Stinger the Bee

Hi, I am your everyday bee. There is nothing special about me as bees go, not until recently that is. The change occurred when Chelsea the stork asked me to tell you about what I see at the Atlanta Hawks basketball games.

Now, you may be asking yourself what a bee would be doing at a basketball game. That's a fair question. At first, I'd say; "Why not?" Because I am a bit of a smart aleck, who loves being a smart aleck, it’s just the way I am, you know? Steph, the walrus, our baker in the Village (he runs the ice cream shop too) tells me all the time, "Get out of my honey, you smart-aleck bee!"

I like to show off because I know he won't swat me, so I am not in a hurry to get out of his honey. But that Steph, he's pretty smart. At first I thought he was being nice by putting out a drop of honey for me. Huh, it was to get me to stay out of his way as he makes the cupcakes. He says little ones love cupcakes. Do you like cupcakes?

Getting back to basketball, bees can be interested in basketball, can't they? There have been stranger things in this world, haven’t there? What is the strangest thing you have ever heard? No; not a bee that watches basketball!

You might even think I got my name from being a bee, but you’d be wrong -- I did not!

It is because my favorite basketball player is Michael Glenn.

He caught my attention in the first place, when he played for the Atlanta Hawks, and made me fall in love with the game. When I learned that he was called the "Stinger", well, you’ve got to admit that’s a pretty nifty name for a bee. So I adopted it as my own, how about that? Michael is Stinger I and I am Stinger II!

Now you are probably wondering how Michael got the name STINGER, pretty interesting name for a basketball player.

I do know the story, but instead of me telling you, why not find out the same way I did? Do some research -- then you can tell me.

I told you I’m a smart-aleck. I'll give you a clue: do what I did -- ask a basketball enthusiast. That’s what I did. One more clue: he wasn't with the Hawks when he got the name. A Hall of Fame coach started using the name for Michael, and then it caught on with his teammates, and it stuck! See if anyone can tell you what team he was with when he got the name. Therefore, that is two questions for you to answer.

First, how did Michael Glenn, one time basketball player with the Atlanta Hawks, get the name Stinger? Second question; what team was he with when he got the name? Tell me the answers. I wonder if a couple of tickets into the Philips Arena would motivate you.

Now, what were your other questions? Oh, yes, why did Chelsea ask me to be one of the Chelsea's Beacon sports reporters? Well, I guess it was because I never miss a Hawks' game at the Philips Arena. I am always somewhere in the rafters watching the action.

I love it when the ball gets slammed into the hoop.

You still want to know how I got interested in basketball? Boy, you are persistent! Someone might think you are a bee.

I got caught one day in a draft -- no, not a sport's draft -- an air draft, which swept me into the arena. At first, I tried to get back outside, but then I smelled something sweet and headed over to the concession stand. Once I had my fill of sweets, I was too full to fly, so I decided to rest. I hoped that when the people left, I could get back outside.

So I found myself a comfortable place up in the rafters to take a little nap. I never got that nap. Mike, "The Stinger!" came out on the court, and I haven't missed a game since. Wow, you should have seen him! Now that is a memory! OK! OK! I’ll tell you how I came to love basketball. It was that night and Michael Glenn. The man lit the boards for 25 points in a single game. Who could lie down and take a nap with the crowd screaming? The Atlanta Hawks were in desperate straights for a win against the powerful division leading Milwaukee Bucks. Michael Glenn came on to that floor and shot some of the most perfect jump shots in the game’s history. His teammates kept sending him the ball and in it went, again and again. That Ted Turner, was the owner of the team back then. He’d jump straight up and out of his seat with uncontrolled excitement every time the ball went into that hoop.

He jumped up every time Michael jumped up!

Michael Glenn and his teammates won that game and went on to the playoffs that year. Me? Well, I was hooked and my name officially became StingerII! It was that bee going across the score board that caught my attention. At first I thought it was about me. Huh! Then I did my homework and figured it out. I told my mom, my dad, and everyone in the Village to call me StingerII. Now you know with a name like that, I don't miss a game!

My greatest challenge now is getting in and out of the arena, but I have become a master at it. It’s amazing what you can do when you really want to!

Well, this is my hello. Chelsea said to just say hello, and to introduce myself. Next issue I can tell you more. Now that I have your attention, you know what I’d like even better? I would love to hear your stories. Its OK with me if your writing is not perfect. I am not so great myself, but I sure would love it if I could read about your games, when you made those impossible shots!

I cannot get enough of basketball! If mom, dad, or the coach took a photo of you on the court, I sure would love to see it.

I bet we can even talk Chelsea into getting Harry the owl to print your story and pictures too in our newspaper.

I have been told one of the perks of this job is that I am going to have my own e-mail address. Yea, that's pretty nifty, isn't it? Harry the owl will add a link here. I sure do look forward to hearing from you.

Later... Hawk's fans!

Stinger II

"Stinger II" your Average Bee!