Once I wrote that I thought I could beat an NBA player in HORSE. It was just me fantasizing. Except I really thought I could do it.

On one condition. We'd have to play in my backyard. I've got an old dented Michael Jordon backboard with a loose rim. It's not an official NBA glass backboard with a breakaway rim. But it is exactly 10-feet high, and the hoop is regulation size. We're not talking squished hoops like at the rodeo carnival.

Two weeks ago, I got a phone call from Skip Oliver, a captain with the Harris County Constable Precinct 4 office. He used to work security for NBA players when the Rockets played at Compaq Center, and he's still buddies with them.

He said, "I think I can get Robert Horry to play HORSE against you. I'm having lunch with him next week. Do you want me to set it up?"

Are you kidding? Horry was one of my favorite players on the Rockets championship teams in the '90s.

Last Thursday, I opened my front door and there was 6 feet 10 inches of "Big Shot Bob" Horry. He played 16 years in the NBA. He was on seven NBA championship teams - three with the L.A. Lakers, two with the Houston Rockets and two with the San Antonio Spurs . He retired last season.

Only nine players in NBA history have seven or more championship rings. Horry played on more title teams than Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, or Magic Johnson.

It's on. Two out three games of HORSE.

Sure shot

I honestly rated myself a slight favorite to win. The only special rule was, Horry wasn't allowed to dunk. Everything else was fair game.

I went first. I made a free throw. He made it. I hit a couple from the corner, which is only a 5-foot shot, but branches are in the way. He made them, too.

I made an underhanded bank shot from the left side. He missed. He had H.

Meanwhile, I was asking him every question I could think of. It's not like I shoot around with an NBA player in my backyard every day.

How much money do the NBA players get for meals on the road?($90 a day.)

Did you play HORSE when you were a kid? ("Yes, we cleared a court in the woods and used a bicycle tire for a hoop. But we called it PIG, not HORSE. The games went faster.")

Could those guys on wild those And1streetball videos play in the NBA? ("Absolutely not, it's not the same game.")

Did you ever block Michael Jordan's shot? ("Yes, but it was on the weak side, so I didn't count it.")

When you turned pro in 1992, which team did you want to play for? ("The Rockets. But I had a really bad tryout with them, so I didn't think they would pick me. I was thrilled when they called my name.")

It was windy, so neither of us was shooting well. But the wind affected him more because he was shooting longer shots. I was trying mostly trick shots from closer in. With the score tied H-O-R-S, I made a one-handed, left-handed, underhand bank shot from about 10 feet. He missed. I won Game 1.

A quick Game 2

Horry is famous for being one of the greatest clutch shooters in NBA history. That's how he got the nickname "Big Shot Bob." He made more 3-point shots in the NBA Finals than anybody in history - 53. He once made seven straight 3-pointers in a playoff game. This season, he's starring in Pros Vs. Joes on the Spike TV network.

Our second game of HORSE went pretty fast. He tried a few backward, over-his-head spin shots and missed; I got hot and made a Harlem Globetrotters hook shot from the barbecue grill, plus a few more lefty underhand shots and my finisher, behind-the-back bank shots. I shut him out. He got HORSE before I got one letter.

After the game, we sat in my living room and I asked him a ton more dumb questions.

Does he like being tall? ("Yes. It used to help me with pretty girls.")

How much is room service at the Four Seasons hotel? (Breakfast is $40.)

What was it like playing with Shaq and Kobe in L.A.? ("We won three titles.")

Why did you always dunk left-handed even though you're right-handed? ("I jumped better off my right leg.")

Did you play HORSE while you were in the NBA? ("Not too much, but after practice, Ron Harper and I would bet $25 on who could hit a shot from half court first.")

As he was leaving, Horry autographed a photo for me: "Thanks for teaching me how to shoot."

There's proof.

I am Big Shot Ken.

ken.hoffman@chron.com

Listen to Ken on AM radio station 1560 "The Game" from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays.