Hornets Hype

They went with the dark look for the game. The lights were dimmed the whole time. I knew there was going to be a lot of kids at the game, but I didn’t expect quite so many. They gave away tickets for the entire lower bowl. Then they gave the kids free jerseys, so it was like a sea of pink.

A couple of new additions: Notice the stage off to the right and the snazzy LCD screen in front of the scoring table. Sections 106-108 are all press tables. I gotta say, it’s weird when your entire section has been transformed into a press box. (Actually we sit a little to the right of this, but still.) Sort of lets you know where you rank in the grand scheme of things.

Chris Paul was one of the first players to arrive at the game. I think everyone was still down at the convention center waiting for the Celebrity Game and other events to wind down, because it was only toward halftime that people started trickling in to the game. CP3 sat with Deron Williams and, I think, his brother at center court the whole game.

Md2020 said it had to be a record when Daniel Gibson kept sinking 3 after 3 after 3. He had 33 points, every single one of them a three pointer. It got to the point where it was just ridiculous. Like, “Is this happening?” ridiculous. The score was 136-109 sophomores. You could make an argument that he singlehandedly won the game. The rookies actually hung close for the first half.

This was my first All Star event, not counting the Jam Session on Wednesday. It wasn’t the most star-studded event, but for 20 bucks it was a good deal. I gotta agree with those who say there isn’t a bad seat in the house. (Left: Here’s me All-Starring it up in the Big Easy Balcony.) As far as celebrity sightings, all of the ones we saw were waaaay down below, except we did see Ahmad Rashad by the Abita stand. (Our usual bartender from the main concourse was up top last night and told us when she said hi that you couldn’t buy any alcohol on the lower level because of the kids.)

Speaking of which, we thought the cups just said Budweiser, so we pitched the first two. Then we realized they had the All Star logo on the other side. Pretty cool collectible! So if you go make sure to buy draft beers and snag a couple of the cups. It’s a sweet little All Star Weekend freebie to put on the shelf next to your umpteen millionth Mardi Gras parade cup.