Going to a second Clippers game, sitting just a few rows up, was entirely different than the first. Last year, thinking this was my only chance to ever sit this close to a NBA court, I tried to document the entire experience. Photos, videos, mental images. I concentrated hard on everything, trying to soak in every detail. This time around, I didn't even pack my camera. Free from the burden of capturing things for posterity, I just sat in my seat and let my attention go where it naturally wandered.
Most of the first quarter was spent looking across the court at the Kardashians. Kim sat next to her mother while Khloe crossed her legs and leaned into Kim, barely paying attention to the game. The L.A. crowd was vicious and every time Lamar Odom touched the ball, they booed mercilessly. They were even worse when the Kardashians were shown on the Jumbotron. Hearing the jeers rain down live, I can understand how that might get to you, night after night. After all, these people are still human right? No wonder Lebron got sick of being the villain.
By the time intermission rolled around, I had no idea what the score was, who had been playing well, and had spent most of my time trying to figure out when we showed up on TV. When Kevin threw up his Northface jacket hood, we resembled crab fisherman, bright yellow among a crowd of red, white, black, and blue. Many friends texted with a variation of this message: "You guys are just sitting there! Do a dance, jump up and scream, do something, you're so boring!" I can't tell you how much peer pressure and not wanting to be an asshole keeps you in your seat. Unless everyone rises to their feet, the fans who are screaming and jumping around are mostly idiots and you just want them to shut up. We couldn't sacrifice our dignity just to get on-screen.
In March we're returning for a Celtics game. I hope the Big Four is still intact by then. There are rumblings that Danny Ainge has been given the go ahead to move anyone on the roster. From what I can tell, the Celtics run is over, as we're incapable of beating anyone but the worst teams. It's so painful watching them, as they struggle in every facet of the game. At the very least I hope they hang onto Paul Pierce, as watching him play in another uniform would just be devastating.
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