It’s Game Day LA!

As a Lakers fan growing up in LA, I never went to road games.  I guess it never really occurred to me to go to one because I had all the home games to go to.  I mean, nothing beats a home game right?  You are surrounded by your own fans and everyone is cheering for your team.  You get all the calls and when you don’t, you can yell at the refs as much as you want while everyone around yells in approval.  Not to mention at the end of it all you get to go home and sleep in your own bed.  Well, unbeknowst to me I was missing a whole perspective on the game that I never would have enjoyed without one of my closest friends, Toots.  I found out there was more to life than just home cooking and it all started with my first road game in Phoenix.

A few years ago, my buddy Toots, who I mentioned earlier moved to Arizona and had the bright idea for a mutual friend and I to go visit him there.  He suggested we hang out in Scottsdale, party it up a bit and while we are there, since the Lakers were playing the Suns we could catch the game.  Well, I agreed that this sounded like a great time and my other great friend Mike and I proceeded to head out to Arizona for a weekend of partying, hanging out, and cheering on the Los Angeles Lakers to another victory. 

At first it didn’t seem like a big deal (going to a road game), but once you get there you realize the gravity of the situation.  Not only does it seem like everyone in the arena despises you, they make sure you know they despise you by voicing their displeasure in more ways than one can imagine.  Especially if you are wearing the opposing team’s colors.  Let’s just say my first taste of the road was an eye opening experience and although the Lakers lost that night, a new passion for viewing the game was lit.  I was introduced to a pleasure and experience that was more gratifying than simply watching a home game.  I was inserted into a whole new world.  I joined a fraternity of other Lakers fans that would truly strengthen my love for this team and build a unique camaraderie I would not attain any other way except on the road with my own brethren of Lakers faithful.  I became a “Lakers Roadie!”