I just finished watching Inside the NBA and have a question. Do you want to see Charles Barkley get tasered by Ernie Johnson? Charles says he wants to see how it feels... I think it could be interesting. I vote, "Yes". What do you think?
Kenny Smith (to Charles): Why won't you let me tase you?
Charles Barkley (to Kenny): Because I hate you, Kenny.
I swear I love these guys and enjoy the show! Charles Barkley - To Tase or Not to Tase, that is the Question.
We all know how much fun it was to watch Charles race Dick Bavetta... Come on, TNT!!! Please let this happen!!!
I'd never been to Portland until Friday, but I know some people affiliated with the NBA and media who know that city very well. I decided some time last week that I wanted to go check out the Phoenix Suns v Portland Trail Blazers series. I'd never seen either team play at home. However, I fully expect Phoenix to advance to the 2nd round, and I've been to Phoenix numerous times ~ so I decided that it was time for a quick trip to the Rose Garden (i.e. my 64th venue).
I arrived in Portland and went straight to my friend's place to drop off my luggage and work. Yes, I worked. Fridays are light, but they do require some attention. After work, I went to meet an old friend and NBA veteran. He and I hadn't seen each other in years, but we caught right up over the longest lunch in history. Starting off at a restaurant named Higgins and then off to El Gaucho I ate and drank my way through the city in good company, until my other friend came home from work. I recommend both restaurants highly, but will admit I didn't eat at the 2nd one.
It was around 6:30PM and I received a text from my friend letting me know I had an extra 30 mins to chill since work was taking longer than usual. Perfect since I needed to nap. By the time 7:30/8 rolled around, another one of my friends (i.e. a beat writer who was in town doing some TV) had invited me to Henry's Tavern. Seeing that everything appeared to be in close proximity, my friend and I headed to Henry's. The 3 of us chatted it up watched a West Coast game and traded stories. It was a great time. Dan Majerle walked by our table with friends. The place was packed. We were all having fun. When the game ended, we tried to get my friend to come with us to Portland City Grill. No dice. He wanted to stay at Henry's and was off to Oklahoma City in the morning, so we said our farewells.
Portland City Grill must be one of the better restaurants in Portland, because it'd been recommended to me by 2 NBA veterans. This is more funny than unusual, since most guys in the league frequent the same restaurants when on the road. For example, don't be surprised if you run into media and/or athletes at Prime 112 in South Beach, XO Prime Steaks in Cleveland, St Elmo Steak House in Indianapolis, etc. Certain restaurants cater to them by staying open late and/or are geographically desirable due to their proximity to the arena. And yes, for those of you in the know, I could easily list TGI Friday's for Cleveland/Westlake, but some of you would think I was joking ~ but I'm not... Now, I'm not telling you to hang out at Friday's... BUT, back in the day ~ you'd be surprised...
**** Portland City Grill offers great views of the city and had a great scene. Sit in the bar area by the window, soak up the atmosphere, and relax. The petite filet was good and the white chocolate macadamia nut cookies w/ice cream were a great dessert choice.
The next day after grabbing a coffee and hitting a park to people watch, it was off to lunch. I can't remember the restaurant's name but the pot roast sandwich and macaroni and cheese were amazing. Order both menu items and share with someone.
It was a gorgeous day and the walk to the Rose Garden was an easy one. It felt like spring.
After picking up the tickets and checking out the team store (i.e. I didn't buy a Trail Blazers hat), we went to our seats and then went down towards the court so I could wave to my friend who was doing color commentary.
The teams came out to shoot around before the game started and I noticed Brandon Roy was out on the court. The idea of him playing was exciting, since he just had surgery on his knee.
The game started and it was a close one. The Suns never seemed to get into their rhythm, and the Trail Blazers came out BLAZING!!! Portland was on fire. Vegas had established the line at Phoenix -2. My friend reasoned that taking the Suns was a sucker bet (i.e. enticing everyone to place their money on the Suns, so they'd lose and Vegas would win). Talk about being correct! Portland won, and LaMarcus Aldridge proved to be the star. I definitely took notice of his game. I certainy didn't expect to hear such a loud crowd and witness a Portland victory.
