Halloween 2010

For Halloween this year, I decided to fulfill my dream of being a Laker Girl!! haha. I googled tons of images so I could attempt to be as authentic as possible in recreating the look. I bought a gold sequin dress for $10 and affixed a Lakers logo to the middle and NBA logo to the bottom from an old sweatshirt that I cut up. I also attached a larger logo to the back of a purple cardigan I bought for $5 and completed the look with sneakers, curled hair, shimmer spray, and bright makeup. No purple/gold makeup though, and no hoop earrings or other jewelry; they didn't seem to wear those things and I was going for authenticity, I can be a superfan any day. I'm especially excited to wear my outfit tonight because they're playing Golden State at 7:30pm. GO LAKERS! And Happy Halloween :)

Lakers Quiz

I took a quiz to name all of the Lakers 2010-2011 opening day roster on espn. You had to type all the names in the box as fast as possible within a 5 minute time limit. I got all 14 in 53 seconds :)

Game 2: The Killer B's

Officially my favorite nickname for the bench! (Blake, Barnes, Brown). I wish I could take credit for it, but I read it on Lakers Nation's facebook feed. Still, it sounds awesome. I do like "the law offices of Blake, Barnes and Brown" haha, but I guess it's a bit too long. Once again, they had an excellent game. The second unit in general is playing so well thus far and will only improve once Lamar moves back to the bench. Even though it's early in the season, it's very encouraging. Even if the stats don't always reflect it, their energy is great and their cohesion is pretty noticeable even already. Matt was great from the 3 point line, going 3 of 4. He's definitely growing on me. And I love that Kobe keeps recruiting enemies for our side haha.

*Edit: According to LakersReporter on Twitter, Phil is referring to his bench as "The Renegades". Interesting. It sounds cool, but I want to know why! haha.

Other notes on last night's game in Phoenix (I was afraid of forgetting what I wanted to write, so I actually jotted some down in my journal LOL):

-another stellar game by Ron Artest. He seems to be settled in, and was hustling all over the court- grabbing boards, getting steals, diving for loose balls. Just putting in the extra effort, which is so important (especially in close games). He also did really well from beyond the arc again... still not totally consistent and he definitely jacks it up a little too often, but it's really 50/50 for me when I see him shoot a 3. Part of me is like, of course he's gonna hit it! And the other part is like, oh shit, Ron's shooting 3's again haha.

-6 Lakers in double figures! I love it! Everyone's sharing the ball and contributing. Much more satisfying to me than Kobe or someone having a monster game. Although I love monster games when they come in the context of team-first ball like this. Pau practically had a triple double (21 pts, 8 rebounds, 9 assists) and LO had a crazy 18 points and 17 rebounds!! Rebounds and defense are what won us the championship, so I like seeing an early season dedication to both. There were some breakdowns on defense, especially on fastbreaks (too many easy layups), but that's always been part of the Lakers' M.O. They can get a little lackadaisical on D where there isn't much on the line.

-Kobe is looking great so far as well. Not as explosive as he used to be, but that comes with age, ridiculous mileage on his body and knee surgery only three months ago. He looks much better than I expected him to at this point in the season. Love the 7 boards- he really does find a way to contribute even when his shot is a little off, and his still managed 25 points! I also love how much support his is giving his teammates when he's on the bench. There are so many great reaction shots caught on camera.

-I love Derek Fisher, but he was predicably driving me a little crazy last night. I felt like he attempted too many shots, even though other guys attempted more, and I really didn't like that weird backwards scoop shot that should have been an easy putback and wasn't. Of course, he's a little like Ron to me: I equally expect him to make 3's and miss 3's. Although if the game was on the line, I'd put money on him making them no matter how bad his shot was falling earlier. He has this crazy innate ability, this incredible sixth sense to know when to make a shot. And of course his leadership and encouragement can't be underestimated. Love that his teammates call him Mr. President btw haha.

-The thing I hated most about the game was that ridiclous technical called on Matt Barnes. He got called for a foul, then turned around and took 3 STEPS towards the official to hand him the ball and got T'd up. REALLY?!?! I know Joey Crawford is a notorious asshole, but Jesus Christ. He didn't make a face, he didn't say anything, throw his hands in the air, react IN ANY WAY except walking towards him. I hate that that can get you a technical foul these days. I understand trying to get rid of the excessive whining and complaining, but not allowing players to show any emotion is really detrimental to the game. And it could potentially change the outcome of very important situations.... if you're only allowed 2 techs before you're ejected and your star player picks up two RIDICULOUS ones in a do-or-die playoff game, the officials have just monumentally changed the tone and outcome of the game. I really hope they ease up on some of the new rules. Maybe by going so extreme so early, they can scale it down to something strict but more manageable. It's not unprecedented; the league tried to change the ball a few years ago and switched back to the original leather halfway through the season because the players hated the new ball so much. But yeah. It made me angry last night lol.

