September 11, 2020

 

I had a very somber awakening this morning as I turned on the television.  Being in the bubble one has the tendency to lose track of time and not know or care what day it is.  It’s just another day to endure and get through.  But the programming on the tube reminded me today was the nineteenth anniversary of our country being attacked.  The imagery on the screen was just as vivid today as it was nearly two decades ago.  During my lunch at the dining center I sat outside with several others and our conversations veered towards where we were when the planes hit the structures.  Each of us was able to recall clearly our location, except two.  We gave them a pass on not being able to remember where they were as today they were twenty three years old.  They couldn’t remember it all.  They had only learned about the tragedy as they got older.  It’s hard for me to believe there is a generation of Americans that were not alive during this time.  I think my years are swiftly going by.

 

After our two games tonight TNT will be down to one crew.  This is because ESPN will take the remaining second round games and we will be starting the conference finals next week.  All us greenies got together on the court in the Arena for a group photo fully aware this would be the last time we would all be together until, well until, we didn’t know. The threat of uncertainty was in the air but after the photo was taken we all once again realized how fortunate we were to have been able to contribute to this historic event. The three that were leaving in the morning were going to be the first to get back to some form of normality, whatever that was.  I was envious of them being able to escape and wished them well.

 

The first game provided the Clippers the opportunity to send another team home.  With a three to one lead in the series a win would give Los Angeles several days rest before the conference finals would begin. Yeah, that didn’t happen.  Denver had the firepower and energy to dispatch of the Clippers setting up a game six on Sunday at 1:00pm.  That game will be played during the same time slot of the opening of the NFL season.  I know, there was a game last night that kicked off the season but I don’t count that. NFL is meant for Sunday, not Thursday.

 

Our game turned out to be as exciting as it was promoted.  It was a classic game seven of a seven game series.  Boston and Toronto had battled one another pretty evenly during each contest and the Celtics still had the half second loss in game three in the back of their minds.  Had that game ended one half second earlier they would have gone up three games to none and surely had advanced.  As a result they are entwined in a game seven.

 

The game see-sawed back and forth with several lead changes throughout the entire forty eight minutes.  Both teams were a bit tired after their double overtime meeting two nights ago.  Toronto, last year’s NBA Champion, fought hard to the bitter end but ending up falling short allowing Boston to advance and meet with Miami in the conference finals.  Howie Singer sent me a text after the game excited and relieved.  He has a couple of days to recoup until the Eastern Conference finals begin on Tuesday. 

 

As I left the arena after the game I passed by several family members from the Raptors who, although disappointed with the loss, appeared happy knowing they too were able to escape the bubble in the morning. That seems to be the consensus of most locked down here in the bubble.  They love that they are here and want to remain as long as required, but when the time comes to depart, they can’t pack their bags fast enough.