**** Actually on the way to the game, we passed a man who asked if we were headed to the Rose Garden. After saying, "Yes," he proceeded to bad mouth the Blazers and said Game 3 was awful. Well, I hope he changed his mind and gave his team another chance! Game 4 delivered when it came to excitement and to be honest it got HOT in the building from all the excitement.
One thing I have to say is that the Rose Garden has the nicest group of ushers. Marlene was working over by the Suns bench and she's phenomenol. HOWEVER, "Ross" (i.e. the usher from hell) was working the entrance A12 and he needs to be fired or reprimanded severely. I'm waiting until Monday to log a formal complaint and I'm going to hit basketball operations and even Paul Allen. I'm not playing. This man took it upon himself to police another section and "shoo" people out of seats that he thought were sitting in the wrong seats. Well, he shoo'ed numerous groups of people and then tried to shoo my friend and I ~ when we hadn't moved since the opening tip. He was waving a sheet of paper and YELLING like a crazy person. Then he ran over to the other side of the section to talk to the usher that had checked us earlier and she tried to get me to get up and walk over to her. When I told her I had tickets, the old man continued to flail and wave like a crazy person, so I passed my ticket down. She passed the ticket back and he went back to his post. No apology. No nothing. Like I said, I've been to 64 arenas across the country and I've NEVER been harrassed like that in my life.
"Ross", Worst Usher EVER
"Ross", Worst Usher EVER: He knows I'm angry and that I'm taking his picture.
The Trail Blazers defeated the Suns, 96-87.
After the game it was off to the On Deck Sports Bar & Grill to catch the end of the Penguins game and finish the rest of the NBA night games before heading back to get my "luggage" and flying home.
I've already read, Rita Ewing and Crystal McCrary's book, Homecourt Advantage years ago and recognized the characters of my past in print. I say, "characters" because I've never met the authors, but I know the personas and type of people that are written about in the book, because I lived it for more than 4 years.
Anyone who's on the periphery or dead center in the game and maintains a relationship, personally or professionally with someone associated with professional basketball can identify with the book ~ and if he/she disagrees, then he/she is lying.
The way to survive in the "circle of trust" is to not air your dirty laundry about the fraternity. Loose lips sink ships. The sororities of women (i.e. in the family lounge, in the stands, and in the hotel lobbies) do not mix. You're either a respected member or you're a joke/threat. Wives and girlfriends don't appreciate new faces. Anyone new, has to earn trust. See no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil and everyone can survive, "peacefully". I could write post after post with crazy details and stories, but I won't. This blog isn't about that, and no one wants their business out there. Everyone thinks being a NBA wife or girlfriend is easy. It is not. Sure, everyone thinks that money makes it all better, but money doesn't fix everything. Sure for the women relationships start and end, but contracts keep their men on TV, in ads, and in the papers. Love is beautiful and can be difficult, but breaking up is hard to do when so many people have their nose or want to put their nose in your business. Sooooo...
OK, after being sent the link and a few emails about Basketball Wives, Season 1, I'm finally downloading Episode 1. I have mixed feelings about what I think I'm going to see. I doubt there's anything that'll really shock or surprise me, I've been there and done that and whatever I haven't lived, I've seen... It was the best of times, it was the worst of times ~ but those years sure were interesting!
According to EW.com (Entertainment Weekly's online presence), "VH1 has ordered eight episodes of a new reality show called Basketball Wives that will reveal what it’s like to be married to, dating, or done with an NBA player. Participants include Jennifer Williams (wife of Eric Williams), Evelyn Lozada (ex-fiancé of Antoine Walker), Mesha O’Neal (wife of Jermaine O’Neal), Royce Reed (mother of Dwight Howard’s son), Faith Rain (Udonis Haslem’s girlfriend) and Shaunie O’Neal (wife of Shaquille O’Neal), who will also serve as an executive producer."
I have no idea what I'm about to see, and I'm curious how honest these women are going to be. I know I wouldn't want all of my business thrown out there for public consumption. Some secrets and stories I'll take with me to the grave, because they're no one's business... I saw that Shaq (i.e. who is resting and not playing tonight as the Atlanta Hawks take on the Cleveland Cavaliers) has referred to the show as "televised revenge". Well you know the saying ~ "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."
The next episode of Basketball Wives is scheduled to run on April 18. The show is on Sundays at 10PM EST on VH1.
Here's an oldie but a goodie for you, Skee-Lo's, "I Wish". You're welcome.
