/2010-01-27-coach-blindfolded-shot-prank_N.htm
Joel Branstrom figured he was about to be the butt of some kind of joke when he was blindfolded at a pep rally and told he would win tickets to the NCAA's Final Four if he could hit a half-court shot.
But the popular girls basketball coach played along and sent the Olathe (Kan.) Northwest High School gym into a frenzy Friday by hitting the improbable shot.
"I've been around long enough and done these kinds of practical jokes," said Branstrom, who also teaches biology at the suburban Kansas City school. "I figured they were trying to punk me."
Before launching the shot, Branstrom figured he was about to be hit in the face with a pie, so he held the ball up as protection for a few seconds.
"I knew they would cheer regardless to make me think I hit it," Branstrom said. "I let it go, they cheered, I heard laughter. I seriously didn't know I made it for a while."
The shot, which was recorded on video by the school's multimedia department, made it onto the Internet over the weekend, and by Monday the former University of Kansas basketball walk-on was something of a celebrity.
And here's the video story from CNN http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2010/01/25/dnt.ks.low.coach.shot.wdaf
Here's the story from USA Today http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/2010-01-27-coach-blindfolded-shot-prank_N.htm
Joel Branstrom figured he was about to be the butt of some kind of joke when he was blindfolded at a pep rally and told he would win tickets to the NCAA's Final Four if he could hit a half-court shot.
But the popular girls basketball coach played along and sent the Olathe (Kan.) Northwest High School gym into a frenzy Friday by hitting the improbable shot.
"I've been around long enough and done these kinds of practical jokes," said Branstrom, who also teaches biology at the suburban Kansas City school. "I figured they were trying to punk me."
Before launching the shot, Branstrom figured he was about to be hit in the face with a pie, so he held the ball up as protection for a few seconds.
"I knew they would cheer regardless to make me think I hit it," Branstrom said. "I let it go, they cheered, I heard laughter. I seriously didn't know I made it for a while."
The shot, which was recorded on video by the school's multimedia department, made it onto the Internet over the weekend, and by Monday the former University of Kansas basketball walk-on was something of a celebrity.
And here's the video story from CNN http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2010/01/25/dnt.ks.low.coach.shot.wdaf