The first NBA game you ever attended...

[Veteran_Picksetter]

I go way back.

March or so of 1981: My dad drove us from Salisbury, NC all the way down to Atlanta in order to see the Hawks vs. the Nuggets.

The Hawks featured PF Dan Roundfield and the "troubled" Eddie Johnson (There have been at least two Eddie Johnsons in the league, but this one turned out to have some serious issues). The Nuggets featured David Thompson and Dan Issel.

I don't remember much about the game. It was in the since-demolished Omni arena--then an impressive state-of-the-art facility. They gave away free kid-sized Atlanta Hawks shorts, just like the uniform shorts. But since shorts were so....short, at the time, it wasn't like a big use of material.

The main thing I remember was thinking about the Atlanta Child murders. For those who don't know, a lot of African-American children were disappearing and turning up dead in a certain section of Atlanta during that period. This horrible situation was, understandably, national news.

I remember getting on the subway(?) (MAARTA?) and looking across the way at some of the children of my age who happened to be African American. I felt really bad for them, because I assumed they were living in absolute fear, based on the impression I got from the news.

Anyway, fortunately they arrested a guy soon afterwards and the murdering appeared to subside. That's a whole other topic as to whether the right guy was caught, but I'm glad the murders at least greatly decreased. That awful situation will always be tied into my memory of first attending an NBA game.

My next game was 7 years later, watching the Hornets beat the Sixers in December of 1988. Rex Chapman drew a charge on Charles Barkley to seal the win. Barkley was so furious he immediately threw the ball into press row. If memory serves, that was the first win by the Hornets against a .500+ team. 23,000 fans were going nuts. Total strangers were high-fiving each other in the cheap seats after the win. The sense of community was extraordinary. It was different times.......It's probably the way we would have been if we had won a home playoff game this year.

I'm sorry if this bores anybody. But hey, it's summer.

I'd love to hear about the first NBA games attended by others on BCP. Thanks in advance!

[stun704]

I believe it was a Halloween game between the Hornets and the Knicks, i forget which year it was.

[TattoodCats4life]

Bobcats Pacers, November of 2007... Ray/JRich/Wallace/EO50/Brezic all answering to the ham biscuit.

Funny enough JRich was -10 and Primoz was -2 :) McInnis and Hammer were +13...

Oh and the cancer known as Tinsley started :)

And if EO50 kept putting up 20/20 nights like that night I think he'd be playing here still

[WAM9]

November of 1988 I went to the Hornets vs Clippers and watched the Hornets get their first win ever. I was hooked on the teal ever since!

Ironically, I was also at the 1st Bobcats win (November 6th, 2006) ever against Orlando. I have the tickets, newspaper clipping ("This magic moment") and the Orange Roar Rag they gave out in a picture box as a momento.

[Veteran_Picksetter]

November of 1988 I went to the Hornets vs Clippers and watched the Hornets get their first win ever. I was hooked on the teal ever since!

Ironically, I was also at the 1st Bobcats win (November 6th, 2006) ever against Orlando. I have the tickets, newspaper clipping ("This magic moment") and the Orange Roar Rag they gave out in a picture box as a momento.



I remember the news of that a game. The Clippers were sporting Joe Wolf at the time. I think they were also "loaded" with young talent: Danny Manning, Gary Grant, and Charles Smith. Unfortunately for them, that impressive young talent didn't pan out......

That was probably only a few weeks before MY first Hornets game. Nothing like that first-season magic....

Although, I gotta say, I like being able to see games downtown now.

I have an official video of highlights, etc. from the Hornets first season. It is fun, and kind of hilarious with its late 80's "local production" flavor. It had segments on Robert Reid, Rex Chapman(the future superstar!), Tim Kempton, etc.

[mrtarheel]

Do any of u remeber The Hive?

[amour217]

1988: Celtics vs Spurs...Bird, McHale, Parish...best ever

[Demon DeaCat]

It was a while before I made it to a regulation NBA game. I went to a few Hornets pre-season games when they came to Winston, but I didn't actually go to a regular season game until the Hornets last season. I had never been and wanted to see a game before they left. I don't even remember who they were playing. Someone terrible like the Clippers I think. I remember Baron having a nice game but the thing that stands out most was just how lame the atmosphere was. There were probably only about 7 or 8 thousand people there. There was no excitement at all. Probably the worst environment I've ever been in for a college or pro sporting event. I really regret not getting to see the Hornets during their golden years. I hope the Cats can re-create that excitement again.

[teej]

Magic/Bobcats, December '07, the night they traded for Nazr, Ryan Hollins only start as a Bobcat.

[WAM9]

Do any of u remeber The Hive?

Absolutely. I attended probably close to 100 games there overe the years.

To VP's point, I love the uptown location as opposed to the Tyvola one for sure.

[dvdbumpus]

My first game was this year, Jaunary 3rd, 2010. My girlfriend took me to a game in Cleveland to play against the dreaded Lebron....he choked in the end! LOL.


http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2010010305&prov=ap

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfkRSGT5-a8

[TheBeagle]

Bulls/Hornets Year One of the Hive.....I was 8 or 9 so I remember nothing about the particulars of the game, just the excitement and the great atmosphere in that building.

[Veteran_Picksetter]

Absolutely. I attended probably close to 100 games there overe the years.

To VP's point, I love the uptown location as opposed to the Tyvola one for sure.

I hated to see the Hive go, but the uptown NBA experience is better overall.

Both places mean a lot to me. But you can park once downtown and then combine a Bobcats game with so many other activities. I think the Hive had a Jocks and Jills restaurant across the street, and that was about it. And you still had to drive to it.

I probably attended about 25-35 Hornets games through the years. Good times, despite the way-out location.....

