Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts

Thursday, January 16, 2020

All Fantasy Everything: Ep.12 – Cities for a weekend (NBA western conference edition)

'All Fantasy Everything' is a podcast by Portland comedian Ian Karmel. Each episode Ian invites comedic guests to draft their top 5 picks on a range of random, often silly topics.

Following in the footsteps of JJ Redick and Jalen Rose' selections for best cities to champagne & campaign in, I've excerpted the western conference destinations drafted by Ian Karmel, Sean Jordan and David Gborie. Sean and Dave were frequent guests in early episodes of the show when it was founded in 2016. They've since become touring regulars in the AFE family with producer Marissa.

'All Fantasy Everything' podcast (Episode 12: Dec 1, 2016)
Cities for a weekend (w/ David Gborie and Sean Jordan)


Skipping to the end, the draft picks for each comedian went as follows:

Sean Jordan
1) Sioux Falls, South Dakota
2) Minnesota, Minneapolis
3) Las Vegas, Nevada
4) Deadwood, South Dakota
5) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

David Gborie
1) San Francisco, California
2) Reno, Nevada
3) Denver, Colorado
4) Omaha, Nebraska
5) Arcana, California

Ian Karmel
1) New Orleans, Louisiana
2) Portland, Oregon (The "Rose City", top of the food chain, jewel of the PNW,)
3) New York City, New York
4) Austin, Texas
5) Chicago, Illinois

I've excerpted the NBA cities from the west which I'd been meaning to since I heard the pod in 2016. To this date I've yet to visit any of the five destinations below. Hopefully the spots mentioned for each city are still around by the time I come around.

Ian Karmel: First round, Second pick.
New Orleans (Southwest Division) 
New Orleans, Louisiana
"IAN KARMEL: (22m 33s) I have the second pick in the first round for 'fun cities to spend a weekend in' and as much as it breaks my heart to do so I can't take the Rose City. I can't go PDX up top. I gotta go with New Orleans, Louisiana. There's not a more fun city. Just three days! Four might kill you. 5 probably, definitely will."

Things they did once...
"DAVE: I was walking down there one time [Exposition Blvd] and I stumbled onto a Jamaican block. It was crazy, they had grills in their trucks. Like meat, they were making meats. Yooo! This is lit.
IAN: I was just in New Orleans. I bought meat out the back of a truck, or the trunk of a car, not even a truck... he was selling like these jerk meatballs."

Neighbourhoods mentioned:
- French Quarter
- Bourbon street
- Exposition Boulevard
- Mississippi River

Dave Gborie: First round, Third pick
Golden State (Pacific Division)
San Francisco, California
"DAVE GBORIE: (32m 13s) Honestly I gotta go with my second city, my home away from home. The Sucker Free, San Francisco man. It is the best freak town ever... I've never gone to a city and gone out and got drunk and been like, everyone here is gonna get laid tonight."

Things they did once...
"DAVE: We started drinking at 6pm. By 3 o'clock in the morning I was bombing a shortboard down a San Francisco hill on the way to the beach and hit the tracks.
SEAN: I went to a spaghetti restaurant and got a 40 [malt liquor beer] with a spaghetti. That's fantastic."

Neighbourhoods mentioned:
- Chinatown
- North Beach

Ian Karmel: Second round, Fifth pick
Portland (Northwest Division)
Portland, Oregon
"IAN KARMEL: (44m 57s) I'm gonna keep it West Coast and redeem my first pick. I had to get New Orleans cuz I was afraid it was going to fall off the board but I have to redeem myself to my home city, my people. The people of Portland, Oregon."

Things they did once...
"SEAN: We went there [Fire on the Mountain] on the crazy-regular. Like that's how we would start if we knew we were gonna have a real fun night.
SEAN: I'm not a big strip club guy. Portland has the only strip clubs that I've ever been to where most of the girls dancing don't look like they're having a horrible time."

Neighbourhoods mentioned:
- Kachka (Russian restaurant)
- Paley's Place (bar & bistro)
- Ava Gene's (Italian restaurant)
- Bunk Sandwiches
- Fire on the Mountain (wing joint)
Holman's Bar & Grill
- Wunderland: cinema and nickel games
- High Dive (neighbourhood joint)
- Belmont, Southeast

Sean Jordan: Second round, Sixth pick
Minnesota (Northwest Division)
Minneapolis, Minnesota
"SEAN JORDAN: (59m 54s) I'm gonna go with Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its always been my favourite city in general. Where I wanted to live, I wanted to move there but we used to go up for weekends constantly... It was the first real downtown we went to. That downtown actually has stuff going on. A lot of cities you go downtown and it'll shut at 10 o'clock or midnight or something."

Things they did once...
"SEAN: This is a specific sort of weekend. For me, this is the weekend. You go into Fifth Element [RSE store] and you just look around. Maybe you see like Slug, a famous rapper in there."

Neighbourhoods mentioned:
- Emma Krumbees (orchard farm, restaurant, bakery)
- Green Giant Statue Park
- Juicy Lucy Burger in Minneapolis
- Fifth Element (Rhymesayers store)
Deja Vu Showgirls
- Gay '90s
- First Avenue (downtown danceteria)
- Acme Comedy co.
- 3rd Lair (skate park)
- Dinkytown
- Mall of America
- Bde Maka Ska [Lake Calhoun]

Dave Gborie: Third round, Ninth pick
Denver (Northwest Division)
Denver, Colorado
"DAVE GBORIE: (1h 29m 47s) I'm sorry to wait for the third pick for you guys. I'm sorry but with the third pick I made the earth sick. Denver, Colorado. Mile High till I die baby! It's the best. Here's the thing with Denver, it has everything a great city has and top of it the people are fan-f*cking-tastic...
It's a spicy town, it's a hard drinking town."

