Tipped Off

Greetings sportsfans. The season has officially begun. After a long hot summer full of exhausting self-promotion (LeBron), a newcomer ascending to the throne as the new king (Kevin Durant) and big guys going organic, and green (as in Celtic green a la Shaq), the 2010-2011 NBA season has finally gotten underway. And so far it's promising to be a very entertaining year for all of us hoops-lovers.

The season "tipped off" in Boston with the Celtics taking on the possibly overrated superstardom of the Miami Heat. I'm afraid those blinded by the Heat-centric propaganda saw the light as the men in green won that game. Immediately after the game, Craig Sagar, complete in purple sport coat, had the poor sense to ask Rajon Rondo (Celtics Point Guard) "Is Miami the team to beat in the East?" And this just after the Celtics beat the Heat. Obviously not. But the Whiskey Tango in Hollywood, Florida was betting heavy on the Heat. They offered to pay the tabs of patrons of their bar on the night of the first Miami loss. I'm betting they were a little "tipped off" that they had to pay up on that bet as early as opening night.

In the West, the Lakers naturally defeated Houston in their opening game. No surprise there, except possibly for the shock that Khloe Kardashian has lost her spot as the most famous and stylish of all the Laker's player's wives. It's true, wedding bells are ringing for newly engaged Lakers Guard Sasha Vujacic and tennis great/total hottie, Maria Sharapova. As if the Lakers needed more starpower sitting courtside. So move on over Khloe, looks like you've got competition.

And speaking of competition, there's a big game tonight as the Heat take the floor against the Orlando Magic. This will be the debut appearance for the new big three on their home court. They'd better watch out...looks like Superman has dusted off his cape and is ready to play.

xoxo

Lucky Number Three

I've been noticing a lot of 3's lately in the world of sports and want to share my thoughts on this series of important "trios". And, with fall upon us, I must also share my top three favorite fall finds and the three staples I can't do without. After all, the real basketball season commences next week, and I must be an appropriately attired fan, right?

Important 3's in the hoops world:

• We have the three superstars teaming up in Miami. Will they make believers out of all of us doubters? Are they really as good as all the hype? Hmmm....if you look at their preseason stats, they have three wins, but 4 not so pretty losses. Let's see what happens when they make their debut in Boston on Tuesday night.


• Kobe Bryant and the Lakers are going after their third consecutive championship this year. Don't be fooled, this team has not been distracted by the summer's LeBron Mania and they are hungry for their own lucky number 3 (or lucky number 6 total championships for Kobe).


• And three Ben Franklin's my friends, that is what you must pay for a seat in the lower level to watch the Orlando Magic take on the Miami Heat in Orlando on the day before Thanksgiving. A nice appetizer before the turkey day.


• Three--the number of times I've threatened my husband with sleeping in our non-existent dog house due to outrageous and completely unfounded pro-Heat statements.

And in the world of Gator football: The University of Florida has three consecutive losses, something that hasn't happened since 1999. Can they break their losing streak? With the hopeful return of number 3, Chris Rainey, the Gators might be able to change their pattern next Saturday at the worlds largest cocktail party, also known as the Florida/Georgia game.

In other Gainesville football news, my nephew Phillip is number 3 (times 5) so actually number 15, playing Safety and Wide Receiver. Formerly a player for St. Ed's in Vero Beach, he's 'taken his talent' to Gainesville and the Oak Hall Eagles. I'm hoping he's not growing too fond of the team colors which seem to me a slight variation of Garnet and Gold. Coincidentally his dad, Tom, was number 3 on his 8th grade football team where he and fellow Lovett Lions won their county championship. What an athletically gifted family I have.

As for my favorite three fashion finds this fall:

1. Hunter Boots--I know, I live in Florida, the sunshine state, but my friend Patty assures me that she has worn her Hunter's "a hundred and one times" in Miami. You could spot me wearing them on a day when my toes might be a little warm, but I just couldn't pass them up, especially with those super cute sock liners!


2. Hudson Jeans--I'm still a little sour at Sissi and Kelly for not forcing me to purchase these earlier, they're soooo flattering.


3. These adorable Tory Burch flats--I'm totally channeling my inner Blair Waldorf with these cuties.

And as for the three staples I can't do without, this season or any other:

1. A nice supply of bubbly, like the case of Veuve that Susan and I "won" at an autism charity event last Sunday.


2. A beautiful string of pearls, or 2 or 3 or more...


3. A really sassy haircut, such as my new do, compliments of Dan Findley, an old friend and true architect of style.

So there you have it friends, threesomes abound in the world of sports, and so much more.

xoxo

Where the Girls are the Fairest

I realize this is a blog primarily focused on basketball, but I am taking this opportunity to discuss a little football, Gator style. I recently had the great pleasure of meeting up with 7 other girlfriends from the college days (all Tri Delta ladies, of course) and hanging with my sister and her family as they have just relocated to Gainesville. We all gathered for the Florida/Kentucky game, in which Florida made a very promising performance and beat Kentucky with great finesse. Prior to the game, one of the Delta ladies and her lovely beau took us on a tour of the "behind the scenes" areas at Florida Field. We even went out onto the field that other teams know and fear as "the Swamp". At this point I was with my brother in law, niece (of Vero Beach Rivers Volleyball fame) and nephew (also famed, but not yet discussed in the Full Court Dress) and the three of us dropped to the ground to touch the fine blades of grass as we stood in the south endzone. In addition, we checked out the training room, the fitness center, the locker room, the lucky gator the team touches on their way out onto the field and the storage room stacked from floor to ceiling with Gatorade, that tasty beverage invented by the fine folks at the University of Florida. Really, this was a Gator fan dream come true.

I am writing this now so that I can remember good times with the Gators, rather than the heartache inflicted by that houndstooth-loving, semi-pro team in Tuscaloosa. Ouch!! And many thanks to my friend Mark, a big fan of this blog, and an even bigger Bama fan, for not heckling me during the game and after the miserable loss. That was a true act of kindness.

The Gator defense may have been lackluster last week, but I have a little defense of my own for my alma mater. I hear a great deal of criticism of the game day attire worn by the Gator Nation. I'm sure it's shocking that unlike our oh-so-southern rivals in the SEC, we don't do cocktail dresses and you'd be crazy to wear a tie, let alone a sportcoat into the great sweltering heat of Ben Hill Griffin stadium. But I do have evidence, as I am photographed here tailgating with my friends, that we are looking quite nice for our game and very stylish, in a relaxed UF kind of way. We may have left our pearls and stilettos from the previous nights outing behind, but I think we look quite nice and are proof of good Gator fashion. Krissy (third from right) even managed to find an orange and blue, lightweight Tory Burch dress for the occasion. I mean, really, how cute is that?

Now I've got to go assemble my own game day attire as the Gators play those crazy Tigers from LSU tonight. I'll be watching from home with my husband and a nice glass of wine, hoping for a Gator win. (Sorry Mr. Baton Rouge)

Wins and losses aside,

It's great to be a Florida Gator!

xoxo