I will be the first to tell you that I love being outside. But I also love the entertainment that is an NBA basketball game, and unfortunately, those games are played inside. On the last day of the NBA regular season, let’s reflect on some memorable arena nights recently.
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Mainly because of an absurd number of injuries, my New Orleans Pelicans stunk this year. On the complete other end of the spectrum, my son’s Boston Celtics are contenders for another NBA title. Regardless, I follow the Pelicans like a hawk, and my son does the same for the Celtics.
New to the story is my now three year old daughter, itching to travel, visit New Orleans, and find out who the hell Zion Williamson is.
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A couple of Monday’s ago, I told Christy that I was considering taking CW to her first NBA game. CW was hyped. Christy was supportive as that meant a peaceful night at home for her. My son was furious.
Everyone had their say but eventually the decision was made. Dad and two kids would take on New Orleans. Mom would rest and drink wine.
My son is a devout rule follower, but my daughter is the complete opposite. When I say she doesn’t give a flying flip, I mean she doesn’t give a flying flip. When she got dressed for the game, her obvious choice was a pink sparkly jacket. Why not? Throw in some cool Elton John shades and she might as well own New Orleans. Funky is what I call her. Funky is what she is.
She was greeted warmly by the Pelicans cheerleaders, who loved her jacket. She was then greeted not so warmly by an usher who told her to quit misbehaving. (The first thing she did was spill her drink on my shoes and turn flips on the aisle rail.)
Soon enough, we settled in and enjoyed a memorable evening. Banks was a superb big brother and was rewarded by catching Pelicans player Kelly Olynyk’s headband after the game. Little did he know he was about to be rewarded again.
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The following Monday, I had to be in central Mississippi for a golf event. Central Mississippi is about three hours from Memphis, and I’ll be damned if his Boston Celtics weren’t playing the Memphis Grizzlies that night in Memphis. The abk wheels started turning immediately. We’ve seen the Celtics play in Charlotte, Boston, Atlanta, and Houston, but not Memphis.
However, we’ve been to Memphis, and we really enjoyed it, so the agreement was quick. Barbecue nachos, barbecue spaghetti, incredible music, and this time…my son discovered the Grizz Girls.
Dressed in his full Celtics uniform per usual, he sauntered into the FedEx Forum, playfully talking smack to young Grizzlies fans. With a 60-20 record, he’s confident as hell. We devoured the nachos from world famous Rendezvous, the Memphis music hit differently, and the Celtics lit it up. And those Grizz Girls…well, my son is growing up.
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We had roughly fifteen to twenty arena nights this season, massive celebrations of family, culture, food and ball. It was an odd year given all the injuries and the subsequent terrible play of my Pelicans, but nonetheless I enjoyed every second.
I am learning to celebrate life daily and nightly, and I’m doing a pretty job of it. It doesn’t have to be at an arena, but especially those cooler nights during the winter, an NBA arena is my spot.
But now it’s spring, and the arena, (at least the New Orleans arena) is closed. So it’s ballpark time, an equally acceptable place for a nightly celebration.
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Have a great week.-Benj
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