If you ever have trouble explaining the power of social media, let me share with you this story and how it made my dream come true.


Many of us have seen the NBA “Where Amazing Happens” commercials but few of us actually live in that moment. Last night, I feel like I experienced it.

Ever since I was four, I dreamt of shooting a basket on the court at the Bradley Center. In just four tweets, that lifelong dream came               true last night. I was able to shoot a free-throw on the court after the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Chicago Bulls.

It has been awhile since I’ve been to a game because ticket prices cut deeply into my wallet and with being a college student,                                it is very hard to justify spending the money for a game but I’ve always stayed connected with televised games. January 8th’s                       game was against the Bulls and the Bucks had an irresistible and college friendly deal of $29 tickets for $15.

After purchasing my tickets, I decided to tweet @bucks how excited I was to be going. Here’s our correspondence:

“@harrisonloveall: Just purchased my tickets for the @bucks game tonight. I can’t wait!”

“@bucks: RT @harrisonloveall Just purchased my tickets for @bucks game tonight. I can’t wait!”

“@harrisonloveall: @bucks My dream since I was little: Shoot a free-throw on the court at the Bradley Center. I’ve gone to games since                 I was 4.”

“@bucks: @harrisonloveall send me your seat location. might be able to make that happen tonight.”

“@harrisonloveall: @bucks Omg.. That would be incredible. 442 row t, seat 10.”

After only a few minutes into the third quarter, a suited @bucks employee walked up to my section and handed me an envelope and                 said with a smile, “Here are your free-throws, Harrison.”

In the envelope were six tickets for a post-game free-throw and instructions explaining where to go for shooting on the court. I can’t begin to explain my feelings when I received this envelope explaining that I was going to live out my dream as a child. Tears of deep appreciation and thoughtfulness overwhelmed me.

I waited in line with about 100 other fans that received post-game free-throw             tickets as part of their ticket package. Kids were dressed as their favorite player              with their parents desperately trying to contain their excitement for their kids.

After stepping on the court, I felt a rush of energy move through my body and                     I was dreaming of what it must be like on the court during a game. I couldn’t            believe that I was shooting at the same basket as some of the league’s best.                      I felt like I was living a moment straight out of “Celtic Pride” when Jimmy Flaherty,     played by Dan Aykroyd, lives out his dream to shoot a basket at the Boston Garden     during the NBA Finals. The moment of truth came and I made the shot! What a great way to start off the year!?

I don’t remember any opportunities like this when I was younger which makes me think this is another initiative of the @NBA to manage more effective relationships with their publics. The @NBA seems like it is back on track to becoming the family friendly sport I always remembered it being as a child.

January 8th’s game not only made my dream come true but also made me a part of “Where Amazing Happens.” The NBA needs to keep doing what it is doing. The energy and love for the game I remember is back.

Thank you @bucks for my dream come true. I’ll never forget it.