If you're not a Raptors fan, then this entry is not for you.
I had the best day at work today. You do not even understand. It was my first Raptors game, being an employee at the Air Canada Centre. Here is everything in chronological order:
- The seating/sections for a Raptors game are a lot more different/complicated than a regular Maple Leafs game. For example, there are VIP sections (courtside), and there are lettered sections - on top of having the regular numbered sections. Regardless, because it is so confusing, all of the in-seat runners were taken on a small "tour" of all of the new sections. We finally reached the "west" section, which is located right behind the basketball net, on the Raptors end of the court. Don't forget, at this time both teams were warming up and just shooting around. So being the guy I am, I jumped onto a small part of the hardwood, and was like "I'm a boss, I'm a boss, I'm on the Raptors court." (Yeah, yeah say I'm a loser. Fuck you.) Miraculously, the ball was bouncing towards me and I could hear "heads" from a very familiar voice. I turn around to stop the ball and see that Chris Bosh is running towards me. So I threw him the ball. He threw it back and said to "throw it up" (while pointing to the net). I threw it up ecstatically, and he jammed with ease. This is where the happiness began. Everyone at work was laughing at me the entire shift because they are now beginning to learn about the "Raptors Lester". :D
- Walking back to the kitchen, from the tour, I saw Jack Armstrong sitting courtside. I stared him down, and he finally noticed that I was looking at him. He smiled at me. :D:D
- After that, I found myself in a crowd of people trying to get to their seats. I was still trying to get back up the stairs to get to my kitchen, when someone lightly brushed me. I look to see who it was, and it was Eric Smith! My favourite Raptors Fan 590 Commentator! :D:D:D
- My first run of the night was to a young lady in the VIP section. Now if I was listening to my co-worker at the tour we had a few minutes ago, I would've been able to run this order with ease. But instead, I threw an alley-oop pass to Chris Bosh. LOL. Therefore meaning that I was not paying attention at all. Seriously, I was on the fucking court, what do you expect. Anyway, as it goes, I found myself lost and had to resort to asking an usher how to reach the certain VIP seat. She said the fastest way was through "the tunnel". Yes, the tunnel in which the Raptors go through to get on the court. Yes, the tunnel that both teams exit through at the end of the game. I was literally shaking the whole time, walking past all of those exec suites. I reach the end of the tunnel to see Colangelo, Gherardhini, and Embry all standing in their regular positions. I was arms-length away from them. :D:D:D:D
- On another VIP run, I was halted by the security guard for a brief moment to let the Dance Pak pass by. Self-explanatory.
- For those of you who didn't know, Runners usually are done shift at the end of the 3rd quarter, or at the end of the second period (obviously depending on the sport). So I watched the entire fourth quarter 10 rows up from court.