Former Indiana University basketball player Neil Reed went to the Sixers-Knicks game in New York on Thursday night as part of his internship at ESPN The Magazine. He ran into a couple of old friends.

I couldn't miss this game. I have never seen him play in person. And the best players are always better in person.

After the game I made my way to the locker room, hoping to get a closer look at The Answer himself. Wishing to avoid the nearly 50 reporters assembled around his locker, I decided to mingle.

Eric Snow was the first person I saw as I grooved my way around the room. I played against him in college and then worked out with him in Vegas one summer. "Eric, Neil Reed, you remember me?" I said softly, careful not to attract attention.

"Yeah man, how you been doin'? I saw they got rid of your boy", he said. Ah, the never-ending story, part XVI. I responded half-heartedly, "I guess".

Just as Snow was leaving the room, a couple of Knick ballboys spotted who they thought was the hottest woman of the night. "Ooh ... look at that! She must be 7 feet tall," one announced. A deep voice came from about five feet away. "Easy, easy. That's my wife." It was Theo Ratliff. The ballboy's smile seemed to drop to the floor. Most of the room began laughing hysterically, including DuJuan Wagner (the high schooler from Camden, N.J. who recently scored 100 points in a game). He made the trip to NYC to see his boys take it to the Knicks.

Fearing a possible beatdown, I made my way over to Larry Brown (I met him while he was still coaching the Pacers). Here we go again. "Coach Brown, Neil Reed. Do you remember me?" I said.

"Yeah, hey Neil." We made small talk with the basic Q's and A's. Then he said, "You have been through hell," and patted me on the shoulder. Another statement I don't know how to respond to. Short but to the point, I guess. I offered congrats on the win and decided I had enough.

On my way out, I spotted the white compression sleeve Iverson wears on his arm during games. But no Answer. He was gone. Maybe next time.

Definitely next time.

Neil Reed is an intern at ESPN The Magazine. In his last Pulsecard, he joined the company basketball team. E-mail him at neil.b.reed@espnmag.com.