tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82769334228847221872024-03-12T22:06:46.657-05:00The NBA Season Of DrewThis blog will chronicle my attempt to visit all 30 NBA Arenas during the 2007-08 season. <p>
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<p>
Contact info:
Drew Cieszynski
2637 N. Frederick Ave.
Apt# 106
Milwaukee, WI 53211
/ 717.676.9963
/ acieszyn@hotmail.com
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Click below on "2007" to view the first 13 arenas.</p></p></p>Drew Cieszynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03397041546054654278noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276933422884722187.post-63538962833772985732009-08-05T12:08:00.003-05:002009-08-05T12:09:49.530-05:00Drew's New BlogHey everyone, I'm dusting off my keyboard and my credit card for my next BIG TOUR!<br />11 straight weekends of BIG TEN football. Follow my much-improved website/commentary at www.THEbig10tour.com<br /><br />Thanks<br /><br />DrewDrew Cieszynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03397041546054654278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276933422884722187.post-14445267566832958912008-08-07T21:26:00.003-05:002008-08-07T21:47:36.617-05:00The NBA Finals!!!Here it was...the culmination of the NBA Tour. As I previously mentioned, the Los Angeles Lakers gave me the opportunity to purchase 2 tickets at face value for Game 3 of the NBA FINALS. 10 months ago, the thought of seeing a game outside of Milwaukee or Chicago didn't even cross my mind; now I had not only seen 30 arenas, but I was achieving my dream and watching the NBA Finals.
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<br />LA was pretty ramped up for the Finals, despite being down 0-2.
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final075.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final075.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final013.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final013.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />As soon as I stepped off of the metro, I saw that the arena had been ramped up for their presentation of the NBA Finals.
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final106.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final106.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />A fan-fest going on outside where you could shoot hoops, sample free <a href="http://www.oceanspray.com/products/craisins.aspx">Craisins</a>, or even watch people walk around with TV's built into their outfits.
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final101.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final101.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final111.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final111.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final128.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final128.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />There were plenty of photo opportunities to let people know you were there.
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final105.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final105.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final109.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final109.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final110.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final110.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />I can't believe the NBA would let people walk all over its trophy.
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final104.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final104.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />There were a variety of entertaining T-shirts to be found around the arena.
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final129.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final129.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final131.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final131.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final130.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final130.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final121.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final121.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />The gentleman below was waiting in a line that wrapped around the building, just hoping for an opportunity to purchase a ticket that had opened up. He kept himself entertained with a Celtics jersey.
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final116.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final116.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />Even this trophy was guarded by security.
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final108.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final108.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final113.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final113.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />The outside patio was a pretty lively crowd - especially when someone wearing green showed up.
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final196.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final196.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final141.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final141.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />In an effort to promote the new Disney movie <span style="font-style:italic;"></span><a href="http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/wall-e/">W.A.L. - E</a>, they had this robot out front heading down the read carpet into the STAPLES Center. This segment aired at 8:30 EST on ABC during & what do you know - I made it on.
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=DSC03309-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/DSC03309-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />Here's to another banner being raised shortly...
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final145.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final145.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />& of course Jack Nicholson was there in his customary seats.
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=jack.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/jack.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />Player introductions.
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final172.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final172.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final177.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final177.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final174.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final174.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final175.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final175.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final176.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final176.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />American Idol winner <a href="http://www.americanidol.com/contestants/season7/david_cook/">David Cook</a> signs the national anthem.
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final169.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final169.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final170.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final170.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />Delivery of game ball from Hall-of-Famer Magic Johnson.
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final182.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final182.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final181.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final181.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />Is that Joe Crawford doing the tipoff and <a href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/218794/nba_ref_joe_crawford_suspended_indefinitely.html">not bickering with Tim Duncan</a>?
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final184.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final184.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />Odom bringing the ball down the court
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final199-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final199-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />Eddie House putting up a jumper
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final201-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final201-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />After a Ray Allen jumper
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final198-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final198-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final200.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final200.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />KG on the post
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final193-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final193-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />The best dance team in the NBA
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final186.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final186.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />Sasha Vujacic, <a href="http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/080728vujacicresigned.html?rss=true">resigned recently</a>, shooting a jumper.
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final192-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final192-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />The celebrities were out in full force
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<br /><a href="http://www.playboy.com/">Hugh Hefner</a> and the girls
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final210.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final210.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilary_Duff">Hillary Duff</a>
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final203.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final203.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br /><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000229/">Steven Spielberg</a>
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final205.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final205.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />Flea, of the <a href="http://www.redhotchilipeppers.com/">Red Hot Chili Peppers</a>
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final204.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final204.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br /><a href="http://www.cinematicwallpaper.com/movie-pictures/wallpapers/Rambo_wallpaper/Rambo_2.jpg">Slyvester Stallone</a> and <a href="http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/060713/14235__donkey_l.jpg">Eddie Murphy</a>
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final208.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final208.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br /><a href="http://www.answers.com/topic/dustin-hoffman">Dustin Hoffman</a>
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final206.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final206.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />and finally <a href="http://www.jacknicholson.org/">JACK</a>!...not to be confused with <a href="http://www.anatomorphex.com/picts/mech_props/MP105_JACK_IN_THE_BOX.jpg">Jack</a>...
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final209.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final209.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />But these are my people...
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final187.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final187.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />Don't know if you can tell or not, but the basket was loaded with A/V equipment.
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final194-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final194-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />How bittersweet!
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final213.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final213.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Final223.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Final223.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />Leaving the Staples Center after a great night!
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<br />Despite the risk of having anyone who reads this call me a pussy and endless mocking from my friends that will ensue, I must say that when I heard the Laker's Public Address Announcer, <a href="http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/tanter_011108.html">Lawerence Tanter</a>, say "Welcome to Game 3 of the NBA Finals," I started to tear up a bit. Very emotional for me as I achieved what was my most desired goal of the season & this being the culmination of it all. Wow, I made it to the NBA Finals.
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<br />So I guess that's it - the tour is over. Back to watching games on TV and sitting in the upper level like everyone else. But allow me one last attempt to show you what type of person I am. I live for now, I seize today, and I regret nothing. Thus, I commemorated my travels on my back.
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<br />The Great <a href="http://www.myspace.com/tat2danl ">Dan Lins</a>, who motivated me to become the person I am today, was kind enough to tattoo the design I created for me. His home base is at Hollywood Ink, but he travels all over the world to tattoo. Click the link on over his name if you'd like to set up an appointment.
<br />The tattoo took 5 straight hours, with a 5 minute break halfway through. The theme was to create a skyline of everywhere I've been. Difficult to see in a picture, but from left to right:
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<br />Tower of the Americas - San Antonio
<br />One PPG Place - Pittsburgh
<br />225 South Sixth - Minneapolis
<br />Bell South building - Nashville
<br />Wells Fargo building (cash register) - Denver
<br />Excalibur Hotel - Las Vegas
<br />Empire State Building - New York
<br />Bank of America Center - Houston
<br />Washington Monument - Washington DC
<br />Emerald Plaza - San Diego
<br />Prudential Center- Boston
<br />Fountain Place - Dallas
<br />One Liberty Place- Philadelphia
<br />The Pyramid - Memphis
<br />CN Tower - Toronto
<br />Fassion Building - Milwaukee
<br />Chrysler Building - New York
<br />Gateway Arch - St. Louis
<br />Chase Tower - Indianapolis
<br />Transamerica Pyramid - San Francisco
<br />Legg Mason building - Baltimore
<br />Hancock Tower - Chicago
<br />Peachtree place - Atlanta
<br />Space Needle - Seattle
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/?action=view¤t=Picture001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/NBA%20FINALS/Picture001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />Thanks to John Black and the Los Angeles Lakers for making my dream come true!
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<br /><div><img src="http://a1.vox.com/6a00e398d47c06000500e398d6a4c10003-500pi" alt="Randy Newman - I Love L.A." /></div> <object width="502" height="17"> <param name="movie" value="http://aka-static.vox.com/.shared:v42.18:vox:en_us/flash/MusicPlayer.swf" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="wmode" value="transparent" /> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never" /> <param name="flashvars" value="mediaURL=http://a1.vox.com/6a00e398d47c06000500e398d6a4c10003-mp3&mediaWidth=500&autostart=true" /> <embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="502" height="17" src="http://aka-static.vox.com/.shared:v42.18:vox:en_us/flash/MusicPlayer.swf" quality="high" wmode="transparent" allowscriptaccess="never" flashvars="mediaURL=http://a1.vox.com/6a00e398d47c06000500e398d6a4c10003-mp3&mediaWidth=500&autostart=true" /> </object><br />
<br /><a href="http://intrepid856.vox.com/library/audio/6a00e398d47c06000500e398d6a4c10003.html">Randy Newman - I Love L.A.</a> from <a href="http://intrepid856.vox.com/">http://intrepid856.vox.com/</a>Drew Cieszynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03397041546054654278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276933422884722187.post-63961582754998214662008-08-07T08:02:00.003-05:002008-08-07T08:12:51.467-05:00UpdateHi everyone - sorry for the extreme delay. Upon return from the Finals, my laptop died on me. So obviously all of my photos were on there - collecting them all from the Internet sites that I uploaded them to has been a challenge. My new laptop should arrive in the next week or two.<br /><br />I also moved to a new residence to save money and am trying to get my financial life in order.<br /><br />Beyone even that, keep in mind that Milwaukee has approximately 3-4 good months of weather a year - so when I'm not working 10 or more hours a day, I try to get outside and enjoy itDrew Cieszynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03397041546054654278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276933422884722187.post-75875284388951524292008-06-02T23:40:00.004-05:002008-06-04T07:47:07.887-05:00The NBA Finals?Today, I proudly announce that with the assistance of the Los Angeles Lakers very professional staff, it appears that I will achieve the big goal of this tour - Attending the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_NBA_Finals">NBA FINALS</a>!!! The plan is to attend Game 3 in Los Angeles on Tuesday June 10th. Some are saying this will be the <a href="http://branddunk.wordpress.com/2008/05/31/2008-nba-finals-will-be-richest-series-in-history/">highest rated NBA Finals in history</a>?<br /><br />I should also note however that the Dallas Mavericks & Detroit Pistons also guaranteed me spots had they made it, so heartfelt thanks to them as well.<br /><br />Funny thing is that I had no interest in the LA Lakers when the season started, yet through the scheduling process I saw them more than any other team during my tour. On Tuesday night, I will enter the <a href="http://www.staplescenter.com/">STAPLES CENTER</a> as a Lakers fan. Typically, when you hear of a <a href="http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=bos">Red Sox</a> fan or a Lakers fan, you think of the bandwagon...however isn't my scenario is a bit different? I've grown to enjoy this franchise because despite all of success, Mr. Black had the time to answer my requests in a timely fashion, Mr. Cardona got me the needed materials for my blog without needing a follow-up. Bottom line - a front office that cares for its fans is more important than all else to me.<br /><br />But look who our opponent is...the Boston Celtics. Wouldn't it be just plain beautiful karma if I were to witness ... part of the Lakers dismantling the Celtics, the only team to not help the NBA Tour? Isn't this the ultimate fairy tale ending for me - the number 1 goal of this tour and my ultimate dream, the NBA FINALS, being in attendance as the Lakers take down the franchise that <a href="http://nbadrew.blogspot.com/2007/12/boston-celtics.html">showed me I was not even worth their email response</a>?Drew Cieszynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03397041546054654278noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276933422884722187.post-41273858596351509412008-06-02T23:37:00.000-05:002008-06-02T23:38:20.516-05:00Milwaukee Bucks (#30)Hey thanks for checking back on my blog! It's been a few weeks since I've updated as I've been trying to catch up on my financial situation, my job, and most importantly ... rest. <br /><br />Tonight in an effort to get back on track financially, I signed a lease for a new apartment that will have zero amenities, but hopefully save me over $250 a month - building towards the next "tour."<br /><br />Check back in July and August as I've going to post a "reflection," which should contain some good insight. I've held back heavily during this blog so that children could go through it and in hopes that I'd be semi-tasteful in case the NBA actually wanted to notice me. Possibly more importantly however, could be my NBA FINALS post. <br /><br />Now, for the final arena...my new home...The Milwaukee Bucks.<br /><br />So here it was, April 12 in Milwaukee and surprise, surprise...it was snowing. Now sit back and think about this for a minute. During my travels, coupled with my full time job, my biggest obstacle was the weather. Milwaukee recorded its <a href="http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/287994">2nd-worst winter of all time</a>! Remember I had nine round trip flights and 6 big roadtrips leaving from Milwaukee (Chicago, Minneapolis, Toronto, Cleveland, & Indianapolis all encountering weather problems. Yet outside of a $1,000 accident on my shortest trip, Chicago, I did not get into any fender-benders or have any flight delays/cancellations. Milwaukee's General Mitchell airport had more <a href="http://www.journaltimes.com/articles/2008/03/21/local_news/doc47e3bb28e3594192897981.txt">delays and cancellations</a> than ever before.<br /><br />This day however, would be easy travels as I only live a few blocks from the Bradley Center. With me for this final game would be Scott Bellmyer as he collaborated on many of my tactics to get this accomplished and more importantly, made my job a lot easier whenever I returned from my trips.<br /><br />The Bradley Center has one of my favorite locations in all of the league. Within approximately 3 blocks east of the arena is probably over 20 watering holes to stop at before or after the game.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw120.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw120.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Regardless of which side that you enter the arena, you'll enter through one of the two large atriums where you'll see a variety of activities that range from live bands to local radio talkshows being broadcast live.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Bucks001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Bucks001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Just like every other arena, I had no idea what the Bucks had in store or where I would be seated. I quickly found that I would be seated in the Midwest Airlines seats, located courtside opposite the Bucks' bench. If you're not familiar with <a href="http://www.midwestairlines.com/MAWEB/aboutUs/aboutLanding.aspx">Midwest Airlines</a>, you may not want to waste your time getting to know them as they'll likely be purchased by a competitor in the near future. The most characteristic thing about the Milwaukee-based airline however, is the "baked-on-board" chocolate chip cookies. Scott and I were entitled to one cookie each...<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Bucks045.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Bucks045.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Bucks019.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Bucks019.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Now many of you know that my favorite part of the NBA game is the player introductions. I don't care <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/nba/specials/playoffs/2008/05/12/stern.pyrotechnics.ap/index.html">what David Stern says about them</a>, I think they really get the adrenaline going and I always dreamed of being introduced in front of thousands of people.<br /><br />Well I found out that today, I would be a part of the player introductions! I would be riding out on the back of a Harley Davidson motorcycle after all of the players were introduced. One the Bucks starting lineup was announced, the sounds of a Harley engine came from one of the tunnels and the public address announcer told the over 14,000 in attendance about my journey that started in Salt Lake City on November 3rd and would conclude on this very evening as I rode out w/ Bango, the Bucks mascot. <br />I still have to bother the Bucks staff a few more times for video of this, but check out some still shots below:<br /><br />Raising my hands to the roar of the crowd<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Bucks011.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Bucks011.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />After Crossing the FINISH LINE<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Bucks012.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Bucks012.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The thumbs-up from <a href="http://www.nba.com/bucks/mascot/Bango.html">Bango</a> & being escorted away from an <a href="http://www.nba.com/bucks/dance/FZ_Energee.html">Energee Dance Team member</a> (I must add at this point, I had no idea what was going on, I was so blown-away by everything)!<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Bucks013.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Bucks013.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Crossing the finish line (this picture and the one below are compliments of <a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/Home.aspx">Getty Images</a>).<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=20080412_nets_bucks_gd1282.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/20080412_nets_bucks_gd1282.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Finally, what I call the million dollar photo. Check me out on the bike on the court as well as on the Scoreboard...<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=dsc_012322.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/dsc_012322.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><br />Oh, I almost forgot to mention that the Bucks gave me 30 free tickets to utilize for friends for this final night. Unfortunately, they weren't as lucky as I was (they are the ones up top in section 429). <br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Bucks025.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Bucks025.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Their view...<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Bucks031.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Bucks031.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />But luckily, they had HOOPS HEAVEN outside their section.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Bucks029.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Bucks029.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />You're just plain crazy if you come to visit a Milwaukee sporting event and don't try a <a href="http://www.bratwurstpages.com/brats.html">Bratwurst</a>. Heck, I even had a Brat Burger too. As far as brands go, I'd recommend <a href="http://www.usinger.com/">Usinger's</a> or a <a href="http://www.klements.com/">Klements</a>. No I'm not receiving advertising money, but I literally ate a brat for lunch 4 days a week when I moved up here, so I've gained a taste for the best.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=mil005-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/mil005-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Bucks032.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Bucks032.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />There's no doubt that the <a href="http://www.bradleycenter.com/index_flash.asp">Bradley Center</a> is aging. It's now tied for the 5th oldest in the league, opened in 1988. Some of the older ones such as <a href="http://www.thegarden.com/">Madison Square Garden</a> & The <a href="http://www.palacenet.com/">Palace of Auburn Hills</a> are doing just fine. The Bradley Center however hasn't been making the necessary renovations that other arenas have. This is evidenced by the "big-screen" television shown below...<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=mil002-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/mil002-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Now after seeing the Comcast Lounge at the <a href="http://www.houstontoyotacenter.com/">Toyota Center</a>, the Internet access at the <a href="http://www.unitedcenter.com/">United Center</a>, and some of the Fed-Ex screens in the concourse of the <a href="http://www.fedexforum.com/homepage.aspx">Fed Ex Forum</a>, this is just unacceptable. This looks like the television my Dad picked up at a public auction 10 years ago.<br /><br />The scoreboard was really outdated also.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=mil004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/mil004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />David Stern thinks the <a href="http://blogs.jsonline.com/businessofsports/archive/2008/05/29/stern-bradley-center-will-do-for-now.aspx">Bradley Center will suffice</a> for a few more years. Although the <a href="http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hdKcO1rmbPbMXHcRVx92xCFRBDPA">Sonics appears to be headed for Oklahoma City</a>, there still isn't any urgency in Milwaukee to prevent a similar thing from occurring.<br /><br />They have a liquor lounge, like most other arenas. Here we have a Bacardi theme. But seriously, who drinks liquor in Milwaukee?<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Bucks004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Bucks004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Oh yes, there was a game to be played, highlighed by the return of <a href="http://www.nba.com/playerfile/devin_harris/">Devin Harris</a> to Wisconsin.<br /><br /><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3927">Andrew Bogut</a>, his <a href="http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/ripsmask.html">facemask</a>, <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3442">Michael Redd</a>, & Dan Gadruzic get ready for tip-off. Wait, <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/players/3631/">Dan Gadzuric</a>...this reminds me of playing for the Middle School basketball team and when we played the worst team in the league on the last game of the season, the coach said, "Who hasn't started yet this year?" and I raised my hand.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Bucks016.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Bucks016.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />A lack of genuine club-level seating.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Bucks020.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Bucks020.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Bango completes his dunk between the fireballs. Excellent! Luckily, he didn't have the same <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RurKGRhOFKw">mishap</a> of Hugo the Hornet did during the Spurs-Hornets series.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Bucks022.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Bucks022.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3248">Vinsanity</a> shoots from the outside.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Bucks024.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Bucks024.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Bango entertaining once more...<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Bucks040.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Bucks040.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />These t-shirt cannons are getting scary...<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Bucks043.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Bucks043.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Bucks036-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Bucks036-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4150"><br />Marcus Williams</a> shoots over Bucks guard <a href="http://www.nba.com/playerfile/ramon_sessions/index.html">Ramon Sessions</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Bucks021.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Bucks021.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/players/3551/">Bobby Simmons</a> getting blocked by <a href="http://www.nba.com/playerfile/stromile_swift/">Stromile Swift</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Bucks035.