The Final Countdown...

So here we are...hours away from the NBA Tour.
Although I started planning in August, it came up ridiculously fast (goes to show how quickly life moves when you're motivated about something.As I head out for this venture, I've set 10 goals for myself.

1) Foremost is to see a home game of ALL 30 NBA teams. Regular season games during the 2007-08. Who cares if you can do it in a lifetime. Challenge yourself and do it in a single year.

2) To appear on a national television broadcast regarding the NBA. This one stems from my mother laughing at the idea of me achieving this. Time to prove her wrong.

3) Make it to an NBA Finals game. The only way this one will occur is if the NBA helps me. Drawing attention to my tour is the only means of making this happen.

4) Receiving a handshake from NBA Commissioner David Stern and a Thank You for supporting for going all out as a fan of this sport. I want to be NBA Fan of the Year. I would prefer this happen at my final game in Milwaukee on April 12th, but I'll take it anytime.

5) Attend NBA all-star weekend. This one isn't in the budget...no way I can afford this, so the only way this one happens is if I receive some serious help.

6) Help the popularity of the NBA. I want fans to get back into the NBA again. Let's not make this sport an afterthought. I want it to return to its glory days during the Jordan era.

7) To change the perspective of one individual. I hope that someone who follows my tour will challenge him or herself to do something out of the ordinary, to not accept what seems to be the only option, and to think big.

8) To not ruin myself financially. My lifestyle probably violates every financial principle, so I'd love to pull this off and still be able to live to tell about it.

9) To make new friends around the country. The baseball tour provided me with several lasting friendships that i still actively keep in touch with today (& you'll soon see will facilitate the NBA tour in big ways).

10) Possibly the most desirable & most difficult goal will remain silent. If you follow my tour, it will likely reveal itself to you in time.

I can not begin to explain how nervous I am as the time is quickly approaching. On a daily basis I worry about the financial aspect and every other day I worry about the weather/transit. Flights to the various cities will surely be difficult to "go off without a hitch" when you live in the Milwaukee/Chicago region. Nothing else worries me at this point. I learned enough about the world during my baseball tour & I've got the drive to make everything else work.

I am probably most excited for my trips to Salt Lake City, Portland, and San Antonio as these will be first time visits to these cities and I will have the opportunity to explore a new place. I'm sure every city will have its own great experience however. Everyone always asks me "What is the best baseball stadium?" An impossible question. Each franchise has its own culture, its own people, and its own unique experience. I intend on sharing that will all who follow me on this tour.

As many of you already know, I've written to the NBA teams that comprise my first 7 games. I have received some correspondence from each. The Jazz, Sonics, Warriors, Kings, and 76ers have all offered support. The Celtics and TrailBlazers still have not given me any real answers, I'm hoping to hear back from them shortly. I start it all off this weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah where the Jazz take on the Warriors. I can not wait to land in the Mountain Time Zone on Friday night! This is just the beginning of what will surely be the greatest experience of my life…and possibly yours.

-Drew

1st schedule change?

I've considered switching the Timberwolves and Raptors slots, so anyone interested in those games, please stay tuned. The rent-a-car situation for the west coast is looking ugly, I've got to find a way to decrease those costs or I'll be out of money in no time. My apartment is getting more bare by the day from selling possessions; I think I'm out of things to sell. I'm going to have to ask my mother back home to search the attic in hopes that I can find more to sell.

