Nate VanArendonk, Local Michigan Player, Shatters Backboard

A local hero was born on St. Patrick's Day, as Grand Haven, Michigan, player Nate VanArendonk made Grand Haven history and headlines across America for breaking the backboard in a high school basketball game. In the 3rd Quarter of a playoff game against Rockford High School, the arch rival of Grand Haven, stakes could not have been any higher. The winner of this game determined who advanced to state playoffs in Lansing. Nate simply went to the basket like he had done so many times before: he put the ball up, and then shattered the backboard and changed a Wednesday night playoff game into a very memorable night.

Officials had to stop the game because glass covered the floor. They game had to be moved from Grandville to Jenison High School in order to complete it. He was fouled on the play. When play restarted 80 minutes later, he went to the line for a free throw and made it. Then the team took the win by just 3 points.

Nate VanArendonk ("Van AeronDUNK") saw his life change overnight. Within hours, a Facebook page was created. As of today, just 48 hours afterward, his fan page on Facebook called "Nate VonArendonk's Hoop-breaking dunk." has already climbed to 2,400 fans. The multiple views of the now famous dunk have been viewed thousands of times. I personally watched this at least 50 times.

His famous backboard breaking dunk has made it from the local Fox News station, to the Free Press, then later to Yahoo, and ESPN. It was broadcast on both Sports Nation and Sports Center. When the local Fox station called him in the morning following the big game, he was in the shower just trying to get ready for school like any other normal teen. Hours later he was being interviewed by ESPN. He's been catapulted overnight to a local legend. The only business that remains is who will pay for the $1500 backboard that needs to be replaced.

As his local community, we don't mind being associated with him. He's a good kid. He deserves it. His entire team has worked hard and deserves a tremendous amount of credit for beating Rockford. Rockford has stopped them many times before.

Add to the fact that we just finished a long dreary winter in the worst economy in the state's history and this becomes a Cinderella story. For a short time we forgot all about our circumstances and enjoyed the moment as a local boy made himself famous doing something very special.

In the world of sports it's often easy to get discouraged by bad behavior, illegal drugs and millions of dollars. We forget that once upon a time, pro-athletes were once kids just like Nate. They played the game just because they loved it. Why Nate was lucky enough to have such a magical moment, we'll never know. It changed his life and it brightened ours.

Enjoy his amazing moment by watching this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEnxWbx1kZE

Nate plans to go on to play basketball for Central Michigan University in the fall of 2010.