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Bucks035.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />New General Manager <a href="http://www.nba.com/bucks/news/hammond_named_general_manager_080411.html">John Hammond</a> was introduced early in the evening (no, not the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_characters_in_Jurassic_Park#John_Hammond">guy </a>from Jurassic Park), but the excitement soon ended as both Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson scored over 20 points and handed Milwaukee its sixth straight loss. Nevertheless, the NBA Tour ended at .500, going 15-15 on the season.<br /><br />My friend Adrienne once again outdid herself with the sign<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Bucks028.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Bucks028.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />So that was it. 30 down. The Bucks staff even put a story about my tour on their <a href="http://my.nba.com/thread.jspa?threadID=570003280">website</a> about my final night. <br /><br />I was sitting a work on Monday when the phone rang. It was Tim Van Vooren of Fox 6 News and he wanted to know if I'd be interested in attending one more game so that they could do a story on the tour. How could I decline more basketball?<br /><br />This would be Milwaukee's final home game of the season and they would match up against their division rival, the <a href="http://www.nba.com/bulls/">Chicago Bulls</a>.<br /><br />The evening started off with a select group of season ticket holders standing on the court for the player intros and eventually the players came over to them to sign some autographs. Michael Redd then took the microphone and promised Bucks fans a better season next year (<a href="http://hoopeduponline.com/2008/05/21/the-buck-stops-here/">if he's even around</a>).<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Bucks051.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Bucks051.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Now that I was purchasing tickets, my view wasn't as good as it had been all season.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Bucks054.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Bucks054.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The 400 level lounge called "NUMBERS"<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Bucks057.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Bucks057.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Bradley Center did have more banners in the rafters than most other arenas, however few have been recent and many come from <a href="http://gomarquette.cstv.com/">Marquette basketball</a>, who also play their home games at the Bradley Center.<br /><br />A Kohl's blimp with Bango riding atop.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Bucks059.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Bucks059.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I attended the Bradley Center one other time during 2008, for the <a href="http://www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com/">McDonald's All-American Game</a>. The arena looked as it did any other time, with one small difference...the big circle in the middle. Yes, that Ronald in the middle.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=mil006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/mil006.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />We got to see <a href="http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?sport=2&pr_key=39071">Brandon Jennings</a> and many other up-and-coming stars.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=mil008.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/mil008.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Even some wild gymnatics at halftime.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=mil001-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/mil001-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />So that was it...I was more relieved than anything. The stress from the weather, contacting jaded front office staff, trying to juggle work and travel, updating my blog...it had all burnt me out. I will reflect more on my conclusions in my final post, yet to come.<br /><br />Thanks to Lori Warzak, Mike Schneiders, Jim Paschke, Matt Wessel, Scott Bellmyer, Mary Lawyer, Kasey Boudah, Wes Givens, Sarah Ferrance, Maryann Deason, Richard Carter, and all the others who helped/came along to my final game.Drew Cieszynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03397041546054654278noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276933422884722187.post-75076496664956672202008-06-02T23:06:00.002-05:002008-06-02T23:39:30.518-05:00Milwaukee City PortionGive your computer a few moments to load...<br /><br />So here's the Introduction to where I live...if you want to get technical, here's the building I live in.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=drupic120.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/drupic120.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />If I had to pick one thing Milwaukee was known for, I'd have to say the <a href="http://www.millerbrewing.com/brandsBreweries/tourInfo.asp">Miller Brewery</a>. I still rank the Coors & Budweiser brewery tours as better, but this is a good time and you get 3 free beers and a small bag of pretzels at the end.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=chicago709.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/chicago709.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Here you see myself and Tim Workinger, who felt his <a href="http://www.bmc-llp.com/Default.aspx">career in accounting</a> was too intense for him to join me for a game in the NBA tour, at the start of the Miller Tour.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=jump047.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/jump047.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Here, Shea Sterner shows us that people can wear skull t-shirts and act civilized in the Miller Caves.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=chicago715.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/chicago715.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=chicago708.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/chicago708.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />All of this beer will be displaced within 24 hours.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=lad041.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/lad041.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Production<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=miller2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/miller2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=miller1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/miller1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Honestly, if you want some good brewery tours, check out <a href="http://www.lakefrontbrewery.com/">Lakefront Brewery</a>. For only $5, you get the tour, 4 full glass samples and you get to keep the glass you drink the samples out of.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw071.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw071.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=miller4.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/miller4.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Another tour, I've yet to try is the <a href="http://www.sprecherbrewery.com/index.php">Sprecher Brewery</a>.<br /><br />Or you could try one of the much smaller tours...<br /><br />such as the <a href="http://www.rockbottom.com/RockBottomWeb/RBR/Home.aspx">RockBottom Brewery</a> (national chain).<br /><br />Or the <a href="http://www.ale-house.com/alehouse/">Milwaukee Ale House</a>...<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw086.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw086.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Or the Water Street Brewery...<br /><br />Unfortunately, there isn't much <a href="http://www.schlitzgusto.com/home.asp">Schlitz</a> around anymore.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw136.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw136.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Pabst Brewery is becoming a <a href="http://commerce.wi.gov/newsletter/2007/april/pabstbrewery.html">residential area</a>...<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw070.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw070.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Forgetting the breweries, you could just go buy your beer at one of the local watering holes. <a href="http://www.onmilwaukee.com/bars/articles/waterstbars.html">Water Street</a> is the home to most of them.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw127.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw127.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw128.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw128.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Or if you don't want to walk for a tour or sit in a bar, why not take a boat?<br />The Milwaukee "<a href="http://www.cafevecchio.com/riverwalkboat/tours/">booze cruise</a>" stops at 3 different breweries along the Milwaukee river, with lots of sampling at each.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw122.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw122.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Probably the landmark of Milwaukee if the <a href="http://www.mam.org/">Art Museum</a>. This is most interesting because it changes throughout the day. 3 times a day, the wings rise.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw174.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw174.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Picture1221.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Picture1221.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=mil022.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/mil022.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=mil023.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/mil023.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Of course, there is Miller Park, which never experiences a rain-out.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=jump121.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/jump121.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Where the tailgating is the best I've experienced (here we see Nate Bollinger participating in Lasso Golf/Blongo Ball).<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Bonds025.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Bonds025.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Of course the big celebrities are the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sausage_Race">Sausages</a>. The Bratwurst, The Chorizo, The Hot Dog, and the Italian Sausage.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=chitown016.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/chitown016.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />But with a last name like Cieszysnki, my loyalty is with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kielbasa">Polish Sausage</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=jump120.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/jump120.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Individuals that have never seen a one of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Lakes">5 Great Lakes</a> often fail to understand the immense size of the them.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=minneapolis001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/minneapolis001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw181.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw181.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw199.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw199.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />How about some of the Milwaukee architecture?<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw114.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw114.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Milwaukee Hilton, featuring a small <a href="http://www.paradiselanding.com/">indoor water park</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw067.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw067.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw065.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw065.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=jump060.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/jump060.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.milwaukeetheatre.com/">Milwaukee Theater</a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=mil050.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/mil050.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.midwestairlinescenter.com/"><br />The Midwest Airline Center</a>. Apparently this convention center could hold 555 city buses, end to end.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw066.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw066.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw123.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw123.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The <a href="http://www.jsonline.com/">Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel</a> building<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw112.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw112.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.milwaukeecountyhistsoc.org/"><br />Milwaukee Historical Society</a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw110.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw110.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><a href="http://www.mpl.org/"><br />Milwaukee Public Library</a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=mil029.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/mil029.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />From Memorial Day through Labor Day, you can bring a bottle of wine and a blanket and experience <a href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/259299/jazz_in_the_park_in_milwaukees_cathedral.html?cat=8">Jazz in the Park</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=mil080.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/mil080.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=mil079.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/mil079.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Time for all of America to inherit these. Why do we need parking meters anymore when more people carry credit cards than change.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw111.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw111.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Street signs...<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw106.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw106.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The US Bank building<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw096.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw096.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />There's even skyscrapers on the parking garages.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw107.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw107.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><br />You may notice the skywalk crossing the river and connecting the buildings; typically a way to deal with the winter.Notice the skywalk below; it's the only skywalk in the United States that spans a river used by boats.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw102.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw102.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Milwaukee Riverwalk<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw104.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw104.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw098.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw098.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />It's great to <a href="http://www.laackeandjoys.com/">rent kayaks</a> for the day and go up and down the river, stopping at restaurants and bars along the way...<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=jump001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/jump001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=jump005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/jump005.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I can't really talk about it too much, but make sure you try out the <a href="http://www.safe-house.com/">Safe-House</a> in Milwaukee. It may be a bit tough to find, but ask around and you'll get there.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=jump050.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/jump050.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Many visitors come to Milwaukee every summer for <a href="http://www.summerfest.com/flash/">Summerfest</a>, the World's Largest Music Festival.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=jump073.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/jump073.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw212.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw212.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw211.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw211.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw213.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw213.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Upon the Summerfest grounds, there are several concerts going on at once. There's the US Cellular Stage -<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=jump077.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/jump077.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Harley Davidson Stage (currently in construction) - <br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw186.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw186.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Miller Lite stage - <br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw185.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw185.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Potowatami Bingo & Casino stage (by the way, you may want to check out the <a href="http://paysbig.com/visitor/">Casino</a> during your visit) - <br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw184.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw184.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Briggs & Straton stage - <br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw214.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw214.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Then there's the headliner stage, the Marcus Amphitheater.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw188.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw188.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=jump028.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/jump028.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Big Ben? The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen-Bradley_Clock_Tower">Allen Bradley Clocktower</a> is recognized by the <a href="http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/">Guiness Book</a> of World Records as the largest 4-faced clock in the world, with each face nearly twice the size of the faces on Big Ben in London, England.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw219.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw219.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />It would be really bad luck to kill these <a href="http://www.clubmilwaukee.com/ladybug.htm">ladybugs</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=mil019.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/mil019.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Then there is <a href="http://www.bradyst.com/">Brady Street</a> on the east side of town. It's a bit quieter than the downtown & a bit more personality. Bars, restaurants and non-chain shops typically line the streets. Every year, the street holds a few festivals, a <a href="http://www.bradyst.com/petparade/dp-flyer-2007.jpg">pet parade</a>, and <a href="http://www.bradyst.com/festivus/index.html">Festivus</a> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festivus">the Seinfeld holiday</a>).<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw135.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw135.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw133.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw133.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw132.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw132.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw139.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw139.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw138.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw138.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw140.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw140.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw141.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw141.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.uscellulararena.com/">US Cellular Arena</a>, home of the <a href="http://www.milwaukeewave.com/">Milwaukee Wave</a> and <a href="http://uwmpanthers.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/wiml-m-baskbl-body.html">University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw130.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw130.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Near the Arena, you can find the <a href="http://www.wcd.org/walkoffame/">Wisconsin Athletic Walk of Fame</a> - where you can read about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vince_Lombardi">Vince Lombardi</a>, <a href="http://www.nba.com/history/players/robertson_summary.html">Oscar Robertson</a>, and <a href="http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=yountro01">Robin Yount</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw118.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw118.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />You may not recognize the name "<a href="http://www.picknsave.com/">Pick N Save</a>", a regional grocer, but you surely know the name <a href="http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/Content/Pages/Motorcycles/motorcycles.jsp?locale=en_US&camp_id=16&source_cd=MY08&GCID=S18577x001&KEYWORD=harley+davidson">Harley Davidson</a>, with its corporate headquarters in Milwaukee.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw150.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw150.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />What about the <a href="http://www.county.milwaukee.gov/MitchellParkConserva10116.htm">Mitchell Domes</a>, often sparking curiousity from visitors that see them from afar?<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=mil014.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/mil014.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Each dome has a different environment, one a desert oasis, one a tropical jungle and one a floral garden.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=mil016.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/mil016.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw173.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw173.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />This little park is fun...each one of the "fans" has a dial that allows the user to rotate the fan 360 degrees. The benches each have a mallet attached and can be played like a xlyophone. <br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw175.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw175.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Marquette University<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=mil043.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/mil043.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=mil041.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/mil041.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=mil044.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/mil044.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Possibly my favorite part of Milwaukee is the <a href="http://www.historicthirdward.org/tour/welcome.php">Historic Third Ward</a>. I enjoy it because you don't see a large of large corporations or advertisements pasted everywhere. Shops, restaurants, and more up and down the streets, including a pet bakery & the<a href="http://www.eisnermuseum.org/visitor/faq.shtm"> Museum of Advertising & Design</a>. I enjoy looking at all of the local art along the streets and the old buildings sprung back into life w/ residential living.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw087.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw087.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw090.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw090.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw089.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw089.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw076.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw076.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw075.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw075.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw077.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw077.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw088.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw088.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw092.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw092.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw091.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw091.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/5941">Gertie the Duck statue</a>...many stories behind this duck...<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw172.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw172.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><br />Take a trip down Humboldt Street and you may see some <a href="http://www.onmilwaukee.com/buzz/articles/caryard.html">unique landscaping</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw073.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw073.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw064.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw064.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />After months of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_food">fast food</a> on the NBA tour (the best of which is <a href="http://www.in-n-out.com/">In 'N Out Burger</a>), I need some healthy food when I get home. The Milwaukee Public Market is a great remedy.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=Milw084.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/Milw084.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Milwaukee Public Museum<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=mil047.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/mil047.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Here you can take a glance at the planets,<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=mil049.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/mil049.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />see the largest dinosaur skull in the country, <br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=mil059.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/mil059.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />or tame a butterfly...<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=mil071.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/mil071.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><br />Oh yeah, a lot of people up here wear those ridiculous <a href="http://www.cheesehead.com/">cheeseheads</a> (shown here by Andrew Westhafer).<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=miller3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/miller3.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />One thing that Milwaukee seriously misses the mark on is their <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_smoking_bans_in_the_United_States">smoking policy</a>. Beercity USA is one of the few big cities remaining that still allows smoking in public places. I've visited a couple of the cities across America & I can't even begin to explain how much more I enjoyed myself in California or Colorado because I was able to go out and not have a sinus infection the next morning nor have my clothing stink of cigarette smoke. It's feasible to allow smoking in the southern cities where you can leave a window open, but not in Milwaukee. I also understand the thought process that businesses will suffer, but if NYC, SF, and many other big cities are pulling it off, isn't that evidence enough that it works?<br /><br />Here's my argument - Milwaukee is one of the coldest cities in America, so obviously the residents are inside the most. There are only 3-4 months a year where non-smokers can go out and about in open-air bars, otherwise they're confined to staying in or being miserable in a smoky environment. My friends in California, Philadelphia, New York refuse to visit Milwaukee during Sept-May because they don't want to deal with cigarette smoke. Are there people out there saying , "Gee let's take a vacation to Milwaukee so we can smoke in a public place!" Probably not, so a smoke-free environment would help to bring more tourism dollars to the city. Please help this city grow up, & <a href="http://www.smokefreewi.org/">get smoking out of Wisconsin</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/?action=view¤t=mil076.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Milwaukee/mil076.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />So that's my current hometown - who want to come visit?<br /><br />Thanks to the <a href="http://www.visitmilwaukee.org/static/index.cfm?contentID=267">city of Milwaukee</a> for many of the fun facts!Drew Cieszynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03397041546054654278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276933422884722187.post-6329623789337373992008-05-03T20:06:00.002-05:002008-05-04T00:06:36.623-05:00Charlotte Bobcats (#29)After a lovely 4 hour drive, Craig and I arrived in Charlotte. It was yet another day of disgusting NBA Tour weather, so Craig and I weren't able to do too much sightseeing. We arrived at the arena a bit early and met Michael Thompson who provided us with two great seats. What is best about the arena is that there is a bus terminal right across the street and the train stops right next to the arena as well. Plenty of transportation to and from the games. Parking wasn't too expensive either.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char013.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char013.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />When we were there on April 6, it was known as Charlotte Bobcats Arena. By April 8, it would be known as Time Warner Cable Arena. This is a shame because it's another corporate name, but even more so because Time Warner Cable provides some of the worst service I've ever dealt with.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char042.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char042.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Fans can peer into the practice court from outside the arena.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char015.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char015.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Unfortunately the Bobcats asked Ron Laurita to show us around. Of all my visits, he was THE MOST comfortable person to speak with. He was clearly annoyed that we were there and had no interest in answering any of our questions. We followed him around for a bit, but he wasn't pointing out any sights or making the slightest effort to converse with us. Eventually, we couldn't keep up with his speed-walking and were questioning ourselves as to why we were even near this guy. <br /><br />Some views of the court.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char047.