The Magazine's Chris Palmer attended Theo Ratliff's homecoming, a.k.a. Hawks-Sixers, the other night. Here's his report.

It was one of those awkward moments when the national anthem isn't going quite right and you'd give anything for someone to steer the attention away from the poor soul at midcourt of the First Union Center.

And just when it couldn't get any worse, a voice about 20 rows up booms "Bring back Theooooo!" That was all it took. The fans' request was greeted with boisterous approval and chants of "The-o, The-o." A few Sixers laughed at the scene as Theo Ratliff bowed his head and threw up his hand to acknowledge the fans who still loved him so. The heck with the rockets' red glare.

But that's all the Philly crowd would get out of Ratliff on Friday night, with the wiry shot-blocker still shelved with a fractured wrist. But there were plenty of other Sixers returning home who were embraced by the crowd. Toni Kukoc signed about 20 autographs before the game and Nazr Mohammed was cheered every time he touched the ball on the way to a career-high 18 points. Pepe Sanchez even got a pat on the keister from Allen Iverson.

Ratliff, who was upset about being traded from a championship contender, put it all behind him and put on the best possible spin. "We have a pretty good young nucleus with players that go hard every night," said Ratliff. After getting dressed, the new Hawks piled into their old locker room, surprising their former teammates. It was one of those special moments in sports, where only friendship and camaraderie seem to matter. The players couldn't stop hugging each other as if they wouldn't meet again for years.

"Do your thing, boy," said Aaron McKie to Mohammed as the two parted ways. On the other side of the room Ratliff checked up on second-year swingman Rodney Buford to warn the kid to keep working hard.

"What's it like down there in Atlanta?" asked Tyrone Hill. "Everything cheaper?"

"Yeah, but you gotta watch it in Buckhead," said Ratliff about the exclusive community where he's shopping for a house.

"Alright man, take care," Hill replied. "Wait, what am I sayin'? Here's my number, we'll get together in the summer." And with that, the two pals exchanged numbers and left the locker room together.

Just like old times.