The Playing To Win RV was due to arrive in Lot K shortly after 5 PM for a celebration with Kings fans and our local road warriors Carmichael Dave, Sean Thomas, and Elliot Sisson. A festive crowd was gathered and ready to celebrate both the return of the Playing To Win Tour as well as the final game of the season, hoping it wouldn't also be the final game for the Kings in Sacramento...
While my son was making his way through the crowd in his purple morph suit, taking pictures with people and fist bumping fans, my wife and I were hoping this wouldn't be the last time we get to enjoy an event like this as a family. These past years going to Kings games has become a family ritual that I really hope to continue, as well as have my kids enjoy with their families years from now.
Once inside the arena the mood was more festive than the last game in 2011. This time fans seemed optimistic that the Kings won't be leaving mostly due to the tremendous work Mayor Johnson has done as well as the community coming together for the last 3 years to fight off what seems like endless attempts to pull this team out from under us.
My flight for New York was leaving at 10:45 PM, which, unfortunately, meant I would have to head to the airport midway through the 3rd Quarter. This was my lone regret when deciding to be outside the St Regis Hotel for the NBA Board of Governor's meetings. Before heading out I said goodbye to my wife, son and our friend, then made sure to hug our usher and the beer girls at my regular stand just in case this was our last game. I then walked across the quiet parking lot, looking back one last time at Sleep Train, and sped off to the airport.
As I boarded the plane I was pleasantly surprised to see the Mayor (along with his wife) who said, "nice to see you rockin' the colors" and gave me a high five. There were also several media members from Pro Basketball Talk, Cowbell Kingdom, and Small Market, Big Heart on my flight. I then settled in for the first leg of my trip headed to Atlanta which was a very long and turbulent flight that resulted in very little sleep for me. Once we landed I was glad to have time to grab some food before hopping on the much more pleasant jaunt up to New York...
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