March 10. Clippers v magic

Finally , we’ve decided to tick off one of the ‘must do ‘ experiences of American life , going to a NBA game . Emma booked the tickets online($55 a seat , 15 to 20 meters from courtside ) and then it was just waiting for game day . Of course it had to rain for the 3rd time since we’ve been here , making for a nerve jangling drive into downtown ( 1 hour drive ). Once we get to the Staples Centre it reminds me of Etihad stadium in Melbourne . After dealing with the $30 event parking Emma , Leroy , his mate Carson and myself headed into LA Live .La live is a sporting , dining and entertaining precinct . We were pumped , the whole setup adds to the experience . You can eat and drink at a number of good restaurants, covering almost every style of dining , and the best part : you walk no more than a hundred meters to the Staples Centre . I couldn’t help myself and had to have a beer with dinner . ‘The wolf pup amongst the weeds’ ( yes , that’s it’s true name ) wetted the appetite nicely . Bring it on ! The basketball is an entertainment experience , there’s a family / loosen up and have a drink type atmosphere that massages you into …. Showtime !This feels like the theatre for the masses , no half strength crap beers , it’s the good gear . No political correctness here . Once in the stadium with my pint of Goose ( yep , another animal named beer and a quality drop ) it’s buzz central . We feel close to the court , the seating is well designed for viewing , the whole set up is a blur of flashing lights , music , flames ,cameras out everywhere . We’re all here for a good time , the energy is contagious.The intro and build up : think WWE with Eminem’s voice telling us “you’ve got one shot , this is an opportunity of a lifetime”pulsing through the crowd and I’m thinking about stripping off and getting out on court myself . The basketballers … big fuckers , true athletes that make the court look smaller and closer . The skill and more so , the athleticism of these guys makes me ponder that the damage these guys could do on an AFL ground , frightening . I still have a couple of small criticisms, the ball handling wasn’t as elite as I expected , maybe that’s because these two teams are just average and when you’re talking 6 feet 6 to 7 feet in height the nimbleness and fine motor skills aren’t as finely tuned . Although I concede that the ridiculous reach of these guys would make it hard to dribble and stay smooth with their ability to tap the ball away. Also the game can tend to meander along and get lost in the background of music and flashing lights . All that aside , this was a lotta fun . We had a ball , the kids were mesmerised , Emma loved it and i enjoyed a couple of nice beers while soaking in a must see spectacle . That was awesome!!