Quite the change in Tinsel Town, feeling slightly overwhelmed

by Ricekrispy10 on Jan 24, 2012 12:50 AM PST

I wouldn't say I'm a LONG time Clips fan, but I have been a dedicated fan of them since the 05-06 season. As I'm only 18, I missed the Manning era and have little to no recollection of the 05-06 season aside from going to Game 6 against the Suns... And since that fateful day, I've been following the Clippers religiously, hoping that I could see my favorite underdog team become relevant again. Whether it's for one season or a decade, I wanted to see this team win games. They've always had the pieces but it was never completely put together. But a stroke of luck named Blake Griffin came along, and everything else is history.

Here we are now, our 15th game of this shortened season is just looming around the corner; the Clippers traded for best-in-the-league point guard Chris Paul, acquired Finals MVP Chauncey Bilups via amnesty, signed Caron Butler, and re-signed DJ, all in a crazy and unbelievably short off-season. The media bombarded the Clippers with high expectations, and in a short few weeks, the Clippers were relevant and the talk of the town.

But we all know that, it just happened only a month ago. But God damn, it has been one crazy month. I eagerly await games more than I have in any other season. My family watches every game together downstairs, so I no longer am stuck in my room during games. My friends don't bash me anymore about the Clippers, and most of the time it's me actually bashing the Lakers, and it's an incredible feeling,

It's odd though, going from a team who need 31 games last season to get 9 wins, then going to a team that needs only 14 games to reach 9 wins this season. It's so different that it's almost overwhelming at times. This isn't the same Clippers of old. The front office is making bold moves, Donald Sterling is actually putting forth money, and the Clippers are relevant, with a sold out crowd every game and praise from the likes of known Clipper haters like ESPN. I'm the happiest I've ever been as a Clipper fan, and why shouldn't I be? Why shouldn't we all be? This is probably the best Clippers team we've ever had, and they can only get better from here.

The one thing I can't seem to wrap my mind around, however, is how all of this happened so fast. How we went from worst in the West to the team leading the Pacific Division over the Lakers. How we EXPECT to win games, not hope for the best. It stills blows my mind to see Chris Paul walk onto the court in a Clippers uniform (not lately but hopefully Wednesday he will). I used the phrase "overwhelming" earlier, and I think it suits the change we've seen here in the past month. I don't expect things to change soon, everything just seems too perfect. My lingering pessimism as a Clipper fan is gone, and we're rooting for a winner.

It's a glorious time here in Tinsel Town. Words cannot express how I feel right now about this team, and I'm sure all of you feel the same... and now I don't know where I'm going with this. Anyway, GO CLIPPERS and GO JUMBACOOOOOO!!!

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I totally understand where you are coming from except well really more so. I became a clipper fan around at the same age you did (I was 12) except it was the bob weiss bill fitch era and i was watching harold ellis and bo outlaw. This was right around when they traded manning and got dominque for like 25 games haha.

WE HAD A SUPERSTAR.. before. except he was just out of his prime.

back then i remember they ran ads at target where you’d get a pair of clipper tickets if you spent like $50 at the store. it was that bad.

anyway one of my friends and I were crazed fans, growing up and people didn’t understand why we werent laker fans. Its been 18 years. I go to work somedays and think, wait chris paul is on the clippers! and then i think its all a dream and we really don’t have 2 all stars. a

Hell I lived in the bay area honestly watching the shaun livingston knee explosion , having a goldenstate warrior super fan (the guy who came up with that “we believe” slogan , ran a restaurant in my town) break the elton brand blowing out his achilles news to me etc. This is a tortured but insanely dedicated fan base. INSANELY DEDICATED. ENJOY IT. every minute of chris paul is a blessing.

by hans007 on Jan 24, 2012 1:07 AM PST reply actions

This season...

has been exhilirating, frustrating, amazing, awe-inspiring, nerve-wracking, and entertaining… and the team hasn’t even gelled yet.

We deserve this season, folks. We have suffered the indignity of injuries, losing seasons, and lame jokes for far too long, and our loyalty is beginning to pay dividends.

Enjoy every second of this. Just remember every time Matt Barnes talks shit, every time an arrogant Laker bandwagoner writes us off, every time we start screaming about rotations or rebounding… it’s because our expectations are higher now. We’re a Finals contender now.

Clippers… Finals.

Wow.

