August 11, 2020


The day started out great.  My colleague that missed his COVID test the day prior was contacted by NBA officials who asked him to remain in his room after he took his COVID test at 6:00am until he was to report to work later in the afternoon.  He would get his temperature taken upon entering the arena and, because of his month-long account of negative tests and if his temperature was within the acceptable level, he would be able to work.  He must practice extreme social distancing while at work.  He also received a written reprimand and will be excused from the restart if he violates the protocol moving forward. From now on he is going to get tested every morning and not wait until later in the day like he has been doing.  I am confident he won’t miss any more COVID tests.

 

When I entered the workout room later in the morning, Mr. Consistency, Leon Wood, acknowledged me as I began my circuit.  I guess we are buds now, being as I see him every time I am in there.  It was nice to be recognized.

 

I went for my test before lunch.  When I walked in and sat down, the attendant looked at me prior to me registering my wristband on the sensor and said “Darrin Pierce 102159.”  Holy crap!  Not only did my workout buddy recognize me but the COVID receptionist as well.  I asked her how she knew it was me as I had my mask on and was just removing my sunglasses.  She said she recognizes everyone now as it has been over a month since we started doing this routine, that it has pretty much become second nature.  Damn, and I thought perhaps I was special.  She said she doesn’t know everyone’s name and birthdate but I am one of the few that rattles it off the way I do.  Some say the month and day and year, others only say the month and day, but I am somewhat unique with my ten-twentyone-fiftynine style. 

 

I didn’t need to be to the arena for the one game I had on national television until 4:30 in the afternoon (for a 9:00pm) tip so I headed to the pool after lunch for a little sun and some reading.  I found a comfortable spot and cracked open the Bolton book.  I’m about one third through and it is holding my attention.  A strong gust of wind suddenly swept the pool area resulting in a loud crash coming from the other side of the pool.  I had no idea what could make such a tremendous noise so suddenly.  I looked in the direction of the sound and saw three men scattering from beneath a huge palm tree. The wind had separated five large palm fronds and countless sections of bark from the tree that rained down upon the three.  Luckily none were hit by the falling wood crediting their quick reflexes that moved them from the path of destruction.  “The same thing happened a couple of days ago!” I heard one of them exclaim.  Not taking any pity of their situation, I yelled back “I wouldn’t sit there anymore!” 

 

Before they had time to respond my retort a sharp crack filled the air from a lightning bolt that I swear hit the building adjacent to the pool area.  I gathered up my belongings and sprinted for my room.  That storm came out of nowhere.  Three minutes ago I was sweating under the Orlando sun.  Now I was hoping to see refuge from the rain in the comfort of my air conditioned resort room.

 

As I approached my residence, housekeeping was inside refreshing my room as they do every four days.  I knocked to announce my presence and the associate asked if this was my room.  I showed her on the key pad how my wristband proved the room was indeed mine.  What she said next would surely make my wife smile.  “Your room is always so clean.” Huh?  “So many rooms are a mess.  Yours is so clean.”

 

I never really thought of it that way.  Whenever I travel with Deidre she keeps everything in order.  I pretty much follow suit when I travel alone.  It made me think of a couple of other rooms of the guys that I work with, when I would go inside to get a beer or whatever.  Yes, I have a very clean room.  They have crap all over the place, on both beds, on the floor, items strewn across the desk area, nothing in its place.  There is a place for everything while putting everything in its place.  A clean room is a happy room.  Sorry, I digress, but when I was told I had a clean room, I thought of my wife.  Not because she picks up after me but because she has taught me.

 

I arrived at the Arena with the three other green camera operators after we ate dinner at “The Grill” on the WWOS complex.  Boston was playing Memphis in this game aired by ESPN.  Our game followed this one so we pulled up a few chairs and watched some pretty good basketball.  As I sat there watching Gordon Hayward and Jayson Tatum along with Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart dominate who I think will win the NBA Rookie of the Year, Ja Morant, and the Memphis Grizzlies, I couldn’t help but think to myself how damn lucky I was to be where I am. I was sitting in seats that would cost thousands of dollars under normal circumstances, watching world class athletes compete against one another, all the while getting paid to boot.  And this had become commonplace to me.  It’s easy to take things for granted when they occur repetitiously and the environment that I had been living in the last month can easily promote that.  I took a deep breath and reminded myself that I am lucky, that I am blessed, that I must remember to be thankful for this honor, this privilege.

 

The game between the Pelicans and the Kings was nothing but a commitment.  There was nothing on the line, two teams that weren’t going to the playoffs, competing only because the game was on the ledger.  Both rested their marquee players allowing the reserves to play many more minutes than they were used to.  We filled our two and one half hours of television with witty commentary from Kevin and Reggie along with a few highlight worthy basketball plays, but other than that, we wanted to bust out of there as soon as it was over.  I can’t wait until the playoffs start.  We will witness a whole new level of competition from a scenario that can’t wait to be written.


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