If the New Jersey Nets win at home and no one makes a sound, did an NBA game really take place? From what I experienced Tuesday night at Continental Airlines Arena, the answer is yes. And I have the pictures to prove it.
I was about ready to leave work — no, I don't make a living running this amateur, commerce-free blog, so stop asking, morons — when a friend of mine called saying he had company tickets to the Nets game. Granted, this meant that I'd have to venture into the shitpile known as New Jersey for the second time in just over a week, but it sure beat his offer the last time he had tickets — to see a Czechoslovakian rock band in Queens. (I went. How could you not?) This time, I said yes as soon as I heard "18th-row seats."
I logged on to NBA.com to see who the opponent would be. I had visions of Kobe driving. McGrady slamming, Garnett swishing, cheerleaders flashing (that's one for you, Google). Learning that the opponent was the Miami Heat was like winning an all-expenses-paid vacation to Utah. At least I knew the final buzzer would be loud enough to wake me up.
So five us piled into a rented Chevy Something-or-Other and held our noses as we crossed the river to the land of toxic waste and, worse, Jersey residents. While in the car, I saw that the tickets had a face value of $150. Apparently, we were in for $750 worth of excitement — or the equivalent of ordering two women to penetrate each other in front of 30 of your friends for one hour. But what's that in comparison to Nets-Heat? We also had an extra ticket that would go to waste, because we were too late to pawn it off, and there were more empty seats in the arena than at a I've Got Herpes convention.
As for the game, the Nets were winning big, trailed by a bunch, and came back to win it, 84-79. More importantly, I ate Doritos, a Snickers, a sausage hero and Carvel ice cream, which I washed down with beer. I didn't have room for dessert.
But I got a story out of it, and plenty of laughs. Thanks to my friend for coming through. Next time the Denver Nuggets are in town, it's my treat.
You missed the Cuse game. Horrible officiating but what else can you expect. St. John's thug ball. McNamara 30 consecutive free throws, he'll never miss again. They're takin' it all this year.
Posted by Brian at February 19, 2003 3:44 AM