Peanuts In My Pocket

I went to my first Clippers game of the modern era last night. They beat the Portland Trail Blazers, 114 to 107. The new Intuit Dome is an impressive venue; easily the best basketball arena I’ve ever visited. I’ve never had an experience where the building was as entertaining as the game itself, but last night was a first.

My son won luxury box tickets from Sweet James, so we felt like VIPs as we watched from box seats. The circular overhead screens were spectacular. I usually track stats on my phone during a game, but there was no need. Everything I cared about was presented on the screens in real time. As a stats geek, I was blown away. Whoever designed this setup deserves a medal.

When the Clippers were introduced, the venue lit up with a dazzling multimedia presentation. My son, who’s a season ticket holder and part of The Wall, had told me to look for his photo. Sure enough, mixed in with the player shots were images of fans, and there he was. I was with my wife, his wife, and our grandsons, and we were all clapping and laughing. It was one of those personal moments that sticks forever.

At halftime, my son asked if I wanted to check out The Wall in person. We hustled down for the start of the third quarter, and the experience was incredible. We were so close to the floor I could see sweat beading on the players’ faces. I learned a few cheers and screamed my throat raw. And then something happened: I became a Clippers fan. After that, there was no turning back.

I bought a hat at a merch shop near the box seats. The arena uses facial recognition to track entry and purchases. All I had to do was let the scanner see my face, and a gate opened. I walked in, picked up the hat, and walked out. No cashier. I didn’t even check the price, I was too excited to care.

My son pointed out a wall of jerseys representing all the local high schools. We found one for our alma mater, Artesia High School in Lakewood. It’s the same school a young James Harden once played for. We were screaming “ARTESIA” from The Wall every time he touched the ball.

All in all, this was one of the best professional sports experiences of my life. It ranks second only to the Angels World Series game I attended. Just a regular season Clippers game, but it felt like much more. The energy was infectious. I’m going to need a few more of these nights. Even a day later, I’m still buzzing.