SEMI PRO

by

Scot Armstrong

June 2006

FADE I N :

EXT. THE STAPLES CENTER - PRESENT DAY

W e h e a r t h e f a i n t sounds of a c r o w d c h e e r i n g on K o b e B r y a n t . T h e real B o b C o s t a s does n a r r a t i o n .

BOB COSTAS ( V . O . ) Before the NBA was t h e NBA, t h e r e was a n o t h e r b a s k e t b a l l l e a g u e i n A m e r i c a ...

DOCUMENTARY FOOTAGE: T h i s is rea l ABA footage. A series of g r e a t p l a y s are m a d e by ABA s ta r s .

BOB COSTAS ( V . O . ) .. .From 1967 t o 1976 , there was the A m e r i c a n B a s k e t b a l l A s s o c i a t i o n . A m a v e r i c k m i n o r - l e a g u e t h a t would c h a n g e t he game forever. T h e ABA made t h e f a s t b r e a k FAST.. . I n v e n t e d the three p o i n t s h o t . . . And i n t r o d u c e d the w o r l d t o s o m e t h i n g c a l l e d t he S l a m Dunk Contest.

DOCUMENTARY FOOTAGE: D r . J l aunches f r o m t h e f o u l l i n e a n d dunks i n t h e w o r l d ' s f i r s t d u n k con t e s t . D a v i d T h o m p s o n f i n i s h e s an A l l e y O o p .

BOB COSTAS ( V . O . ) S i n g e r P a t Boone owned t h e Oak land O a k s . W i l t Chambe la in c o a c h e d t h e C o n q u i s t a d o r s . I m y s e l f was t h e y o u n g voice o f the S t . L o u i s S p i r i t s .

DOCUMENTARY FOOTAGE: A y o u n g B o b C o s t a s broadcasts f r o m S t . Louis , l o o k i n g p r e t t y s w e e t i n s i d e bu rns and a t w e e d jacket.

BOB COSTAS ( V . O . ) P l a y e r s l i k e D r . J , Ice -man George G e r v i n and Moses Malone w e r e a s e n t e r t a i n i n g a s they come. B u t d e s p i t e t h e l e a g u e ' s f l a i r , c o n v i n c i n g f a n s t o show u p for games was o f t e n a s t r u g g l e .

DOCUMENTARY FOOTAGE: T h e infamous TV i n t e r v i e w w h e r e Freddy L e w i s w i n s a 'race horse. ' Footage of ' D i m e B e e r N i g h t . ' Footage of t h e K e n t u c k y C o l o n i a l s f i e l d i n g a cheerleader as one of t h e i r starting f ive .