Clippers // Chargers // Rays // Boise State
"The Lakers do win games. But things can change." - Blake Griffin

by 82-0 on Jan 24, 2012 9:09 AM PST via mobile reply actions

I didnt mean to make this sound like a column

But i did haha. Does it read alright or does it read kinda clunky?

by Ricekrispy10 on Jan 24, 2012 11:49 AM PST via mobile reply actions

but it does*

by Ricekrispy10 on Jan 24, 2012 11:59 AM PST via mobile up reply actions

the only part i really liked was the part when you were all like

GO JUMBACO

haha jk good shit man

BG + DJ + CP3 = JUMBACO

by TinkyTime on Jan 24, 2012 11:07 PM PST up reply actions

Great post, ricekrispy...

I’ve followed the Clips since my early teens (12), and I’m coming up on 32 in a couple of months, so a good chunk of my life has been following the Red, White, and Blue. I grew up just a couple miles away from the old Sports Arena, and I practically became a Clipper fan just when the Riots started…I only lived a couple miles north of the epicenter of the Riots. I’ve always agreed with Ralph Lawler when he’s asked about his favorite Clipper moment—the playoff game against Utah (I belive it was game 3) that had to be moved to Anaheim because of the rioting in the city. Sadly, I don’t remember much from the game itself, but in the few highlights I’ve seen over the years, that crowd was racous that afternoon, and it practically jump-started the Clips moving some of their home games to the Pond each year between ’94 and ’99.

Hans007 is right in saying that we’ve never had a transcedent superstar, at least since the team has been in Los Angeles…a lot of talented players, but not really a guy you build a franchise completely around. In fact, it always irks me whenever the misinformed, lazy media (mainly the ones in this town) spouts off about all the “great” young talent the Clips let go, where in turn much of that same “great” young talent end up bouncing around the league, and eventually bouncing themselves out of the Association. That, of course, goes back to the piss-poor drafting and signings under the watch (or lack of watch) of Elgin Baylor…that’s another topic of its own.

This is absolutely the BEST time to be a Clipper fan, and for obvious reasons. I can admit of being frustrated at times with some of the play-calling from Del Negro, but in the grand scheme of things, we’re looking at the best Clipper team ever, and with a couple more roster moves, this team can contend annually. Enjoy the ride, boys and girls!

by Shawn H on Jan 24, 2012 2:49 PM PST reply actions

Before Danny Manning got injured.

I thought he may have been the Clippers first real Blake-like star.

"Great Balls Of Fire, Reggie's Back!"

by PV Mike on Jan 24, 2012 3:42 PM PST reply actions

Manning was good, and if not for his knee injury, he could have been great, but I don’t think he would have had the Blake like aura. He was more like Larry Bird in that he did all of the fundamental things well but he didn’t really do them in a jaw dropping fashion whereas Blake is like Magic Johnson in that he did the small things, but he also has the flash of doing something spectacular.

by pegitom on Jan 24, 2012 3:53 PM PST up reply actions

I agree. I did not mean athletically

"Great Balls Of Fire, Reggie's Back!"

by PV Mike on Jan 24, 2012 3:59 PM PST up reply actions

I've been a Clipper fan since.............

The Larry Brown teams and man were those enjoyable teams and then i
was hooked. They had nicknames like The General Gary Grant and Hollywood
Ron Harper and Manning was suppose to be our super star savior and then he
blew his knee’s out but they were fun to see. I still remember going to see the playoff
games in Anaheim because of the riots. That was some 25 years ago so i feel
you my brother and looking forward to winning our division and more!

by ENCUEROMAN on Jan 24, 2012 5:11 PM PST reply actions

I am a Clipper fan and I am really pissed off!!!

I have been a Clipper fan since the headbutting years or since I was 11 years old. I was really excited during the 05-06 season and was hopeful for the future, but at the same time extremely cautious. But, this time there is a different feeling in the air or maybe we are all drinking the same kool-aid. Nonetheless, I am loving it!!

Too bad I won’t be catch all of the Clipper’s deep run in the playoffs which pisses me off. I am taking the California Bar in July, so beginning in mid-May I will pretty much have no life. So, I am really pissed off, because finally when the Clippers are ready to make a deep (and legitimate) run deep in the playoffs, I will not be able to have my 100% attention on the team I love. Ain’t that a…

"Every existing thing is born without reason, prolongs itself out of weakness, and dies by chance" -Jean-Paul Sarte

by Jayq on Jan 24, 2012 6:39 PM PST reply actions