Veni, Vidi, Vici; and cHeat fans were trolled: Or my adventures at Game 5

[capek]

OK, so the only thing I personally Vici'd were my vocal chords. I promised to leave them up in 206, and left they were. But what a great time I had ripping them up! This game was the most orgasmic, most communal experience I've ever been a part of in my many years of sports fandom. When the game started out, there was a little fear, a little anxiety in the air.

But once Manu hit his first shot, and in general the Spurs came out punching to take an early lead, an eruption of passionate frenzy sprung forth from the crowd and didn't let up until the final seconds ticked off the clock. And while we're on the topic, let's explore the concept of "crowd." We're all familiar with the great home crowds in the NBA. What makes them great? People say it's because they're "loud." As far as description goes, that's a scant few steps above autistic. Let's try for something better.

A crowd is nothing but a collection of individuals. But on a night like this, in a city like San Antonio, in the arena of a team like the Spurs, there are certain moments, over and above the reactions to made baskets, great defensive stops, when it's something more. Moments like when Tony stepped to the line for a pair of late game free throws. Somebody in my section started chanting, "MVP," and before it even had a chance to spread through 206, it erupted from seemingly every mouth in attendance. Before it had even filled my section, it echoed back from the entire arena. It was epic. And moments like the one in the 4th. Three quarters had gone by, the Spurs had built a big lead, and maybe that had given the fans enough breathing room to reflect, to realize that Manu had shown up, had carried the team when they needed him the most. It was like we had been too involved to realize it for the first three quarters, but by the 4th it hit us all at once. We had seen the Manu of old, instead of the old Manu we'd seen all season. And when the crowd erupted in a chant of "Manu, Manu, Manu," it was nothing short of a city thanking one of its most cherished adopted sons, for the years service given, reveling in the return of one of its heroes. It was magical.

But as epic and magical as the night was, there was still room for some good old fashion trolling, and the collection of geneous Lebron/cHeat bandwagoners two rows in front of me got it full bore, got their proverbial pushed in.



there are some awesome dunks to enjoy on that bandwagon, huh?
even the refs are there to party with you on that bandwagon, aren't they?
ya'll gonna jump on the Cavs bandwagon once Lebron leaves South Beach in a few years?

And many, many more in that general vein.

At various times they got quite salty, but I would just point around at the many Spurs vatos around, and gave them the "what the you gonna do" look. Suffice to say things didn't escalate, and I kept on them, until towards then end, when they really didn't seem to be having much fun, so I decided to let up.



There are many words in this post, but nothing I can say will capture how amazing it was to be in attendance for this game. Those of you who were there know what I mean. This is a game we'll remember for the rest of our lives.

[NRHector]

Great post op

[baseline bum]

Brings back memories of a playoff game back in 99 when I was riding a Laker fan so hard he and his girl got up and left in the third quarter. Dude was maybe 4-5 rows ahead and turning around and talking and dancing the whole first quarter since the Lakers came out really strong and since the Lakers owned the Spurs that season and the year before. So one of my friends and I started talking it back in the first, and then in the second, and then the Spurs took the lead to double figures in the third and I was still ragging on the head. The whole section started booing him when he got up and left. LOL if you talk at a game you gotta be prepared to hear it back.

[AASATX]

Ha good stuff man, I know it must of been one of a game to be in attendance for. Glad you gave the bandwagon Heat fans . Only game I was able to make it to was game 2 in Miami.. and well we know how that went. Not a great game to be in attendance for as a Spurs fan in enemy territory.