Team USA Men's and Women's Basketball shows Military Appreciation in DC

Saturday Team USA held a Military Appreciation event at the DC Stadium Armory.  Nike gave away "Hoops for Troops" blue T-shirts and the event was a terrific way for Team USA's Men's and Women's Basketball teams to show their appreciation towards those who serve the USA. 

Approximately 3,100 tickets were distributed and the crowd was thrilled to see our nation's finest basketball athletes work through drills, participate in a scrimmage, and a few selected lucky ducks were able to compete in a skills challenge with their favorite member of the team!

What a great event for the Nike World Basketball Festival, the DC Armory, and Team USA!

Kobe being Kobe



Durant and Westbrook laugh with LeBron

I hope you enjoy the great shots of fan favorites, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James (i.e. along with Washington DC's own Kevin Durant).  These guys may compete with different jerseys during the better part of the year, but in international competition, they're definitely UNITED.

Other notables who attended the event were Lenny Wilkens, Gheorghe Muresan, and the Georgetown University Hoyas' own: Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, and Coach John Thompson (Senior).

Team USA (both men and women) will take on Brazil at the Verizon Center on Monday, July 16.  The women play first and the men are slated to start at 8PM.

Update (July 16): According to my contact, there are only 2 single tickets available in the lower bowl for tonight's match-ups.  The price is $784/ticket.


THE WIRK

Team USA Men's and Women's Basketball Teams come to DC this weekend

In case you're like me and not right on top of the USA Men's Basketball schedule, I'd like to let you know that the USA Men's (i.e. and Women's) Basketball teams are coming to the Verizon Center in Washington, DC.  Both teams will be playing Brazil's Olympic squads. 

Do you know who Oscar Schmidt is?  If you are a true international basketball fan, you do.  Regardless, educate yourself here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Schmidt.

I digress...  Let's get back to Team USA...

If you want a pair of front row tickets (i.e. according to Ticketmaster's website) that are in section 112 (i.e. which traditionally look at the visiting team's bench for NBA games) there are a pair for $827.65 EACH.  That's right - for you and your wife/buddy/customer/client/child/boss, etc. you'll spend close to $1,700.  Don't worry, Moneybags, a portion of you ticket price will go to USO charities.  So if you're fortunate enough to have the ticket money, a huge fan of Team USA, and can't make it to London for the festivities - get yourself to the "Phone booth" on Monday at 5:30PM for the doubleheader. 

Here's a link so you can purchase your tickets: http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1500488CE14C7042?artistid=873991&majorcatid=10004&minorcatid=7

If you're feeling charitable, I'm only interested in a single ticket and it's ONLY $520.90.  If you want to donate to my ticket account, feel free to Paypal me at sjwirk@gmail.com.

For all of you that have $59, you can pick up seats to the game if you use the discount code: wizards and following the link: https://oss.ticketmaster.com/html/go.htmI?l=EN&t=wizards&o=505&g=2197

****  I guess I've been catching too many clips of Team USA in Las Vegas, that I presumed that they'd head straight to London when they were finished training in Las Vegas.  As it turns out their stint, out West, wraps up on July 12. 

In addition, I was talking to my friend, Teri, earlier and The Nike World Basketball Festival 2012 will take place at the DC Armory July 14-15.  This was also news to me.  You can expect to find me at the DC Armory this weekend to get over my basketball drought, since the NBA Finals, and to relive some 1992 Dream Team Memories.  From what I understand there will be some select appearances by members of the Dream Team at certain events.

So, for all of you "hoop heads" in the DC/VA/MD area, it looks like you have something to do!  Go out and support Team USA Men's and Women's Basketball.

Nominated for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Men's Team were: Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks); Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers); Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers); James Harden (Oklahoma City Thunder); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers); Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder); and Deron Williams (Brooklyn Nets).  Oh and there's another guy...  Hmmm.  What's his name?  You know - that guy who left Cleveland to win a Championship with the Miami Heat.  Yes, LeBron James. 

The men are coached by Duke University's, Coach K.

Admitedly, I'm not as familiar with the Women's team, but here are the names I recognize from the USA National Team:  Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Swin Cash (Chicago Sky), Tina Charles (Connecticut Sun), Asjha Jones (Connecticut Sun), Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx), Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks), and Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury).  ****  No offense intended to the other women on the squad who's names I didn't include.  I think I only recognize these names from their NCAA Women's Tournament game performances.

The women are coached by UConn's own, Geno Auriemma.

Enjoy.


THE WIRK

Tiesto's Club Life Tour hit Washington DC ~ Great show and an attendance record

Yesterday most of my friends were excited for one thing only.  Club Glow brought Tiesto's Club Life Tour to the DC Armory last night.  It was an 18+up show, and that normally makes my friends hesitate.  However, the chance to dance and be a part of the crowd of 10,000+ for Tiesto's largest US show (i.e. minus festivals), were opportunities that couldn't be passed up.  ****  It's my understanding that this was an attendance record for a US show (i.e. minus festivals).

I used to date a guy that loved all things Tiesto.  Some people followed sports and Michael Jordan.  He was all about Ministry of Sound and Tiesto.  ****  I think it's because he spent a lot of time vacationing internationally.  Some people vacation in Las Vegas and Florida.  He went to the Full Moon Party in Thailand and partied in Ibiza.  I once listened to "Beautiful Things" by Andain and Tiesto over 50 times in one day because it was he and his roommate's favorite.  If you haven't heard the tune, where have you been?!?!  Here it is for you to check out, since I mentioned it.

I haven't been as familiar with the club scene, since Jason and I broke up many years ago.  Let's face it ~ I'm not the girl you'll find running around Winter Music Conference, but every now and again you will catch me at a place where Tiesto is spinning.  The last time I saw Tiesto was in 2008, and I can STILL FEEL the heat from all the bodies dancing.  Surprisingly, I think since the doors were open for the loading docks etc, the Armory was kept cool enough for last night's show.

The DJ's for last night's show were:
Matt Goldman
Roberto Gonzalez
Cedric Gervais - http://cedricgervais.com/
Tiësto


Matt Goldman

To be expected, the crowd grew as the night went on, with Goldman doing the hardest work revving up people who arrived early. 

Roberto Gonzalez followed up the heavy-lifting.  ****  I actually left during part of his set to run over to RFK Stadium to see David Beckham. 

Changing of the guard: Matt Goldman out, Roberto Gonzalez in

Cedric Gervais

By the time I returned to the Armory, Cedric Gervais was playing to about 75-80% of a full house.  Gervais was killing it, and he definitely had the crowd riled up for Tiesto to come out.  Around 10:30 the Tiesto chants started.



The last time I was at a venue like this (i.e. with this many people, standing in a building with a long "hall" was when I was in the UK and saw Jay-Z at Alexandra Palace!

Tiesto came out and did his thing.  My friend, Giselle, posted the Tiesto remix of "Girls with Bangs" by Lune, on her facebook profile.  When it came on I know she was thrilled!  Here's the tune, if you want to check it out.

The crowd of 10,000 plus people at the Armory was treated to a spectacular show.  I was excited to be part of the event, especially since it was my first time at this particular venue.

Tiesto

Later in the evening I found myself next to Goldman with Gervais and Gonzalez behind me, while Tiesto was on stage.  Yep, that's how it should be!

THE WIRK