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char047.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char055.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char055.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Mr. Thompson gave us two passes to "Back Court," which is a club that select ticket holders can access before, during, and after the game. At halftime, we were able to enter and get free soft drinks as well as other appetizers. It was a bit annoying though because there was also a band inside that made it so obnoxiously loud that you couldn't hold a discussion with the person next to you.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char024.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char024.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char078.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char078.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char018.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char018.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char019.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char019.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Some shots from around the arena.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char053.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char053.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char056.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char056.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char051.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char051.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char052.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char052.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><br />What surprised me most was that for such a new arena - it still had the "cement palace" feel and lots of empty spots. While the Bobcats don't have a lot of history, you would think they would find something to fill all of this empty space, whether it be a revenue-creator, art, or something relating to the franchise.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char046.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char046.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />"Frequent Fryers," "Pie in the Sky" just to name a few.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char049.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char049.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char050.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char050.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />There is lots of interesting artwork throughout the arena. Throughout there are all sorts of references to Charlotte's heritage, including the ticket office and the concessions.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char048.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char048.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char044.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char044.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The franchise definitely sells the Jordan name. Many references to Jordan throughout the arena, including his shoes. The team apparel is the only apparel in the league with the Jordan logo.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char040.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char040.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I guess they have to remind you where you're drinking the Bud Light, which was enjoyable with my panini.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char057.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char057.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char059.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char059.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Prior to the game, we saw some interesting personalities...<br /><br />Ray Allen working out with his midget friend. Allen wouldn't play in the game that night.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char023.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char023.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />It even looks like the Celtics have a certified leprechaun on their payroll...<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char036.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char036.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />If it wasn't embarrassing enough to have the nickname of "Big Baby," he also had to sport this ridiculous haircut.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char035.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char035.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Adam Morrison and Sean May working their way back from injuries. Looks like Morrison still won't part with that moustauche.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char028.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char028.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char029.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char029.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I'm guessing that this was Brian Scalabrine's son?<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char058.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char058.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Some views of the scoreboard. Clearly my favorite to date and is officially the largest video screen in the NBA.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char054.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char054.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char081.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char081.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Mascot Rufus<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char063.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char063.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Tip-off<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char064.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char064.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I really lucked out seeing the "after" effects of many of the key NBA transactions in the second half of the season. <br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char073.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char073.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char070.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char070.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Just when you couldn't take any more of the Rihanna "Umbrella" song, the dance team <br />has a whole performance based on the song.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char075.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char075.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The halftime act was Dan Menendez, the Piano Juggler. One of my favorite acts to date.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char077.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char077.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/3142/dan_menendez_piano_jugler_2.swf" width="400" height="345" wmode="transparent" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed><br><font size = 1><a href="http://www.metacafe.com/watch/3142/dan_menendez_piano_jugler_2/"></a> - <a href="http://www.metacafe.com/"></a></font><br /><br />Just when we had all forgotten about him, Earl Boykins shows up with another team.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char076.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char076.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Unfortunately, the so-called "Big Three" all sat out this game. Ray Allen actually made it to the bench in his suit, but Garnett and Pierce were no where to be found.<br />I would've believed this to be an easy win for the Bobcats. The Celtics reserves however, appeared that they wanted to prove that this team was more than the "Big 3." Leon Powe led the way with 22 and James Posey added 19. Earl Boykins energized the Bobcats for a quick spurt during the 2nd quarter, but other than that the Celtics dominated this game and won 101-78. This win clinched the largest season turnaround in NBA history as the Celtics were now 37 wins better than the year before. The team also locked up the #1 seed with the victory.<br /><br />It was great to see a healthy Emeka Okafor. Here, we see him at the free-throw line.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char090.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char090.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char080.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char080.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char086.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char086.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Tony Allen driving into some traffic.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char069.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char069.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Jason Richardson soaring to the rim.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char089.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char089.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Okafor and Cassel waiting to check in<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char088.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char088.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Jason Richardson losing his temper late. Good to see he's still passionate even when his team is eliminated from playoff contention. Okafor is clearly trying to keep him cool, but a technical would result.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char092.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char092.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Raymond Felton puts up a jumper<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char093.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char093.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char083.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char083.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char039.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char039.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char094.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char094.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Independence Square. At each corner is a different bronze statue representing commerce, industry, transportation, and future. <br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char007.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char007.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The miner here is to represent commerce.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char006.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Other Charlotte sculptures.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char010.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char010.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char011.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char011.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char008.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char008.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/?action=view¤t=Char001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Charlotte/Char001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Thanks to Craig Smith and Michael Thompson.<br /><br />Time to go home!Drew Cieszynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03397041546054654278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276933422884722187.post-42771894350787441522008-04-27T18:18:00.000-05:002008-04-27T18:19:28.996-05:00Atlanta Hawks (#28)My final roadtrip of the (regular) season would take me to both Atlanta and Charlotte. <br /><br />Philips Arena. Referred to by the Hawks as the Highlight Factory. If you look closely at the outside, you see the word "Atlanta" spelled out.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta056.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta056.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta027.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta027.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The really went from one extreme to the other here. Below, we see one of the league's great scoreboards, but look at the photo below that. You see all of the banners, but below that you see some minor league scoreboards. You couldn't make out some of the images on these LED boards.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta044.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta044.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta045.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta045.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta031.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta031.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta032.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta032.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Near section 119 is the "Fro-Zone"<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta046.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta046.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I hand it to Atlanta - it's the best arena to grab a beer. The opportunities to get a beer are everywhere and beyond just your "Big 3" beers, you have many choices from locals brewers, Heineken, and more! Check out some of the other eateries.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta033.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta033.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta035.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta035.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Notice that the entrances to each section are known as "Portals."<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta034.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta034.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Philips Experience. All sorts of games and such going on. Strangely enough, even an orchestra playing on this evening.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta037.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta037.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Me taking some shots on goal.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta039.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta039.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Before tipoff, Spirit the Hawk flies down from the upper-most suite and lands on the arm of someone standing at center court.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta057.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta057.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />A look at the full court.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta049.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta049.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />What makes this arena most unique is that one side is just loaded with suites. Most importantly is the Heineken suite, which includes a spiral staircase.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta048.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta048.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta064.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta064.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The other side of the arena.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta050.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta050.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />A VERY late arriving crowd in Atlanta. Notice on the clock that there is approximately 6 minutes until tipoff. Next, notice the amount of seats that are filled.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta055.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta055.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />While walking through the concourse, two girls offered us the opportunity to exchange our tickets for comparable tickets and the opportunity to meet Dominique Wilkins. While I have great respect for "The Human Highlight Film," I just wanted to stay my course in my current seat and enjoy the game. Below is Dominique laughing at Harry the Hawk.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta053.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta053.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Now here we are at tip-off. Notice again the amount of seats filled now.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta063.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta063.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Harry the Hawk. What is funniest about this mascot is that his lower jaw is not locked in place, so with his every move, his jaw is constantly flapping up and down.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta051.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta051.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />SkyHawk is another mascot that makes occasional appearances for the more risky stunts.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta087.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta087.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I'm not entirely sure, but I think this is former NBA All-Star Tyrone Hill sitting courtside.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta085.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta085.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Mike Bibby, now in a Hawks uniform, leading them to their first playoff spot in 9 years.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta073.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta073.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Here we see Bibby shooting over Samuel Dalembert, but unfortunately the shot would not fall and he finished shooting 1-11. He was a bit better at distributing the ball, tallying 11 assists.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta068.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta068.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Josh Childress puts up a shot and Iguodala jumps for the block.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta069.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta069.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Iguodala was contributing on the offensive end as well. Shown here finishing a dunk after a steal.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta066.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta066.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Now this was very clever. Hanging above each basket were large black boxes that would emit flames throughout the game. Every time the flames would shoot upwards, a message would appear on the scoreboard, telling fans that playoff tickets were now available and how they could be purchased. Now I'm clearly not attending any Hawks playoff games (unless the NBA Finals), but I gotta tell ya...every time those flames went up, my attention turned to that scoreboard. Very effective ticket sales tactic!<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta061.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta061.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Coming into the game, Atlanta held a 5 game winning streak. These two talented teams kept it close all game, and it was even tied up with less than 7 minutes to play. The Sixers just some great offense from their 3 leaders: Iguodala (30), Andre Miller (23), and Dalembert (15). The Hawks youngsters couldn't slow them down consistently and it was the Sixers clinching a playoff spot, winning 109-104. I've got to say, watching these young Hawk players was some of the most fun I've had all season. Josh Smith's dunks and blocked shots were all too entertaining.<br /><br />Al Horford putting up a shot. I've seen this guy twice now and I think he should be rookie of the year. No discredit to Kevin Durant, but I really feel Horford got his team to the next level and may have put up Durant-like #'s had he been on the Sonics.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta065.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta065.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Marvin Williams however, still hasn't lived up to his expectations. Here, we see him shooting a runner as Joe Johnson awaits, wide open behind the arc.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta070.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta070.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta077.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta077.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta088.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta088.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta047.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta047.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />While I didn't win the Georgia lottery and the Hawks didn't get a win, I still got to see another great game and see another one of the NBA's great arenas!<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta076.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta076.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Thanks to Jon Steinberg.Drew Cieszynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03397041546054654278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276933422884722187.post-45097959108312984992008-04-27T18:17:00.000-05:002008-04-27T18:18:37.077-05:00Atlanta city portionAtlanta. Mother Nature was once again showing her disapproval of the NBA tour by dumping rain and fog upon the city. I brought sandals to wear, but they didn't even make it out of the suitcase. So once again, I'll have to revert to older pictures of my visit there in 2006.<br /><br />I get the feeling that this city really saw a re-birth when the Olympics came through. You may remember Centennial Olympic Park...<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=Picture162.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/Picture162.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=Picture164.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/Picture164.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=Picture163.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/Picture163.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Some of the reflecting pools.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=Picture166.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/Picture166.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=Picture168.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/Picture168.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Said to be the World's Largest Aquarium, housing whale sharks, a hammerhead shark, and even some beluga whales.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=Picture177.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/Picture177.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Typically the symbol of Atlanta, the Georgia Dome looks to have withstood the recent tornadoes.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=Picture159.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/Picture159.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Having fun outside of the High Museum of Art. This is known as Cartoon House III.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=Picture149.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/Picture149.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=Picture143.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/Picture143.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=Picture146.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/Picture146.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=Picture148.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/Picture148.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Some of the best skyscrapers in the country, including Peachtree Tower and the Westin. Below is yet another Bank of America building.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=Picture151.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/Picture151.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />If you head out towards Turner Field, you can see the Olympic Torch.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=Picture178.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/Picture178.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />While I didn't take any photos of it, make sure you check out "The Underground." It's basically lots of shopping recessed below the sidewalk. All kinds of food and other vendors.<br /><br />Coca-Cola World. Get there early - lots of long lines. If you look close, you can see the gold dome of the Atlanta state capital building.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=Picture175.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/Picture175.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The CNN Center - attached to Phillips Arena.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=Picture155.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/Picture155.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=Picture157.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/Picture157.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />This time around, I decided to stop at Stone Mountain, which is one of the largest pieces of exposed granite in the world.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta007.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta007.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Unfortunately this place is a popular "field trip" destination for young children, which completely ruins the beauty of the place. Within an hour, I was so annoyed with all of the rugrats' yelling and screaming that I had to get out of there immediately If you want to enjoy this place, I would recommend going some time when you suspect that kids wouldn't be there.<br /><br />You take a tram up the the top. <br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta005.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta006.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Now some of these pictures will look like they are from another planet. The fog was so dense that you couldn't see 50 feet in front of you. I'm told that on a clear day, you can see the Atlanta skyline.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta010.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta010.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta008.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta008.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta013.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta013.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta012.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta012.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=102_1132.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/102_1132.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta024.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta024.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Confederate Memorial Carving. Features Jefferson Davis, General Robert E. Lee, & Thomas J. Jackson.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta022.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta022.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Don't leave Georgia without having a peach!<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/?action=view¤t=atlanta089.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Atlanta/atlanta089.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>Drew Cieszynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03397041546054654278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276933422884722187.post-91025700621648436422008-04-14T18:02:00.009-05:002008-04-16T00:17:23.721-05:00Detroit Pistons (#27)"Basketball Fans from around the great state of MEEEEE-chigan, and those of you at the Palace from all around the world; get up get up get up on your feet, time to meet & greet, the ballers representing the Detroit Pistons." -John Mason<br /><br />Honestly, I'll admit it. When scheduling this arena tour, the Pistons were one of those games that I anticipated just fitting in to be part of the tour. I wasn't excited about this particular weekend at all. Little did I know it would prove to be my favorite stop of the tour.<br /><br />After visiting Ford Field and Comerica Park a year earlier, I anticipated the Pistons arena would be in downtown Detroit as well. Unfortunately, this was FAR from the truth. Auburn Hills is a good 20 minutes outside of the city, and even stranger is that there is NOTHING around the Palace. There is a gas station and a bar across from the arena, and a McDonalds maybe 1/2 of a mile down the street, but other than that...nothingness!<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit077.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit077.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Inside, Wes and I met Ryan Pretzer where the cheerleaders were practicing warm-ups.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit081.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit081.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Ryan took us to the atrium (a newer addition) to the Palace, where we met Dave Wieme, who would give us a tour of the Palace. In the lobby was a giant shoe; take a look:<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=Detroitshoe.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/Detroitshoe.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=Detroitshoe2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/Detroitshoe2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The first thing Dave mentions is that The Palace was built back in 1988, making it one of the older facilities in the league. He also noted that some younger child won the contest to name the arena and received free tickets for life - so if your city is building an arena, start thinking up names. Rather than selling the name of the arena to a corporation, they name different sections of the the arena for different businesses such as the Key Bank Club or the Caeser's Windsor Club.<br /><br />The first thing I noticed while walking around was that the concourse and hallways were WIDE open and SPACIOUS. There wasn't that claustrophobic feel that I had in many of the other arenas around the league.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit094.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit094.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Now I'm going to try and remember back to many of these places, so if I get anything below incorrect, shoot me an email or comment on the site.<br /><br />The first of many nice restaurant/bars I saw was Club 53. This club is used for many private parties/receptions. Decorated with cherry wood and stone, a fireplace, and a round bar, this club was a very cozy setting.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit078.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit078.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit079.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit079.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The suite of Piston's owner, William Davidson. Equipped with a sliding glass door that allows one to get away from all of the action. Not a bad view either!<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit092.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit092.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit093.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit093.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />In the hallways below the seats, you see quite a bit of cable. The amount of cable is said to triple during the NBA Finals. I pray that I get to show everyone reading a photo of that cable tripling this June.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit083.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit083.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Key Bank Club, making you forget that you're even at a basketball game. When you go through the club, you'll see probably the best suites in the NBA. Unfortunately, there were some fans in these suites while I had the opportunity to look in and I didn't want to take a photo and disturb them.