Warriors 108 – Timberwolves 99
There’s not one guy I know that could care less about sports than my man Chris V, and somehow he found himself at more professional sporting events this this year than any other of his life.
Three. The first being a game at the World Series of which he won tickets through a raffle, the second as Mary M’s guest to a Warriors game and the third as my guest tonight to the Warriors game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
To say he could ‘care less’ about sports is not to say that he doesn’t appreciate it. It just doesn’t doesn’t really interest him. But given the opportunity, Chris is known for being up to try anything especially if it’s with friends.
And although Chris and I work together and I’m technically his ‘manager’, that’s exactly what tonight’s outing with the Warriors is… a opportunity for friends to hang out.
Chris and I have worked as an army of two now for the past couple years, and it only works because you are also great friends.
Although we don’t hang out outside the office much, or really at all, that doesn’t limit us from being close. Because we work so closely, we both have also seen each other through a lot of different things and end up swapping stories of our personal lives during the down times in the office or during travel. And since I do work with such a great friend, it’s hard to realize sometimes that we’re actually working and not just hanging out scheming up ways to hustle through life together.
So with the opportunity to go to a Warriors game, even though it may not be Chris’ first choice in activity, he’s down because we’re friends and it gives us a chance to hang out and not have to be dealing with the weight of the office.
Since Chris sits right next to me this has been the easiest meet up thus far to head out to the game.
5:30 came around and we headed out the door, down California St. and toward the CVS on Market St. 
The weather wasn’t the greatest so I wanted to swing by the drug store to see if I could buy an umbrella before getting onto BART.
Because based off personal experience with Julia D and Nick R, walking from BART to the Coliseum in the rain is NOT fun.
CVS or whatever drugstore that is on Market, for some reason didn’t have umbrellas and the resourceful creative facilities of Chris kicks in and suggests I get a rain poncho. He’s crazy to think I’m going to wear a rain poncho… I decide that I’d rather brave the elements than wear a vinyl dress.
The Commute
We make our way down to BART and you know the holiday’s right around the corner when you’re literally walking around a corner and find yourself in advertising hell.
I work in advertising so I don’t mind it at all, but when I feel like I’m stuck in Willy Wonka’s version of it I start feeling bad about even being in the industry.
Chris and I blow right through it and we hop on BART to the coliseum.
Although he’s not a big sports guy, I could see his excitement through his exhaustion. We’re reaching the end of the year and the final push before the holiday break is always hardest at GSP. There’s so much to wrap up but it’s also a time where the both of us are usually recovering from a jam packed summer and fall that’s full of new business pitches, reviews and clients pushing through last minute requests that have all of us scrambling.
We got pass that phase, otherwise I think our conversation on BART would have been a lot more weighted in work, but since we’re on the decent of our workload for the year we could catch up and bullshit over everything else.
We talked about plans for the holidays and looking beyond them at our futures. Our careers have become somewhat connected so it’s always been important that Chris and I always keep an open channel of communication for any plans that we may have looking forward.
We both really value and enjoy our jobs right now, but for as long as I’ve known Chris, I’ve always believed that he had a bold move in his near future. He’s a bold type of guy and our time on BART allowed us to dive into that a bit.
We talked about what it’s like to be in our mid-twenties and I voiced how even though I’m only two years older than him, that two years in your twenties can net huge developments in ones perspective.
This isn’t to say that I have a greater perspective, but what our conversation is about is that if there is a time to take a risk, it’s in your mid twenties.
Chris is close to change, and I know he has more coming for him. I’ve always told him and I told him again on BART, he’s destined for something else and his time with me at GSP will always be a staging ground and hopefully a classroom/safe space for him to explore and figure out what his next great adventure will be.
After some scheming and dreaming between the both of us we finally made it to oracle.
The Game
As we were crossing the land bridge, I really feel like Oracle/City of Oakland needs to dress up the walk to and from BART a little more. I feel relatively safe but I would never encourage any of my female friends to ride and walk to the Coliseum alone. Because even when I’m with some of my female guests, I do hear the comments scalpers make to them and me. It’s a little unsettling, but I got a good humor about it and ladies by nature clearly let those things roll right off their back.
I’ve seen a Warrior girl BART home once and lets just say it’s probably not a great idea to wear your Warrior Girl jumpsuit riding home on BART… alone.
Tonight my guest, Chris, didn’t receive any cat calls from the scalpers, but I’m sure he’d appreciate them if they did.
