My father and I hear the game on the radio. Since the game is not televised, the regular television announcer (I still can't remember his name) is yelling over the radio.

"Ma-a-a-rio "Quijote" Morales!" Puerto Rico has a new basketball hero.

Madrid, 1986, the World Championships. The Puerto Ricans once again face the Americans. The U.S. can't hit the free throw but still manages to squeak out a two-point victory.

Mario "Quijote" Morales plays another great game.

San Juan, 1979, the Pan American Games. Bobby Knight, coach of the U.S. team, publicly insults the host country of Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rican team is mad, mad enough to reach the finals against the Americans.

Knight and his boys win. He also manages to leave San Juan unhurt.

Seoul could be different for the Puerto Ricans.

It is raining again in San Juan. Omar, for some reason or another, lets me be the Puerto Ricans for a day. After easily defeating the Brazilians, little Mugsy Bogues takes on the Russians.

Puerto Rico wins its 50th world title.

Seoul, September 27, 1988, the Summer Olympics. It is probably raining in San Juan. The United States easily defeats Puerto Rico, 94-57, to advance to the semi-finals.

Mario "Quijote" Morales, not the youth he once was, scores two points.

Puerto Rico, after shocking Yugoslavia, gets slapped in the face with a hard dose of reality. The Puerto Ricans once again lose to the Americans. There is no Butch Lee, no one-point losses, no celebrations on the island.

Just hopes of what could be.