AMERICA The 1st

THURSDAY October 30th - Part 2: Pre-game

Sherry booked us into a great hotel which was pretty much just on the edge of Copper Square. Copper Square is the main arts and entertainment district of Phoenix. The hotel had a nice high presure shower which was a welcome change from the shower in Santa Barbara which felt like a trickling hose in comparison. Ironnic when you think that Santa Barbara is right near the ocean where all the water is and Phoenix is in the middle of the desert. Props also for the king-sized bed. Actually the air coniditioning is making the room cold. We arrived at the hotel around 4 pm, which gave us enought time to relax for a little while,before showering up and changing for the game. We walked down at around 4.40pm not really knowing how long it would take to get to American Airlines arena. After looking at the map we guessed it would be a 30 minute walk but it worked out to be about half that, even with our stops out the front of the University of Arizona. I can't remember if my Year 8 teacher Mr Fissers went to this college or Arizona State. But anyway, appaarantly he went to the same college as Byron Scott, the famous ex-Laker and now New Orleans Hornets coach.

ASU (Arizona State University)

Yep its hot

We also walked past Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks which was a big buzz for me. I remember watching the Diamondbacks on TV when Randy Johnson was pitching for them. The stadium looks massive on the outside but when you look inside you realise that the field is not that big. I guess when it comes to seeing any green field we immediately think MCG.

Chase field - the home of the Diamonbacks

Looking in through the doors it was suprising how visible the mound was, and this wasn't even from outfield seating. I reckon i could enjoy watching a game now more than i thought i would because i might actually be able to see what is going on.

The diamond and outfield at Chase Field

THe basketball stadium is right next door the baseball stadium. So over we walked for something i had been waiting my whole life to do! American Airlines Arena, formerly America West Arena, is pretty cool to see for the first time - just full shiny glass. There was hardly anyone mulling around out the front, it wouldn't have suprsied me if we were actually the first ones there. The doors were locked and the pre-game entertainment was not yet set up. We spoke to one of the PR girls there and just chatted about how I excited I was and how it was cool to be here. She mentioned that Phoenix was hosting this year's all-star game and how it wouldn't be until 5.30 or so until things really started here.

US Airways Centre - home of the Phoenix Suns- Well before game time. I think Sherry and I were first there

I guess we had a bit of time to kill. So as the shootaround rings and a Spanish band started to be setup Sherry and i went for a walk. I felt like a little kid who was in awe of everything. It really did take me back to being a little kid going somewhere really impressive. Directly across from American Airlines Arena is Stouadamire's. Amare Stoudamire, one of the marquee players had opened up a restaraunt but apparantly its not that good. Although I must say, it looked pretty slick.

It looked shut anyway, but we had been advised to walk a couple of blocks up to Majerle's - a bar owned by former Phoenix and Miami player - (now assistant coach of Phoenix) Dan Majerle. I'd heard about Majerle's on a number of local FSN games that i'd got from Pontel. In these games you have the local announcers calling the game instead of the national guys like Marv Albert. Dan Majerle used to commentate and he would always plug his bar. "Yep come to Majerle's after the game blah blah! 'MA....the Meatloaf!"

Actually, while taking the short one block walk to Majerle's for some pre-game suds. we were stopped by at least 2 scalpers looking to offload some tickets for tonight's game. I didn't even ask how much or where the seats were. Majerle's was a real kick to see. I'd heard about it and before coming to Phoenix I imagined it being a maybe ten minute taxi-fair from the arena, with lots of traffic all around. But here it was in Copper Square - maybe one block from the stadium, a two minute walk with not a car in sight. Copper Square seemed to be an area where you could drive around the outside, but many roads seemed to be a no-go area. Well that's the impression I got because we hardly saw any cars that night. It's almost like one big mall. We walked in and it conisted of 2 or 3 rooms, the main bar seemed pretty packed out so we went into the next room. Here we sat and were served by a 'buxsom wench' who introduced herself. I remember her response to me saying 'In the last two minutes i've gotten depressed' 'OK'. I guess she didn't here. Either that or it was too early for zingers. Mmmmm - looking back its about as funny as a fart in an elevator.

