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Bobcats games can be a blast
Commentary By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
Somebody must have told the Cavaliers I was going to the game.
I think I’m a jinx. When I went to see my beloved Cleveland Browns play the Carolina Panthers a few weeks ago, the Browns got beat. But, honestly, I expected that. The Browns are, well, not good.
I expected the Cleveland Cavaliers to roll over the Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday. I expected LeBron James to have about 40 points.
I should have known better. Before I left for Charlotte, I half-joked with my sports writers that LeBron would probably twist an ankle and play about six minutes.
Well, LeBron “played” for about six minutes and seemed to coast the rest of the time. He collided with Brevin Knight in the fourth quarter and stayed on the floor, motionless, for a couple minutes.
I couldn’t help but think it was my fault. I slumped in my seat just a little bit.
LeBron did come to life a little bit, scoring the final eight points for Cleveland. But that was too little, too late as the Bobcats (1-2) took a 92-88 win over the Cavaliers (2-1).
So instead of keeping my eyes glued on LeBron, who shot a woeful 3 for 13 and finished with 16 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, I absorbed the atmosphere and checked out the sights.
I was seated in the upper deck, something I’m not used to as I’m usually on press row. But I was in good company, joined by my mom, little brother, an aunt, an uncle and friends.
We were a part of history, as we were among 19,147 fans -- the largest crowd in the history of Charlotte Bobcats Arena.
Part of that historic crowd was actress Liv Tyler, the daughter of Aerosmith’s lead singer, Steven Tyler. With the Cavs looking dreadfully ugly at times, it was nice to have something beautiful to look at from time to time.
Of course, the Lady Cats provided that as well. The dancers were entertaining, full of energy and provided a handful of outfits (or lack thereof).
It was my first trip to Charlotte Bobcats Arena and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Though we were in the upper deck, the seats weren’t bad at all. The players didn’t look like ants, something I was worried about sitting up so high.
There is a huge video screen that the Bobcats use well. When it’s not used as a scoreboard, the Bobcats use it for entertainment or to help get the crowd fired up.
For example, prior to tip off, Emeka Okafor appeared on the screen and asked the fans to put their arms forward and join him in shouting, “together,” kind of a sixth-man approach.
Later in the game, Brevin Knight and Sean May appeared on the screen and urged the fans to “make some noise.”
The halftime show was rather entertaining. A handful of bicyclists (think X Games) performed a number of stunts off a ramp, including backward somersaults. One of the athletes may be talking just a little bit higher today, but overall the stunts were nearly flawless.
As for the game itself, it got rather boring at times. The Bobcats were coming off a road loss to the Indiana Pacers and the Cavs were fresh off a road win over the San Antonio Spurs.
But there were some sparks.
Okafor played with a lot of energy, blocking three shots.
A pair of North Carolina boys, Raymond Felton and Sean May, played well. Felton, who is going to be a star in the NBA, had a game-high 23 points. May chipped in with 14 points and three blocks, including a sweet one (admittedly) on LeBron.
Knight was steady, if not flashy. The veteran seems to be a calming force for a young Charlotte team.
And Adam Morrison looks like he can shoot. He was off the mark Saturday, hitting just 4 of 12 shots, but the rookie from Gonzaga has a sweet stroke (and a silly mustache).
The evening was capped off by a fireworks show just outside the arena.
It was a perfect ending to an almost perfect evening. The only thing missing was a Cavs’ win.
Kevin Travis is the sports editor of the Washington Daily News. You may reach him at 940-4217 or be email at Kevin@wdnweb.com.
Somebody must have told the Cavaliers I was going to the game.
I think I’m a jinx. When I went to see my beloved Cleveland Browns play the Carolina Panthers a few weeks ago, the Browns got beat. But, honestly, I expected that. The Browns are, well, not good.
I expected the Cleveland Cavaliers to roll over the Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday. I expected LeBron James to have about 40 points.
I should have known better. Before I left for Charlotte, I half-joked with my sports writers that LeBron would probably twist an ankle and play about six minutes.
Well, LeBron “played” for about six minutes and seemed to coast the rest of the time. He collided with Brevin Knight in the fourth quarter and stayed on the floor, motionless, for a couple minutes.
I couldn’t help but think it was my fault. I slumped in my seat just a little bit.
LeBron did come to life a little bit, scoring the final eight points for Cleveland. But that was too little, too late as the Bobcats (1-2) took a 92-88 win over the Cavaliers (2-1).
So instead of keeping my eyes glued on LeBron, who shot a woeful 3 for 13 and finished with 16 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, I absorbed the atmosphere and checked out the sights.
I was seated in the upper deck, something I’m not used to as I’m usually on press row. But I was in good company, joined by my mom, little brother, an aunt, an uncle and friends.
We were a part of history, as we were among 19,147 fans -- the largest crowd in the history of Charlotte Bobcats Arena.
Part of that historic crowd was actress Liv Tyler, the daughter of Aerosmith’s lead singer, Steven Tyler. With the Cavs looking dreadfully ugly at times, it was nice to have something beautiful to look at from time to time.
Of course, the Lady Cats provided that as well. The dancers were entertaining, full of energy and provided a handful of outfits (or lack thereof).
It was my first trip to Charlotte Bobcats Arena and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Though we were in the upper deck, the seats weren’t bad at all. The players didn’t look like ants, something I was worried about sitting up so high.
There is a huge video screen that the Bobcats use well. When it’s not used as a scoreboard, the Bobcats use it for entertainment or to help get the crowd fired up.
For example, prior to tip off, Emeka Okafor appeared on the screen and asked the fans to put their arms forward and join him in shouting, “together,” kind of a sixth-man approach.
Later in the game, Brevin Knight and Sean May appeared on the screen and urged the fans to “make some noise.”
The halftime show was rather entertaining. A handful of bicyclists (think X Games) performed a number of stunts off a ramp, including backward somersaults. One of the athletes may be talking just a little bit higher today, but overall the stunts were nearly flawless.
As for the game itself, it got rather boring at times. The Bobcats were coming off a road loss to the Indiana Pacers and the Cavs were fresh off a road win over the San Antonio Spurs.
But there were some sparks.
Okafor played with a lot of energy, blocking three shots.
A pair of North Carolina boys, Raymond Felton and Sean May, played well. Felton, who is going to be a star in the NBA, had a game-high 23 points. May chipped in with 14 points and three blocks, including a sweet one (admittedly) on LeBron.
Knight was steady, if not flashy. The veteran seems to be a calming force for a young Charlotte team.
And Adam Morrison looks like he can shoot. He was off the mark Saturday, hitting just 4 of 12 shots, but the rookie from Gonzaga has a sweet stroke (and a silly mustache).
The evening was capped off by a fireworks show just outside the arena.
It was a perfect ending to an almost perfect evening. The only thing missing was a Cavs’ win.
Kevin Travis is the sports editor of the Washington Daily News. You may reach him at 940-4217 or be email at Kevin@wdnweb.com.
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