Last summer we went to a Seattle Storm game and had a blast, so this year when we got a great offer to buy tickets to some games, we took it. Friday night, we went to our first game and had an amazing time. We got there early and were wondering around KeyArena - looking at t-shirts and stuff before going to our seats. A lady approached Morgan and asked if her daughter (Mackenzie) would like the opportunity to go down on the floor to get a ball from one of the players before the game. Morgan explained that she wasn't the mom, but her dad was right there. The lady explained to Kevin that she was looking for kids to be part of the ball exchange that they do before each game. (When they introduce the team at the beginning of the game, they run out and give an autographed ball to some kids that are representing their community organization(s) of the night) All Kenzie had to do was wear one of their shirts. The lady was from Children's Trust Foundation, one of selected organizations for that game. I walked up about this time and she was saying that Sierra and even Tyler could go, and we said "well what about her?" meaning Lyndsey. She said that was fine and started handing them shirts and told to go wait by a sign. After they had a total of 11 kids, they took us down and sat the kids right on the base line in the "good seats" and let them watch warm-ups from there.
We got to sit behind them in some other "good seats". At one point, Lyndsey actually got to pass a ball to one of the LA Spark players that had missed a rebound during a drill. After warm-ups, they took the kids to get them staged for the intro, and then let us follow behind. We went under the seats, to get to the opposite corner of the court from where the players enter - and at one point we had to walk across the court. I turned to tell Bob and Mo "just think you got to actually walk on a WNBA court". They were both "I know", I don't think Kaylee stopped smiling the whole time - she was the most excited of everyone.
We waited in the hallway for the intro, and the whole time I can't believe the Kenzie isn't freaking out - we are way behind them, and all these other adults were telling her what to do. And although the other kids were with her, when they lined them up, she was separated a little from them and she was just going with the flow. Another little boy ended up having his dad go out with him because he was crying. So they take them out on the court and we got to sneak around the corner a little to watch. But with all the people on the floor, it was really hard to get many pictures. The best part was when Kenzie went up to get her ball, the player handed it off to her, and then went to line up with the team, Kenzie went to go with her, but then wasn't sure where to go, so she turned around and started going the other way - so now they have this little girl in a huge shirt (they only had one size apparently and it was a like an adult medium) running around the court carrying a basketball who has knack for squeezing between all the bigger peoples legs.
(we are pretty sure that is Jana Veselá laughing at Mackenzie running back and forth) The people in the Storm that were coordinating the ball exchange (wearing yellow shirts) were trying to get her to go the right way and I could see one waving her one way and another (I think he was with the camera crew) trying to coach to go over with the other kids, and she is just running back and forth. Finally one of the helpers went out and lead to where she was suppose to be. The whole time the introductions continued because I'm pretty sure the announcer couldn't see her, so she almost got ran over a by the next players to be announced. (Sorry the picture isn't the best - but we weren't allowed to use flash photography)
Kenzie got a ball from #7 Jana Veselá, Sierra got hers from #40 Alison Lacey, Tyler got his from #34 Le'coe Willingham, and Lyndsey got hers from #15 Lauren Jackson.
(Morgan is on her cell telling Grandpa Frank all about it - he called her)
Oh and by the way - the game was awesome too. The Storm trounced on the LA Sparks 82 to 60. That brings them to 9-1 for the season - and they are in the lead in the western conference and in the WNBA. So excited to be able to see them play a couple of more times.
And here are some more photos from the night - including some from when we got to watch the players enter the court and warm-ups from courtside, waiting in the tunnel, and during the game...again the quality isn't great because of the ban on flash photography on some of them.
4 comments:
That is so cool!! How fun for the kids and now you have plenty of Basketballs for them to play with!!! Unless your going to try to save them as collectibles.
Did the coach tell you that he was planning on saving a spot on the team for your girls? That's pretty awesome that they were able to get signed basketballs.
Kevin won't let them bounce them - especially the Lauren Jackson one - I'm thinking the new decorating theme in the basement will be basketball orange and white and/or storm colors (the very cool dark green and dark red and yellow) nice. right now they have been given a seat of honor - literally - they are stacked in one of the living room chairs.
wow - how cool is that. What a great memory.
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