Visiting an Old Friend

I started posting here this past July (as did a lot of people), but I never really introduced myself, which I’ve seen a few of the new citizens do. Anyways, Alvin Gentry had a role in me becoming a Clipper fan.

I can’t give you an exact year that it happened. All I can tell you that he was the coach, which means that I was either in 3rd, 4th or 5th grade at the time. I was going to a Clipper game with my dad and a couple affluent Beverly Hills families who had kids who I was good friends with, even though I didn’t live near or go to school with them(I have no idea why or how I was friends with these kids, to be completely honest). Thanks to these connections, we had amazing seats (like 3rd row, between halfcout and one of the baskets). It was the only time that I’ve ever eaten in that ridiculosly overpriced restaurant at Staples Center, and wouldn’t you know it Donald T. Sterling comes in. I had no idea who he was at the time, as I didn’t have a favorite team. One of the parents struck up a conversation with him, and somehow got him to offer us a trip into the Clippers’ locker room if they won. Even as an elementary school student, I scoffed at this, but not because of Sterling. The Clippers were playing the Kings, who had Chris Webber and Mike Bibby in their respective primes. These were the teams that me and my New York dad always hoped would knock off the Lakers in the Western Confernece Finals. I wasn’t yet a Clipper fan, but I was always a Laker hater.

Back to the story, though, and I knew that the probability of the Clips knocking off the Kings was not very likely. I wasn’t really expecting a locker room visit, but I rooted hard for the Clippers in the vain hope that Sterling’s offer might come to fruition. I don’t remember anything about the game except for the fact that the Clippers played exceptional basketball. They ended up winning, and my friends and I weren’t about to let this opportunity go by. We forced our parents to find Sterling and take him up on his offer. I think it was my dad who tracked him down and forced him to let us in the locker room. I remember that he clearly didn’t want to let us in.

So, my elementary school friends and I marched down the tunnel like we ruled the place as Sterling led us to the locker room. The players had no idea that we were coming. We got to go inside and we all lined up in the middle of the locker room amongst men who were twice as big as us. I don’t remember much, except for the shocked look on Darius Miles’ face as he walked out of the showers with nothing but a little towel on. I really don’t remember how long we were in there for, but it sure makes a great memory. From then on, I was a Clipper fan. I’ve loved (and hated) them ever since.

Now, getting to the part where Gentry is involved. After that game, the Clippers went on a losing streak. Obviously, that’s quite commonplace for the franchise, but I’m fairly sure that that it was particularly bad. A writer for the LA Times who must have seen us in the locker room attributed the streak to Gentry for allowing a group of elementary school kids into the locker room. I doubt that anybody here remembers reading that, considering the number of bad losing streaks that this team has been on. I remember my dad showing me this and us laughing about it. Obviously, it wasn’t Gentry’s fault, but it is my place in the Clippes long history of futility.

and I notice Darius Miles has never been the same again since then!!!!

I’m pretty sure this refers to Big Sofo, but what does the “MBFGC” stand for?