Before I say anything else, I'm down right fed up with these 9:30 starts. Tell me again why we in Texas should have to stay up till 12:30 in the morning to see the end of what should be a primetime game. Stupid Eastern conference; they toy around with one perky little time zone while we're burning both ends with three. I will watch the highlights of those worthless East games the day after, not the closing quarter for my own team. Why can't they show the games simultaneously like the NFL so ingeniously does? I would think it would be better ratings with nonstop action, maybe I'm wrong.Although I wasn't to privy to a 9:30 tip, I must admit that it did guarantee me the assurance of not having any conflicting activities. I guess that's something. For the previous 3 games I was content to listen to the radio broadcast and keep an eye on the snazzy little ESPN Gamecast, but due to the high amount of controversy and nail biting finishes, I was determined to get to a TV screen for last night's game. I rolled into an empty Red Robin parking lot at around 10:30 only to witness the end of an atrocious 1st half. I could foresee many different outcomes to that pivotal game 5 and I knew that a comeback would be the exclamation point on the series, but I still hate watching it. I can remember great comebacks against the Lakers, Mavericks and Pistons in years past. They're always the games I want to revisit now, but my goodness, they were a torture to go through the first time around.
So as closing time neared and I was forced to find a new booth at the nearby Applebees, I was praying that the next 2 hours wouldn't be a waste of time and money. It was very interesting because, before I knew it, I was in the middle of the classic "bar scene." As midnight hit, in came a flood of heavy drinkers in their mid-twenties ( don't forget a few thirty five year old wannabes) and the game was only a backdrop. It was awkward to say the least to have those looks from across the bar in the rowdy atmosphere, while the rest of the world was seemingly dead. I was glad that it is common protocol that the guy instigates the conversation, or else I might have been telling girls "not that I'm not interested in talking with you, but I'm really concentrating on something else tonight. It's kind of why I'm here." Oh, and it was also great to mistakenly get a $20 bill for 3 Coors Lights and veggie pizza when all I had ordered was some chips and queso. Fun, fun, fun.Anyway, back to the game. Although it was encouraging to see some great play by Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, with about 3 minutes left I was still mired in a pool of doubt. Phoenix is a great team and every run San Antonino made was answered with equal intensity. Neither team was willing to give this one up and it ultimately came down to the big shots. And oh how sweet it was to see Bruce's shot go down. Signed, sealed, delivered; get me home... Great game, everything that was advertised, so why won't they broadcast it at a decent hour?!!!
