Every fans dream is to get into the locker room and see the players off the court and one on one. Well, my dream came true Jan. 8 when I traveled to Utah to watch the Pacers take on the Jazz. Since Iwrite for Pacers.com, I was able to secure a press pass and media credentials for the game. A plane ticket, hotel reservation, and rental car later, and I was at the game and behind the scenes!
Now, I have to be fair when I say that I walked into the arena and thought “this is the same floor that John Stockton and Karl Malone made magic happen.” I had a sudden urge to break out my pen and run down to the floor to see if I can pry up a piece of that hollowed wood for my collection. But, alas, I was here not only as a fan; I was here as a writer covering the game for all the fantasy basketball lovers out there. So, I calmed down a little and got my composure.
Shortly after that, I started talking with one of the maintenance guys and he told me some inside info. They weren’t allowed to ask the players for autographs; they weren’t allowed to watch practices; the front row was were all the most beautiful women in Salt Lake City would be; and, what some of the players were like as people and not NBA players. It was shortly after that I found out, kind of rudely I might add, that I too was not allowed to watch the practice!
Now, there are a few things you need to know about going to a game as a member of the media.
The Bad Things
The Good Stuff
Being a fan myself, it was really hard not to ask the players for autographs or pictures. Even as a writer for the team I am not really supposed to bug my boss for Larry Bird autographs. I’ve hinted to him that if he happens to see Mr. Bird walking by his office, to politely grab him, pull him into the office, and not let him leave until he signs a ball that reads” To James, I owe all my success to you. Without you there would be no Bird, just Larry. You are always welcomed to my house whenever you are in town and I look forward to seeing you at Christmas.” I mean it doesn’t have to be exactly worded that way, but something to that nature would be cool.
When you take the whole night into account, it is an experience that I am glad to have had. The Pacers organization is about as classy as they come. The players were incredible, the entertainment on the court was well worth the money they paid for the tickets, and the game itself was 48 minutes of sheer entertainment. Not to mention how nice all the front office people were that I had to bug to make sure I had the pass when I got there. I know they had to be thinking “who is this dork?” I just smiled and told them over the phone “I am James Morris, the all-knowing, all-telling, greatest fantasy sports writer known to man!”
I am sure that any true and die-hard Pacers fan has been to a game at some point in his or her life. For those who have, going into the locker room and talking with the players makes the game take on a whole new meaning. For those who haven’t, when you go into an arena and step onto the same floor the players will be on shortly, it gives you a feeling of being with the team. You feel like you are just as special as Danny Granger or Jermaine O’Neal. Oh, and standing next to Jamaal Tinsley and being able to look down on him makes you wonder why is he is good and I am weekend basketball guy.
