So being in LA has its upside; like flawless blue-sky weather for 15 straight days, lots of options for entertainment or festive gatherings, and picturesque scenery everywhere you turn. Since I came here 15 days ago I’ve been able to see my friend Stacey rock out with her band Thick as Thieves at Café Was, my buddy Ben’s Girlfriend, Ellyn Daniels (A wonderful up-and-coming comic) do stand-up at the Three of Clubs (Also where Mike (Jon Favreau) met Lorraine (Heather Graham) in Swingers' second to last scene :) There was NFL ticket Sunday at my friend Nate’s place, lots of friendly dogs at my Cousin Kev’s place, and great food and drink with my Cousin Jen at my Uncle Terry and Aunt Peg's place. Kisha and I took a hike up to the Hollywood sign, had Mexican on the Santa Monica Pier, and even had time to swing down toward San Diego to Encinitas to visit with my sister, bro-in-law, and my awesome Niece, Alessa! All of these things were wonderful. It’s been the most amazing visit. But there was no way… I was going to leave LA without… well, you guessed it… taking a trip downtown to see the Los Angeles Clippers.
Live and in Person!!! :)
For those of you that don’t know, the Clippers have been without a doubt the WORST team in the history of the National Basketball Association. I mean, it’s not even really a matter of opinion at this point. Lifetime-achievement-wise, no team has been so consistently dismal (in so many ways) for so long. And as if the universe really has no sense of humor (or perhaps a great one) in an extremely cruel geographic coincidence, they share a city (and an Arena) with perhaps the GREATEST of all teams in NBA History, and the current Champion. I don’t even have to list their name here, they are THAT well known, respected, and admired. They have consistently won throughout the eras, have had a seemingly endless stream of all-stars, Hall-of-famers, great coaches, and of course, famous fans. Big, Brash, Flashy, Cocky, Good. Soooo LA.
Anyway, you would think that living in this great shadow, for the last 25 years or so (since migrating north from the smaller market San Diego) would be a point of contention for the afterthought Clips, but it seems the opposite has been true. Never has losing been so contently accepted (with the obvious exception of the Chicago Cubs) and even
expected. Including the early years (Buffalo Braves from 1970-78, and San Diego Clippers from 1978-84) the franchise has a cumulative record of 1146-2020! That’s a winning percentage of .362! Ugh. Seemingly resigned to their second-citizenry position in LA, the team has perennially frustrated their fans with inept management, questionable coaching, and poor playing… it’s the triFEcta! It’s as if you could miraculously perFECt underachievement, and then Personify it! Just check out Bill Simmons'
take on it. Anyway, when you add all of this up it unequivocally and undeniably makes YOUR Los Angeles Clippers… cue the timpani (bum bum bum bum BuuuuM)…. the ULTIMATE Underdog!!! So we gotta go support! I mean, after all, it’s not the current players fault that the franchise has a horrid history. Lets live in the NOW people! :)
Or not. Haha. So my partner-in-crime (willing or Not so) Kisha, and I headed down the 5 to the arena to check out the game and during the course of the evening a couple of things became crystal clear. Maybe there really is something to this curse stuff. Basically three predictable things happened that night at Staples center. First the arena was half full (or less) as the meek fans in Red and Blue tried with all their might to avoid glancing UP at the 15 Lakers Championship Banners looming up in the arena rafters. Secondly, the main gift shop that you can walk through when you first come in to Staples is stocked with 80% Lakers Gear. A psychological killer??? And third, most importantly, the Paper Clips choked away the game against a young and very flawed Oklahoma City Thunder. Remember I mentioned their inept coaching earlier? Well, one of the main contributors to that sentiment is their terrible current coach, Mike Dunleavy (the only other time I’d been to a Clippers Game in 2006, THIS coach intentionally tanked a game late in the season, to set up a more favorable playoff matchup. And although it may have been slightly forgivable since they have only been to the playoffs 7 times in 40 years and have never even come close to a championship, losing on purpose is always a sports-karma no-no; Much worse than breaking a mirror or opening an umbrella indoors. The universe does not forget :)
All of that aside, the ever-stubborn Dunleavy refused to acknowledge that his previously hot-shooting Center, Chris Kaman, was clearly having an OFF night (Like VERY off) and continued to run the offense through the guy like he was Mike Jordan! Ugh! It was obvious to everybody in the gym that Baron Davis and even RICKY Davis were having much better shooting nights. Painfully, the crowd had to endure Kaman forcing the issue late on 3 consecutive possessions, and each time failing miserably. Even out of timeouts this was happening, which means one thing. The coach is no good. UGH.
The night was still lots of fun though! It was great to see the rejuvenated Baron Davis and Marcus Camby for the Clips and of course the wonderYouth Kevin Durant for the Thunder, who is quickly becoming one of the best offensive players in the game. But what stuck out the most is that the Clippers are the same old Clips. Yes, their two best young players, Eric Gordan and Blake Griffin are hurt right now, but until Dunleavy shuffles off out of the picture nothing good will happen with this team. Underdog for sure! But Likeable Underdog? Ummmm, not yet. Not until MikeD leaves anyway.
Oh, and before I go, I wanna drop a quick quote. I shot a text out to my boy Daryl Brown (a diehard Laker fan whom I like to give a hard time to) while at the game asking him where I should mail him his gift (a Clipper’s hat.) He responded, “Unless that hat is purple and gold and has world champs written on it… lol I’ll pass.” YOUCh. You see the Arrogance of the Laker Fans??? They're SPOILed, right??... and the PaperClips are INVISIBLE in LA :)
Thems the facts! And we Love this stuff. Underdogs OuT!
Oh, and ONE MORE thing... Kisha doesn't like Condiments... and we got a hotdog :) Some of that relish might have creeped over a bit...
Or not. Haha. So my partner-in-crime (willing or Not so) Kisha, and I headed down the 5 to the arena to check out the game and during the course of the evening a couple of things became crystal clear. Maybe there really is something to this curse stuff. Basically three predictable things happened that night at Staples center. First the arena was half full (or less) as the meek fans in Red and Blue tried with all their might to avoid glancing UP at the 15 Lakers Championship Banners looming up in the arena rafters. Secondly, the main gift shop that you can walk through when you first come in to Staples is stocked with 80% Lakers Gear. A psychological killer??? And third, most importantly, the Paper Clips choked away the game against a young and very flawed Oklahoma City Thunder. Remember I mentioned their inept coaching earlier? Well, one of the main contributors to that sentiment is their terrible current coach, Mike Dunleavy (the only other time I’d been to a Clippers Game in 2006, THIS coach intentionally tanked a game late in the season, to set up a more favorable playoff matchup. And although it may have been slightly forgivable since they have only been to the playoffs 7 times in 40 years and have never even come close to a championship, losing on purpose is always a sports-karma no-no; Much worse than breaking a mirror or opening an umbrella indoors. The universe does not forget :) 
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