My first Clipper game

That's right, a Clipper game.

The Lil Soulman had been bugging me for awhile to take him to a Laker game.  After watching the Lakers play so well the last few weeks I called up my bro Miza who contacted Rigo and Me (ME, Humberto).  Miza was down, but Rigo and Me (ME, Humberto) had a case of inflamed coochie which required immediate medical attention.  Therefore they were unable to join us.  I hope they get better soon.  The Lakers are a hot ticket right now.  So unable to secure Laker tickets we decided to try the Clippers.  It was by pure coincidence that they were playing the Lakers on Saturday night.  Miza, my nephew Jonathan, Lil Soulman and the Soulman headed to Staples Center on Saturday to watch our very first Clipper game.  These are two of the best backseat drivers, Jonathan on the left and Lil Soulman on the right.

It was raining up in LA, and when it rains in LA all hell breaks loose on the freeways. 

There were a couple of accidents.  I felt for the dude that was being submitted to a field sobriety test in a downpour.  After being momentarily delayed by a few traffic jams we arrived at our destination.  The Staples Center is located in downtown LA.  It's the home of the Clippers, Lakers, and the LA Kings. 

This being a Clipper "Home" game, the floor was adorned with the Clippers logo and colors.   If you know anything about basketball you know how much of a joke the Clippers have been over the years.  They've never spent any money on players, they've always drafted poorly and when they've drafted well they have failed to keep their players.  Basically they suck, they've sucked for a long time and they will suck for a long time to come. 

After arriving at the Staples Center we made our way to the concession stand.  The Staples Center has a McDonalds, which is great, right?  Except for the fact that they don't carry Big Mac's.  That's right, they don't carry Big Mac's.  You should have seen the look of disappointment and bewilderment on the Lil  Soulman's face when I broke the news to him that there were no Big Mac's.  What kind of a world do we live in where a man can't get his son a Big Mac at a McDonalds?  That turned out to be a blessing in disguise.  We hit the Staples Center Grill and ordered a couple of Hot Dogs and some Chili Cheese fries which were great.  I'm a big fan of Dodger dog's, but these "Staples Center Dogs" with onions were awesome.  The game began and it was pretty tight in the first quarter.  I have to give it to the Clippers, they put on a good show.  I did have a problem with their announcer giving birth everytime the Clippers scored a basket.  Although the announcers enthusiasm waned as the game wore on.  It might have had something to do with the fact that as the game went on the Lakers began to pull away.  Everything about the Clippers game seemed foreign to me.  For example, they had a dude and a chick that would appear live on the big screen during every break in the action to give out freebies and try to pump up the crowd.  This being a Clipper "home" game it was funny everytime they asked the crowd to "make some noise for your Clippers" the crowd would boo loudly.  It also chapped my ass that seemingly everyone in the crowd got free tickets on JetBlue Airways.  Seriously,  they were giving them away to entire sections.  I didn't get one. 

The "Clippers Spirit Squad" was definitely full of spirit. 

 

The first half of the game went by pretty fast.  By halftime Lil Soulman and I were ready to get some sweets.  We were going to look for some ice cream but we were delayed by the Halftime entertainment.  Lilia Stepanova.  Normally halftime is a time to seek some refreshment, maybe use the restroom, but this chick was awesome.  She did basically the same routine at the Clipper game.  The only thing missing was the stripper pole.  Halftime and the second half of the game were awesome.  Derek Fisher got hot in the 3rd quarter and made some 3 pointers.  The Lakers basically had the game wrapped up by the end of the 3rd quarter.  When Kobe took a couple of free throws the crowd began chanting "MVP, MVP."

