Final
score: Storm 90 – Sparks 71 (W) (9-7)
Attendance
|
7140
Anthem
Watch | Mostly ok. I'm honestly still recovering
from the one a couple of games ago, so my Anthem Sense is
off.
Fan
Psyche | Beat LA!... but only because the
big screen tells us to say so.
Game
Highlight | Lots of them — Betty wiping
out half the east side courtside seats and their drinks, Katie's
no look to Ashley in the 4th quarter, Sue getting a double
double, LJ making the LA forwards look like cardboard cutouts
(they were about as effective), Betty's third quarter buzzer
beater.
Halftime
| Flyball dogs along with a little present
courtesy of the Jack Russell.
SF.O
Keyword of the Game | Pimp Seats.
Game
Photos
| Rick
| Scott
L | Scott
E
A
little change of venue tonight — live from the Pimp
Seats next to the Storm bench! Karen offered the tickets to
Angie while the two were talking before the game (Angie actually
called me first to check if I wanted to move. Hells bells
woman! Take the tickets!). We moved down while the lights
were off right before the Storm intros.
It's
amazing how different the game is when you are that close.
We're only about 3 rows back now, but it's still not the same.
You are in the game. You get stepped on (Jessica Moore, I'm
looking at you). You can hear what the coaches are saying
in the huddles. You can hear the players. You can hear the
refs. You can smell the dog poop (little Jack Russell, I'm
looking at you... or maybe it was Christy Thomas. Who can
be sure?).
I
can almost guarantee you that if the Storm are still in town
next season, Angie and I will find a way to get back into
some courtside seats. If you ever get the chance to get down
there — take it. The game will never be the same.
Just
don't bring a huge lens. I got jack for half the game. Trade
offs. Whatchagonnado?
The
game had a little bit of everything. Crazy shots. Technical
fouls. Monster LJ blocks. Betty getting hot, getting hit,
going out, coming back, hitting a buzzer beater, and moonwalking
through people's drinks in the first row. All of our players
scoring. Our bench, again, not doing too bad a job. Sue scoring
early and dishing often. Finding out we may be hosed for the
next 4-5 games with Sue getting knee surgery (this bon mot
made its way into the crowd thanks to numerous text messages
from the TV watching Storm fan public). ESPN on hand (Heather
Cox is damn hot) and another great sign from Mr. Flip Sign
— "Hey Lisa, how's baby LJ?"
In
other words, it was a fun Storm game.
I
don't even really remember anything bad from the game. It
wasn't easy, 20 point win notwithstanding. The Sparks kept
it close through the first half, but I never felt the same
concern as with other games this season that have stayed close.
The Storm had control and with all the starters, except Janell,
getting on the board it was clear that the Sparks just didn't
have the guns to match-up.
In
place of additional game review blather, I'm going to close
this game report off with some Courtside Pimp Seat tidbits:
Before
the game as Angie and I were getting settled, Assistant Coach
Heidi VanDerveer leaned over and asked if I was going to use
the Meganator to yell at the refs. I replied, "Absolutely."
Both
Janell and Izi had the Nike swooshes taped over with white
tape on their shoes. Sue, LJ and Katie were also wearing Nikes,
but with no tape. Sue and LJ I get — they have exclusive
contracts. Does Katie? I'd be surprised if she did.
Assistant
Coach Shelley Patterson was, at one point, encouraging Izi
to go faster, saying "Run her down. You're faster
than she is." Not sure which "she" they were
talking about.
Coach
Donovan would tell the refs that she had "a question"
for them before laying into them about something. It was an
oddly polite way of yelling at a person.
I
got stepped on by Jessica Moore when she was trying to save
the ball from going out of bounds. While the players and Coach
Donovan were arguing with the ref about his call — he
gave the ball to LA — I throw in a couple, "She
was off me!" lines while pointing to my foot. It didn't
help.
I
thought the Meganator would have more impact from courtside.
It didn't. It's really an away game weapon. So much more effective
when the crowd is quiet.
LJ
was getting irritated with the ball kids. Just about every
time she came out, they were slow bringing her a drink or
towel. Waiting for her to call for it probably isn't the best
thing.
Apparently,
Australian national team coach Jan Stirling was sitting behind
us.
We've
been Storm fans from the get go. We've been to almost every
event. I think I've missed only one home game. We've been
fortunate to get to know a couple players a bit. But still,
we were both sitting there giggling like fools because one
or the other of us made eye contact with Wendy or LJ, or got
bumped by someone walking past, or got a glance when we said
"Good job" as a player came off the court. We're
old timers and founding fans, but we're still a little star-struck...
and
we were sitting in the Pimp Seats.
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