Thoughts on Game 6: California Dreamin

Ok friends, huge and I mean HUGE game tonight. It's what all basketball fans live for, a heated Game 7 where it's all on the line. I suppose Kobe's teammates recovered from his stinging criticism because they really turned it around in Game 6. The Celtics were finished by halftime and their case wasn't helped much with the early withdrawal of center Kendrick Perkins. He suffered a severe knee injury and won't be returning for Game 7, and from the sounds of it he sadly won't be active next season.



Andy and I veiwed the game together at home with a gulf coast seafood extravaganza as it might be the last of our local seafood for quite a while due to the big mess of oil. Our favorite seafood shop, Shrimpers, is possibly closing down as early as Monday. This haven of seafood is owned and operated by a family that has lived in Destin forever (I went to high school with the son and daughter, and that was a loooong time ago) and this family has always been working in the fishing business so I know they have the best of the local catch. It's a very sad time.



To lift our spirits we opened a bottle of Williams Selyem Pinot Noir from California's Russian River Valley which is always good for a little cheer. Our very dear friend Bob, aka the Big Willi, makes this delicious wine so you have to feel good when sipping his juice, also known affectionately as the Big Willi.



It'll be tough to top that line up for Game 7 tonight, but I'll try.



My sister Mathilda is vacationing in San Diego right now, wait...is it considered vacation when visiting in-laws? Anyway, I told her she should try to go to the game, surely LA isn't that far away from San Diego. Just for a little fun, she did some research and reports "I can get two COURTSIDE tickets for only 30,000 and change (each). And parking is included! But alas, I have nothing to wear. And who would I root for?" Parking included? What a bargain! Maybe I should hop on a plane and accompany my sister to the event after we make a quick shopping spree/makeover in Beverly Hills. But oh rats, our very strict and considerate financial advisor says its not a good idea. But we can dream...



For all of you friends that still don't really get the basketball thing, I beg you to watch the national anthem and introduction of the teams just before the game. Los Angeles naturally puts on a dramatic performance (that little song bird Christina Aguillera sang on Thursday night) and you can get a compilation of the most exciting moments of playoff history too. It's very entertaining, even for those that don't yet embrace this face-paced sport.



And as for history, this is the 12th meeting of these two teams in the finals. The Celtics have won 9 of 11 of those meetings. It's going to be tense out there tonight, but Kobe Bryant says he's "not trippin."



Celtics Coach Doc Rivers says "It should be a lot of fun." I agree with Doc, yet it will be a little bittersweet as the close of this game brings on a long, hot summer void of basketball, with football still far out on the horizon. I suppose I'll have to cheer on baseball and soccer.



Tip off tonight at 8:00.



xoxo