Team USA Fever
A couple weeks ago I heard that the USA Senior Men’s Basketball team would be practicing at a facility on my campus. With security ramping up in accordance with the Opening Ceremony, I knew my chances to catch a glimpse of the NBA players were slim at best, but I was still determined to do all that I could.
Here’s the breakdown of what happened on Thursday.
7:00am – Woke up rather determined. I was going to see Team USA today.
11:45am – Let out of class 15 minutes late. Proved to be costly.
11:50am – Ran into a large group of classmates who had just caught Team USA as they rolled into the gym. Noo!
12:00pm – Ate a quick lunch, borrowed a friend’s long zoom camera. Still unfazed.
1:00pm – Arrived outside the gym, only to be met by reinforcements who were trying to secure the area. Still unfazed.
1:30pm – Started making conversation with some of the guards who were standing in front of us. Exchanged phone numbers.
2:00pm – Already behind a fence and security tape, we are pushed back an extra 10-15 feet. Still unfazed.
2:15pm – I start getting really anxious.
2:30pm – The expected time that the team is supposed to come out. But, still no sign of anyone.
2:35pm – Rumor starts running through the crowd that the team might not even exit through the door that we are expecting them to come out.
2:45pm – Guards begin linking their hands together and form a solid line. My guard friend tells me that the team should be coming out soon, but no guarantees on whether it will be this door. Anxiety increases ten-fold.
3:05pm – I spot Carlos Boozer through my view-finder. The rest of the team follows after him. Excellent!!
3:15pm – Players and coaches have all come out, or have they? Where is Kobe? The bus starts leaving. Did Kobe go through a different door? Whatever. Ppl start running after the bus. I follow suit. I only catch up to the second bus, which is filled with a bunch of nobodies. Oh well.
3:30pm – Time to return back to my room, but wait! My friend calls. He wants to see some of my pictures. I spot some ppl still waiting outside the gym. They are adamant that Kobe is still inside the gym. I am pessimistic. He must’ve slipped out a different door. I leave feeling rather satisfied, having seen the whole team, all except for Kobe.
3:45pm – I hear a large roar from outside the gym. No way—Kobe?? I run back over. I zoom in and sure enough it is Kobe “Doberman” Bryant. Awesomeness! I start clicking away. I also start calling KOOOOBEEE. He turns his head a couple times.
3:50pm – Kobe boards a small white van. Instead of running after the bus I decide that I need to run ahead first and let the bus catch up to me.
3:55pm – Plan proves to be genius. I spot the van as it approaches me. I begin running alongside it. I see Kobe. He sees me. He acknowledges me. Beautiful. I keep clicking away. Ohh yeah! Then the bus stops. What is going on? Oh, just a speed bump. I finally stop. I catch a couple last shots as the bus drives away.
Meanwhile, I notice a large crowd following me. Civilians, guards altogether. My friend later told me the guards were running after me. I still cling to my belief that they were running after Kobe.
4:00pm – All is well, I have seen the whole team, Kobe included. Mission accomplished.