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit084.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit084.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit085.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit085.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Some of the other suites are nothing to scoff at. While in Indianapolis, Jeff McCoy told me that I had to see the bunker suites in Detroit. The Pistons staff didn't let me down.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit089.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit089.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />A piss-poor photo, but below is the Ameriprise Financial Club and below that is the Jack Daniels Old No. 7 Club.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit098.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit098.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit090.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit090.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Ryan then took us to the Food Court, which was one of the most extensive in the league, featuring a Red Bull bar, a margarita bar, and a slew of hot dog choices at the Barcardi stand. While you could choose hot dogs styled after Chicago, Atlanta, and Miami...I went with the local choice, the "Detroiter." I must add that after visiting Detroit for the 3rd time in 3 years, I've noticed that Bob's Big Boy and Little Caesar's Pizza are ridiculously popular in this area. <br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit002.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit003.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit024.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit024.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Before heading to our seats, we took a look at the upper-most suites. Afraid of heights?<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit108.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit108.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit109.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit109.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />From up there, I noticed the retired names/numbers printed on the court.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit111.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit111.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I also noticed the titles and a couple sell-outs from that guy who sings about giving love a bad name.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit102.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit102.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit105.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit105.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Before leaving the upper seats, we got to check out "Tay's Town." A suite that Tayshaun Prince purchases for small children to view the game from.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit112.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit112.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit113.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit113.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit114.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit114.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />A view of a restaurant below. One of the only shortfalls I found of this arena was the reliance of elevators on getting up and down.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit115.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit115.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />So we finally got out to our seats (right behind the Cavaliers bench).<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit034.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit034.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I thought I'd have some of the Cavalier's Gatorade before sitting down.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit117.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit117.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />When the Pistons go to and from the locker room, they go right through the fans, so we had the opportunity to get close to them.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit040.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit040.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit103.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit103.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Scoreboard<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit028.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit028.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Now I'm sorry to those of you who have employers that won't allow you to stream video because you need to see the following YouTube video. Turn up your volume and press video to see the best player introductions in the NBA. <br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit014.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit014.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Some of the lines to pay attention to:<br /><br />"Out of the gritty city of Compton...Kentucky, Big Blue for you...Say Hey, to Tay-Shhhhhhaun Prince."<br /><br />"The One Time Crimson Tide from Alabama...Antonio Mickity Mac Mickity mickity mickity mickity Mac Dyess."<br /><br />"From the get-down playgrounds of Philadelphia...Rasheed Wallace."<br />listen for the crowd to start yelling "SHEED" during this part.<br /><br />"From Coatsville, Rip-City, Pennsylvania... Pistons guard Richard RRRip Hamilton."<br /><br />"The Captain, from the Mile High City of Denver...he wears the Pistons' 1 in the home run blue and white, tonight...the 6'3'' Chaun-cey B-B-B-B Billups.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8STJtZarEnk&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8STJtZarEnk&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dxnpSgMQai0&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dxnpSgMQai0&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />Before I knew it, the players were lining up for the tip-off.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit018.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit018.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Damon Jones getting Richard Hamilton off his feet.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit020.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit020.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Cavs struggled early & Coach Brown tried to regroup the team<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit019.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit019.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />A familiar face in a new uniform.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit043.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit043.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />"Z" taking the jumper.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit031.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit031.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />At halftime, they raised a banner for retired Jack McCloskey. Speakers included Joe Dumars and Chuck Daly who you see walking right in front of us.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit036.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit036.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit035.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit035.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit044.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit044.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit037.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit037.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Is Eric Snow hoping for some publicity?<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit068.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit068.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Pistons mascot Hooper and Mini Hooper<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit059.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit059.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit008.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit008.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Tayshaun shooting a 3 over the struggling Wally Szcerbiak.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit057.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit057.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Chauncey gets through "Big" Ben Wallace and "Z" for the layup.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit046.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit046.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Now easily one of the greatest memories to date. In front of a full house, also shown on the videoboard, I got to change the consecutive sellout streak sign. Also check out the video on this below.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit052.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit052.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit055.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit055.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit058.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit058.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxO5eWxb4XMMXCluWDImYtK9Nhy6WEQoI9KMnsih13wul1WcZiplJL1MloxmxCZW9aFuUtq6WnYSIOgb-bpxQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Photo with "<a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=194954966">Buddy The Afroman</a>."<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit048.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit048.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Shot of the court.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit056.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit056.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Cavaliers came out flat & by the end of the 1st quarter it was clear that the Pistons were going to win. In fact, when Jack McCloskey spoke, the first thing he said at halftime was "Boy, We're really whipping those Cavs tonight!" The Pistons won 85-71, even with the bench playing most of the 4th.<br /><br />Once the Cavaliers were finished, LeBron took a seat on the bench and I thought I'd show how I was sitting feet away.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit065.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit065.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />After the game, we were allowed to stand and watch the players sign autographs and mingle with family as they left the arena.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit076.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit076.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Rick Mahorn<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit073.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit073.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Theo Ratliff...could be a crucial pickup for the championship run.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=detroit082.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/detroit082.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Earlier I mentioned this as being one of my favorite visits, if not my favorite visit of all. Several factors played into this.<br /><br />1) Kevin Grigg, Media Relations. He responded immediately to my email & ensured that I had seats for the game and free parking at the arena. I didn't have to stress about this visit at all.<br /><br />2) John Mason, the PA announcer. Known most for his cry of "DEEEEE-Troit Basket-ball." He keeps everything interesting during games in "The hardest working city in the NBA."<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=JohnMason.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/JohnMason.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />3) Ryan Pretzer. Of all the NBA personalities I met this year, many of them were jaded with what they were doing for a career. They forgot why they pursued a career in sports and they don't realize just how many individuals would love the opportunity to work a job in sports for just a day. Ryan was not one of these individuals. He was working his dream job and truly appreciated it. <br /><br />4) Dave Wieme. He's been working for the Pistons for years now & has a wealth of stories of his interactions with former Pistons' players. He knew the team, the arena, and the culture of the organization better than most that I've met in my travels.<br /><br />5) The unselfish organization. Everyone I met was willing to help me out, whether it be getting photos/video to help my blog, or helping me with my visit to one of the remaining arenas on my trip, the staff members weren't entirely consumed with themselves.<br /><br />Thanks to Kevin Grigg, Dave Wieme, Joe, Ryan Pretzer, & Desi Segundo.Drew Cieszynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03397041546054654278noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276933422884722187.post-14807165497403345982008-04-14T18:02:00.008-05:002008-04-16T00:16:40.161-05:00Detroit city portionIt seems that every time I've been to Detroit, it has been in passing and I haven't had the opportunity to wholly take in the city. If there's one thing you're guaranteed to find, it is casinos...lots of them everywhere.<br /><br />Greektown, and the casino downtown is always a good place to start.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=Detroit2129.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/Detroit2129.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />You're sure to find some automakers<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=Detroit2002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/Detroit2002.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=Detroit2001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/Detroit2001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Fox Theater<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=Picture838.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/Picture838.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Right across the lake from Detroit is Windsor, Canada.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=Detroit2138.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/Detroit2138.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The "People Mover (cement structure)" is the way to get around.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=Detroit2092.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/Detroit2092.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Joe Louis fist<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=Detroit2057.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/Detroit2057.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=Detroit2056.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/Detroit2056.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />One of the most beautiful modern stadiums - Comerica Park.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=Detroit2080.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/Detroit2080.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />There's an interesting bar across the street from the stadium. Anything look odd here?<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=Detroit2086.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/Detroit2086.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />View from the bar of both Comerica and Ford Field<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=Detroit2088.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/Detroit2088.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The GM Renaissance Center<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=Detroit2058.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/Detroit2058.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=Detroit2052.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/Detroit2052.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Tiger Stadium still somehow standing. The area around has died however, the roads haven't been repaired and it looks like several businesses around the park have folded.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=Detroit2048.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/Detroit2048.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=Detroit2050.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/Detroit2050.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />If you're a cereal fan, maybe you want to stop in Battle Creek, Michigan.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=sign.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/sign.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=waterfall.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/waterfall.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=street.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/street.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=river.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/river.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=front.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/front.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=fruitloops.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/fruitloops.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=boxes.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/boxes.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=characters.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/characters.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I don't know how I stumbled upon it...well being from central Pennsylvania - I'm close to cities such Blue Ball, Intercourse, and Paradise. And I was even close to the infamous <a href="http://www.offroaders.com/album/centralia/centralia.htm">Centralia</a>. It was probably after driving through Santa Claus, Indiana that I researched cities with strange names. Then I cam across a gem. <br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=Detroit2003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/Detroit2003.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />No, I'm not kidding...it's <a href="http://www.hell2u.com/">Hell, Michigan</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=Detroit2021.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/Detroit2021.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Check out the souvenir t-shirt.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=Detroit2027.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/Detroit2027.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=Detroit2019.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/Detroit2019.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=Detroit2028.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/Detroit2028.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Dam Site Inn - apparently appeals to people who like 2-wheeled vehicles.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=Detroit2016.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/Detroit2016.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />No joke...you can be married in Hell's chapel.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=Detroit2006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/Detroit2006.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=Detroit2011.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/Detroit2011.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/?action=view¤t=Detroit2024.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Detroit/Detroit2024.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Last item. Everywhere I go, I get a souvenir postcard, however while in Detroit I neglected (well not neglected, Wes can explain) to get a postcard. If someone in the Detroit area could send me a Detroit postcard (un-addressed in an envelope), I will send you a $10 check. Please help!Drew Cieszynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03397041546054654278noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276933422884722187.post-75374091554682168372008-04-13T22:00:00.000-05:002008-04-13T22:01:32.351-05:00Minnesota Timberwolves (#26)So I choose to visit Minneapolis late in March, thinking it would avoid the difficult weather of one of the northernmost NBA cities. Once again, I was dead wrong. Leaving Milwaukee at about 5 PM, I drove right into the heart of another snowstorm. Visibility was next to none and a typical 4 and a 1/2 hour trip took nearly 7 hours to complete.<br /><br />Myself, Adrienne, Paul, and Jen arrived at the Target Center several hours before tip-off. I was disappointed that the Timberwolves visit would overlap March Madness, but we actually got to watch the Duke loss while we were in Jeff Munneke's office (VP of Client Development).<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture1316.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture1316.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Target Center couldn't have a better location. It's located right downtown with LOTS of access to restaurants/bars etc. To battle off the cold, many of these places are connected by skywalks & if you're using bus transportation, many of the bus stops are heated (see photos in my city portion).<br /><br />The first thing we had the opportunity to do was to sit in on a staff meeting before the real game operations began. This was one of my favorite parts of all of my visits because I gained an idea of what working for an NBA team would be like. I would even permitted to give a speech about why I was there that evening. <br /><br />A lot of the focus in the meeting revolved around specific groups or individuals would be at the game tonight (& even Drew Cieszynski made the list!). They also discussed how their arena has the ability to look a bit more full on a given night because they only have an upper and lower section(rather than Conseco where you have 3 sections of seating). Lastly, they touched on the opposing team, the New York Knicks, and what promotions they had been running recently to capture fans.<br /><br />The first, and probably most interesting place Jeff showed us was up above the arena...in "the rafters" if you will. It's tough to get a real idea of how big these arenas are until you look down from above.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota012.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota012.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />It's so dark up there that it was difficult to take photos, but I needed some proof that I made it to the top.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota014.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota014.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />After showing us around some more of the arena, we went to NBA City for some drinks and the Wolves treated us to dinner at the Lexus lounge.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota015.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota015.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Paul is enjoying this too much!<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota016.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota016.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota019.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota019.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />We made our way back out to the court where Rashad McCants was ensuring that his free throw percentage would be better than Shaq's.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota020.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota020.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />In this next spot, I could easily put, "Here's a picture of Mark Madsen hitting on some women." But unfortunately I won't because he was such a nice guy signing autographs for the kids and talking to everyone around him. I think he is clearly the T'Wolves most popular player. When he got into the game late in the 4th quarter, the crowd went crazy. Everytime "Mad Dog" touched the ball, the crowd suddenly awoke and started yelling and screaming.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota022.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota022.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Next, I had the opportunity to conduct a radio interview with <a href="http://www.billy-mckinney.com/">Billy McKinney</a>, who is one of the most respected NBA personalities around the league. Former player, assistant coach, scout, and administrator, he is now the Radio Analyst for the Timberwolves.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota023.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota023.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota025.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota025.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Photo Time!<br /><br />Me, my Minnesota Twins t-shirt (from '06 baseball tour), and Crunch<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota026.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota026.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />1) myself, Crunch, Adrienne, and Paul. (2) myself and Jen. (3) me and some of the dance team/cheerleaders.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=meadpaul.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/meadpaul.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota044.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota044.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota037.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota037.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The court<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota028.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota028.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Hopefully we'll see Kevin Garnett's number up there someday.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota029.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota029.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />So we finally took our 4 seats under the basket (thank you T'Wolves) and the players were introduced to Timbaland's "The Way I Are."<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota033.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota033.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Tip-off<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota036.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota036.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Ok, you want an interesting character? I spent the first few minutes of the game saying to myself, "What the H*ll?" "Who is this guy?" Sitting (well not sitting) courtside opposite the Knicks bench was this guy. This guy, not a coach, but some guy. He was dressed in a business suit and spent the game kneeling in front of his game. Every time the players came down to his end of the court he would start yelling out commands like he was the coach. Every now and then, he'd sip his Sprite. Even funnier is that if you look down on the floor, there is a rolled up magazine. He would pound this magazine on the floor continually in hopes that it would psych "his players" up. He was relentless throughout the game, never sitting down. If anyone in Minnesota can offer insight on this guy, please do.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota039.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota039.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Rather than having Thunderstix/Cheerstix behind the baskets, the Timberwolves had the HOWL-METER which was interesting. Kids and adults all around the arena start howling in hopes of distracting the free throw shooter (which in the case of the Knicks wasn't difficult).<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota048.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota048.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />One of the Knicks' roster fillers take a shot and Al Jefferson gets ready to haul down one of his 9 rebounds (would've been a lot more had he got more playing time).<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota041.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota041.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />It's so great to have the ability to walk along the court as you're heading for your halftime beer.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota043.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota043.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Ryan Gomes taking it to the basket while my favorite Wolves' player Randy Foye (4) watches in the background.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota046.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota046.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Marco Jaric after the "And 1." Have you seen this guy's <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/BDL-Bedlam-Champion-Marko-Jaric-s-girlfriend?urn=nba,75768">girlfriend</a>?<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota056.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota056.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Rookie Corey Brewer fires away from beyond the arc.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota054.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota054.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Rashad McCants fires away another 3 ball. He took 21 shots off the bench.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota053.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota053.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />As you may or may not know. Stephon Marbury is done for the year. Eddy Curry is out for the year. Nate Robinson was injured. Quentin Richardson out for personal reasons. Zack Randolph did not play as a coach's decision. So I thought Isiah would ask me to suit up, but I guess he wanted to tank even more in hopes of a better lottery pick. The Timberwolves scored 42 points (to the Knicks 24) in the first quarter and never looked back. Possibly the worst game I've seen all season because it was a rout and the Knicks just weren't competitive. But hey, the T'Wolves assured me that I'd finish .500 at worst for the season (Home vs Away).<br /><br />You can tell it's a blowout when Madsen is taking shots.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota055.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota055.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Jeff stopped by to thank us for visiting and to see how everything went and gave us some parting gifts which included a "Big Al" Jefferson t-shirt, Randy Foye bobble, and hat.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota058.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota058.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Timberwolves, thanks for the great time. I can't wait to see you guys get back to the top. & I whole-heartedly mean that. Great people. Great city!<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota051.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota051.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Thanks to Jeff Munneke, Mark Rosenberg, Billy McKinney.Drew Cieszynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03397041546054654278noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276933422884722187.post-86423977943361576452008-04-13T21:59:00.001-05:002008-04-13T22:02:11.251-05:00Minneapolis city portionI stayed in downtown Minneapolis for this trip as the city has one of the most beautiful, safe, and entertaining downtowns in the country.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture1236.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture1236.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />One of the most likely to be seen items on Minneapolis postcards is the "Spoonbridge with Cherry."<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=minneapolis008.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/minneapolis008.