But having an NBA team here in OKC, however non-permanently, and wanting to support the effort, I expected to go to at least one game this season. Prior to the season starting, I looked at the schedule and muttered to myself something to the effect that if I went to one game this season, it would HAVE to be the Sixers game.
Well, about three weeks ago, I checked on ticket availability for the Hornets-Sixers game here in OKC, and it was ALREADY sold out. Bummer. So I expected to NOT be going at that point.
That is, until SuperSteph and her connections came through (yet again). I was notified at about 4:45pm that there were (REALLY GOOD) tickets available to me if I was able to use them. Ironically, while I originally planned to take Darby, I got word that she wasn't feeling well just before hearing about the tickets.
So I went to her school to see how she was doing. Apparently she had an upset stomach earlier in the day, and she was still moping around with the after effects. I asked her point blank if she were feeling well and she said no. So I looked at her mother, who I met there, and said I guess she's not going. When she inquired as to what she was missing, her sister blurted out "basketball game". So as you might imagine she puckered up real quick and said she wanted to go.
After a tearful negotiation, I decided to go ahead and take Darby, so I called Steph and arranged a ticket exchange. When we made the exchange, there was something like fifty minutes left until tip-off. Plenty of time in theory. That is, until you throw a Shawn into the equation.
The fact that I don't usually have cash on me (I'm a check card junkie), is not often a problem, but when it is a problem at all, it's typically a really big freakin' problem. Much as it was this evening when I pulled into the parking garage without cash. In case you were ever wondering, yes, they actually make you back-up if you don't have cash. There's no honor system for that sort of thing. And yes, it's a complete pain in the butt backing out of a parking garage entryway when there are lines of cars behind you.
Of course it was embarrassing. But I'm used to that by now.
After driving miles out of the way, mostly to avoid traffic, to get to an ATM, I found myself right back at the same garage, and amazingly got a great parking spot that was just sitting there unwanted. I was so stunned I had to get out and look around for signs or other markings indicating that it wasn't actually a spot. And that act was so noticeable that someone walking by said to me, "yes, it's actually a spot, I know, you can't believe your luck, right?"
Well, I couldn't.
So Darby and I walked the block or so to the arena, where we got into the game amazingly fast. I've had it take longer for security checks at seemingly less high profile events. Immediately upon getting in, we passed a souvenir stand, where we promptly picked up some shirts, followed by finding bathrooms before we got seated.
Turns out the bathrooms we used were directly outside the entryway to our seats, which was convenient, so in little time at all we were enjoying our view, with three minutes left until tip-off. I couldn't believe we made it.
Let me just say that it was an amazing game. The Hornets led the whole first half, and by 13 at half-time. But the Sixers came back strong in the 3rd, leading by 10 or so by the 4th. With less than 3 minutes left in the game, we tied it up, and we took the lead, by two, with 50 seconds left. From then, the defense did it's job, and amazingly, we won!
I wouldn't have believed it before hand. And though there were a surprisingly high number of Sixers fans there that would have rooted along with me, I was standing behind the home town team the whole game. Which I find ironic since I was probably one of few with any actual connection to Philadelphia.
For her part, Darby had an excellent experience. She LOVED it. It was probably one of the most exciting experiences she's had in her short life. And, of course, you wouldn't have known she was ever sickly by looking at her at the end of that game.
Here's my best pic of Mr. Iverson.
And here's my coolest pic of the game, one of the mascot types jumping through a hoop to make a slam dunk.
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