January 15, 2005

• Event Recap:
  
  Friday, January 14th
  Staples Center, Los Angeles

  
  

  Earlier this week the owner of the company I work at let everyone know that he had some tickets to the Clippers vs Heat game.  To say the least since Shaq no longer is in LA and plays for the Heat everyone wanted to go.  When the owner of the company let me know that I won the tickets I was speechless.  I couldn’t believe it.
  
   
  
  Last night I went to pick up Jennifer, Phuong, & Ana and we battled horrendous Southern Californian traffic to get to the game in Los Angeles.  We barely got there by half-time.
  
  
  
  We met up my coworkers Danny, Matt, Patrick, & Sikmon who made it there about 30 minutes before us.
  
  
  
  The great thing about the sky box was that we got our own bartender and catering.  It was such an amazing experience and I have to say I felt a little bit like a celebrity.  Maybe a has been celebrity but still a celebrity.
  
  
  
  Besides having all the great food & alcohol in the sky box there was desert cart going around from room to room and Ana made sure not to miss out on all the delectable food they had to offer.
  

  
  
  

  
  Event though I’d prefer to be down closer to the court and entrenched in the crowd the sky box does have a great birds eye view of the Staples Center and it allowed me to get some great shots in.
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Now for the game.  Ever since I was about 10 or 11 I’ve been watching basketball and since I grew up in Southern California that meant I was a Laker fan.  Many people forget that Los Angeles has two teams though.  The Clippers for years have been the LA afterthought, always flowing with young talent but with no idea how to use it.
  

  The last several years I’ve come to appreciate LA’s losing team and learned to cheer for the underdog.  It was a great experience to make it out to a Clippers game and actually watch some great players such as Elton Brand begin to make their mark on the NBA.

  
  

  The lead changed numerous times during the game but it seemed that the Clippers did have the upper hand at times.  However, the Miami Heat had Shaq and he was pounding the boards all night and ended up scoring an astonishing 39 points.
  
  
  
  After 48 minutes though both teams were evenly matched and the score was tied 96-96 which lead to an overtime period.  But the game just wouldn’t end.  Both teams wanted to the win as badly as the other and the 1st time ended in another tie of 106-106.  With less than a minute to go Shaq picks up an errant shot and gets a lay up to tie the game at 110-110 w/ just 2.3 seconds to go.  It looked like there would be a third overtime.
  
  Corey Maggette of the Clippers however had a different idea and when the ball came into his hands he just turned and shot…….
  
  

  
  

  
  

  …the ball sinks in!!!!!!!!!!!!  The Clippers WIN!!!! The Clipper Win!!!!  I couldn’t believe it after two overtimes The Clippers come out on top w/ a shot in the final seconds of the game.  This is the top of finish you dream about and is one of the most exciting things about basketball.
  

  
  
  

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  After the game the girls & I left a little both tired and excited.  The game was one for the ages and to be there to watch it in person was something I’ll take with me for the rest of my life.
  
  
  
  Going to a high school that really had no school spirit when it came to sports…..I always get pulled emotionally into games I am able to go to now.  If you have a chance get tickets to a baseball/basketball/football game.  If you have an open mind (and as long as the team you are rooting for wins) I promise you’ll have an experience you’ll always remember.
  
  
  Sometimes it’s fun to just be a part of something bigger than you are.
  
  

  • 8:39 pm
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