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Unfortunately you can't actually climb on or walk across this bridge. It is a beautiful site in the Walker Art Museum Sculpture Garden. The Stem of the Cherry actually works as a water sprinkler.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=minneapolis013.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/minneapolis013.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=minneapolis011.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/minneapolis011.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=minneapolis024.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/minneapolis024.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Art Museum itself.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture1283.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture1283.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Minneapolis was known for it's many flour mills. The remains of some of the mills still stand.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture1284.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture1284.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture1285.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture1285.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture1288.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture1288.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Mill City Museum. Built within the remains of an old mill.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture1289.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture1289.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture1300.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture1300.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Minnehaha Falls is also a great stop. It's located within a big park that can let you get away from the big city without going too far away.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=minneapolis041.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/minneapolis041.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=minneapolis046.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/minneapolis046.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Of course, St. Paul is right down the street from Minneapolis (hence the Twin Cities). The author of "Peanuts," Charles Schultz, is from St. Paul.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=minneapolis038.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/minneapolis038.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=minneapolis039.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/minneapolis039.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=minneapolis037.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/minneapolis037.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture2149.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture2149.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Mississippi<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=minneapolis026.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/minneapolis026.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=minneapolis032.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/minneapolis032.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />& who could forget US Olympic Hockey Coach Herb Brooks.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture2152.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture2152.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />While it doesn't have the popularity that it once did, the Mall of America is something to check out.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture2100.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture2100.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture2114.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture2114.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture2106.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture2106.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture2103.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture2103.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture2109.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture2109.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture2110.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture2110.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture2124.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture2124.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />More shots of downtown Minneapolis. <br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota003.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota002.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The sculpture of Mary Tyler Moore.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Minnesota005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Minnesota005.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Heated bus stop<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture1318.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture1318.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Notice the skywalks<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture1309.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture1309.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I thought I'd share another place that I've encountered in my travels. During my MLB tour in 2006, I had a some time to spare between my visits to the Colorado (Denver) Rockies game and the Minnesota (Minneapolis) Twins. While it was several hours out of my way, I decided to stop at Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills of South Dakota.<br /><br />Still one of the most beautiful places I've seen to date. It's very tough to get to because there are no major airports nearby, but if you get the opportunity to stop it, it's very worthwhile.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture1345.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture1345.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture1349.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture1349.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture1360.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture1360.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture1365.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture1365.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Can you spot the person atop George Washington?<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture1380.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture1380.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The 4 big guys...George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture1367.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture1367.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Wildlife running around everywhere.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture1405.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture1405.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture1585.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture1585.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Miles and miles of trees in the background.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/?action=view¤t=Picture1402.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Minnesota/Picture1402.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>Drew Cieszynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03397041546054654278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276933422884722187.post-76761821913275198352008-04-07T22:13:00.002-05:002009-07-27T20:49:44.374-05:00New Orleans Hornets (#25) - gameNo, that's not a typo. It is the NEW ORLEANS Hornets, no longer Charlotte. To most of us basketball fans, that's common knowledge. However, I've found that many people I've come across were dumbfounded by the fact that New Orleans has a franchise or by the fact that Charlotte does not have the Hornets.<br /><br />When you see pictures of New Orleans, you often see the Superdome. If you look at bit closer, you can see the New Orleans Arena, dwarfed by the much larger football facility.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07160.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07160.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Out front, Cobaugh & I were enjoying "Buzzfest" with live music and $1 beers.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07159.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07159.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />New Orleans was the home of the 2008 All-Star game. In the photo below, you can see that they are finally starting to tear down all of the advertising. Keep in mind I wanted to go to this event as part of my tour, but unfortunately this game is only for the media and celebrities.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA018.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA018.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I started showing myself around the arena & found Face Painters, a French Market, the Crescent City Cafe, and a Hairspray Station.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07163.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07163.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07165.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07165.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07164.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07164.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Some nifty "hive" lighting fixtures<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07161.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07161.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Some great food throughout the arena. Check out this one w/ Jamalaya, Crawfish, and Alligator.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07162.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07162.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />A view from up high. Judging by the cock-eyed photos, I had a little too many drinks at Buzzfest.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07204.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07204.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07166.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07166.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Then I found "The Shoe." I must have played this 23 times before going back to my seat. Unfortunately, some child under the age of 12 beat me on multiple occasions.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07168.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07168.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07169.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07169.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Audubon Cafe & Winery.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07167.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07167.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />When the Hornets players came out for warm-ups, the players started throwing out t-shirts. I saw one land several rows in front of me and went on offense. I jumped the first row but didn't make it over the second, but i kept pushing, hopping two more rows of seats, reaching down and grabbing the t-shirt. I beat some old man by a second, who tried to hit it out of my hands and then swung at me. I said, "Whoa, are you okay buddy?" To which he replied, "No!" in a very child-like voice. What makes this even funnier is that he had already caught one of them. Check out the bruise I got from trying to jump the seats.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Other009.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Other009.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Other003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Other003.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />#25 in the books<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07175.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07175.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The only two retired #'s of the franchise. "Pistol" Pete Maravich from his days with the New Orleans Jazz & Bobby Phills, who lost his life while racing his car against David Wesley.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07181.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07181.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Oh no, it's Gospel night!<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07171.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07171.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Before the start of every game, they do an invocation. I believe they are the only team in the league to do such a thing.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07184.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07184.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Hugo the Hornet<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07183.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07183.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />One of the best hot dogs I've had to date.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07201.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07201.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Player intros<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07187.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07187.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07188-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07188-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The tipoff<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07189.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07189.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Peja letting it fly...<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07191.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07191.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Chris Paul. MVP candidate of course. What was absolutely most interesting about the game was that every time CP3 scored, the entire crowd started yelling "Woooooooo." For those of you who are familiar with professional wrestling (WCW, WWF), the "Nature Boy" Ric Flair used to and still does give a "Woooo." There were even portions of the game where they would show a clip of Flair on the jumbotron holding a basketball and giving a "Woooooooo." The fans were consistent, yelling it out after every Chris Paul jump shot, free throw, or layup.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07211.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07211.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07200.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07200.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07214.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07214.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Capital One. It's not just a credit card anymore.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07206.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07206.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Vince Carter going in for the dunk.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07213.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07213.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />During the 3rd quarter a man came into our section with a microphone & went down to seats below us. The mascot and several members followed. I thought to myself "Hmmm, the representatives from the Hornets told me that they might send a sideline reporter over to me during the game." Then I saw one of the cheerleaders holding a ball that said "ANDREW." I thought that was one too many coincidences and said to the cheerleader, "hey, I'm Andrew!" Her response was, "Sure, everybody wants to be Andrew." I assume that she expected some guy in a suit or something, but I'd like to thank that cheerleader for depriving me of that opportunity.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07210.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07210.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <br /><br />Tyson Chandler getting the board and preparing to put it up for 2.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07202.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07202.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />New Jersey started out hot and got out to an 8-0, but after that, it was all Hornets. After seeing this game, I was a bit disappointed that this would be my only look at at Chris Paul all year. He scored 25 points and 16 assists - many of which were to rookie Julian Wright, who was filling in for All-Star David Wright. Morris Peterson and Peja Stojakovic added a couple of 3's and the Hornets ran away with it 107-96.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07194.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07194.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07217.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07217.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Another win for the Hornets, moving them closer to the number one seed in the west.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07220.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07220.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Thanks to Jason Cobaugh, Harold Kaufman, and Garrick Amos.<br /><br />Let me leave you with one last piece today...<br /><br />I’m getting exhausted with the NBA. Every team I visit, the staff says “Why haven’t you contacted the NBA about this? ... it’s a wonderful story ... The NBA should be all over this….etc etc.” I’ve tried contacting them, the teams I’ve visited have contacted them for me – but they haven’t responded. I’ve tried and tried to get their attention through numerous emails as well as many people I’ve met forwarding information. I wish they’d let me know so I could stop trying. I'm just plain exhausted mentally and physically. I've sacrificed career opportunities to finish what I've started. Then I find a link like this that makes me sick.<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Goldstein<br /><br />James Goldstein is called a superfan. Sure, the guy loves basketball & I’m sure he’s a great fan. But he is a MULTI-MILLIONAIRE. His resources don’t make his visits at all challenging. David Stern says “He probably has the largest investment of any fan in America, so we get a kick out of him. He has got quite a flair, and we love him as a sort of a superfan” (from Wikipedia). Yet Drew Cieszynski is spending more than 50 % of his annual income to complete this tour and the NBA hasn’t even responded to a single inquiry. So fine, I’ll stoop to a new low – can everyone donate to me below so that I can be a multi-millionaire also? Maybe then I can get the NBA to give me some love.<br /><br /><form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post"><br /><input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_s-xclick"><br /><input type="hidden" name="hosted_button_id" value="7091271"><br /><input type="image" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_donateCC_LG.gif" border="0" name="submit" alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!"><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" height="1"><br /></form>Drew Cieszynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03397041546054654278noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276933422884722187.post-82713705533979604822008-04-07T19:29:00.010-05:002008-04-07T22:14:48.396-05:00New Orleans - city portionThe trip to New Orleans would be a challenging one...<br /><br />As I left Dallas, I went out to the rent-a-car...only to find snow.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/SanAntonio001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The 8 hour drive was brutal as the precipitation did not stop.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07150.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07150.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />But eventually, I arrived to the swamp.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07152.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07152.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Our view from the hotel in New Orleans.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA012.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA012.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The St. Charles avenue streetcar is the oldest running street railway in the world.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA015.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA015.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Now as I get into the "city" portion, we stray from the conservative side a bit, but I'll still try and keep it clean as the little brothers and little sisters out there are reading. <br /><br />When you hear New Orleans, you first think "Bourbon Street." All kinds of places on Bourbon & the French Quarter. Let's start with some of the touristy spots:<br /><br />Margaritaville w/ an Island Lager<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA052.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA052.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />A stop at Pat O'Briens w/ Jason Cobaugh<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07156.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07156.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />You've got to stop and have a Hurricane<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07154.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07154.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Practically every store is stockpiled with beads & hot sauce. Personally I don't know why people spend a lot of money on extravagant beads. Beads are beads. They will all lead to a bare chest.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA069.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA069.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA080.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA080.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />St. Louis Cathedral<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA045.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA045.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Constant Horse & Carriage rides going on.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA044.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA044.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Golden Boy offering a pose. Not to worry, Silver Man is on his way.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA043.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA043.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA049.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA049.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Some images of the famed Bourbon Street<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA111.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA111.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA096.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA096.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA075.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA075.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />You'll also find these on every block. <br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA078.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA078.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Fire meets water<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA005.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA009.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA009.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Street Performers<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA090.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA090.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Fats Domino and friends<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA073.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA073.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA053.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA053.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I will warn you that you absolutely want to stay on the mainstream streets during the day and not deviate from St. Charles or Bourbon Street during the night. Be absolutely cautious of where you go because before you know it, you could be stopping in to problematic territory. It's best to keep walking when someone tries to talk to you on the street. If you give them an "in," they'll leech onto you and won't go away until you give them a free ride.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA016.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA016.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />People on Balconies by day and by night.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA071.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA071.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA101.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA101.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />This was pretty hysterical. A "noble savage" (not too flattering of an image) and the child with a bodybuilder body and even funnier is that they have to call out "with grapes!"<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA037.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA037.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Then there's the Tropical Isle. Wow! This place is fun! Laying all over the streets, you're bound to find little plastic hand grenades as well as tall cups w/ a grenade at the base.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA060.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA060.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />It's a drink...calm down.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA059.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA059.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Yes, I realize it's entirely disguisting, but where else can you compete against your friend in a pissing contest?<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA066.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA066.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Getting ready to drive home? Grab a straw and try it out?<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA063.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA063.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Two things to notice in the picture below. The Beignut Mix (which are similar to doughnuts) and of course, the sign that warns us of all of the dangers of New Orleans.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA039.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA039.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Enjoying some 65 oz Miller Lites with new friends<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA105.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA105.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Having ANOTHER Hand Grenade and a "Tropical Itch." Each one comes with a back scratcher.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA106.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA106.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Throughout the bar are baskets to shoot your miniature grenades into. Check out Cobaugh sizing up a shot.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA104.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA104.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA102.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA102.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />What you see here is a liquor tap. The white portion is all frozen over ice<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Ah yes, enjoying beer in a brown paper bag. Even better is the can design.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA085.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA085.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA079.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA079.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The hand grenade even rears its head here<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA103.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA103.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Every other establishment on Bourbon street has these and pizza<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07157.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07157.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />What they fail to tell you is that the constant "brain-freeze" will prevent you from drinking more than 3.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA077.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA077.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Some of the best food I've had anywhere. Let's start with some alligator.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=Dallas07153.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/Dallas07153.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Then some crawfish and jalapeno hush-puppies<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA036.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA036.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Taste of New Orleans: Jambalaya, Gumbo, Red Beans & Rice<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA094.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA094.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Downtown Harrah's casino.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA021.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA021.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />New Orleans aquarium.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA023.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA023.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Riverwalk. Contains all types of stores, but most importantly the Mardi Gras store.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA038.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA038.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA025.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA025.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA032.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA032.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA033.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA033.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA034.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA034.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The above ground cemeteries of New Orleans are often called "cities of the dead" for obvious reasons.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA122.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA122.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA119.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA119.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA129.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA129.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Fan boat rides are always fun. Keep an eye out for the gators!<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA128.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA128.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />We'll leave you with the Joan of Arc statue<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/?action=view¤t=NOLA050.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/New%20Orleans/NOLA050.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Thanks to Jason Cobaugh, Harold Kaufman, and Garrick Amos.Drew Cieszynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03397041546054654278noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276933422884722187.post-37538526965657039562008-03-30T16:03:00.007-05:002008-04-01T07:27:27.811-05:00Dallas Mavericks (#24)<span style="font-weight:bold;"></span>"Everything is bigger in Texas"
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<br />Now before you begin reading this next installment, click to play the song below. It'll all make sense in a couple of minutes.
