Photos from Phoenix v. Houston 1/5/2005 (I had good seats)

More to come as I get them uploaded:



Cheerleaders (wife was looking the other way)



Cheerleaders (wife was gone to get beer)



Yao Ming and Andre Barret during warmups



Scoreboard exploding



Rockets huddling after intros



Tip Off

 

Yao looking winded



Yao posting up



T-Mac giving the ref a dirty look



Jon Barry - The whitest man on the face of the earth



Yao during a dead ball

 

Some observations from being so close to the action (my seats were on the floor, near the tunnel that the walks come through):

1) I don't know how it came across on TV, but the crowd was VERY loud most of the game IMO, or at least, loud when we kept trying to claw our way back in the game

Did anyone think the crowd seemed liviler than normal on TV?

2) There is no way Barrett is 5'10''. Id say closer to 5'8''.

3) Mutombo was hustling his ass off and really helped keep the crowd in the game. Suprising to see him get so much time against the smaller/much quicker Phoenix lineup

4) During dead balls, I found myself looking toward JVG a lot. He actually talks to the officials (sometimes very animated) quite a bit and on one of the foul calls on Yao, he was really giving it to the official.

5) Yes, Matt Jackson and Matt Bullard were sitting to my left. Bullard is tall and Jackson was walking around like he owned the place.

6) The Lexus Lounge was a lil disappointing. I saw Jaimie Sharper in there playing pool during the 3rd quarter. Place was kind of dead most of the game. They have some plasma TVs and the restrooms were nice. Actually, the ability to use those restrooms instead of walking all the way up to the concourse was even nicer.

7) Food was ridiculously expensive. Two hamburgers, 1 sprite and 3 beers was almost $50 (before tip). We actually had a waitress that would go get stuff for us.

8) I watched Reece Gaines alot during warmups. It was warmups, but this guy was nailing all his jumpers and 3s, moreso than any other player. Makes you wonder why he doesn't shoot as well during games.

9) Bill Worrell is OLD looking. I think all that time in the tanning booth has taken years off his life. We got there about an hour before tip and maybe he hadnt gone to makeup yet, but he looked 65-70 to me.

10) Mini Clutch walked behind me and smacked me on the back, causing me to spill beer all over my lap when I was trying to drink it.

11) Stephen Hunter talks ALOT. He was jawing with anyone who would listen every time he was in there.

12) Nash talks ALOT too, but actually more to direct the offense. He talked constantly, telling people were to be and where to go. At point point, he was directing Marion to come set a pick and Sura heard him and turned his head and Nash then blew right by him (Marion never came over lol)

13) Van Chancellor was good at interacting with the fans before the game. He was talking to a couple sitting in front of us and I told my wife who he was and Van heard me and then winked at her...........pervert.