Walking up to the entrance Chris feared that he’d have to check his back or something, but after a quick inspection I guess security thought it was small enough for him to enter with; which is great because getting things after you check them is the worst process at Oracle. I’d actually like to bring my bag to the game more so I didn’t have to swing by the office after the game or go without my things the next day/weekend if it’s a Friday game.
As soon as we reached my section and started to explore food options and I told him about Ribs and Things, he was immediately sold.
Chris and I recently got back from a Midwest road trip for work where we had more BBQ than any human being should in the span of 10 days, but since then I’m guessing Chris hadn’t touched it in a while.
As for myself, I’m a regular at R&T.
After grabbing our dinners from R&T we made our way to the 200 Lounge to eat. We posted up at a bartop and grabbed some beers.
As Chris and I started chowing I was finally able to talk to him about all these girls I’ve seen him date since his last serious relationship. Chris and his ex are still friends and when they were together they made a ton of sense. But as life and circumstances change, so do we. And as great as something is or was, we all move on and forward… whether we do it together or apart is the only difference.
After stuffing our faces with some BBQ we headed to my seats for tip-off.
The game started off kind of slow with the Timberwolves showing more hop in their step than our guys.
It’s a little nerve racking when I’m there with a guest and I tell them that we pretty much should win this one and we have a terrible first quarter.
No one ever wants to be wrong and unfortunately I’ve been wrong about the Warriors a lot when it comes to certain match ups and but they’ve also silenced my doubt a lot of times too.
But this is what makes basketball exciting. It can take you by surprise. And I’ve always felt that the Warriors could be one of the most surprising teams in the NBA. Whether it’s actually true or because I’m a believer, it doesn’t matter, I stick by my team as long as they give me something to believe in.
What’s crazy is this isn’t to different than Chris and I’s relationship.
Our personal and professional lives are intertwined and two years ago when he came over to work with me from the Accounts side of advertising, it’d be hard for me to find another person in that building who believed in what I was doing more than Chris.
Reminds me of me and my pops.
I told you he liked to take risks and he did wanting to come work with me for free if that’s what it tool. Thankfully we didn’t have to resort to that, but it’s that kind of belief in me, in himself, and in our agency that makes Chris who he is.
And it’s the same type of belief that makes us the greatest fans in the NBA.
We’ve only made the playoffs once in 16 years, yet we’re still able to fill the arena.
Chris and I are on a long journey of building something that I believe is special, and hopefully it won’t take sixteen years, but through all the hell we’ve been and I’ve asked him to go trough, he’s still by my side.
The dude is loyal and it’s extremely comforting to have him, one of my closest friends and colleagues by my side in the office, in life and as we were losing to the TIMBERWOLVES. Because although it was nerve racking, Chris’s non easy going and crazy demeanor puts me at ease per usual.
The dude was fist pumping to music. Shouting for free pizza and just having a good time. As I said before, he’s been my counterpart for a long time now, and if not for him, I’d be stressing about being down after the first quarter instead of enjoying myself.
With faith restored thanks to Chris, the dubs bounced back and dominated the second and maintained solid play the rest of the way to hang on for the W.
Part way through the game I checked in using Facebook Places and snagged the deal of the game voucher outside of section 124.
Waiting in line to claim FB deal.
After the game we waited for folks to file out and then headed out to the concourse. The line to claim the ‘deal’, which was a meet and greet with a player, was backed up all the way to my section in 121.
Chris and I contemplated about leaving because it was a ‘school night’, but we decided to hang around thanks to a tip from Kyle of the Warriors.
We made our way down to the seats and out walks Jeremy Lin.
I was pretty stoked as I missed the meet and great opportunity during Asian American Heritage night because I wasn’t a part of that ticket offer.
Putting Jeremy’s game aside and talk of whether he’s ready or not for the NBA (because I would agree with most people), it was great to hear him speak of his experience and see a hometown boy come up against all odds and doubters throughout his basketball career to finally end up playing for the team he grew up with.
Q&A with Jeremy Lin
Either way you slice it, marketing or not, he got other offers, showed tremendous skill at all levels (even flashes at this one) and he made it. To the guy who believed all along, wound up with the team with largest fan base of believers.
Congratulations, Jeremy. There’s lots of haters out there, but I’m with you my dude… so is my boy Chris V who can appreciate J. Lin’s plight because he’s cut from the same cloth… work hard, take risks, unwavering loyalty and the the ethic to see all of it through.
You’ll get there guys… stay hungry and do you.
Go Warriors!
Nam
More photos from tonight:
The walk over to the arena from BART need to be better lit.
Ran into Mookie on BART. Always good running into friends at the game.