The NBA Season Of Drew

This blog will chronicle my attempt to visit all 30 NBA Arenas during the 2007-08 season.

You can now post comments without signing up for an account. Just click on the comments link and select anonymous.

Contact info: Drew Cieszynski 2637 N. Frederick Ave. Apt# 106 Milwaukee, WI 53211 / 717.676.9963 / acieszyn@hotmail.com

Click below on "2007" to view the first 13 arenas.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Drew's New Blog

Hey everyone, I'm dusting off my keyboard and my credit card for my next BIG TOUR!
11 straight weekends of BIG TEN football. Follow my much-improved website/commentary at www.THEbig10tour.com

Thanks

Drew

Thursday, August 7, 2008

The 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.

LA was pretty ramped up for the Finals, despite being down 0-2.

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

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.

Photobucket

A fan-fest going on outside where you could shoot hoops, sample free Craisins, or even watch people walk around with TV's built into their outfits.

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

There were plenty of photo opportunities to let people know you were there.

Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket

I can't believe the NBA would let people walk all over its trophy.

Photobucket

There were a variety of entertaining T-shirts to be found around the arena.

Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket

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.

Photobucket

Even this trophy was guarded by security.

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

The outside patio was a pretty lively crowd - especially when someone wearing green showed up.

Photobucket

Photobucket

In an effort to promote the new Disney movie W.A.L. - E, 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.

Photobucket

Here's to another banner being raised shortly...

Photobucket

& of course Jack Nicholson was there in his customary seats.

Photobucket

Player introductions.

Photobucket

Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket

American Idol winner David Cook signs the national anthem.

Photobucket

Photobucket

Delivery of game ball from Hall-of-Famer Magic Johnson.

Photobucket

Photobucket

Is that Joe Crawford doing the tipoff and not bickering with Tim Duncan?

Photobucket

Odom bringing the ball down the court

Photobucket

Eddie House putting up a jumper

Photobucket

After a Ray Allen jumper

Photobucket

Photobucket

KG on the post

Photobucket

The best dance team in the NBA

Photobucket

Sasha Vujacic, resigned recently, shooting a jumper.

Photobucket

The celebrities were out in full force

Hugh Hefner and the girls

Photobucket

Hillary Duff

Photobucket

Steven Spielberg

Photobucket

Flea, of the Red Hot Chili Peppers

Photobucket

Slyvester Stallone and Eddie Murphy

Photobucket

Dustin Hoffman

Photobucket

and finally JACK!...not to be confused with Jack...

Photobucket

But these are my people...

Photobucket

Don't know if you can tell or not, but the basket was loaded with A/V equipment.

Photobucket

How bittersweet!

Photobucket

Photobucket

Leaving the Staples Center after a great night!

Photobucket

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, Lawerence Tanter, 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.

Photobucket

Photobucket

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.

The Great Dan Lins, 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.
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:

Tower of the Americas - San Antonio
One PPG Place - Pittsburgh
225 South Sixth - Minneapolis
Bell South building - Nashville
Wells Fargo building (cash register) - Denver
Excalibur Hotel - Las Vegas
Empire State Building - New York
Bank of America Center - Houston
Washington Monument - Washington DC
Emerald Plaza - San Diego
Prudential Center- Boston
Fountain Place - Dallas
One Liberty Place- Philadelphia
The Pyramid - Memphis
CN Tower - Toronto
Fassion Building - Milwaukee
Chrysler Building - New York
Gateway Arch - St. Louis
Chase Tower - Indianapolis
Transamerica Pyramid - San Francisco
Legg Mason building - Baltimore
Hancock Tower - Chicago
Peachtree place - Atlanta
Space Needle - Seattle

Photobucket

Photobucket

Thanks to John Black and the Los Angeles Lakers for making my dream come true!

Photobucket

Randy Newman - I Love L.A.


Randy Newman - I Love L.A. from http://intrepid856.vox.com/

About Me

My photo
Milwaukee, WI, United States