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<br /><div><img src="http://a6.vox.com/6a00c2251d4126549d00d41428aefe685e-500pi" alt="Don't Stop Believin'" /></div> <object width="502" height="17"> <param name="movie" value="http://aka-static.vox.com/.shared:v42.3:vox:en_us/flash/MusicPlayer.swf" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="wmode" value="transparent" /> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never" /> <param name="flashvars" value="mediaURL=http://a6.vox.com/6a00c2251d4126549d00d41428aefe685e-mp3&mediaWidth=500&autostart=true" /> <embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="502" height="17" src="http://aka-static.vox.com/.shared:v42.3:vox:en_us/flash/MusicPlayer.swf" quality="high" wmode="transparent" allowscriptaccess="never" flashvars="mediaURL=http://a6.vox.com/6a00c2251d4126549d00d41428aefe685e-mp3&mediaWidth=500&autostart=true" /> </object><br />
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<br />So Arena #24 would be my final stop in Texas, to visit the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. When I began to write the Dallas Mavericks, I feared that they would be one of the more difficult teams to contact. This was far from the truth as Matt Miller got back to me almost immediately after I sent my email and followed up with me on multiple occasions.
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<br />My first goal in Dallas was to meet Mark Cuban. Unfortunately however, he was out of town for this game so I'd be cheering the Mavericks on without him.
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<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Dallas/?action=view¤t=Dallas07031.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Dallas/Dallas07031.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Dallas/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio332.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Dallas/SanAntonio332.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<br />When I first set foot in the arena, I was amazed at the size of the place...it felt bigger than any of the others I had visited. Right off the bat I noticed that the "cheer sticks" were on every seat before the fans even came in. Great idea by the Mavericks! Of course this is an added expense to them, but rather than having fans fight over these or some fans receiving preferential treatment, everyone in the arena got to annoy the person in front of them with these.
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<br />Matt showed us around the concourse, which included a gift shop with talking Mark Cuban & Dirk Nowitzki dolls.
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<br />Keep your eye one the floor. From the domes above you can make out designs of a basketball player/hockey player/etc.
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<br />To the angry reader who doesn't like to see me eating out at the basketball game, you might want to close your eyes and scroll down now. The Mavs treated Shea and I to dinner at the Jack Daniels restaurant.
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<br />From the restaurant, you have a variety of great foods (including Dr. Pepper wings) and great views. On one side, you can view the players running past as they take the court. **Note that this sign is highly appropriate for this game as the Houston Rockets would be going for consecutive win number 17.
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<br />On the other side, you can watch the Mavericks on their practice court.
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<br />On this end of the court, we see Devean George and on the opposite end, new Dallas Maverick Jason Kidd.
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<br />After dinner, we went courtside to be interviewed my arena MC Chris Arnold. Great interview and received quite the reception from the crowd.
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<br />Now, before I get more into the game, allow me to explain the music. Prior to the game I was offered the opportunity to participate in the arena karaoke competition. Now I'm not entirely naive, knowing that I have a pretty monotonous tone and don't speak with a lot of animation, so I passed the opportunity onto Shea, who was previously in a band and brings some excitement to the table when he speaks. The contest occurred at the end of the 1st quarter and the song would by "Don't Stop Believin' by Journey. Unfortunately the odds were stacked against him from the start as he would be competing against a beautiful local newswoman.
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<br />I took this picture from afar, but you can spot him next to Chris in the grey sweatshirt. Now to his credit, I also thought the words would light up as you were supposed to sing them. However they did not and the song was 2 lines into it before he realized it had started. The crowd started booing. Then they started booing louder. At this point, most would have ran out of the arena, but Shea kept his composure. The newswoman however had the entire newsteam up there singing with her during her turn. Hmmm, blond hair, breasts, seeing her practice the song over and over again before the start of the game, and a well known newsteam - doesn't take a genius to know who won here.
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<br />A view of the scoreboard and of the court.
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<br />Some of tonight's broadcasters. Former Maverick Derek Harper on the local network and then Marv Albert, Reggie Miller, and Mike Fratello on TNT (sitting 4 seats away from me).
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<br />Chili's blimp
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<br />Our seats were second row courtside, across from the Mavs bench. You could clearly see me several times on TNT. Former Mavericks owner Donald Carter sat nearly right in front of us.
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<br />That's 24
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<br />The Mavs have two mascots. "Champ" is probably the more well known one.
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<br />But the athleticism of "Mavs Man" is pretty darn impressive. And Yes, he completed that dunk.
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<br />The Mavericks entrance was one of my favorites to date. They started by dimming the lights and you could see blue chemical/neon lights glowing in the crowd. The Mavericks dance team did a feature in the middle of the court before the players were announced. My favorite part was when they announced Jason Terry and he came out with the "airplane wings" raised and slapped hands with some of the fans near us before returning to his teammates.
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<br />So the Rockets had won 16 straight. 5 straight without Yao. I thought the Mavs would end the streak on this night, but I quickly found that Dirk Nowitzki would be out for night's game because of suspension.
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<br />Josh Howard looking to get to the basket.
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<br />McGrady took the head fake and Kidd gets an open look.
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<br />Jerry Stackhouse happy to still be in Dallas...rather than New Jersey.
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<br />Some fun people at every Mavericks game. About 2 hours before the game, fans can show up decked out in Mavs gear/costumes/etc and a select few are chosen because of their team spirit and given free standing room tickets. In the picture below, you see the ManiAACs, who are "cheerleaders" of sort, but don't really worry about their hair or the amount of calories that they take in each day.
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<br />McGrady looking to attack the basket while Dampier and Terry are looking to help Howard contain him.
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<br />Mt. Mutombo still getting the job done after all these years.
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<br />Rafer Alston from the corner.
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<br />Shane Battier from down town
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<br />After catching a pass from Alston, McGrady dunked it home to seal the victory in the 4th quarter.
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<br />The fourth quarter wasn't all that exciting as it was all Rockets and they pulled out the victory 113-98. 17 straight.
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<br />Reggie Miller interviewing McGrady after the game.
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<br />I also wanted to show some of the items that Matt gave us...most importantly an actual autographed photo of Dirk Nowitzki and a seat topper from the NBA Finals.
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<br />Also included in our gift bags were some Sharpie markers. I didn't know why we needed 6 markers, but upon closer inspection, these weren't just any "Sharpie."
<br />Each one read "The Preferred Autograph Pen of _______" and then had the signature of the player. We received one for Avery Johnson, Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, Josh Howard, Jerry Stackhouse, and Erick Dampier.
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<br />Lastly, I caught a t-shirt before I left...unfortunately it wasn't all that exciting...just a Dallas Power House of Dance t-shirt.
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<br />The weather was terrible during my entire stay in Dallas. I'm going to have to resort to some of my old pictures (from MLB tour) to show the city off.
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<br />The most popular place for tourists is easily the Sixth Floor Museum & Dealey Plaza which is where former President John F Kennedy was assassinated. You can't take pictures in the museum, but it's a worthwhile look. My only complaint is that when I left, I couldn't stop thinking about what really happened on that day (they give about 14 different scenarios)
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<br />The sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository where Lee Harvey Oswald "might have" shot JFK from.
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<br />County Jail Records Building
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<br />The "X" painted on the road beside me is where JFK was hit by the first bullet.
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<br />The well-known "grassy knoll"
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<br />Reunion Tower
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<br />Fountain Place
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<br />This thing that you would use if you wanted to drill to the center of the earth can be found at Lubben Plaza. Most interesting is that it rotates around this sand pit once every 24 hours.
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<br />At Pioneer Plaza, you'll find some bulls that I'm sure will be there when you visit.
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<br />One other thing to add, most of the speed limit signs on the highway look like this.
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<br />If you want to do some shopping in Dallas, check out the Galleria. Although I must warn, it's mostly high-end retailers.
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<br />Thanks to Matt Miller and Shea Sterner.Drew Cieszynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03397041546054654278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276933422884722187.post-39900595275459677762008-03-28T16:24:00.001-05:002008-03-28T16:35:37.558-05:00NBA March Madness!!!A very interesting poll has come up over on Yahoo! Sports. I’ll be working on my Dallas blog before heading to Detroit, but could you please take a moment of your time to go to the following site and put a vote in for seed #16 and help me upset Kobe Bryant? Voting ends Sunday<br /><br />http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/BDL-Bedlam-Rd-1-Kobe-Bryant-vs-NBA-super-fa?urn=nba,73050Drew Cieszynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03397041546054654278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276933422884722187.post-68235817074066288632008-03-18T22:53:00.004-05:002008-03-18T23:09:28.235-05:00San Antonio Spurs (#23)When you go into a place of business, you typically get the feel of the product from the people you encounter. All too often, we hear the cliche, "our most important part is our people." <br /><br />We all know that the Spurs have won 4 NBA titles and have one of the most loyal fan-bases in the NBA. After meeting the Spurs front-office staff and experiencing their culture, its more than a cliche, the organization truly embraces the "people" concept. <br /><br />I must say that they were one of the hardest teams to get in touch with, and without Shea, I may not have pulled it off, but the effort was worth it after meeting this group. <br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio122.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio122.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />At the AT & T Center (yes, formerly SBC Center), we were first greeted by Amanda Tate, who showed us around the arena. First thing I noticed was the signs above the restroom. I love how each city is throwing a different twist on the men's room logo.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio126.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio126.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />A shot of the court from above.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio128.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio128.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Loyal season ticket holders often occupy most of the lower bowl, so these are some of the toughest tickets to come by in the NBA. <br /><br />Rather than a sea of dreary black seats, festive colors were spread among all of the other seats.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio129.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio129.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Up beyond the light up Spurs basketball player, logo, and rodeo rider is the H-E-B (local grocery chain)FANFiesta area. <br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio130.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio130.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio131.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio131.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Porch. Great place to get a drink and a view of the outside world.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio127.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio127.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />On the Plaza level, just try and get a drink at Headlines. The place was packed at halftime.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio132.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio132.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The arena also has the largest outdoor patio I've seen to date. Live music and all sorts of pre & post game activities take place here.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio133.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio133.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />We were each provided with a bag of Spurs merchandise that included t-shirts, Championship DVD, Manu bobblehead, and miniature replica championship trophy.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio334.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio334.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Some shots of the concourse<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio253.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio253.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio136.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio136.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Last I checked, the Spurs won 4 titles, but I only see 2 here...<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio135.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio135.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />In the past 10 years, the Spurs arena has had quite a few decorations added, including 4 NBA championship banners & the retired jerseys of Sean Elliott, David Robinson, and Avery Johnson.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio145.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio145.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio144.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio144.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Of course there were your typical suites...<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio147.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio147.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Then there were the suites that aren't so enclosed and much closer to the action (the glass panes are all that separates it from the other seats)<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio137.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio137.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />and then this was a first, suites that didn't have a view of the court. Of course they also had suites similar to other arenas, but these suites can be used to have dinner before the game or for businesses to use before the game.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio139.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio139.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio140.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio140.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio141.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio141.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />We've all seen it on TV, but always wondered what these light-up images were. Basketball player, Spurs symbol, and rodeo.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio177.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio177.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />A shot with one of the cheerleaders, who stand by the entrance and grant fans photo opportunities.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio179.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio179.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Spurs then treated us to dinner at their Terrace restaurant. I apologize in advance to the reader who commented on the Memphis blog and didn't like seeing me eating shrimp cocktail, but damnit, if I'm treated to some Butterfinger cheesecake and don't take it, I should quit this tour right now.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio150.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio150.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Shea enjoyed the Pork B-B-Q a bit too much<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio148.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio148.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Next we went down to the court, where I got to speak with some more of the Spurs staff. Again, nothing but wonderful. One of the ushers even offered to send me a hard copy of the article published on my tour in the San Antonio Express. A sideline reporter interviewed me for a TV spot, but unfortunately in this business, nothing in predictable and we couldn't get it in during the game. <br /><br />The Spurs somehow managed to get us second row back, literally inches from the Nets bench.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio178.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio178.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Before sitting down, we went to the tunnel to await the Spurs players. While waiting, I came across Sean Elliott, my favorite Spur of all-time. Now a commentator, he was unbelievably generous and wished me well on my visit to San Antonio. When the Spurs players came out of the tunnel, most of them held their arms/hands close to their bodies, I'm assuming because they don't want any rabid fans reaching out and scratching them. I did get the "High-5" from Robert Horry however.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio186.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio186.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Shea and I warming up our hands for the "High-5's" in the tunnel. We also had a view of Marc Jackson and Marv Albert doing their pre-game show.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio181.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio181.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio184.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio184.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio191.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio191.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />So finally it was game time. As I said, we were close the the Nets bench. Here's a good example. At one point, someone asked us how we were doing, and Shea says, "Well this guy is giving us a hard time (tapping Stromile Swift on the shoulder), but otherwise okay." Stromile looked over and laughed.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio204.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio204.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I looked back and Kiki Vanderweghe & Rod Thorn were sitting behind us. Kiki was too busy being a Casanova, so I didn't bother saying hello.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio216.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio216.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Two more of the last minute NBA moves. Kurt Thomas in a trade from Seattle and Damon Stoudamire signed after a buyout from Memphis.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio213.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio213.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio215.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio215.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Tony Parker getting the Spurs going early.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio207.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio207.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Tim Duncan about to embarass Josh Boone.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio205.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio205.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <br /><br />Lawrence Frank came down to the end of the bench and starting teaching his big men how to rebound, namely DeSagana Diop. It got really hilarious when Frank when back to his seat and and all of the Nets' players started laughing and mocking him. I'm not Kidd-ing.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio210.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio210.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio209.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio209.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />At halftime, wheelchair basketball took center stage, but the staff took Shea and I outside to see the Spurs Experience RV. This RV is a bit more than you take to your college football tailgating party.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio238-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio238-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The RV can be rented for private parties, corporate events, possibly even to take to the high school prom. Equipped with several flat panel monitors, surround sound, xBox, Spurs memorabilia, couches, kitchen, restroom, even a 37" hi-def panel on the outside...yeah, you could spend a day in here and not even know it.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio251.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio251.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio241.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio241.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Playing xBox with the coyote<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio246.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio246.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Tim Duncan's shoes<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio242.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio242.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />So the 2nd half began and Vince Carter quickly tried to get the Nets going.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio256.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio256.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The coyote proved himself to be one of the best mascots in the league.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio230.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio230.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio219.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio219.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Tim Duncan inbounding<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio255.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio255.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Vince Carter can only watch as Manu beats everyone down-court for the lay-up.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio258.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio258.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />But Vince had some offense of his own<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio266.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio266.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Devin Harris leaving the court, wishing he was in Wisconsin having a bratwurst.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio225.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio225.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Tim Duncan showed why he has been one of the league's best, constantly getting past the Nets young big men. He finished with 29 points and 12 boards. While the Nets were competitive early, a scoring drought in the 2nd and 3rd quarters prevented them from being in the game during the second half. The Nets seem to be still learning to work together in the post-Jason Kidd days. The Spurs win this one easily 81-70.<br /><br />Richard Jefferson throwing in the towel.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio220.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio220.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio231.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio231.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I never dreamed it, but here I am wearing a championship ring from the Spurs latest title.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio272.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio272.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The lasting message I received from the Spurs was that in San Antonio, it's all about TEAM. You never see any one of their players standing out from the rest. Duncan, Ginobli, Parker, and Bowen are some of the best players in the league, but none of them try to be singled out or take all of the credit. Even when you see the local advertising, it's never a single player, but rather a group of teammates promoting whatever. If you're looking for a job with this organization, make sure you talk team on your cover letter, or you won't even get your foot in the door. <br /><br />One thing to keep in mind, when the Spurs are winning all of these championships and going deep into the playoffs every year, the staff has a lot of extra work to do. As the staff of many teams slow down in April or early May, these employees are busy nearly year-round. Winning doesn't come without a commitment from the employees.