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My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
My Game Report
by: MistiLynn
http://www.mistilynn.com/game04-28-06.htm
April 28, 2006
Sacramento, CA -- Arco Arena
It was the Spurs game to lose.
And lose it they did.
The only reason I have the heart to write this report is the memory of 2002. In the Western Conference Finals, Robert Horry hit a game winner for the Lakers one game and Mike Bibby hit a game winner for the Kings in the next game. No one remembers Bibby's game winner since Sacramento lost the series.
I have every expectation that Sacramento will lose this series as well.
That being said, I was having a fabulous time in the capital of California. The weather has been a beautiful 85 degrees and sunny, I went shopping at the mall, read a book by the pool, it's been great.
I think that every person, at some point in their life, should see a game in Arco Arena. In all the games I've been to, in all the cities, these fans as a whole were the most passionate about their team.
I still really, really, REALLY hate the Kings.
There were a lot of festivities outside, including an area to make signs, a couple souvenir stands, somewhere that sold beer, I didn't walk around too much for fear of my life. I was wearing my black t-shirt that says Spurs on the front and Horry (plus his #5 - jersey style) on the back. To top it off, I had the infamous pink "got horry?" hat and Spurs championship backpack. The girl directly behind me in line had brought a Ginobili jersey from Argentina, she said a friend of hers from Argentina had sent it to her and she was very excited to see Manu.
The doors finally open at 5:30pm and I walked down to the court, not a single person the entire night checked my ticket to see if I was allowed down there. While the players are warming up, all fans (no matter where you are sitting) are allowed to congregate behind the courtside seats in Sections 101 - 104, basically the side that doesn't have the teams' benches. Fans had signs, took pictures, cheered when they were filmed by ESPN, called out to the players, etc. I didn't see any of the players actually sign autographs for the fans though, and no one was allowed near the tunnel. Not even Manu, from what I saw, signed autographs.
I did manage to catch Tony Parker's attention and said hi to him as well as to Sean Marks. Manu saw me as he was walking towards the tunnel, since I was hanging out right next to it (I told security that it was my seat), he came over, shook my hand and thanked me for coming. Horry saw me as he was coming out of the tunnel and said hi but didn't stop.
The big news -- when Rasho Nesterovic was walking to tunnel I got him to stop long enough to deliver a message from Angel_Luv, I said "I'm supposed to tell you that the Houston Slovenia flag girl says hi." Rasho smiled and said thanks, he definitely remembered you! I, of course, had to call her after that and left a voicemail with details of the exchange. We spent the rest of the game sending text messages back and forth. Since there were no other Spurs fans around, it was nice getting her text messages saying "I believe!".
I didn't see Tim Duncan or Beno Udrih warm up at all, Sean Marks warmed up longer than anyone else though he didn't play. I saw him working with Michael Finley for a long time, he was playing D. The last three out there were Brent Barry, Marks and Horry.
Anyone who has seen a game knows that Brent Barry makes a mad dash to the locker room, he always runs. I managed to call out as he was passing by, "That was a great shot, Barry", referring to Game 2, he kinda looked back and pumped his fist in acknowledgement. The Kings fans around glared at me.
Horry just walked by, not stopping at all. I chalked it up to him just concentrating for the game (don't worry, I did talk to him later).
I got some friendly ribbing from the fans around me but nothing hostile, even when I showed them that I was wearing an Horry shirt. I ended up chatting for quite a while with a cameraman from ESPN named Jeff though he wasn't really amused when I told him about the "BSPN" nickname they've earned.
I finally went to my seat, Section 107, Kings Row 2, Seat 18. Basically, I was sitting courtside and it was SWEET. The couple to my left were very nice, I chatted throughout the game with her. The guy to my right was pretty cool too, but the guy behind him was a Jerk. Yes, with a capital "J", Jerk. He apparently has had that seat for 21 years and was incredibly insulted that they checked his game ticket. During the game, he would yell out, "That's a flagrant foul! Someone could have died!" on the most innocent of touch fouls. He was yelling vulgarities at the refs and getting personal, even the other Kings fans were annoyed with him.
The starting line-ups were announced and all the Spurs players were boo'd. Bruce Bowen ... boo. Tony Parker ... boo. Manu Ginobili ... BOOOOOOOOO. Nazr Mohammed ... boo. Tim Duncan ... boo. Yup, Ginobili got an extra helping from the crowd, they really don't like him.
