I’m not trying to do one of these every freaking game, but it was the first home game for the NBA Finals, so I thought I’d throw some pics and observations your way. I was actually joined at the game by loyal commenter Rekcalsa, who somehow got a ticket on the Ticketmaster system.
- Now nothing says NBA Playoffs like celebrities! Everyone knows the Lakers usual lineup…the question is what about Orlando?! Well Orlando went all out for the pregame tailgate…Ladies and Gentlemen…
Mr. Joey Fatone! Yes, the Magic brought out Orlando resident, Dr. Phillips graduate (my wife’s alma mater), and pop Legend Joey Fatone. To say the crowd was sparse around the stage would be overstating it.In fact Fatone mailed it in on EVERY song…he’d sing half the lyrics and let the guys from Howl at the Moon carry it. He did help himself to a couple beers, it bothered me that he kept screwing the cap back on after every sip…
- The NBA Finals are like any other basketball game…except…
SNIPERS!!! What the hell? They had a clear shot at Fatone and didn’t take it. You gotta act quicker than that.
- So about the game…
The arena was really decked out, they actually made it look respectable to the world wide audience, mostly by covering the outside in oversized drapes to hide the faded paint job.
- Due to security checks, any sign with the word “Kobe” and “Rape” was thrown away at the door. The best sign of the night “Hey Kobe How Does My Ass Taste”
- We actually go to the same lady to scan out tickets before every game…she tells us we are “Special and Very Beautiful/Handsome” She was injured pregame after she slipped and was not there…bummer. Sorry Rek, she’s a life changing expirience.
- The National Anthem and Starting Lineups were done BEFORE warmups were done. They still had 3 and a half minutes of warmup before they actually tipped. The magic of television!
- Speaking of which…
Our seats were one section over from three sections of media, most the tables were the local announcers for each country with a card showing displaying their flag, name, and station. RedRaiderClay made it a point to yell “What’s up China!” To the Chinese contingent everytime he walked up and down the stairs. They finally acknowledged his existence at halftime.
- Props to the Magic for not jacking up prices in the arena. I’ve been to the World Series, Stanley Cup Finals, and BCS Championship in venues that I’ve been in for regular season games and championship games. Every one of them jacked prices up substantially.
- The arena was actually pretty quiet for the 1st half. I think it had more to do with the fact that everyone was so nervous about the game. In the second half the crowd started to slowly pick up more and more…by the 4th it was pretty solid. I like to think it helped Kobe miss those 4 second half free throws.
- It was a fun game, and a nice victory…Is GITC going to give us a Studs and Duds today so I can shoot down everything he says?
Rek, anything you wanna add?
Popularity: 9% [?]
/fixed
(Quote)
nice pic of derek fisher scratching his rear. (zoom in on 1st pic)
(Quote)
A Joey Fatone concert aaaand a NBA Finals game?!?! You lucky bastard.
(Quote)
From the stuff you can’t make up department.
(Quote)
Screwed that one up royally.
(Quote)
Thanks to Rek and Trey for getting in and making some noise. It was weird because this was the first game of the Finals that had a crowd that I could see on TV and crowd noise. I was at home spewing some ungodly Gasol hate. Loved Kobe’s reaction when he missed the FT near the end. Good win for the Magic. Gaining some momentum heading into the Magic’s upcoming victories in games 4, 5, and 6.
(Quote)
trey – I think the sniper on the right is looking right at you through his binoculars.
(Quote)
use the word “sniper” and get a military ad!
(Quote)
That’s a great picture, Trey. I set it as my desktop background.
Good game last night, guys. Kobe choked, but he’ll bounce back.
(Quote)
sniper lingerie
/trying for a camo underoos endorsement
(Quote)
The snipers were there in case anyone blocked traffic scalping tickets.
(Quote)
Joey is fat as shit.
(Quote)
I forgot to add, my mom ran down Joey Fatone and I got a picture of her and redraiderclay with the megasuperstar that no one cared about.
(Quote)
Yeah, I wonder if his vanity plates say “Fat 1″
(Quote)
I’m really late on this post since I flew home today and had other shit to deal with, but I was shocked–shocked–at how “cheap” the concessions were there. I’ve got more pics that I’ll post on my Facebook page and link it up…it includes the guest appearance of Sparty on the scoreboard.
(Quote)
And overall, the place was awesome and it was great to see the Magic win…the crowd really was pretty quiet in the 1st half but sure came to life as the game moved towards the end. LET’S GO MAGIC!!
Trey–Surprised you didn’t get a pic of the huge Superman cape outside. Thanks for the hospitality again…I’d be sure to do the same if you came up to my neck of the woods.
(Quote)
Rek, the Magic boast some of the cheapest concessions in pro sports, which is why it was so incredible they didn’t jack them at this time. It’s like the reverse Disney psychology, you have to donate a lung to buy any concessions at their baseball stadium.
As far as the cape, we got a few of them, they put it up for the playoffs in April.
Glad to have you down yonder. Hope my family and friends weren’t too wierd.
(Quote)
Trey–Well I’m glad I didn’t get totally ripped off trying to eat there…it was a nice surprise.
That cape was pretty cool…huuuuuge.
Your fam/friends were cool…helped make the “meeting someone you met on the internet” thing not so awkward.
(Quote)
GatorTrey: Hey, Rekcalsa?
Rekcalsa: GatorTrey?
GT: Hey man, nice to meet you. *extends a handshake*
Rek: Um, yeah. You too. *quickly shakes hands*
GT: Man, you look nothing like your gravatar.
Rek: I Left my helmet at home. *whispers to himsef; wtf?*
GT: So um…
Rek: yeah, right…
long pause of silence.
Rek: So Sparty’s a real asshole?
GT: Fucking Huge. Let’s have a beer.
(Quote)
sparty–Thankfully it didn’t go down like that…but he did look just like his gravatar.
(Quote)
Trey, I showered with my arm in a trash bag as not to lose any Fatone sweat for the sake of personal hygene.
(Quote)
Thankfully we didn’t break out the overalls, straw hats, and grass out of our mouths.
(Quote)
Didn’t you say he smelt like urine and bleach?
(Quote)
Clay–Taking the Bart Simpson route and never washing your arm again I see…until he breaks it off with you.
(Quote)
The way he fought with his wife between his bad karaoke “sets”, make me believe we’ll never last.
(Quote)
karaoke?
You mean he didn’t write Livin’ on a Prayer, My Own Worst Enemy, or What’s my Age Again?
(Quote)
lol snipers
(Quote)