Portland Path Blazers
Anthem Singer Will get Second Shot
… 22 Years Later
Revealed
A bit woman who wanted Maurice Cheeks‘ assist to sing the nationwide anthem at a Portland Path Blazers sport in 2003 had a second shot on the tune on Wednesday … and the now-Knicks assistant was within the constructing for the redemption!!
Natalie Zito was 13 years previous when she was picked to sing the “Star-Spangled Banner” forward of the Blazers’ Recreation 3 playoff matchup in 2003 … however nerves acquired the most effective of her, and Cheeks stepped in to assist her end the rendition.
The heartwarming second turned one of the vital memorable within the NBA’s anthem historical past … and greater than twenty years later, Zito took one other crack at it.
Zito sang her coronary heart out earlier than the Blazers took on the New York Knicks on the Moda Middle … and she or he did it effortlessly.
What makes this even cooler is Cheeks — now an assistant coach for NY — was there to witness it. The 2 additionally had an opportunity to catch up … and took a photograph collectively.
“This moment changed my life and I wouldn’t have had it any other way,” Zito mentioned of the ’03 efficiency. “I would not go back in time and change it at all.”
“Seeing [Cheeks] and seeing that he’s still a standup today that he was back then — amazing!”