When the Kings line up was announced, they turned out all the lights and the fans, who had been given glow sticks when they were arriving, waved around their little glow sticks. It actually looked kinda cool, I tried to capture a picture of it.
Their mascot, Slamson, came down the from ceiling on a rope to the Superman theme.
Finally, it's game time.
1st quarter action - A jump ball that the Spurs won, Duncan got poked in the eye and Horry received a resounding chorus of boo's when he checked in towards the end of the quarter. RoHo came out on the floor during a timeout, saw me and gave me a smile. Rasho finished the quarter by hitting a 3 at the buzzer (first Nazr, now Rasho?).
Spurs 20 - Kings 22
2nd quarter action - Bruce Bowen seemed to get pushed out of the bounds but the refs didn't call the foul. It was supposed to be a turnover. San Antonio called for a timeout, and when they got back they had possession. At least that's what it seemed like from where we were, I'm anxious to see the replay to see what happened there. Beno Udrih came in towards the end of the quarter and immediately scored on a TP-like driving layup, very impressive. RoHo had some fun with a block on Bibby.
Spurs 41 - Kings 47
Entertainment - There was a fan shooting in a contest to see how many 3's he could hit in 30 seconds. He made 5 baskets. I say sign him.
3rd quarter action - I was looking over the scorer's sheet which listed the Spurs as having 7 turnovers at the half, it seemed like 30. Still towards the beginning of the quarter, Bonzi Wells went for a steal and knocked the ball out of bounds. He looked up at the ref and pointed towards the Kings side, indicating it should be Kings ball. The ref gave him a patronizing look and just shook his head.
Spurs 64 - Kings 68
4th quarter action - I was yelling, screaming and cheering. I think there were only 4 Spurs fans in the building and, as I mentioned earlier, Kings fans were loud. The Spurs had come back and the 4th quarter just went back and forth. There seemed to be no rhythm to the game, too many turnovers and fouls. Duncan was frustrated, on one play he was fouled on a shot that he had wanted to go in for the And1, but it didn't go so he got two free throws instead. He was so frustrated he punched the basket support beam. Then he sank both free throws.
The last play.
Spurs are up 93-92, 27 seconds left after Artest's turnover. Ginobili has the ball towards middle court, Artest was all over him but he kept it, watching the shot clock wind down. When it got to 6, Duncan ran up to set a screen as Ginobili drove and ...
turned the ball over to Mike Bibby.
Kevin Martin hits the layup as the buzzer sounds.
Game Over. Spurs lose 94-93.
The fans went crazy. The ones that were courtside ran onto the court, no one had left (I can definitely tell I'm not in LA!) so everyone was in there screaming their heads off. And still no one left. The stadium remained full for a good 10 minutes after the game finished.
The fans around me turned on me quickly. Even the girl sitting next to me that I'd been chatting with the whole game turned to me and was yelling at me, then she put her hands around my neck and started choking me, I think jokingly but I pushed her hands off my neck. I don't know what any of them were saying, it was too loud to hear anything, but I was under attack.
Then my cell phone rings, it's my boss. I answered the phone but it was so insanely loud I couldn't hear anything, I had to hang up and sent him this text message, "Yes, I know. Spurs lost and I got attacked by Kings fans."
I couldn't move. I couldn't leave. Somehow I felt that leaving would be acknowledging that we really lost and I wasn't ready to do that. Chip Engelland came out from the tunnel and was standing next to me so I asked him how the team was doing, he said it was a tough loss and they're not very happy right now.
Robert Horry came out a couple minutes later and came over to me. I said to him, "I can't believe I flew up here and had to see that." He gave me a sympathetic look. Then I remembered an e-mail I'd received from a guy named Ronnie Blair who said that he was an assistant coach back when Horry was at Andalusia (high school). I asked Robert if he remembered the guy, he had to think for a second but finally he remembered and said, "Yeah, wow, that was a loooong time ago." He shook my hand, I assured him that Game 4 would be a win, and started to make my way out.
The usher near me asked if I was coming to Game 4, I said no, I have to fly home tomorrow. She said, "Well, this was a great game for you to see." I pointed to the Spurs logo on my sweater and said, "No, it wasn't."
So that's how the story ends.
But we all know it's not truly over.
Spurs in 5.
GO SPURS GO!
