When JJ Redick told me in our postgame walkoff interview (after the Sixers beat the Magic) that he told this "guy courtside" before the game that he was going to hit eight three-pointers, I had to find out: Who is this "courtside guy" and did this actually happen?
Turns out, it most definitely did.
Before you see the video (oh, yes, there is video proof!), you've got to understand the backstory.
It all started when Jared Satkoff, a 32-year-old courtside seat holder, read the NY Times article in May last season about JJ's "meticulous routines" which included eating the same meals, taking the same two-hour naps, and of course having the same pregame routine before every game.
You see, Satkoff could relate -- he too eats the same food every day and plans out his clothes for the week and subscribes to the notion of "decision fatigue" but that's a story for another day.
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So before the next game, Jared made sure to tell JJ how much he appreciated him sharing his story, and Redick gave him a "hand pound."
That "hand pound" was the first of what has now become an additional part of Redick's routine.
At first, Satkoff wasn't sure if JJ would remember him this season, but when the first preseason game rolled around, the pregame hand pound was back in action.
Until the second preseason game, when Satkoff was about eight feet from his normal spot, and Redick was taken aback.
"Dude you threw me off, you're not in your normal spot."
So Jared laughs and says: "True or false: Am I part of your pregame routine?"
From one meticulous man to another, Redick's smirk said all Satkoff needed to know.
"I sound like such a 32-year-old groupie," Jared laughs over the phone. "But I'm a grown man, and I just think it's so cool because I respect his routine."
It didn't end after Redick delivered eight threes either (one of which turned out to be the game-winner). Before the postgame shoutout, Redick bolted over to Jared after the game.
"I told you!"
"The fact that he ran over to me…I'm like A. That's cool as s--- and B. It just shows he's a class act, it really is. I don't know many other players that would actually do that."
And now for the video evidence.
By the way, Satkoff is going on vacation Nov. 9, when the Sixers play the Hornets.
He plans to tell Redick. Since he's a part of it now, he doesn't want to mess with his routine.
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