-Other than that, the Lakers did a great job of playing defense and not fouling. Although they didn't get to shoot many free throws themselves.

-Glad that Sasha didn't play so he couldn't stir up more shit with Goran Dragic. (Plus he's just not very good anymore and sulks too much about lack of playing time.) I'm still pissed about Game 6 last year in the Western Conference Finals against the Suns. The Lakers were killing it in Phoenix, until Sasha committed a totally unnecessary flagrant foul on Dragic IN THE FOURTH QUARTER- apparently they developed an intense rivalry practicing for the Slovenian national team before Sasha was cut. But yeah. Sasha fouls, Dragic makes his free throws and the Suns go on a tear fueled by the crowd and by rallying around Dragic and turned the game into a nailbiter that Kobe had to bail them out of once again. I've never seen Kobe so angry!

After the game, Bryant was asked how he felt upon Vujacic's act.
"I wanted to kill him," Bryant said.
After the Lakers held on?
"Still going to kill him."

hahahah funniest thing everrrr! I still love it :)

In closing, I thought the game was a good solid road win, especially in the second half (I missed most of the first half unfortunately, running Halloween errands with Jenelle). I'm going to be a Lakers girl for Halloween (sparkly gold dress, purple sweater with Lakers logo on back, sneakers). Can't wait to wear my costume tomorrow and cheer on my boys against Golden State!

P.S. Also, I'm not sure if each game recap is going to be as long as these past two, but I guess we'll see. haha.

Game 1 aka Ring Night

The beginning of a new NBA season is like Chrismukkah and my birthday rolled into one. It's my favorite time of year!! I went to my favorite bar to watch Lakers vs. Rockets, and thought about taping it just in case I couldn't hear the ring ceremony. Luckily I could, and then I remembered it would be on youtube anyway. But how amazing was it!! Such a great idea, and so touching to hear the guys talk about each other. It shows what a long way this team has come from Lakers teams in the immediate past. Shaq-Kobe was a coexisting relationship, and I'm pretty sure Kobe wanted to murder everyone except maybe Lamar from October 2004-February 2008....Kwame, Smush, no Pau, no D Fish... terrible.

But anyway! The rings look amazing, I love that they added leather from the Game 7 ball to each one. A little peeved at Jeannie Buss for letting Bieber get his hands on Phil's ring, I really dislike that guy anyway and that was so not cool lol.

The game started out really well, Kobe looking enough like Kobe, Ron hitting his first three. Great energy. Of course they slacked off in the middle like they normally do and my stress levels quickly rose way too high for this early in the season. Freakin Game 1 guys!! Come on haha. I think the Lakers are a little like me... procrastinators who need pressure to get the job done ;) Pau was solid and amazing as always, and Lamar is a new man after winning the gold with Team USA. He looks like he's already in midseason form. I'm slowly warming to Matt Barnes, he's def a hustler and kind of a dirty player (which is fine when you're on my team and not against it haha). and ummm HI SHANNON BROWN!!! Not only is his vertical leap still insane, now he's draining outside shots too?! And leading the bench back to a lead?! With Kobe and Fish on the bench?! Holy cow, I love it. Also, WELCOME TO THE TEAM STEVE BLAKE!! 2 quick three's to help Shannon lead the charge, and the game winner with 18 seconds left! Now that's an initiation. Soooo great to see how much Kobe trusts him- enough to give up the shot and pass to the open new guy! Watching Derek's reaction on the bench was priceless as well. In fact, I love that none of these guys seem to be that concerned with playing time (except for maybe sasha and matt barnes)- they want their teammates to succeed so they can succeed and keep their deathgrip on the trophy :) And we FINALLY have a deep enough, good enough bench to do it. Awesomeeee.

Seriously though, that game was almost too much for me this early on. There were maybe 4 other fans in the bar and I was screaming like a lunatic after every big shot we hit. I'm sure everyone was like, um hello? It's game one out of eighty two, plus two months of playoffs. Calm down. hahah. I can't though! I know it's only one game, but I wanted them to get off to a good start, to have them end their amazing night with a victory. And honestly, it's fun to cheer and scream that much. Sometimes I wish I didn't care as much as I do, but right now it's all good and fun.

Oh and Miami lost too ;) I think I'll save some good Lebron stuff for another post. I have continually evolving thoughts on the subject.