[EvetsMorrison15]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx-wlHxBBuM&feature=related

Overtime game, Magic pull it out, free lay-ups after the game to those who purchased special tickets. I would later miss my lay-up after the game.

good night

[kickazzz2000]

1990-91 season, vs. the terrible ( at the time) Dallas Mavericks. I too, don't remember the particulars, except for the fact that the Hornets won. I was never much of a sports fan as a kid (8th grade at the time) but was intoxicated by the atmosphere. Hooked for life (not only the nba, but sports).

Been to the hive about 10 times. Only been to TWC for a Bobcat's game once. I've been away too long...

[Dunk]

1981 NBA playoffs, Bulls at Celtics. The start of the dynasty with Bird in his second year, a rookie Kevin McHale, and a recently traded for Robert Parish. Backing them up was Cedric Maxwell. In the backcourt was Tiny Archibald, ML Carr, Chris Ford, and Gerald Henderson.


Don't remember much about the game. We were on TV going into the arena. The Garden was just old and had no air conditioning so it was hot as hell in there. My dad got them to take me down to the floor for a few seconds and I remember thinking how tall the players were.

I went to the Garden maybe 10 times, but most of those were to see the Bruins. They were much easier to get tickets for.

[ohara831]

I may have most of you beat, but not all. I went to a Kentucky Colonels ABA game back in the early 70's when I was around 6 or 7. Dan Issel was their star player. I can actually remember being there. Man, that makes me feel old now - geesh.

[ND22]

I've...never been to an NBA game. :facepalm:

I'm making a conscious effort to catch a Bobcats game next season because well, its about damn time I did.

[Scottley Crue]

I don't remember who they played, but for my 11th birthday, my parents took me to see the Hornets. I was hooked on the NBA before I went, but that just cemented it more.

To those asking about remembering The Hive, I absolutely, positively do. Went to well over 100 games over the years, too. When I was a teenager and could drive me and my buddies there, we'd alway hop a fence and go down to the loading dock where the players came out to say "hello" or "good game" to them. (Also saw someone tell Dave Cowens he sucked. I then immediately got to witness no less than three people hold Cowens back while he let out of the most impressive profanity-laced tirades I've heard to this day)

[ALong13]

I got my family going to a game a year a few years ago. Never went to a Hornets game so the first game I ever saw was the November 24, 2007 game against the Boston Celtics in which Ray Allen hit the buzzer beater...exciting, great first game, but equally depressing. Since then I've seen them play and beat the Hornets (2008) and the Hawks (2009). When the schedule comes out i'm sure we'll go see another.

[Veteran_Picksetter]

I've...never been to an NBA game. :facepalm:

I'm making a conscious effort to catch a Bobcats game next season because well, its about damn time I did.

If it's any enticement, I think the NBA is 3 times better in person as opposed to watching on TV--especially if you know the players and understand the matchups.

[BlockParty]

Feb 8, 1990....I was in NY with the James Madison Basketball Team (I was a manager for the team my first two years in college..Lefty Driesell was my boss). I'm also 3 of 4 from 3 point range in MSG (I stopped shooting after 4 shots in fear of reality setting in).

Anyway, we stuck around and got to see a real NBA game...Knicks vs the Warriors...Knicks had Ewing, Warriors had Chris Mullin...I looked up the roster...guess who else made up the rosters for that game: Rod Higgins, Manute Bol, and Mark Jackson.

Saw Jordan play twice while living in DC area (when the Bullets played the Bulls)...and then a dozen or so of the Hornets games at the Hive, including when Baron Davis (rookie season) absolutely dunked right in Kevin Garnett's face on a fast break. Been a STH at Bobcats games the last 4 seasons.

[Veteran_Picksetter]

Feb 8, 1990....I was in NY with the James Madison Basketball Team (I was a manager for the team my first two years in college..Lefty Driesell was my boss). I'm also 3 of 4 from 3 point range in MSG (I stopped shooting after 4 shots in fear of reality setting in).

Anyway, we stuck around and got to see a real NBA game...Knicks vs the Warriors...Knicks had Ewing, Warriors had Chris Mullin...I looked up the roster...guess who else made up the rosters for that game: Rod Higgins, Manute Bol, and Mark Jackson.

Saw Jordan play twice while living in DC area (when the Bullets played the Bulls)...and then a dozen or so of the Hornets games at the Hive, including when Baron Davis (rookie season) absolutely dunked right in Kevin Garnett's face on a fast break. Been a STH at Bobcats games the last 4 seasons.

Dude, do you remember a kid on the James Madison team named Clayton Ritter? Blonde guy about 6'8"? Ended up playing pro ball in Australia?

I played a season of high school ball with him when I lived in Virginia Beach. I knew him o.k. He had kind of a serious demeanor about him.

[BlockParty]

Dude, do you remember a kid on the James Madison team named Clayton Ritter? Blonde guy about 6'8"? Ended up playing pro ball in Australia?

I played a season of high school ball with him when I lived in Virginia Beach. I knew him o.k. He had kind of a serious demeanor about him.

Yep...Clayton was probably a freshman 90-91 season? That was my junior year and I decided to concentrate on school..and having fun so didn't have the day to day interaction with him. If I remember correctly he had really bad acne early on his his teen years...looked liked scars by the time he got to college.

And yeah he was serious....he hardly ever smiled on the basketball court...which for a white guy dunking on people (especially at that time) he had plenty to smile about.

[ND22]

If it's any enticement, I think the NBA is 3 times better in person as opposed to watching on TV--especially if you know the players and understand the matchups.

That's what everyone tells me, and that its the best sporting event experience out there. Hell my friend had Allen Iverson fly into his lap during a Sixers game way back when. I'm going next year, I'm making sure of it.