WARNING: I had to do these pics from my laptop which doesn't have the greatest color balance, these will look better when I get home tomorrow.
http://www.mistilynn.com/game/04-27_trip1.jpg
The view from the airplane
http://www.mistilynn.com/game/04-27_trip2.jpg
http://www.mistilynn.com/game/04-27_trip3.jpg
Views from my hotel room
http://www.mistilynn.com/game/04-27_trip4.jpg
Sacramento mall in Arden, as seen from my hotel room
http://www.mistilynn.com/game/04-28_spurs01.jpg
Bowen is ... uh ... warming up
http://www.mistilynn.com/game/04-28_spurs02.jpg
Rasho stretching
http://www.mistilynn.com/game/04-28_spurs04.jpg
Sean Marks joins Bowen in ... uh ... warming up
http://www.mistilynn.com/game/04-28_spurs05.jpg
The fans lined up along courtside to watch the players warm up
http://www.mistilynn.com/game/04-28_spurs06.jpg
Think I'm just taking a picture of a Kings player? Nope, you can see Rasho in the background
http://www.mistilynn.com/game/04-28_spurs07.jpg
The glow sticks during the Kings starting line-up announcement (read the game report)
http://www.mistilynn.com/game/04-28_spurs08.jpg
Getting ready for tip-off
http://www.mistilynn.com/game/04-28_spurs03.jpg
Parker greets the Kings as they get ready for tip-off
http://www.mistilynn.com/game/04-28_spurs09.jpg
Tip-off
http://www.mistilynn.com/game/04-28_spurs10.jpg
Nazr Mohammed
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Thanks for the report and pics, Misti.
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Wow..
Great stuff Ms Myzte.
I would of stepped in for you and gotten in anybodys face if
they were threating you. (Yea I can pretty much hear the bodyguard song) :lol
no but seriously thats awful that this happened.
Are you gonna stick around for game 4?
I get the feeling that horry will leave his imprint in game 4. ;)
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Quote:
The fans around me turned on me quickly. Even the girl sitting next to me that I'd been chatting with the whole game turned to me and was yelling at me, then she put her hands around my neck and started choking me, I think jokingly but I pushed her hands off my neck. I don't know what any of them were saying, it was too loud to hear anything, but I was under attack.
What the hell?
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
^^^ I wish I was kidding but I'm serious. It was not a fun moment.
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
What did she do when you pushed her off?
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Nothing, just kept yelling. But then again, so was everyone else around me. I just kinda stood there like, "yeah, you're right. I lost. get over it." They eventually lost interest in me.
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Excellent report. Damn kings fan though.
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
these synopses(sic) are awesome, please do them as much as you possibly can 8)
not surprised bout the choking deal, arco looked pretty nuts. will you be there on sunday when they all go home dissapointed?
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
So basically that Kings fan was a bitch who was only being nice to you because she thought her team might get whupped. Kings fans are used to getting punked and humiliated in their own building, that's why they waited until the game was over to show their true colors. It's very similar to what Hyenas do in the wild...
BTW, they showed that Fred Flintstone tard and the King guy on TV too. And there was another tard dressed like Barney(an even bigger WTF) right next to Fred...takes all kinds I guess. I don't suppose you know why they dressed up like that do you?
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Salute to you Missmyzte. :) Well Done.
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Nice Misti, love your game reports.
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
great report and pics, thanks.
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
The big news -- when Rasho Nesterovic was walking to tunnel I got him to stop long enough to deliver a message from Angel_Luv, I said "I'm supposed to tell you that the Houston Slovenia flag girl says hi." Rasho smiled and said thanks, he definitely remembered you! I, of course, had to call her after that and left a voicemail with details of the exchange. We spent the rest of the game sending text messages back and forth. Since there were no other Spurs fans around, it was nice getting her text messages saying "I believe!".
[/quote]
Whoosh! :D
It was so fun texting you during the game. I really thoughtthe Spurs were going to pull out the win for you.
Quote:
The fans around me turned on me quickly. Even the girl sitting next to me that I'd been chatting with the whole game turned to me and was yelling at me, then she put her hands around my neck and started choking me, I think jokingly but I pushed her hands off my neck. I don't know what any of them were saying, it was too loud to hear anything, but I was under attack.
Unebelieveable talk about adding injury to insult! :lol
Glad you are safe. :)
Quote:
Chip Engelland came out from the tunnel and was standing next to me so I asked him how the team was doing, he said it was a tough loss and they're not very happy right now.
Sacramento is so dead on Sunday. This series is still ours.
