Orlando Magic: Why Not Us? Why Not Now?

Orlando Magic blogger Scott Anez stirred up emotion this morning when he dug up a quote from Magic owner Rich DeVos from 1995.

"Why not us? Why not now?" he asked Orlando.

Nearly 25 years after DeVos uttered those words, here we are, Magic fans, prepping for game seven in Boston against the 2008 world champion Celtics.

I believe that DeVos's quote rings true today. We're not the new team on the block anymore. We came up short in 1995 against Houston, but that doesn't have to happen today.

As Anez has commented, it seems to be the Magic against the world. The way the Magic have been treated by the media is ludicrous. All season, it's been about the Cavs, the Celtics, and the Lakers. It's been about the "master of panic" and how Orlando can't do it without Jameer Nelson.

It's been about how Dwight Howard is "too nice", and how the Magic just can't get it done.

This is despite being the only franchise to select three players to the NBA All-Star Game, despite 59 wins, and despite having the Defensive Player of the Year.

The only attention the media wants to give the Magic is negative.

Think about it: what stories about the Magic have overflowed the newspapers and SportsCenter storylines? Dwight calling out Stan Van? Marcin Gortat calling out Stan Van? Rafer Alston slapping heads and Dwight throwing bows?

That's about it.

But here we are tonight, going against the Celtics in game seven. We are on the national stage, and we have the ability to shine. We have the ability to shut down.

We have the ability to take down the haters and take down the Celtics.

Why not us? Why not now?