*Didn't have time to post this yesterday.*
I recently wrote an essay for my English class about this night. It took me about 2 whole months to turn my final copy. I figured I'd post some tidbits from it. Keep in mind, it had to be a narrative essay.
In 2005, a down and out team, three eyars fresh to the city of New Orleans, selected Chris Paul, point guard out of Wake Forest, fourth overall in the NBA Draft. The young guard quickly became a fan favorite through his great play on the court and his great community service with post-Hurricane Katrina help. His rise to super stardom was well deserved. In times of distress, New Orleans took pride in "CP3."
Chris was able to take a down and out franchise and completely turn it around. But although, he did all this, New Orleans still could never rise to truly elite status and soon lacked owner- becoming somewhat a laughing stock, all the while, the city never held the big market appeal. This frustrated Chirs and after six years of phenomanel play, loyalty, and sportsmanship, CP3 requested to be traded. His request was granted four days later. The Los Angeles Clippers would send a 1st round draft pick (of the Timberwolves), Eric Gordon, Al-Farouq Aminu, and Chris Kaman in return for their newest superstar addition. Chris Paul had the left the team just he had joined it: down and out. It was the end of the CP3 era in in the Big Easy.
March 22, 2012, Thursday night in the New Orleans Arena. The New Orleans "down and out" Hornets were taking on Chris Paul and the Los Angeles Clippers in CP3's first return to NOLA. This day had been marked on my calendar since December 15, 2011. My excitement and ambitious-anxiety could not be contained. This was by no means a fair match-up, this was a game where we had to truly show our underdog mentality. Down and out. At this point the term had a literal meaning to it. Down- hurt and injured badly. The centerpiece of the Chris Paul trade, Eric Gordon, had been injury plagued the entire season. Out- no playoff implications whatsoever.
Arriving at the arena was like walking into one of the parks at Disney World as little kid. Although I had been to the Arena plenty times befoe, this time was just different. You could feel the energy in the air; it was electric. I step in, get my ticket scanned, feel the A/C hit me on a damp, humid, New Orleans-esque evening, and get handed a Gameday program. It all seemed surreal. The moment I had been waiting for for what seemed like an eternity, was finally happening. I get to my seat to realize it was a rally towel night. Ok this is legit. There were white towels everywhere reading "We Love Our Hornets." I wasn't the only one who knew how big this game was. Rally towels on a regular season game in the middle of the week for a team with less than 20 wins? That's unheard of.
Watching the Clippers warm up was sickening. Seeing my old favorite player in a different jersey was the most pecuilar sight. He was also throwing lobs and alley-oops to my least favorite player: Blake Griffin. Griffin was/is the prized possession of the league. An overrated, overpaid player playing in ESPN's favorite city Los Angeles, providing highlight-reel dunks on a night-in, night-out basis. I despise(d) him. I think some others in the Arena shared that mutual feeling. The National Anthem starts and right away the singer forgets the lyrics. I chuckle, reaching over to my friend saying; "That's it, we lost." All was well as we guided him through his mess up. We listened for the CLippers' player intros. Samuel L. Jackson was reading them that night. Every member of the team got their fair share of boos but best for last, right? "He was number one in your hearts, now he's number three on your program: CP3!" boomed over the PA. Mixed reaction, I'd say. We screamed like crazy for the Hornets player intros and then it was time to get started.
The players knew the significance of this game. We came out competing right away, neck and neck. At half, it was a close game. Hornets' point guard Jarrett Jack was playing lights out, as well as big men Chris Kaman and Jason Smith. Jason was a fan favorite. He was by no means crazy talented or athletic, but the guy played his butt off everytime he stepped on the court. The third quarter was typical Hornets. Lackadaisical, lackluster effort that resulted in being down by as much as eleven. The fourth quartr was under way and the place was still rocking! Jason Smith was playing great and then...
And then Jason committed a turnover. It was a bad pass intended for Chris Kaman undr the basket. The ball was batted out to Blake Griffin on the fast break witgh no one in front. Here we go, this is when we bow down and let him complete one of his signature dunks. Then in the blink of an eye, I see Jason Smith running for his dear life towards Griffin. Smith runs over Griffin! Trucks him! The place went nuts! The players go into the stands yeeling and screaming at each other, and a near brawl is avoided. The officials reviewed the play and determined that it was a Flagrant Foul 2, thus resulting in Smith to be ejected. We loved it1 Smith went to the lockerroom high fiving fans on his way there, signaling everyone to get loud! That was the momentum swing and the Hornets went on to win the game. CP3 was flustered. He took off his jersey and tossed it in the crowd. Jason Smith went on to receive a 2 game suspension and was attacked by the biased media for his brutal hit. I found it all quite hilarious.
It was a true underdog moment.
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Originally Posted by iNolaNightmare