We will, we will rock them. I believe! :elephant
Misti- awesome recap and pics as always.
Thanks again! ;)
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Awesome, Misti....thanks! :)
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Great report Misti, I'm so sorry you had to bare that alone! I was waiting all night for RoHo to hit a 3 right in the fans faces but no such luck. Hopefully next game...they need their heart ripped open again every once in a while ;)
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Thank you for always posting your awesome game report & pics :spin
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
I was observing this pic and noticed how ugly the women in the background are sitting. They are sitting like men :oops
http://www.mistilynn.com/game/04-28_spurs34.jpg
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Awesome report and pics. I wish I could have been there with you. The game was in our hands so many times and it was a heartbreaking loss, but I know our Spurs will come back with a vengeance tomorrow and walk out of Arco with a victory. We just have to take this loss as a reminder that no win will be easy and everyone has to step up. Too bad you won't be going to Game 4 so you can return the favor to those damn Kings fans.
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Absolutely great misty. One of the best game reports of yours :tu
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Quote:
The fans around me turned on me quickly. Even the girl sitting next to me that I'd been chatting with the whole game turned to me and was yelling at me, then she put her hands around my neck and started choking me, I think jokingly but I pushed her hands off my neck. I don't know what any of them were saying, it was too loud to hear anything, but I was under attack.
what da hell? I got something that bitch can choke.
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Missmyzte: Will you marry me before the playoffs are over and take me to the road games?
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Quote:
Originally Posted by Old School Chic
I was observing this pic and noticed how ugly the women in the background are sitting. They are sitting like men :oops
:lol a real worry.
maybe she was especting someything....you never know
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
http://www.mistilynn.com/game/04-28_spurs13.jpg
The chick was introduced as "The Sign Lady", she had about 10 signs with her. The one on the right says, "you've been Artested".
That lady must be a lurker. She ripped off my idea for a sign. :madrun :lol
We saw that Fred guy. What was up with that????
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Quote:
Originally Posted by missmyzte
I was wearing my black t-shirt that says Spurs on the front and Horry (plus his #5 - jersey style) on the back. To top it off, I had the infamous pink "got horry?" hat and Spurs championship backpack
It took major balls to pull that of Misty.
Respect!
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Quote:
Originally Posted by greyforest
these synopses(sic) are awesome, please do them as much as you possibly can 8)
not surprised bout the choking deal, arco looked pretty nuts. will you be there on sunday when they all go home dissapointed?
Sorry, I fly home tonight. Gotta work on Monday. As for the game reports, I do them at every game I go to: http://www.mistilynn.com/games.htm
Quote:
Originally Posted by whottt
BTW, they showed that Fred Flintstone tard and the King guy on TV too. And there was another tard dressed like Barney(an even bigger WTF) right next to Fred...takes all kinds I guess. I don't suppose you know why they dressed up like that do you?
No idea. We figured they just wanted to end up on TV so they dressed up.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spurs Dynasty
Missmyzte: Will you marry me before the playoffs are over and take me to the road games?
:lol
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For the record, I lost my voice from screaming so much last night.
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Quote:
Originally Posted by missmyzte
Bowen is ... uh ... warming up
Sean Marks joins Bowen in ... uh ... warming up
:lol
Great report and pics. Sorry about the asshole fans.
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Thank you, Misti. I like your report and pictures.
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Damn. Kings fans act like they just won a championship lol. With the reaction they give after winning a game someone is going to die if they win the series lol.
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Cool report and pics as always, Misti. And of course, I'm green with jealousy :)
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Great pics Misti!
Kings fans are bitches. I hope they enjoy these moments of victory, they won't last long.
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Man, I hope the SPurs Shut ARCO up tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No, in fact I AM looking forward to it!!!!
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Quote:
I went shopping at the mall
Did you go to Arden Mall?
Thats right across from the state fairgrounds.
I frequent that mall quite often :)
Did you stay at the Red Lion?
Or wich hotel was that, it was off of Business 80 though wasn't it?
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Spurs were retarded in game 3. Look for more if it. Their chances of repeating are slim to none.
Spurs aren't hungry. Bottom line.
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Quote:
Originally Posted by T Park
Did you go to Arden Mall?
Thats right across from the state fairgrounds.
I frequent that mall quite often :)
Did you stay at the Red Lion?
Or wich hotel was that, it was off of Business 80 though wasn't it?
