Spectrum Memories

Growing up in the midwest the Philadelphia Spectrum wasn't an arena that I have memories attending. The NBA has never been a league I'd follow on a daily basis, but an early memory of it is the conference finals and league finals involving the Dr. J and the 76ers. Whether they were playing the Celtics or the Lakers, games were always exciting.
College games have always provided excitement in this arena. Of course everyone remembers Christian Laettner's last second shot over Kentucky to give Duke a Final Four berth. But only those in Iowa will remember this was the regional final site that found Steve Waite making two free throws in the final seconds over Georgetown to put the Hawkeyes in the Final Four. The Spectrum has seen its last days and tonight the 76ers played the last game at this historic building. For years they have moved to the nearby Wachovia Center, but came back for one last time. This appeared in today's Philadelphia Inquirer.