Preash: Floor Seats, Baby!

...to a preseason Bobcats game against the Hawks. I know, I know, but they were free.

This actually went down a couple of weeks ago but better late than never, right?

My boss called me on a Saturday afternoon and told me she had two tickets to that night's Bobcats game but couldn't use them because she had some stuff to take care of and already had tickets to the Panthers game the next day. Tough life.

I headed uptown (what they call downtown here in Charlotte) around 5 and met up with Tressel. We went to a bar to have some beers and watch a few college football games.

After about an hour, we walked over to the arena. I knew the seats would be good...I didn't realize that we'd actually be right there on the court. It was quite rad.

Click to enlarge

The fans show up in droves for the big game

It was pretty awesome to be right there on the court. You can hear everything the players and refs are saying during the game. Like when you see players complaining to the refs after a call on TV...when you actually hear them pleading and the refs explaining the call, it's pretty interesting. Tressel noted that being there that close, it almost seems fake.

After sitting there for a while, a lady who worked for the arena hustled over to us and told us she was sorry she forgot to give us our wristbands. We were like, "OK", and took the wristbands. She explained that they give us access to the VIP area where the free Bud Light is given out. Money.


Tressel holdin' it down


Tressel keeping it real


Me looking somewhat dapper/toasty

The next two videos are examples of the behavior exhibited by two young goofs with access to free beer.

First, a video I titled "An Innocent Child Still Lives Inside Tressel". For a few seconds, all was right with the world.



And now me being a jackass for the sole purpose of entertaining you. For some reason, I think waving with both hands is hilarious. Also, note how I act like I don't know that what I'm doing is wrong and proceed to get a low center of gravity as the security guy is escorting me off the court.



We then started talking to this hot chicks who was sitting next to us. She asked if we knew the lady she works with (who gave the tickets to my boss)...I said yes but was too drunk to remember her name. Her fat, ugly friend thought I was lying and said, without lowering her voice at all, "Why are you talking to them?" So I proceeded to tell the hot chick that her friend was a hater all night.


Tressel insisted on some pics with the hot chick


Tressel brings the hot chick in close

I guess nearly getting kicked out once wasn't enough to satisfy me. At another point in the game, the ball was being thrown in from out of bounds right in front of us. I stood up right behind the player and was pointing all over the court as if I was coaching him. I was yelled at by another security guy but, shortly thereafter, received a text message from a co-worker of mine. "Dude, what're you doing on the floor?" Apparently he was at the game too and saw me coaching on the jumbotron.

But the highlight of the night for me was a very brief exchange with DJ Augustin. During a timeout, I urgently yelled out, "DJ!" He quickly whipped his head around and saw me giving the hook 'em horns sign. He smiled and Tressel proclaimed, "I just saw that happen!"

After the game, we walked to some bars and kept boozing.


En route

So there you have it. When I woke up the next day, my credit card was nowhere to be seen and my Sirius radio didn't work. But at least my camera survived. Quite a night.