<br /><br />I thank the Spurs staff for showing so much enthusiasm for this tour and they clearly will be competing for best experience when its all said and done.<br /><br />So I also ventured into the city of San Antonio to see what it had to offer. Up until a few weeks before, I had no idea that San Antonio had a tower comparable to the Space Needle, known as The Tower of the Americas.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio009.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio009.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio032.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio032.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio034.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio034.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio041.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio041.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />A look down at the Alamodome<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio042.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio042.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Downtown<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio051.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio051.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio049.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio049.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio061.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio061.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I expected The Alamo to be off in some historic preserve in a national park. Far from the truth. Actually nestled right downtown with all kinds of buildings all around it.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio063.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio063.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio075.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio075.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio067.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio067.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio068.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio068.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Now I wanted to slap myself for not discovering the Riverwalk previously. All the places I've been, and I somehow always missed this drinking paradise. It wraps all around the city, giving you access to shopping, bars, restaurant, etc. Beer is reasonably priced and you can walk all along the river with it. The pictures you see below are without leaves on the trees, so I can't imagine how nice it looks in the warmer months.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio093.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio093.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio016.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio016.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio013.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio013.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio099.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio099.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio102.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio102.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio101.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio101.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio108.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio108.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio110.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio110.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Lastly, I've seen the orange squirrels of Denver, the black squirrels of Toronto, and now the short-tailed squirrels of San Antonio<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio017.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio017.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Lastly, to the employees of Burger King; again, I'm sorry...<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio007.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio007.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Thanks to Amanda Tate, Stacey Mitch, John Robbins, Deven Nongbri, and Benjamin Hunt, Shea Sterner, Jesse from Red Roof InnDrew Cieszynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03397041546054654278noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276933422884722187.post-80873886102363412142008-03-16T21:48:00.004-05:002008-03-17T12:51:25.471-05:00New Media PostsIf you haven't read it, you need to...check out the <span style="font-weight:bold;">Yahoo! Sports</span> article by J.A. Skeets (owner of popular NBA blog and podcast). More importantly, read the comments section. Several Celtics fans were bashing me, but Yahoo! removed their comments due to use of profanity and false claims.<br /><br />http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/nba_experts/post/Ball-Don-t-Lie-interview-The-NBA-s-ultimate-fan?urn=nba,71735<br /><br />Now, a lot of people write to me and say congrats, etc etc. Friends of mine enjoy coming with me to the games, but bottom line...no one has really helped me. That was until I met Carolyn Hastings of <span style="font-weight:bold;">"AND ONE" </span>on Cleveland.com. She has offered to help me on many items and & I'm already impressed by her knowledge beyond hoops. Check out her site here:<br /><br />http://blog.cleveland.com/andone/<br /><br />A seedy little blog out called <span style="font-weight:bold;">Pop-Gunning</span>: <br />http://popgunning.blogspot.com/2008/03/bball-styles-by-miles.html<br /><br />A great - off the cuff site called <span style="font-weight:bold;">"ebsports"</span> - with a lot of humor involved. <br />http://www.ebsports.net/blog/?p=195<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Southwest Airlines</span><br />http://www.blogsouthwest.com/2008/02/19/nba-road-tour/<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Score</span> - from Toronto (second bullet point)<br />http://www.thescore.ca/blogs/basketball/index.asp?name=basketball/2008/03/fourpoint_play_36.html<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ball Hype</span> - the biggest stories. the best fans. This site has my story as one of the best rated.<br />http://ballhype.com/story/ball_don_t_lie_interview_the_nba_s_ultimate_fan/#links<br /><br />Let's keep it coming. After seeing my $5,000 credit card bill this month, I really want the NBA to pay attention now. Here are some of the best comments from the Yahoo! Sports article:<br /><br />-I think they should get a petition together and fax it to Stern and make Drew a guest announcer at the Finals. Or at least a recognition and seats at the game. Its passion like this that proves its the best sport, and this guy deserves a lot of credit and respect for his endeavors. C'mon Stern give Dave his chance. HOME B<br /><br />-Huge props to the dedication of this dude. I can only imagine the toll it has taken on his finances, career, and personal relationships. This shows some guts and perseverance. I used to work in sports info and often had to try and deal with these front offices and PR departments, so I can sympathize with how hard they are to even get a call back from. RICKISH<br /><br />-I wish I had heard of this young man before he came to New Orleans. I would be glad to give him one of my playoff tickets. You are welcome to the Big Easy anytime.<br />ALHUBB66<br /><br />-I believe drew should get tickets to all NBA Finals games, MR STERN where are you?<br />Would'nt it be great to fly with the teams and have hidden on your clothing a fan cam? Hope you make your dreams drew. STILLLEARNING777<br /><br />-Final message to the NBA: DO NOT ALIENATE YOUR FANS, especially the SUPERFANS like Drew, if this guy pulls this off and I damn well hope he will. Do something big, invite him to a playoff game and make him a showcase for your fans. After all, No fans, means no revenue, means no teams, means no product and no jobs. Our sports leagues would do well to remember that sometimes. ANDREW W<br /><br />To be honest, I was probably happy just visiting all 30 NBA teams, but now all of the readers and their support has lit another fire under me. I want to go to the Finals. The league will probably ignore me, but at the very least, I'm going to spend the next month trying to get its attention. I'm still waiting for that HERO to step forward and help me get to the Finals or get NBA recognition. I'll do whatever it takes, whether it's tattooing something on my body, dressing up in a chicken costume & dancing around the city, or swim across the polluted Milwaukee river, just help me out!!!!<br /><br />San Antonio blog to be posted shortly....Drew Cieszynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03397041546054654278noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276933422884722187.post-79954640376304571342008-03-16T21:28:00.010-05:002008-03-17T18:05:52.484-05:00Houston Rockets (#22)<span style="font-weight: bold;">Houston is having no problems. As of publish date, the Rockets have won 22 straight and are the #1 seed in the Western conference.</span><br /><br />When I had toured the baseball stadiums two years ago, the most memorable part was the "25 hour challenge." This challenge was to leave a final at 7 PM on a Thursday and make it to Houston via car by 7 PM the next evening. I somehow made it, only stopping for gas along the way - behind the wheel for 23 hours straight (the speeding, evidenced by the ticket in Virginia, cut 2 hours off the trip). While visiting Minute Maid Park, I noticed the Toyota Center sitting downtown. Never did I dream that I would return...<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07034.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07034.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />Probably the best part of the Arena is the outdoor court right next to it. The best can participate in a pick-up game before or after Rockets games. I thought that surely the court would be deranged after two years, but it was still in tip-top shape.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07031.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07031.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07032.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07032.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />When I arrived at the arena, I met up with Jonathan Kornblith, who provided me with a pair of tickets and a bag of Rockets merchandise, including a Yao Ming growth chart (doubt I'll ever get that tall), shirts, visor, mouse pad, and calendar.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Other008.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Other008.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />The lobby was pumping with probably overly loud music from a DJ, You either sat in the lower section or took the "20 minute" escalator ride to the upper bowl.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07035.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07035.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />Before going down to the court, we checked out the upper bowl, where during the pre-game, there were all sorts of games and opportunities to meet the cheerleaders.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07073.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07073.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />Vertical leap test<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07062.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07062.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />I relate this one to "whack-a-mole"<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07063.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07063.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />Hot-Shot basketball<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07071.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07071.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />Size your hands up against the Rockets<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07065.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07065.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />Skee-ball<br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07072.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07072.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />Reason # 134 on why I never made the NBA. Check out the video below and laugh at my non-leaping ability<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxprAZobP5r_ewNLQGr-aXTeK7UvlrlEeVwYWzvUD0eHi7jnPPOmBsdnnKe5HGpDni-1B19JmFTync0PBuPtg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Brad putting his wingspan up against Yao<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07064.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07064.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />I was hoping to hop on this court and get a few slam-dunks in, but the little kids were hogging it.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07068.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07068.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />A shot from above of the court. When I first arrived, I thought they were going to only illuminate the court as the Lakers did, but eventually all lights we turned on.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07052.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07052.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />Many clever names on the spots to get food, including "Clutch City Pizza," "Baskets Grill," "The Rim," and "Space City Dogs."<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07039.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07039.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />Of course, being the Toyota Center, they had to have a bunch of vehicles in one part of the arena. I really liked this arena, but this is one part they should scrap. This space could be utilized for a "fan experience," but instead Toyota is shoving its product down our throats. Basketball and vehicle shopping do not go together.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07042.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07042.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />A first in a basketball arena...a salad stand! See you can eat at a game without adding to that heart attack!<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07045.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07045.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />The Comcast Hi-Def Zone. I grabbed a beer and caught the end of the Lakers-Mavs game here. Limited seats available, so get here early!<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07046.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07046.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />This picture doesn't do it justice. But the Toyota Center had the most gargantuan jalapeño toppings I've ever seen!<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07048.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07048.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />This crazy little basketball hoop with legs was running all over the arena<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07050.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07050.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />One thing I noticed here, the roaming beer sales. I'm seeing less and less of this around the league. I've got to do some research and find out why. If anyone has any insight, please comment.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07138.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07138.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />Loved the logos on the walkways<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07058.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07058.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />Rudy Tomjanovich leads the way for retired Rockets jerseys<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07059.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07059.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />The upper bowl had curtains along the walkways that allowed fans to look down at what was going on rather than having their views obstructed by the typical cement walls.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07061.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07061.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />Now I don't know if the Rockets staff tried this or not, but we were sitting next to a very very very organization cheering section. This group was made up of kids and adults, males and females, and a variety of ethnicities. They had painted faces, drums, "Jason masks," "Werewolf masks," signs, and all kinds of Rockets gear. About 30 minutes before the game, they all went to the concourse and started parading around arena, cheering and chanting everywhere. Wherever they went, heads turned. They were a monumental part of the game and really gave it a "high school basketball" feel. They usually started chants and the crowd joined in. Their best work of the night, the chant of "Chicken Nuggets." They sit right behind the Rockets basket, and for their efforts, I recently gave them "Best Fans" in a Yahoo! Sports article.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07105.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07105.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07091.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07091.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />Taking my photo and showing the "22" in front of the court<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07085.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07085.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />A shot of the 2 championship banners from the days of Hakeem Olajuwon, Kenny Smith, Sam Cassell, Vernon Maxwell, and more. Also a banner for Hakeem Olajuwon as the all-time leader in blocked-shots. The current #2 Dikembe Mutombo is now playing for the Rockets & is over 500 away.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07078.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07078.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br /><br />During player introductions, the bottom of a rocket comes down from the middle of the scoreboard, and then "blasts off!"<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07098.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07098.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />When the national anthem was sang, the crowd really gets excited when the "rockets red glare" part comes. Very similar to the "O" during the "O say can you see" portion in Baltimore.<br /><br />Tipoff time<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07107.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07107.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />They even make Alston jerseys with the nickname<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07093.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07093.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />We all know Dikembe's finger<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07090.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07090.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />The Helicopter blimp<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07087.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07087.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />Scoreboard<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07089.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07089.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />Clutch, the Rockets mascot, wins the award for "Laziest mascot in the league." Seen here on a segway, there were no exciting moves coming out of this guy.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07146.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07146.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />Let's be honest. No one thought the Rockets winning streak would roll on. When Yao went down with an injury, no one gave the Rockets a chance to continue on. I, the writer thought for sure, the Nuggets would beat the Rockets on this given night.<br /><br />McGrady letting a bomb fly<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07109.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07109.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />Alston lets one fly as 'Melo tries to box out Mt. Mutombo.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07113.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07113.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />T-Mac going to the hoops and an alien ship sighting at the other end of the court.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07118.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07118.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />Shane Battier at the line.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07123.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07123.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />The crowd is feeling #15<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07119.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07119.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />Rafer, are you ready for the crossover?<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07130.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07130.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />How is Kenyon Martin to concentrate with all of those noisemakers waving around?<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07121.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07121.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />A.I. for three<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07144.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07144.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />Carmelo Anthony going to the basket.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07135.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07135.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />Bottom-line. The Nuggets played flat all night. Neither Anthony nor Iverson broke 20 points. The guy who impressed me most was rookie Luis Scola who contributed 18 points and 14 rebounds. He always seemed to be in the thick of things and was always there for the needed basket. The Rockets pretty handily got the win 103-89. My favorite part of the game was easily Dikembe Mutombo, who on 3 occasions produced a block and proceeded to do the finger wave! However on one of them, he spent more time waving his finger than going after the ball and the Nuggets scored. Kenyon Martin had a dunk in the third and did his own finger wave at Dikembe.<br /><br />Although I don't have photos, both Roger Clemens and Vince Young were at the game.<br /><br /><br />Downtown Houston. One of the quietest, most beautiful and at the same time most discreet downtown in America. I mail a postcard from every city in America to a friend of mine, but that was nearly impossible here as there are no post office boxes on the streets. I did some research and I THINK this is because some dumb old woman ruined it for everyone. She drove up to a drop box, dropped off her mail and then pulled into traffic and got into an accident. Was she sued for her negligent driving? No, the post office was!<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07020.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07020.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Picture863.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Picture863.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Picture868.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Picture868.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07025.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07025.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />Home of the Astros<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07024.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07024.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />The NASA's Johnson Space Center<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07013.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07013.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />I wish I could explain it, but I can't<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07152.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07152.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07030.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07030.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07155.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07155.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />The Bayou seems to be the downtown drinking spot<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07158.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07158.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07162.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07162.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />If you have time to read a book, check out the Library<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07175.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07175.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07168.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07168.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07170.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07170.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07164.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07164.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07178.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07178.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />Me conducting an interview with Radio 1560 THE GAME regarding my NBA tour<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07009.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07009.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />During the drive from Houston to Dallas (3 to 4 hours), you should stop and see the Sam Houston statue. It's actually in Huntsville, TX and stands approximately 75 feet.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07187.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07187.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07183.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07183.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />The drive from Memphis to Houston was brutal (10 hours after a day of sightseeing and drinking). We stopped in Little Rock, Arkansas in search of Bill Clinton. We couldn't find him, so we slept for about 4 hours at a hotel. Possibly the most disgusting hotel ever! The ice machine...well the ice machine was a cooler with a handwritten sign that said "ICE."<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07005.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />The funniest part of this place wasn't that 1 out of 8 outlets worked, or that the refrigerator was in the middle of the room, it was that we were staying in an Executive Inn and the cups said "Best Western" and the soap said "Days Inn."<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/?action=view&current=Houston07003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Houston/Houston07003.