Bill and I went to the Lakers opening game against the Houston Rockets. It was great to be back and our seats have improved. We moved one row up and to the other end of the row, bringing us about 12 feet closer to center. Yes!
Opening games are fun. We each got a XL purple t-shirt and “thunder sticks” to use to distract the opposing team. Bill and I each got a hot dog and some nachos to share. We watch a man sing the national anthem from the hall and find our new seats.
I love when the players make their entrance. The Staples Center drops this massive cloth and projects a short montage of the players. The cloth falls and is dragged off the floor. We cheer for the players while the USC band sitting above us plays in short spurts. The jumbotron is flashing some bad graphics and is asking us to make some noise. We look for the usual faces sitting courtside. My favorite is the real estate tycoon who is at every game dressed like an old skinny rocker in head-to-toe leather or Gucci and always in a hat.
It was my first time seeing Yao Ming play and he’s a friggin’ wall that just happens to look like a giant Chinese man. The game starts off slow and very awkward. The Lakers make the first basket and the crowd goes nuts. The Lakers loose their brief lead and by the fourth quarter were trailing behind by 8 to 10 points.
The crowd starts streaming out. I don’t understand why anyone would leave a Laker game early. Don't you know?? Over the years we have seen so many comebacks and it is always worth it to stay to the end. I think it’s rude and these people are lame fans. In true OG Laker style they tied the game with 13.9 seconds left to play.
Unfortunately, Shane Battier hit a 3-pointer and the Rockets won. It was such heart break. I won't even mention that thing with Walton and Brown.
I still love the Lakers though. Go Lakers!