Light Rail

January 31, 2009

Merry Christmas Mom! Santa Ki delivered a pair of Suns vs. Bulls tickets under her tree last holiday. For some reason, I barely made the cut to go! Can you believe she was debating whether to take me, her friend or my sister to the game? Luckily for you, she chose me. Now YOU get to ride along to the game with us via Light Rail (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p4mZr9_2R8 ) and see the game through my eyes. Your Holmes, away from home.

The Arrival

We aboard the Light Rail in Tempe. It cost $1.25 per one way ticket and it was well worth it. The ride from University and Rural to US Airways Arena is about 30 minutes. Not having to drive in traffic nor having to search for the closest $8 parking lot, brought me an invaluable peace of mind.

This was cool, I am feeling like Phoenix is trying to grow up. We are a Big Boy City now and I felt proud that I was supporting our transit system. I wasn’t the only one supporting it, because the train was packed. We picked up some ASU fans exiting Wells Fargo Arena. ASU just lost to Washington and there was some unhappy faces walking in those sliding glass doors.

My Mood

After that soothing ride on the Light Rail, I felt calmer than I ever have walking in US Airway’s Arena. My mom even asked me what was wrong. I couldn’t explain it until I realized the true dilemma. I wasn’t really in to this game. I love both of these teams. My heart was not vested for either outcome. Who was I really cheering for?

On top of that, my mind was on the Super Bowl tomorrow. Speaking of, the stadium was full of red. Cardinal jerseys everywhere! I was just happy to see a unified Phoenix. Until I looked a little closer and realized that the Bulls fans were deep in here. Man, maybe I should have worn my Orange Urlacher jersey to show my Harvey Dentness? You know, Orange for the Suns while also showing that I have love for Chicago and all of her teams. Is that too Two-Facey? <sigh>

The Greatest

So you know me, I’m all ready for the game. Got my Teriyaki Rice Bowl, binoculars, cell phone, and Flip camcorder all on my lap. I started thinking to myself, should I invest in a manny pack (80's style)? Nope not for me, and please remove that image from your head. I got it! They need to combine an all in one cell phone, flip camcorder and binoculars. How much would you pay for that?

The first thing I notice in the binoculars was how young the Bulls are and how old Muhammad Ali is. Yep, right there in the front row wearing some Ray Charles shades. THE GREATEST! My heart started to beat double time. He is still mesmerizing. I think my mom spent half the game watching Ali. It was weird to catch Ali in a 1000 yard stare, expressing a fraction of the energy he once owned. I think the best example that my mom and I came up with to relate this to today's youth, was to try to  imagine a speechless, less energetic Charles Barkley approaching his seventies.  Hard to visualize huh? Well seeing Ali is exactly like that,  only tenfold.

Welcome Back Del Negro

First of all, Derrick Rose is 20 years old. That dude has all of the tools. Quickness, jumper, heart, hops, handles. He grew up not to far from where my Dad lives in the southside of Chicago. I apologize D. Rose. Homeboy. Mr. R.O.Y.se. I hope you don’t remember how I wanted Mike Beasley instead of you. Sawry.

Rose did it all this game. 26 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assist. Runners in the lane. Aggressive put backs. Jaw dropping dunks. I felt like he was personally putting on a display of all his tools specifically for me. You know, the one who didn’t want to draft you.  Again,  sawry.

Half time entertainment involved a fan challenge. A fan from the crowd had to choose whether to shoot a lay up for $77. A free throw for $777. A 3-pointer for $7777. Or a half court shot for $77,777. He missed the 3-pointer, but he made the right shot selection. $777 is something I can go get whenever I need it. If I missed that I would feel wack. But $7,777 is a nice Australian vacation with the Mrs. So when the fan missed the shot, I could respect his efforts. Because that is the same shot I would have tried, except I would be booking my trip to The Down Under at this very moment. SWISH!

I would have hit that shot just like Barbosa was doing all night.  His 32 points in 35 minutes was the Suns only highlight of the night. How can the Suns get more minutes for L.B.?  Who will have to sacrifice minutes?  Hill?  Richardson? Check out the Suns top five-man units.

The game was a Reynold’s wrap as soon as Shaq fouled out with 3:09 of the 4^th quarter. You know the Suns are in trouble when the highest Roland Rating  player on the team is Shaq at +6.4. In comparison, Lebron’s Roland Rating is +24.5. Basically, the Roland Rating shows how your team produces points when a certain player is on the court compared to when they are not on the court. Shaq is 27^th in the league in this statistic and of the 26 players ahead of him, they are from 18 different teams. It is sad to say that we don’t have "that dude" on our squad. The real kicker is when my mom asked me this question, "Kiki,  do you think they are going to fire Terry Porter?"

121 Bulls

111 Suns

Coach Vinnie Del Negro sweeps the Suns this year. Him and his NBA coach's retirement home staff of Bernie Bickerstaff and Del Harris have gotten the Bulls within a game and a half from the 8^th seed. Meanwhhile the Suns are only a half a game from slipping down to the 9th seed. Come on Bulls.  Get that 8th seed! I would LOVE to see Rose in the Garden versus Rondo. Can he put up 63 like another baby Bull did back in 1986?  Make it happen for me.  Make it happen for Chicago. Maybe you can save a spot on your bench for Terry Porter.

by the Ki-Olunmist