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />Shout out to Bruno Baltazar who earlier today gave me my first non-North America email from Portugal.<br /><br />On the drive from Little Rock to Houston, we saw a truck selling Tamales, a trailer full of goats for sale, and about 13 places to stop for "Grocery and Cat Fish Buffet."<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwMFn7IaZ5w1AU1_KxQYUunEAnMYxRYIwW-eiomajwr_rIQP7XkiKzO8DJcga3cvjzlexewWqmHJAr52TU5' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />While I was in Texas, I took some time to check out the capial, Austin. Now, my home of Milwaukee claims to have a big music festival and such, but I don't think any city in America has as big a music influence as Austin.<br /><br />Below is the famous 6th street, loaded with bars such as Cheers Shot Bar, The Jackalope, Dizzy Rooster, Chuggin Monkey, The Thirsty Nickel, Peckerheads, and the Blind Pig Pub.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view&current=SanAntonio292.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio292.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />Frost Bank Tower<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view&current=SanAntonio280.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio280.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />Now I know this has nothing to do with basketball or the city, but when this happens right next to you, it's mind-bloggling. The Lotus was flying down the street and then realized the red light a bit late.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view&current=SanAntonio284.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio284.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view&current=SanAntonio287.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio287.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />The Texas state capital...reminding us not to mess with Texas.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view&current=SanAntonio301.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio301.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />A sculpture of a bat. Seemingly not a big deal. But then you realize that the Congress Ave bridge is right behind it. From approximately March to October, this bridge is hoppin when the sun is setting. From here, you can see the world's largest bat herd, 1.5 million deep swarming into the night sky in search of insects.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/?action=view&current=SanAntonio309.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/San%20Antonio/SanAntonio309.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0"></a><br /><br />Thanks to Ken Shierr, Jonathan Kornblith, "Hip-Hop," James Mannion, Brad Cieszynski, and Bob Butella.Drew Cieszynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03397041546054654278noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276933422884722187.post-34928358118905834192008-03-09T17:00:00.001-05:002008-03-09T17:16:50.932-05:00Memphis Grizzlies (#21)So after another 5 days at work, I was on the road again. This time I would be taking a flight to Memphis. I would consider the Grizzlies to be another franchise that is probably largely unknown to many NBA fans. <br /><br />The Fed Ex Forum is located downtown, right off of Beale street.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Picture1104.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Picture1104.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Inside of the lobby<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07094.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07094.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />A shot of the full court.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07174.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07174.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Early on, the jumbotron showed an informative exit plan in the event of an emergency. This was the first time I had seen such a thing shown at an arena, but unfortunately it was shown when about 2 % of the crowd had arrived.<br /><br />Carly Knight was my contact with the Grizzles. I can't thank her enough because she helped me from the day I contacted her. On several occasions, she followed up with me, rather than forcing me to follow-up with her. Even more, she accommodated all aspects of my visit, even ensuring that parking was taken care of. When I arrived, she greeted me with a bag of Grizzles' merchandise that included a jersey, t-shirt, trading cards, Rudy Gay statuette, and beanie. It seems as if she took the best of all of my other visits and built on that. To date, she might just be my front office MVP.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=SanAntonio333.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/SanAntonio333.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <br /><br />Getting close to Carlos Boozer.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07104.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07104.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />and Deron<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07103.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07103.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />This stat board was really informative/useful throughout the night. Every arena should have one.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07110.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07110.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The speakers being lowered and the Jazz players awaiting an opportunity to practice, well at least some of them are waiting<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07112.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07112.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Brad and I courtside<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07113.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07113.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Grizzles treated us to a dinner. Check out our view<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07116.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07116.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Chefs preparing the dinner<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07117.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07117.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Now, the favorite food I've had at an arena to date. This isn't exactly "arena" food, but damn this impressed me. It contained two chocolate, two vanilla, and two strawberry. I literally ate all of these in about 10 minutes because I had to get down to the floor to watch the Grizzles exit the locker room.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07118.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07118.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07120.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07120.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07122.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07122.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Men's room sign<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07115.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07115.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Our seats were in the second row on the floor, closest to the Jazz bench. Not a bad view huh?<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07123.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07123.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />While the players were warming up, I used some time to check out the food and excitement going on away from the game. I'd have to give Neely's BBQ Nachos the cuisine choice of the game.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07129.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07129.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07125.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07125.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />All sorts of video games to play<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07133.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07133.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Create a time capsule from the year you were born<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07134.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07134.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07124.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07124.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Great designs throughout the arena.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07126.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07126.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Paul Milsap with the basket<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07190.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07190.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Also away from the action is the FedEx Time Center. Below is a small demonstration on how it works.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07175.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07175.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07176.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07176.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Conley goes up for two<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07173.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07173.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07136.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07136.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I'm literally sitting feet away from the Jazz bench. Andre Kirilenko seriously looked right at my camera and held a smile for about 5 seconds<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07138.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07138.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07139.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07139.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07149.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07149.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Tip-off<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07148.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07148.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Rudy Gay from downtown<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07154.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07154.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07168.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07168.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Darko off to the right<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07151.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07151.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />"La Bomba"<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07152.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07152.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Okur at the line trying to warm up his hands.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07189.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07189.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Sitting this close, I noticed many of the player's personalized shoes. Below, you can possibly see "MEMO" on Okur's shoes. Kirilenko had "AK-47," Deron had "D-Will," and Boozer had "C-Booz."<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07155.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07155.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Possibly the most comedic part of the night was a guy sitting near a few rows up behind the basket on the Grizzles bench side. He had an arsenal of signs for all occasions including "AND ONE." My personal favorite was "BC" for Brian Cardinal with a picture of a cardinal.<br /><br />Good thing Carly mentioned the following to me or I would have been thoroughly confused. Apparently the career of an NBA mascot is more than I thought it would be. The Grizzles' mascot is currently out on medical leave. So rather than to throw some new guy in the suit, the "union" of mascots steps up. Every game, a different mascot from around the league flies into Memphis to substitute for Grizz. This particular game, it was Blaze, from the Portland Trail Blazers.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07185.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07185.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Not only does the following picture show another member of the NBA Trades during this season (Jason Collins for Stromile Swift), but also shows The Collins twins (Jarron for the Jazz)<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07184.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07184.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />D Will going in for the layup<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07181.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07181.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Boozer puts up the shot while knocking down Collins<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07177.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07177.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />During one break, funny home videos were shown that had no relation to the Grizzles or basketball, but seemed to work great. Another promotion was to give away t-shirts. I've seen slingshots and single cannons, but never anything like this:<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07191.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07191.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />One of the observations that my brother made was that there were no banners whatsoever hanging from the rafters. This is still a young organization, so we'll give it time.<br /><br />Inside of a suite<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07099.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07099.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />One of the concession places, called "SNAX," a clear play off of "STAX," the Museum of American Soul Music.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07096.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07096.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />While, the arena did have many references to it's Memphis culture, the music played throughout the game was just like all of the other arenas; hip-hop oriented. This was a bit surprising, as I thought the Memphis music culture would be more prevalent.<br /><br />Mike Miller missed yet another game due to injury, stacking the odds against Memphis. Even though he was out, the Grizzles jumped out to an early lead and played the Jazz very competitively all game. Unfortunately, it seemed that Ronnie Brewer was constantly left open under the basket and I think recorded 6 dunks/layups. He was one of 7 Jazz players to record double digit scoring. Deron Williams was breaking down the defense and finding his teammates all night, recording 19 assists.<br />It was great to see Rudy Gay and Lowry play live for the first time as these are two up-and-coming talents. Even with all of the energy that these two brought, the Jazz managed to pull away late and got the win 113-92.<br /><br />I had some of the most enjoyable food of the tour here. Memphis is clearly known for its barbecued ribs. We stopped by Corky's, a favorite place of NBA stars such as Shane Battier, Dikembe Mutombo, Jermaine O'Neal, and Pau Gasol (many have their pictures on the wall).<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07085.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07085.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07086.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07086.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Now prepare yourself, below you're going to witness one of the most amazing things you've ever seen. I passed through Memphis 2 years ago and heard of the Bigfoot Lodge. For 2 years I've been craving for a shot at what's inside. My second trip to Memphis; I wouldn't let it pass me by. Take a deep breath, what you're about to see may cause you to fall out of your seat.<br /><br />First, let's meet the mascot: Bigfoot.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07003.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Here's the type of beer that Bigfoot drinks<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07005.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Read carefully<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07008.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07008.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />& here it is<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07010.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07010.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Let's set the record straight; only a single person has EVER eaten the entire thing in under 60 minutes, and he was a professional eater. I'm able to down entire pizzas at a time, but i wasn't even match for 1/4 of it.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07015.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07015.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />FOUR pounds of beef! and that whole pickle adds another touch!<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07012.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07012.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />My favorite part of Memphis is Beale street. I love is because they block off 2 blocks of street that have bars/restaurants/etc packed on both sides of the street. You can walk up to windows on the sides of the street to buy your beer and walk around with open containers and they don't clear the crowds out until 3 AM. Most importantly, the crowd is made up of some of the most fun people I've met to date.<br />I did find it strange however, that every male that was out had a tucked-in button up shirt.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Picture1103.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Picture1103.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07035.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07035.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07039.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07039.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07017.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07017.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The beers you receive on the street, usually 20 ounces for $5, all say "Big Ass Beer"<br />The only shortfall of this was that there was constantly "underprivileged" individuals asking you to help them get a cold beer. Also, I found it strange that while in a convenience store, the panel where you swipe your card had options for Credit, Debit, and Food Stamps. Are food stamps used on magnetic cards now too?<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07021.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07021.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />He lives on! Apparently he just switched careers<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07023.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07023.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I like to dream of receiving NBA fan of the year.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07033.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07033.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />B.B. King's blues lounge<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Picture1109.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Picture1109.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07048.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07048.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Peabody is the most famous hotel in downtown Memphis. It's a very nice hotel, but it has something else that truly differentiates it from other hotels. That difference is the Peabody ducks. Every day at 11 AM and 5 PM, a group of ducks take the elevator down to the main lobby from their habitat on the roof with the "duckmaster." They then march down a red carpet to the hotel fountain. While the "duckmaster" gives a short history lesson, the ducks swim around the fountain until he instructs them to march back down the carpet, into the elevator, and back to their home.<br /><br />The red carpet<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Picture1155.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Picture1155.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Swimming in the fountain<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Picture1153.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Picture1153.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Leaving the fountain<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Picture1154.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Picture1154.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The ducks going home<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Picture1156.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Picture1156.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Autozone Park, also downtown, home of the Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals AAA)<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Picture1158.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Picture1158.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Gibson Guitar factory. Tour is very inexpensive, only $10 or less. It even has a store inside where you can try out all sorts of guitars<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Picture1101.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Picture1101.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Picture1138.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Picture1138.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Picture1144.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Picture1144.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Picture1146.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Picture1146.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />While all of this is great, the true calling of Memphis is Graceland, home of Elvis Presley. If you haven't been there, you can't even fathom the popularity of this place.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Picture1111.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Picture1111.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Picture1112.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Picture1112.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Picture1113.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Picture1113.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />You have to sign the wall out in front of the house<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07078.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07078.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I'm sure we all know this place from the song...<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07074.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07074.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Parents bedroom<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Picture1116.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Picture1116.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Picture1115.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Picture1115.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Picture1122.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Picture1122.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />"The Jungle" room<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Picture1124.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Picture1124.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Picture1123.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Picture1123.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Grave<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Picture1135.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Picture1135.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Tourist extraordinarie<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Picture1136.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Picture1136.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I enjoyed this place also<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07069.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07069.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07068.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07068.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Pyramid still stands by the river. If you didn't already know, Memphis is based off of a city with the same name in Egypt.<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07055.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07055.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07054.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07054.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07060.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07060.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Sun studio, where Elvis and Johnny Cash got their starts<br /><br /><a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/?action=view¤t=Memphis07066.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/acieszyn/NBA%20tour/Memphis/Memphis07066.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I loved Memphis, well at least the downtown, and I can't wait to go back - Dan, this is a callout for you in May!<br /><br />Thanks to Pam Landis, Carly Knight, Brad Cieszynski.Drew Cieszynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03397041546054654278noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276933422884722187.post-20781094383650097872008-03-07T15:18:00.000-06:002008-03-07T15:19:47.894-06:00SPURS websiteRead my sidebar on the San Antonio Spurs website<br /><br />http://www.nba.com/spurs/gameday/080304.htmlDrew Cieszynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03397041546054654278noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276933422884722187.post-73133001132924554012008-03-07T14:58:00.003-06:002008-03-07T15:16:39.181-06:00EA Sports GameShowA nice blog about my tour. I'll be doing an interview with them next week.<br /><br />http://www.eagameshow.com/blogs/egray/index.php/2008/03/07/my-new-hero-oh-es-daily-links/<br /><br />*As many of you know, I've had a long, exhausting week. 5 games in 7 nights. Over 30 hours of driving. I'll try and get several posts up next week - However, I still need to confirm things w/ the Bucks, T'wolves, Bobcats, and Pistons & lots of catching up to do at work.Drew Cieszynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03397041546054654278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276933422884722187.post-86577447893419345472008-03-06T16:33:00.000-06:002008-03-06T16:34:36.828-06:00Dallas Morning NewsGo right ahead and comment on the site:<br /><br />http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/03/give-a-warm-welcome-to-nba-drew.htmlDrew Cieszynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03397041546054654278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276933422884722187.post-14696086981135162302008-03-03T18:07:00.001-06:002008-03-03T18:09:17.462-06:00San Antonio Express NewsAn article related to my 5 arenas in 7 nights (Memphis, Texas, & New Orleans)<br /><br />http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/columnists/roliver/stories/MYSA.03032008.P2.OliversTwist.EN.3096ab6.htmlDrew Cieszynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03397041546054654278noreply@blogger.com0