    

There was an incident in the 3rd quarter between Lil Soulman and Tio Miza, the Lil Soulman had some MnM's that he kindly shared with his uncle Miza.  When Miza failed to say thank you Lil Soulman called him on it.  Lil Soulman is big on etiquette.  Just like his daddy.  This past week I had to call to Rigo's attention to his lack of basketball etiquette.  The 3rd quarter ended with the Lakers up big.  Between the 3rd and 4th quarter they brought out a guy to take a half court shot.  I don't remember what he was shooting for, all I remember them saying was that this poor guy had been a Clipper season ticket holder for 12 years.  They also bring out a chick from the "Clipper Spirit Squad" to show the guy how to take a half court shot.  She proceeded to take the shot and fall flat on her ass.  Poor girl.  If that wasn't funny enough the guy doesn't even come close.  I mean he airs it out and puts the ball like 10 rows into the crowd.  The announcer then speaks up and i'm thinking he's going to ask the crowd for a round of applause for this poor guy.  Instead he asks the crowd for their best "Airball" chant.  We (the crowd) immediately oblige.  Talk about kicking a guy when he's down.  You would think that this guy being one of only 2 season ticket holders (Frankie Muniz is the other one) he would be treated with a little more respect.   

All in all the whole experience was great.  The best part for me was the Lil Soulman telling me that he had a great time at his first Laker game.  Here are a couple of online articles about the game itself.  This one is from the Lakers website.  This one from the LA Times.  I love the title.

Here are some more pictures:

This is the intersection of Figueroa and Chick Hearn Ct.

  This is Miza, Lil Soulman and Jonathan infront of the Staples Center.

 

The Lakers, literally mopping the floor with the Clippers.

Soulman

Pictures by Miza

Comments

[Rodrigo]

Oh man, this was a cool post, Soul. Wish I could have gone along. Damn it! Nice pics too. The only thing I liked better than the pics was the by line for Miza!

[mh]

Why didn't you guys take your families?

[miza]

i'm not a very good photog. i leave to my wife to take pics, but she's not big on the lakes. it doesn't help that the camera been dropped a few times. the best picture i took was on my camera phone, that had to be sent asap to me(me) and rigo. could you guys tell what was in the pic?

[me]

my coochie is well in tact, thank you. Fine question mh, why didn't you take your families? In your defense mh I always ask if it's going to be a family event, then I get accused of something being wrong with my coochie. And yes miza, I believe it was a beer and a winnie. Please tell me soul you didn't pull a chino and go looking for food instead of watching that chick shoot arrows. I was positive on that last shot were she shot it with her feet that she was positioning herself to hold the bow with her foot and pull it with her buttcheeks.

[soulman]

Me (me, humberto), i'm big on including my family on anything I do. that's why the lil soulman was cordially invited. but inviting many families can turn into a logistical nightmare. who's going? what time are we leaving? Who's going in what car? This was a last minute thing which actually turned out well. I'm all for planning a trip with all of our families. Lets do it.
I was just about to get up at halftime to get some ice cream when I caught a glimpse of Lilia Stepanova and decided to stay and watch. It was worth it. On that last shot she kind of struggled to get balance, can you imagine if she would have accidentally shot the arrow while pointing it skywards, or shot the arrow into the crowd. That would have been awesome, only at a Clipper game.

[Jenny]

Oh so now you are saying WE should have a family trip....haven't I been saying it for what.....can't even remember now. I would of liked to have gone but I knew it was a last minute thing and was o.k. with it being a father-son day. I am glad you guys had fun.

[soulman]

I'm down with a trip. Not a cruise. A trip. I've even suggested Big Bear for some snowboarding for the kids while the ladies hang out in town or at the lodge. But oh well...

[ME]

looks like as if I've opened pandoras box...oops.

[Jenny]

well it is almost that time when we go to the beach. I would like to go somewhere else...maybe a dude ranch :P you guys know you would love to go....That big bear sounds good but when would we go???

[soulman]

I love San Felipe. I don't know about a dude ranch. I already did that when I was a boy. See, that's the problem. When would we go? Who's going? So and so cant go this week, but can next week. Someone doesn't like the snow.

[ME]

does jenny know she's mexican? I am very cool with san felo.

[Jenny]

I didn't say I didn't want to go to San Felipe I love going there, I meant go somewhere after we go to San Felipe. Yes I know I am Mexican.

[soulman]

dude ranch, barbecue ribs, tim mcgraw, faith hill=mexican?

san felo, carne asada, chente

[ME]

Jeff Foxworthy

[Jenny]

Just because I like country doesn't mean I forgot I am Mexican. I am a Mexican Redneck :P
I still like to listen to some GOOD Mexican music.