It really was a difficult night for me.
I didn’t want to let on, for fear of upsetting the harmonious vibe that we’ve worked so hard to attain. Every Wednesday, rain or shine (it’s safe to say now that weather will NEVER stop the show from going on), we are there and ready to watch films as they were meant to be seen. I look forward to it all week. It gives the middle of the week a joyous spike that we so desperately need in our march towards death.
One of my greatest passions is the Los Angeles Lakers. They have been my team since as long as I can remember. I’ve been there through thick and thin, and the last two seasons have been more representative of the latter. With a strong finish to the regular season, the Lakers finished the season in the 7 spot and got the Phoenix Suns, a team they’ve yet to beat in the PS (Post Shaquille) era (with the exception of a recent game where the league MVP sat out for Phoenix.) It didn’t look good.
What made matters worse, was that the Lakers would be playing a pivotal game 2 on Wednesday, April 26. Everybody was wondering: what would Coolbaugh do? Would he forego the Lakers for Movienight, or would it be the other way around. Something had to give. Enter Tivo, and an open mind. I watched as long as I could, which took me into the 3rd quarter, before I had to hit pause with plans to finish it later. I knew I would have to ignore the text messages and phone calls from that point forward, which I did. Many die-hard sports fans have a difficult time not knowing the outcome of their team’s game 30 seconds after they could. Not me. I don’t care what other people know about my team, or when. It’s just me and my enjoyment, whenever it comes.
Long story short, I watched the first half and the Lakers looked well on their way to a blowout. They had a 15-point lead going into the break. The third started, and Phoenix began to chip away at the lead, as anybody who has ever watched them play would tell you was inevitable. Down to nine. Then seven. 9:30 rolls around, and it’s show time in the Back Yard.
Justine delivered yet another movie I had yet to see, ‘Ed Wood.’ It was great. I enjoyed it thoroughly, as outlined here. I came back in after the film to finish out my game. I knew it was either good or bad, because my text messages were blowin’ up. Phoenix got the lead down to three, but the Kobe-led Lakers pushed right back and never trailed from that point on. There were a couple of huge plays out of Sasha and, ultimately this dunk by Kobe on the two-time league MVP, Steve Nash. How’s that taste, eh?
MVP = Monster Vicious Posterization, at least that night.
Congratulations boys. Let’s hope for another conflict of schedules down the road. Until then…
Onward.
