Sports Arena Memories
A continuing series devoted to the unappreciated, increasingly vulnerable Los Angeles Sports Arena.
One of my most satisfying seasons as a sports fan was the Los Angeles Clippers 1996-97 campaign. The Clippers, picked for cellar dwellers in pre-season, eked into the playoffs, galvanized by unsung power forward Loy Vaught, guard Malik Sealy, and the strong post-up play of combo forward Rodney Rogers.
Astonishingly, the team won late season games against playoff aspirants Sacramento (still the last time the franchise has won in Sacramento) and Golden State, behind hard-driving veteran coach Bill Fitch, to secure the West's 8th playoff seed.
Unsurprisingly, the Clippers were swept in the post-season's first round by the Western Conference's number one seed the Utah Jazz, including a 92-104 home loss (the last post-season basketball game played in the Sports Arena).
Five members of that Clippers team are still active: the ageless Bo Outlaw (Orlando), fresh-faced Brent Barry (San Antonio), UCLA's Darrick Martin (Toronto), Lorenzen Wright (Atlanta), and Eric Piatkowski, the Polish Rifle (Phoenix).
The Clippers played only two more seasons in the Sports Arena, none of which were as accomplished, before moving into the titantic, fan-unfriendly Staples Center.
One of my most satisfying seasons as a sports fan was the Los Angeles Clippers 1996-97 campaign. The Clippers, picked for cellar dwellers in pre-season, eked into the playoffs, galvanized by unsung power forward Loy Vaught, guard Malik Sealy, and the strong post-up play of combo forward Rodney Rogers.
Astonishingly, the team won late season games against playoff aspirants Sacramento (still the last time the franchise has won in Sacramento) and Golden State, behind hard-driving veteran coach Bill Fitch, to secure the West's 8th playoff seed.
Unsurprisingly, the Clippers were swept in the post-season's first round by the Western Conference's number one seed the Utah Jazz, including a 92-104 home loss (the last post-season basketball game played in the Sports Arena).
Five members of that Clippers team are still active: the ageless Bo Outlaw (Orlando), fresh-faced Brent Barry (San Antonio), UCLA's Darrick Martin (Toronto), Lorenzen Wright (Atlanta), and Eric Piatkowski, the Polish Rifle (Phoenix).
The Clippers played only two more seasons in the Sports Arena, none of which were as accomplished, before moving into the titantic, fan-unfriendly Staples Center.
Labels: sports
posted by Adam at 7:17 PM | Permalink
<< Home