All in all, great night, great victory. 1-0. A perfect record!! haha. Got some texts from my parents during the game, too bad my phone had died. omg funny story. At one point in the game, I think Shannon hit a particularly nasty shot and the camera cut to Kobe sticking his tongue out like, damn son! Exactly like Commodus in Gladiator when the blood sprays in the big battle scene in the Coliseum (fav movie ever btw). And my mom texted me "Kobe did a Commodus!" hahahah we are like the same person sometimes, I love it! And I wonder how many other people notice crap like that. GO LAKERS!!!

And here....we....go!

I have decided, after years of thinking and not doing, that I am finally going to write a blog centered on my beloved Los Angeles Lakers. It might save me from updating my facebook status incessantly if I have somewhere else to post my Laker-related thoughts! haha. The plan is to write a reaction after every game, with some random entries sprinkled in for effect. I'm not going to do scouting reports on opposing teams, and I've never been great at knowing random shooting percentages or things like that... it's mostly going to be gut reactions and observations by a diehard purple-and-gold bleeding fan. And it's going to be fun! Especially if I eventually figure out how to post pictures on here :)

I decided to title my blog "Champagne Supernova" for a couple reasons. First off, we've been fortunate as fans to witness 5 championships within the past ten years... 7 in my lifetime if you want to count '87 and '88! The frenzy of the locker room after clinching a title, with champagne flowing and raining down on each member of the team is a memorable image to say the least. And champagne is practically synonymous with celebrations of all kinds! Secondly, a supernova is: a stellar energetic explosion which is extremely luminous and causes a burst of radiation that often briefly outshines an entire galaxy, before fading from view over several weeks or months. I think that captures the beauty of a championship team, especially a Lakers championship team, perfectly. A bright burst of cosmic energy that outshines everyone when all is said and done, yet tragically fades from view over time... until the next supernova bursts across the sky. Plus, I got the idea listening to the song by Oasis on my lunchbreak haha.

Just in case anyone has any doubts about my all-encompassing love of everything purple and gold:

*I am the girl who's earliest memory is of watching basketball, and who went to her first game at 5.
*I am the girl who has been defined for most of my life as "the Lakers girl"; it's one of the first things people learn about me. My passion for them radiates through every pore.
*I am the girl who screams at the tv as if they can hear me.
*I am the girl who is not religious but prayed every single night during the 2010 Finals.
*I am the girl who follows the Lakers all year long: I watch every game that's available on tv, use the radio and internet for the ones that aren't, and scour the web for scraps of news during the offseason.
*I am the girl who will argue all day long with Laker Haters and tell bandwagoners to take a hike.
*I am the girl who used to dress her beagle Joey in jerseys and make him pose for adorable photos.
*I am the girl who either buys or has to resist buying every purple and gold thing she sees.
*I am the girl who owns four Kobe jerseys, at least 15 Lakers shirts, a pair of Lakers Adidas and a pair of really sick gold snake earrings (Black Mamba!!)
*I am the girl that wears purple eyeliner, gold eyeshadow and purple/gold nailpolish during the playoffs.
*I am the girl who relishes buzzer beaters, but usually has a stress induced heart attack in the process. My heart rate spikes to dangerous levels and thunders away in my chest until well after the final buzzer has sounded.
*I am the girl who cries after they lose a close game (though not as much as I used to!).
*I am the girl who has amazing parents that love sports as much as I do and text me during games, and an amazing sister that patiently listens to me ramble on even though she doesn't love sports haha.
*I am the girl who looks forward to the distant future when I can share my love of basketball with my children...and dress them in tiny Laker outfits of course! haha
*I am the girl who has thought about getting some sort of Lakers-inspired tattoo....
*I am the girl who has loved Kobe Bryant from the very beginning... through heavenly ups and hellish downs, and everything in between. I never abandoned him and was ridiculed for defending him so vehemently, but all I ever cared about was his talent on the court. He wants to be the best player he can be, the best in the world and in history, and he uses actions not words to prove it. It's hard for me to explain what Kobe means to me... I love him as much as you can love someone you've never met, and I think it's because I've been able to witness his entire basketball life- from draft day until his eventual retirement. He gives me chills and makes me smile.
*I am the most obsessed, passionate, crazy, informed, intelligent and emotional Los Angeles Lakers fangirl that you are likely to ever meet :)


In closing this inaugral entry, all I have to say is THREE-PEAT BABY!!!! Larry O'Brien Trophy, you are staying in LA next June! All hail the REAL kings... the ones that have rings ;)