Lakers Lovah
I've never been much of a sports fan. I loved attending live games but mostly that fed my hunger for people watching and I found the players running around the field or the court rather inconsequential. I'm a girly girl to the max and find things like stats and sports trivia and sweat soaked jerseys pretty icky. So I guess I can understand why my friends raise a collective eyebrow over my new found love of the Lakers.
On our second date Kelly took me to a Lakers game. I had been before, even sat in a suite, so although I was excited to go I wasn't really pissing my pants to see them play. Until we got to the arena and descended a thousand stairs so that we were sitting smack in front of those sweaty giants throwing the orange ball around. We were close enough I could hear every grunt the players made and although I think grunting is kind of gross, I gotta admit it was strangely exciting in this context.
I couldn't wipe the smile off my face that night, which had a lot to do with my affinity for the man who brought me, but was equally because I couldn't believe how cool it was to see the game up close and personal. I'll admit that our proximity to the court side celeb-fest added to my giddy little school girl behavior. I was smitten.
When this season started Kelly invited me again to a game and I eagerly accepted. A stipulation of my invitation: I had to tell him the name of at least one player other than Kobe.
"Hmm," I muttered as I bit my lower lip searching my memory banks for the names on the jerseys. "Well there's that one tall guy with the curly hair. The one that every time he hits a shot you say 'Pow!' What's his name?" I asked foolishly. I cringe now at my silly dumb girl response.
Last week I was trading texts with my friend, Adam, a die-hard Suns fan who finds my Laker's love abhorrent.
Me: Can u believe this game??? Lakers fucking rock!
On our second date Kelly took me to a Lakers game. I had been before, even sat in a suite, so although I was excited to go I wasn't really pissing my pants to see them play. Until we got to the arena and descended a thousand stairs so that we were sitting smack in front of those sweaty giants throwing the orange ball around. We were close enough I could hear every grunt the players made and although I think grunting is kind of gross, I gotta admit it was strangely exciting in this context.
I couldn't wipe the smile off my face that night, which had a lot to do with my affinity for the man who brought me, but was equally because I couldn't believe how cool it was to see the game up close and personal. I'll admit that our proximity to the court side celeb-fest added to my giddy little school girl behavior. I was smitten.
When this season started Kelly invited me again to a game and I eagerly accepted. A stipulation of my invitation: I had to tell him the name of at least one player other than Kobe.
"Hmm," I muttered as I bit my lower lip searching my memory banks for the names on the jerseys. "Well there's that one tall guy with the curly hair. The one that every time he hits a shot you say 'Pow!' What's his name?" I asked foolishly. I cringe now at my silly dumb girl response.
Last week I was trading texts with my friend, Adam, a die-hard Suns fan who finds my Laker's love abhorrent.
Me: Can u believe this game??? Lakers fucking rock!
Adam: Saw your text. Knew you were gloating. You wanna impress me, name the starting line up... punk
Me: For this game? I was getting a mani/pedi and missed the start. But if I had to guess... Pao, Fisher, Odom, Kobe, Ariza.
Adam: Google queen.
Me: Fuck you. You're just bitter your team is losers.
I didn't hear back from Adam that night.
Point is I've learned a lot this season. I can name the players, I know generally what their strengths are and the man known as Machine who I had a little crush on is no longer worthy of my admiration... his game has been shameful.
Kelly took me last night to my first ever Finals game and it was piss-your-pants-exciting. The arena buzzed with energy and the celebration built as the Lakers crushed the Magic. I won't tell you I painted my face or even sported yellow and purple- be real, a girl's still got an obligation to exercise some fashion decorum, finals or not. But I did sit on the edge of my seat and jump to my feet to yell and scream each time the Lakers got that orange ball in the hoop.
And today, I'm flying my Lakers flag high.
I didn't hear back from Adam that night.
Point is I've learned a lot this season. I can name the players, I know generally what their strengths are and the man known as Machine who I had a little crush on is no longer worthy of my admiration... his game has been shameful.
Kelly took me last night to my first ever Finals game and it was piss-your-pants-exciting. The arena buzzed with energy and the celebration built as the Lakers crushed the Magic. I won't tell you I painted my face or even sported yellow and purple- be real, a girl's still got an obligation to exercise some fashion decorum, finals or not. But I did sit on the edge of my seat and jump to my feet to yell and scream each time the Lakers got that orange ball in the hoop.
And today, I'm flying my Lakers flag high.
Comments
Post a Comment