Dan Majerle's bar (he played for the Suns and the Heat)

Inside Majerle's

After leaving Majerle's we walked back to the arena. It was much bussier now with the Three Amigo's Spanish/Mexican band in full voice. Shouldn't they have been in San Antonio? Sorry 3 Amigo dudes but you ain't cool enough for Phoenix. They jus seemed real out of place. Little did I know that Phoenix had a big Spanish population. Whether it was because Phoenix was hosting this year's All-Star Game, or whether it's just the typical NBA thing - there was plenty of stuff to do outside the arena. Where I was standing in that photo above, the orange fenced off area was actually a-third court, and now people were going at it. It wasn't like they were street pros at all. Better than me probably, but not your Venice Beach Wesley Pipes heroes either.

I know they have these posters in Australia, but I couldn't resist getting my photo taken next to these posters. I had to, and once again I was in good form.

My defensive style - ball denial

Heeeeeya! Magnus Magnusson

I also saw some chearleaders - so I thought I'd turn on that good ol' Aussie charm and try to score a chearle...NO a photo with them. They were really friendly, pretty and scantily clad and it was good to see them out there prepared to meet slobbering fans such as myself.

Ladies.

The blonde girl on the left was pretty cool. She said she could do almost any accent so I had to hear her do some Australian for me. I can't remember what she said but she was not too shabby at all. I think she said something like 'Howz it goin' mate?' but I'm not too sure. Anyway, that was really cool to get my photo taken with them - if they were that accessible I wonder if the players are too? Whatever sexual tension that had been built up, I thought I'd better relieve by going and playing some ball sports as quickly as possilbe. On the rink below the only people who were playing was me and some kid who was about 6. hahaha. I kicked his arse. Nah - i did no such thing. I just was unco and trying to look cool.

Gaybo!

After embarrassing myself sufficiently we headed inside the arena. The foyer had esculators heading up for the people seated in the top tier - and to the left was the entrance to the lower area. SO we went in there - showed our tickets and then headed to the Suns Shop. I kind of felt like it was the Myer Boxing Day Sales, only this time they had stuff that I liked. They had heaps and heaps of different jerseys, t-shirts, long sleavs, jackets. They even had a fair complement of ladies wear too. Pink nash jerseys which I think Sherry should have got. I bought a t-shirt (the grey one), a long-sleave (the purple warm up top), a framed Steve Nash playing card, a yard glass (that i reckon holds about 1 litre) and a pennant. We also got free laniards for our tickets. Seriously there was so much there - I could have and would have bought a massive bobble head if Sherry had given the all clear. It was at least a metre tall - no joke.

I then got my photo taken with three more cheerleaders and SHerry must have been thinking by now that I was seriously trying to hit on them. But what can I say - the girls love me.

Seriously...ladies

This stupid dumb mascot was hanging around too. ANd he looked nothing like a sun, and definetly wasn't my sun. He was a massive bird. They were advertising the ECHL (one of the regional minor hockey leagues) team here - the Phoenidx Roadrunners i think. I didn't know too much about the ECHL at that stage, and still don't admittedly. If there had of been a big Coyote running round then maybe I would have understood. Ah this is no joke!!! I just worked out why they are called the Roadrunners - becuase there other team is the Coyotes!!! I didn't even make the connection until just now (6.38pm 4th August 2009)

Assaulting the ECHL Phoenix Roadrunners Mascot

Also upon doing further research into the Roadrunners the team was founded in the 2005-2006 season and ceased operations at the end of the 2008-2009 seaon (the season I was there). They were affiliated with the NHL's San Jose Sharks and the AHL's Worcester Sharks. They were owned by Suns Owner Robert Sarver and former Phoenix Coyotes star Claude Lemieux. After all this action I had to sit down, and what better place to sit down than in our first class seats! So we walked around the prominade where they had food stalls, toilets, video games - such as Madden and NHL to our door number.

As the Joker said 'And here...we....Go!'

Here we go...Game Time!