Many of you keep asking where I'm going to be where and appear to be too lazy to scroll down and review the schedule, so here it is once more:


1. Saturday November 3rd - Golden State Warriors @ Utah Jazz, 7:00 PM - Salt Lake City, Utah.
2. Sunday November 11th - Detroit Pistons @ Seattle Supersonics, 6:00 PM - Seattle, Washington.
3. Tuesday November 13th - Detroit Pistons @ Portland TrailBlazers, 7:00 PM - Portland, Oregon.
4. Wednesday November 14th - Detroit Pistons @ Golden State Warriors, 7:30 PM - Oakland, California.
5. Friday November 16th - New York Knicks @ Sacramento Kings, 7:00 PM - Sacramento, California.
6. Friday November 23rd - Los Angeles Lakers @ Boston Celtics, 7:30 PM - Boston, Massachusetts.
7. Saturday November 24th - Golden State Warriors @ Philadelphia 76ers, 7:00 PM - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
8. Saturday December 1st - Charlotte Bobcats @ Chicago Bulls, 7:30 PM - Chicago, Illinois.
9. Saturday December 8th - Sacramento Kings @ Denver Nuggets, 7:00 PM - Denver, Colorado.
10. Saturday December 15th - Philadelphia 76ers @ Cleveland Cavaliers, 7:30 PM - Cleveland, Ohio.
11. Friday December 21st - Altanta Hawks @ Washington Wizards, 7:00 PM - Washington D.C.
12. Saturday December 22nd - Golden State Warriors @ New Jersey Nets, 7:30 PM - East Rutherford, New Jersey.
13. Sunday December 23rd - Los Angeles Lakers @ New York Knicks, 12:00 PM - New York, New York.
14. Sunday January 6th - Cleveland Cavaliers @ Toronto Raptors, 1:00 PM - Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
15. Friday January 11th - Milwaukee Bucks @ Los Angeles Lakers, 7:30 PM - Los Angeles, California.
16. Saturday January 12th - Dallas Mavericks @ Los Angeles Clippers, 7:30 PM - Los Angeles, California.
17. Saturday January 19th - Sacramento Kings @ Indiana Pacers, 7:00 PM - Indianapolis, Indiana.
18. Friday February 8th - Los Angeles Lakers @ Orlando Magic, 7:00 PM - Orlando, Florida.
19. Sunday February 10th - Los Angeles Lakers @ Miami Heat, 3:30 PM - Miami, Florida.
20. Friday February 22nd - Boston Celtics @ Phoenix Suns, 8:30 PM - Phoenix, Arizona.
21. Saturday March 1st - Utah Jazz @ Memphis Grizzles, 7:00 PM - Memphis, Tennessee.
22. Sunday March 2nd - Denver Nuggets @ Houston Rockets, 7:00 PM - Houston, Texas.
23. Tuesday March 4th - New Jersey Nets @ San Antonio Spurs, 7:30 PM - San Antonio, Texas.
24. Thursday March 6th - Houston Rockets @ Dallas Mavericks, 8:30 PM - Dallas, Texas.
25. Friday March 7th - New Jersey Nets @ New Orleans Hornets, 7:00 PM - New Orleans, Louisana.
26. Saturday March 22nd - New York Knicks @ Minnesota Timberwolves, 7:00 PM - Minneapolis, Minnesota.
27. Saturday March 29th - Cleveland Cavaliers @ Detroit Pistons, 7:30 PM - Detroit, Michigan.
28. Friday April 4th - Philadelphia 76ers @ Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 PM - Atlanta, Georgia.
29. Saturday April 5th - Boston Celtics @ Charlotte Bobcats, 7:00 PM - Charlotte, North Carolina.
30. Saturday April 12th - New Jersey Nets @ Milwaukee Bucks, 7:30 PM - Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Teams stepping up

As I mentioned last week, the Sacramento Kings were the first to show they appreciate a fan, and since then several of the other teams have offered support. I received an email from the VP of Guest Relations from the Seattle Supersonics. I received an email from a member of the Utah Jazz offering tickets, an arena tour and pictures with the mascot. On Friday, I got a call from the Philadelphia 76ers. They are offering tickets, pics with the mascot and dance team, and are going to do a spot on their website. Philadelphia will clearly be the toughest decision of who to take as it is my hometown and 90 % of my friends reside there.

I thank the Jazz, Sonics, and 76ers for their support. They are the base that is convincing me to go forth with my tour. Still struggling to get in touch with the Warriors and Blazers.