Basketball Best season of my life capped off tonight, with an amazing experience.

Steve_O_21

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So I got season tickets this year, which was always a life long dream of mine. They weren't the best seats in the house, but anyone who's ever been in Conseco can tell you there really isn't a bad seat in that place. Whoever designed the place was a genius, but that's not the point here. Well throughout the season I've had quite a few GREAT experiences, even with us not making the playoffs. Early in the season, (completely out of the blue) Pacers ABA legend Darnell "Dr. Dunk" Hillman came and gave my buddy and I 2 seats for the lower level against the Thunder. About a month later, we were selected as the Kia Motors Seat Upgrade where they take 2 fans in the balcony level and move them down to courtside seats. That game was the now local classic against the Lakers where Troy Murphy scored the tip-in basket at the buzzer for the win over Kobe and Co. A few other times we were lucky enough to catch the eyes of ticket reps who randomly give lower level seats to people up in the balcony. Then against the Wizards not too long ago, we were selected for the Kia Motors Courtside Seat Upgrade AGAIN!! Well all of that would've been more than enough to make me satisfied with my purchase for the season. Tonight was the perfect ending to our season for me. Of course making the playoffs and winning it all would've been ideal, but bare with me.

First of all, we won tonight against the Bucks. Danny Granger finished with 35 points, Brandon Rush with 24, and the Pacers eliminated a 17 point 4th quarter deficit to win by 7. Tonight was Fan Appreciation night, and much like last year it was a mad house after the game. Last year, after a football style pile-on, my buddy caught Stephen Graham's game worn shoe that he had autographed and thrown into the crowd. Well this year it was my time. Jarrett Jack was at about half court and throwing autographed mini-basketballs into the crowd behind the scorer's table, then all of a sudden he just stops and comes walking towards the crowd behind the basket. He turns and pitches one shoe the other direction, then he comes back our direction and lofts his left shoe into the air like a pop fly. I thought for sure it was flying way past where I was standing. But somehow, the shoe just stopped in mid-air right near me. I locked eyes on it and that was all there was to it. I reverted back to my high school days and leaped above the crowd, snagging the shoe like Dennis Rodman on a long rebound. I'll let the pics tell the rest of the story. I'm still extremely pumped!

(shout out the Master, my pet beta fish back there)
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and since we were the same size shoe (12.5), I had to try it on. Fits like a glove.
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Sorry for the long read but I had to tell the full story. I've never been so happy about a losing season in my life, but I really feel like we're headed in the right direction.
 
deng thats sweet! how bad did people mob you when it was in the air?



and for the shoe to do that he must have know you were his biggest fan in the building :)
 
awesome!!!

he was a fan favorite here in Portland, and just got bumped out of the PG spot by Blake. He is a great community guy (and pretty damn good on the court too!)
 
Ground Support said:
Awesome!

Wish the jump catch was on video!

lol any stiffarms or forearms involved?

You didn't jump over a 5 year old kid did ya?


Haha! No I didn't bumrush any kids for it. There were a couple teenage kids and a guy probably in his early to mid 30's, and some chick behind me. The 30'ish guy got extremely mad. He had red hair and was very fair skinned, and his face got blood red. He didn't want to take it there though. I would've :box: him for that damn shoe.:party3:
 
GotGibson? said:
Nice Steve! I ASK for shoes all the time and never get any. You didn't even have to ask!
Well I did yell his name very loud. He looked over at me then chucked the shoe.:D
 
awesome stuff!!!!! i wish i wouldve gotten to go to that game because there was a great ticket offer we couldve gotten. jarrett is GOAT about signing and fan stuff. nice job!
 
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