onionbagblog
Crap Match Report
Boston Celtic 92 Minnesota Timberwolves 81, 10/10/07
My last NBA game was over in Chicago where I paid $10 to see Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant do the business against the Bulls. World class sporting entertainment at a bargain price. If you had told me at the time that I would watch an NBA ball game back home in London, it would have seemed about as laughable as the budget price I paid for the seats back at the United Centre.
But seven years later and I've now seen NBA action in South East London, not to mention the NHL and The Kid. I'm no flag waver for the big tent on the peninsula, but it doesn't get any better than this.
Boston Celtics tipping off against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday evening wasn't played for points, but more of a training camp experience. As part of NBA Live 07, four teams from the top league have been on tour across six European cities ahead of the big tip off later this month. It's the way ahead for American sport, 'growing the brand' and treating North American sports fans in Europe to some of the imported action. It's the same as Chelsea going on tour to California, but without a Russian megalomaniac with a crap haircut calling all the shots. I know which event I'd rather pay top dollar to go and see.
With a record sixteen NBA Championship banners hanging from the rafters of Banknorth Garden, the Boston franchise is the most successful in the NBA. Meanwhile, over in Minnesota and I find it hard to take any team called the Timberwolves seriously. So did much of the O2 Arena on Wednesday evening with the green and white of the Celtic making this pretty much a home ball game for Boston.
Adding some extra tension ahead of tip off wasmrs onionbagblogger bangin' on about the price of a pint - £3.50! was Kevin Garnett in the starting line up for Boston. Having traded from the Timberwolves in the close season, this was the ex-Minnesota man's first game against his old club. With All Star favourite Ray Allen also making his debut for Boston (can't you tell I've been reading the free programme,) the big guns of the NBA were playing under the big tent in South East London.
The two giant shirts suspended from the ceiling of the O2 had me checking the programme to see if Chester's Billy Boy Singleton wasn't a late addition to the starting line up. Such attention to detail was mighty impressive. Two teams weren't simply packaged up and put on a plane and told to play; the entire operation for both franchises were on tour - cheerleaders, mascots and even the poor chap who has a job title of Professional Sweaty Towel Collector were in town. The timekeeper’s bench alone boasted a bigger crowd than the average home gate at Dulwich.
The players and coaches were introduced to the London crowd. Timberwolves head honcho Randy Wittman looked more Mafia than Minnesota, dressed even sharper than the Canary Wharf corporate Suits out on a work night jolly at the O2. Meanwhile, back in Blightly and gypo Neil Warnock crawled out of a hedge and was introduced to the 'world's press' as the new manager of Crystal Pal-arse.
We finally tipped off and there was plenty of fouls for a friendly. This was the first time that two NBA teams had been on court in London for twelve years, and both clearly wanted to put on a show.
Speaking of which, the Las Vegas Hot & Cold Elvis Challenge during a Time Out (blindfolded bloke in the crowd has to locate an Elvis and two Las Vegas showgirls on court - obviously...) was great fun, although I can't quite see it catching on at half time down at Dulwich.
23-22 to Boston at the first quarter and it was game on. At least I think it was, but I was sitting behind a human giraffe that wouldn't have looked out of place with the other human freaks on court. And sitting in the best seat in the house down on courtside with the human freaks on court was... Didier Drogba. Kids were queuing to get the autograph of the great diver. The half hour waiting time seemed excessive, but I thought it worth the investment, just to ask the Chelsea man: 'How's Jose?' and then wait for the flood of tears to force the abandonment of the game.
50-43 at the break and it was hard work out there - and that was just the O2 catering staff keeping up with the demand for three cheeseburgers per under-ten. It won't make you into a six foot six NBA-er, little Joey, but it may make you look like a giraffe.
Three NBA Hall of Fame old timers were introduced to the O2 at the break. They received a fine reception. Basketball may bring you respect, but judging by their hobbling movements on court, it will also bring you dodgy knees in later life.
Time to show boat in the third quarter ahead of the big tip off at the end of the month. Boston pulled away to 63-75, dunking more balls than mrs obb dunked French fries with her ketchup.
Attention turned to the big screen as Lewis Hamilton was picked out by the cameras. The Ferrari F1 driver can do no wrong right now, although he did make a little girl cry after signing her programme (bless - he's only just out of school himself and has recently learnt how to join up his letters.)
