I've never figured out why but after moving out to Indiana for school in 2001, I've stuck around. I live in Indy now and don't often get to fit in a trip to the Garden even though I go back to CT to see my family for Christmas. So, basically I get to see the Knicks two times a year...against the shitastic Pacers.
Here are some thoughts from the game last night:
Side note: The Pacers' crowds are so pathetic now that I drove downtown at 6:45, parked in a huge parking lot with maybe two dozen other cars for 3 bucks, met some friends in the Concourse and was in my seat by tip-off. I've had more trouble getting to high school basketball games in this town.
Wore an old LJ jersey I got for my 16th birthday but not one person commented on it. Saw a couple other people with Z-Bo's threads on, which isn't surprising because he grew up about 40 minutes from Indy. One dude had a LJ home jersey but I didn't get the chance to give him a high-five. Saw a Messier Rangers and Eli road jersey as well...weird.
Conseco's a great venue which makes it even more sad that they are dead last in the NBA in attendance (by the way, Indianapolis is the most fair-weather city in America). I've been to a handful of Pacers games this year, mostly to see good teams come to town. Never have I seen the crowd so pathetic. I think they announced it at 10,000 but there is no way there were more than 2,500 in that place.
The chick MC for the night is also one of the Pacers' dancers. Gotta find ways to cut costs.
The beer I got wasn't green. What the fuck?
Was it just me or did Balkman shoot about 50 free throws last night? Anyways, people probably didn't know what the fuck was wrong with me when I was yelling "Atta boy, Humpty!" after each make.
Speaking of Humpty, he almost had a sick, one-handed posterizer in the third quarter but blew the dunk. While it was happening I got up and yelled "Oooooohhh!" but it came out like a pre-pubescent squeal. Two people turned around and I pulled my hat over my eyes.
Former Hoosier Jared Jeffries got a nice round of applause from the Indiana faithful. I welcome him to the game by yelling "SHIT!"
David Lee took two awful looking 15-footers and was immediately benched.
When he came back in the game later, Lee took a three-pointer which almost made me spike my non-green beer in the aisle.
Wilson Chandler has a jump shot?
Nate absolutely destroyed Marquis Daniels on a crossover and hit a jumper in his eyeball. I told one of the friends that came with me that the Knicks would be the 2 seed in the East if this was street-ball.
Players on both teams were getting to the hoop with ease, especially Dunleavy. I haven't watched every team play (haven't seen the Kings or Bobcats among shitty teams), but I can't imagine there are two worse defensive teams in the league.
The "MSG HD" banner behind Breen on the scorers table made me homesick.
`Dolph came in for what felt like 30 seconds. Some fat dude behind me yelled `Shouldda stayed at UK (Kentucky), asshole!" We were clearly in earshot of him so hopefully that didn't ruin Dolph's 4 minutes of playing time. For some reason, I picture him sitting in a dark Visitor's Locker Room contemplating if pursuing his NBA dream is really worth the verbal abuse.
Freddie Jones is awful.
The Knicks were down two, with the ball, shot clock turned off at the end of the third quarter. What did they run? I shit you not: An iso play for Mardy Collins. I don't remember if he actually missed a shot or turned it over because I was in complete shock. The NBA: Where a Mardy Collins' iso play (actually) happens!
I basically gave up on the Knicks in late-December and have been hoping they tank for the rest of the season. But, last night I really, really wanted them to win. That being said, in the long run, it's probably better they collapsed late.
When walking out, one of the 90-year old ushers told me "tough loss" and I told him about how one day a Pacers/Knicks game would mean something again and he scoffed at my remark. Bastard.
I paid zero dollars for a $90 face club level seat to see the Knicks in hideous green jerseys play an almost as bad Pacers team. And I dragged three friends along. I'd say it was worth it.
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