Yeah, it was the big mall on Arden Way so I assume it's the Arden Mall. I stayed at the Hilton on the other side of the highway, it was recommended by my office up here and I got a good corporate rate.
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Quote:
Originally Posted by DallasRepresentin
Damn. Kings fans act like they just won a championship lol. With the reaction they give after winning a game someone is going to die if they win the series lol.
if they win the series i will fucking kill someone.
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Quote:
Originally Posted by RON ARTEST
if they win the series i will fucking kill someone.
WTF?
Is it realy you Ron ron?
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Quote:
Originally Posted by polandprzem
WTF?
Is it realy you Ron ron?
yeah its me. you better be careful because i might snap.
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
^That wouldn`t be a surprise...
:lol :lol :lol
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Quote:
Originally Posted by RON ARTEST
yeah its me. you better be careful because i might snap.
Snap youself then. I wonder how you would get to Poland not even knowing where it is.
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Even though they should of won this game its ok now they can win it here at home
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
I don't mean to take away any of Misti's props here (I'm pretty certain that I saw Misti taking pictures before the game), but I just got back from SAC and was at Game 3. I think our experiences were quite similar, though I found the people sitting nearby our seats to be really pretty friendly, if somewhat basketball illiterate (for example, when Beno entered the game in the 2nd, every person around me started asking who he was; they also, of course, thought every whistle went the wrong way). The reaction after the game was probably the most remarkable part of the experiece -- while it was a ridiculous ending (and, I'm sure, very exciting for Kings' fans), the scene was remarkably similar to scenes in SA after Game 6 of the 2003 Finals or Game 7 of the 2005 Finals.
It was my first trip to Arco and I have to say it's a pretty interesting place to watch a game. The crowd is great, particularly through timeouts (which is not a strength of the AT&T Center crowd, IMO). It's very much a collegiate atmosphere and the building is reminiscent of a college building -- and I don't mean that disrespectfully. I was struck by the fact that much of the floor under the seats on the lower level is made of wood and not concrete. The seats are hard plastic -- like the seats at the Alamodome; it makes even an ample posterior want to stand up frequently. There is an upper level, but it seemed like all of the entryways to the seats upstairs are from the main concourses. It makes the building seem much smaller and the atmosphere more intimate.
I was also struck by the fact that SAC sells very large beers ($9.00!!) and sells bottled drinks with the caps. I guess the NBA regulations that seemed to limit both things don't apply in Sacramento.
I wish the result had been different, obviously, but it was a good trip -- and very do-able from San Antonio for anyone who ever wants to try it.
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
^^^ You should have come and talked to me, it would have been nice to talk to another Spurs fan there.
And I, too, was struck that the lower level was made of wood (raw, unpainted, sad looking wood!) and that seat were hard plastic. I was thankful I was in a nice, cushioned seat.
About the fans not knowing who Beno was, I can relate. Pre-game when the Spurs were warming up, I was hanging out with a couple *Spurs fans* by the Spurs and they were yelling words of encouragement to the players. After yelling, "Good shot Nazr, keep that going" and stuff like that, and Nazr summarily ignoring them, they leaned over to me and asked, "That is Nazr, right?"
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Quote:
id you go to Arden Mall?
Thats right across from the state fairgrounds.
I frequent that mall quite often
Did you stay at the Red Lion?
Or wich hotel was that, it was off of Business 80 though wasn't it?
Careful Tpark is stalking you
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Quote:
Originally Posted by missmyzte
About the fans not knowing who Beno was, I can relate. Pre-game when the Spurs were warming up, I was hanging out with a couple *Spurs fans* by the Spurs and they were yelling words of encouragement to the players. After yelling, "Good shot Nazr, keep that going" and stuff like that, and Nazr summarily ignoring them, they leaned over to me and asked, "That is Nazr, right?"
People at HOME games still ask me who Beno is!
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Re: My Game Report: 4/28 Game 3 Spurs vs Kings
Misti your reports are top notch! I think You need a spur for your awesomeness!!
You are also the coolest most bravest girl I have ever known!! Wearing Spurs stuff galore in that arena!! I couldn't even do that for Game 5 Last year in Phoenix!! I was waaaay to scared!!! hahaha! I think it's the alcohol!! Maybe we should go in groups!! hehe
Maybe we will meet up at the next Spurs/Suns games!! My sister and I always look for you and never see that Pink hat lurking!!
Thanks so much Your pictures are crazy good!!!