A final score of 92-81 saw Boston take the game and applause at the end.
The NBA in London? I reckon it's time Dulwich Hamlet 'grows the brand' over in the Land of the Free. I bet there's a market for those pink 'n blue shirts in downtown San Francisco.
technorati: nba
| Thursday 11 October, 2007 |
Boston Celtic 92 Minnesota Timberwolves 81, 10/10/07
My last NBA game was over in Chicago where I paid $10 to see Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant do the business against the Bulls. World class sporting entertainment at a bargain price. If you had told me at the time that I would watch an NBA ball game back home in London, it would have seemed about as laughable as the budget price I paid for the seats back at the United Centre.
 How's Jose? |
Boston Celtics tipping off against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday evening wasn't played for points, but more of a training camp experience. As part of NBA Live 07, four teams from the top league have been on tour across six European cities ahead of the big tip off later this month. It's the way ahead for American sport, 'growing the brand' and treating North American sports fans in Europe to some of the imported action. It's the same as Chelsea going on tour to California, but without a Russian megalomaniac with a crap haircut calling all the shots. I know which event I'd rather pay top dollar to go and see.
With a record sixteen NBA Championship banners hanging from the rafters of Banknorth Garden, the Boston franchise is the most successful in the NBA. Meanwhile, over in Minnesota and I find it hard to take any team called the Timberwolves seriously. So did much of the O2 Arena on Wednesday evening with the green and white of the Celtic making this pretty much a home ball game for Boston.
Adding some extra tension ahead of tip off was
The two giant shirts suspended from the ceiling of the O2 had me checking the programme to see if Chester's Billy Boy Singleton wasn't a late addition to the starting line up. Such attention to detail was mighty impressive. Two teams weren't simply packaged up and put on a plane and told to play; the entire operation for both franchises were on tour - cheerleaders, mascots and even the poor chap who has a job title of Professional Sweaty Towel Collector were in town. The timekeeper’s bench alone boasted a bigger crowd than the average home gate at Dulwich.
The players and coaches were introduced to the London crowd. Timberwolves head honcho Randy Wittman looked more Mafia than Minnesota, dressed even sharper than the Canary Wharf corporate Suits out on a work night jolly at the O2. Meanwhile, back in Blightly and gypo Neil Warnock crawled out of a hedge and was introduced to the 'world's press' as the new manager of Crystal Pal-arse.
We finally tipped off and there was plenty of fouls for a friendly. This was the first time that two NBA teams had been on court in London for twelve years, and both clearly wanted to put on a show.
Speaking of which, the Las Vegas Hot & Cold Elvis Challenge during a Time Out (blindfolded bloke in the crowd has to locate an Elvis and two Las Vegas showgirls on court - obviously...) was great fun, although I can't quite see it catching on at half time down at Dulwich.
23-22 to Boston at the first quarter and it was game on. At least I think it was, but I was sitting behind a human giraffe that wouldn't have looked out of place with the other human freaks on court. And sitting in the best seat in the house down on courtside with the human freaks on court was... Didier Drogba. Kids were queuing to get the autograph of the great diver. The half hour waiting time seemed excessive, but I thought it worth the investment, just to ask the Chelsea man: 'How's Jose?' and then wait for the flood of tears to force the abandonment of the game.
50-43 at the break and it was hard work out there - and that was just the O2 catering staff keeping up with the demand for three cheeseburgers per under-ten. It won't make you into a six foot six NBA-er, little Joey, but it may make you look like a giraffe.
Three NBA Hall of Fame old timers were introduced to the O2 at the break. They received a fine reception. Basketball may bring you respect, but judging by their hobbling movements on court, it will also bring you dodgy knees in later life.
Time to show boat in the third quarter ahead of the big tip off at the end of the month. Boston pulled away to 63-75, dunking more balls than mrs obb dunked French fries with her ketchup.
Attention turned to the big screen as Lewis Hamilton was picked out by the cameras. The Ferrari F1 driver can do no wrong right now, although he did make a little girl cry after signing her programme (bless - he's only just out of school himself and has recently learnt how to join up his letters.)
A final score of 92-81 saw Boston take the game and applause at the end.
The NBA in London? I reckon it's time Dulwich Hamlet 'grows the brand' over in the Land of the Free. I bet there's a market for those pink 'n blue shirts in downtown San Francisco.
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technorati: nba
| #permalink |