2 Sundays ago, I went to my very first Super Bowl. Last Sunday (i.e. 2 days ago) I went to my very first NBA All-Star game. Yes, I said it ~ "VERY FIRST". Some people find that surprising. Sure, I've been to Jam Sessions and All-Star Saturday night for the 3 Point and Slam Dunk contests... But, I've never made it to the actual All-Star game ~ until this year.
This year's Super Bowl was historic. The Saints won it all in their 44th year as a franchise in Super Bowl XLIV (i.e. the 44th Super Bowl for those of you that are Roman numerically challenged). This year's NBA All-Star game was also historic. It was slated to draw a world record in attendance for a basketball game, since it was being played in the New Dallas Cowboys Stadium.
New Guinness Book of World Records achievement in attendance for a basketball game
I was thrilled to be going to the game, even though I'd been to the new stadium earlier this year for the Eagles v Cowboys playoff game. You knew that already, right?!!? No?!?! Well you would have, had you been following this blog since Day 1. Just saying... :-P
For those of you, who are curious ~ and you know that you all are. Here is some video I found on youtube that shows how the floor of the new Cowboys Stadium was transformed to accommodate the 2010 NBA All-Star game. It's AWESOME.
The NBA transportation took us to the arena easily. There was a long line for people to get into the arena. Fortunately for me, I didn't have to wait in that line... Inside the stadium, I couldn't wait to see the setup for the basketball game. A quick trip across the concourse and this was the view that I saw.
After sizing up the arena and looking at the seating differences for basketball, I descended into the tunnels and was able to take in the scene prior to the player introductions. Kobe Bryant wasn't playing the game, but he was in the tunnels.
Kobe Bryant talking to Dwight Howard
After that scene got tiresome, I walked through the tunnels and went towards the floor of the stadium and took in the scene at "field level". I couldn't believe I was so close to the action and the energy of the stadium was palpable. People were excited and you could feel it! More Kobe interviews were conducted, while Reggie Miller and Marv Albert were doing their pregame show segments.
Usher performed 2 or 3 songs prior to the player introductions. Does anyone know if Usher still has an ownership stake in Cleveland? Just curious. Next question: Is Usher still relevant? I don't think he is, but that's my 2 cents...
Usher
Before the game with the East and the West on the floor
Opening tip
It's the NBA All-Star game. I've watched many of these through the years and the "formula" is the same. The players have fun for the first 3.75 quarters and begin to play for the win towards the end of the game. During the 1st half of the game, I scanned the crowd and enjoyed the action on the court. At half time, I was curious to see how the crowd would be managed as the players traveled what I'd like to refer to as "Lombard Street" at the new Cowboys Stadium... For those of you that don't know what that means, I beg you to travel to San Francisco and the curves of "Lombard Street" for yourself.
The path the players had to walk reminded me of the game Centipede...
Shakira and Alicia Keys performed at half-time. My only complaint was about Shakira's outfit, since it was a cross between Beyonce's "Single Ladies" leotard and Lady Gaga's outfits with the "shoulder embellishments"... All of them look great ~ but come on.... Can we please get some originality ladies?!?!
Shakira
Alicia Keys
Also, at half-time, the USA Basketball team was presented to the crowd. The 2010 FIBA World Championships are being held in Turkey this September. 27 marquee names on the roster include: LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Dwyane Wade, etc. For all of you Duke fans, I'm sure you'll be happy to know that the USA head coach is Mike Krzyzewski.
Some of the members of Team USA
With under 40 seconds left in the game, the score was tied at 137. This made some people nervous, because not many people wanted this game to go into overtime. Eventually the East won the game 141-139 and Dwyane Wade was named the MVP of the game.
As the stadium cleared, I took some more pics around the stadium and watched the taping of Inside the NBA.
Kevin McHale, Chris Webber, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley
After the Inside the NBA was done taping, here are some gems that I was able to snap.
On the actual game court
Chris Bosh and AmareStoudemire leaving the stadium
Dwyane Wade leaving the locker room
Dwight Howard leaving the stadium
By the time we all left the arena, it was LATE. I ended up chatting it up with PR and media people from all over the country. Ever sat in front of someone who's written about you in a newspaper and he not know who you were? I have and it's a very strange feeling.