Things they did once...
"IAN: It was the first major city to go legal weed. I got to be there for the last High Plains I did. Two, three years ago. It was legal there but not legal anywhere else yet which was fun. It was a fun time to be there...
DAVE: Me and you did that dab in some dude's office."

Neighbourhoods mentioned:
- High Plains Comedy Festival
- 16th Street Mall
- Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park
- Fire on the Mountain
- Torchy's Tacos
- Voodoo Doughnut
Illegal Pete's

Updated (September 2021):
#30HGlogos for the 'All Fantasy Everything' main roster

Explore links to other Champagne & Campaign recommendations:
- Former LA Clippers teammates Spencer Hawes and JJ Redick share their favorite NBA Road Cities
- Champagning and Campaigning in the NBA Cities: Eastern Conference edition
- Champagning and Campaigning in the NBA Cities: Western Conference edition
- Jalen Rose's City Power Rankings aka Black Guy City Power Rankings

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

30HomeGames goes Hollywood 2019 (LA and Sacramento): NBA Roadtrip wishlist

30HomeGames is going Hollywood for #NBLxNBA 2019.
Follow the journey at #30HGpacific
I'll be returning to California in October. My last visit to the Golden State was in summer 2017. I watched a bunch of comedy and went to my first WNBA game, a Finals rematch between the LA Sparks and the Minnesota Lynx. As with most 30HomeGames trips, this coming trip was a confluence of events which led to an impulse decision. The 3 California games I watch on this trip takes my tally of NBA arenas visited at 15, the halfway point of my mission.
  • Favourable dates for #NBLxNBA III. Melbourne United playing two Californian teams in the LA Clippers and Sacramento Kings
  • The Warriors playing the Lakers in that span
  • Affordable flights from Sydney to LA
  • The blockbuster trades that make LA the undisputed centre of the basketball universe
  • Any excuse to binge on LA's comedy scene again



LOS ANGELES
Basketball

STAPLES Center
1111 S Figueroa St,
Los Angeles, California 90015

Los Angeles Clippers NBA schedule
Thu Oct 10 - Denver
Sun Oct 13 - Melbourne UTD (12:30pm) ----------

Los Angeles Lakers NBA schedule
Mon Oct 14 - Golden State (7:30pm) ----------
Wed Oct 16 - Golden State

- The Pistol Shrimps (Oct 15, 8pm at North Weddington) ----------
WNBA Finals (Last possible Finals date Oct 10)
Agua Caliente Clippers (Nov 9 start)
South Bay Lakers (Nov 9 start)

Wrestling
- Pro Wrestling Guerrilla
- 'You Got it Dude' Bar Wrestling (Oct 9)

Comedy
- 'Motherland Comedy', Thursdays [Oct 10] 8:30pm at Kusina Filipina ----------
- 'Good Looks', Wednesdays 8pm at UCB Franklin
- Neal Brennan shows, Tuesdays at Westside Comedy Theater
- 'Pete Holmes Living at Largo' (Oct 11, 8:30pm at Largo) ----------
- "Hi I’m Rachel and This is My Show" - Starring Rachel Bloom (Oct 15, 8pm at Largo) ----------
- Team Coco House Shows (Oct 3-5)


Pinball
9 Arcades and Bars to get your Pinball fix
EightyTwo
Button Mash

VIDEO: Kyle Kuzma's Guide to Los Angeles | FLY BY

Itinerary:
- The Exchange (Alex Chang)
- Solomon's Studio (Victor Solomon)
- Amiri Studio (Mike Amiri)

Other
- Rose Bowl Flea Market (Oct 13)
- Round Two Store LA + Hollywood (Melrose Ave)
- For All To Envy (North La Brea Ave.)
- Melrose Trading Post
- Gallery 1988 (7308 Melrose Ave)
- Museum of Jurassic Technology (9341 Venice Blvd)
- Levitated Mass at LACMA (5905 Wilshire Blvd)
- New Beverly Cinema (7165 Beverly Blvd)
- Spoon by H (7158 Beverly Blvd)
5 ways to get into the Magic Castle
- Value suits: LA Suit Outlet 3 (380 E 15th), Giorgio Rossi (830 S LA), Mens Suit (1208 Santee)

___________________________________________________

SACRAMENTO
Basketball

Golden 1 Center
500 David J Stern Walk,
Sacramento, California 95814

Thu Oct 10 - Phoenix
Wed Oct 16 - Melbourne UTD (7pm) ----------

Comedy
- Sac Comedy Spot (Sac Comedy Fest, Oct 3-6)
- Punch Line Sacramento

Pinball
Coin-Op Game Room
In the Sacramento area, pinball retains its allure in a digital age (Sac Bee)

VIDEO: Comedian Hasan Minhaj talks to ABC10 about being a die-hard Kings fan

The Return of the "King" (Hasan Minhaj for Sactown Mag)
Natomas In-N-Out
Dos Coyotes

Other
- 50 things to do in Sacramento (SAC Mag)
19 super-fun things to do in Sacramento (Time Out)
Explore Sacramento With This Lady Bird Tour
- The Cheesecake Factory (Arden Fair)

Californian comics: Jensen Karp, Hasan Minhaj and Larry David
Check out my previous NBA wishlists:
North Carolina All Stars 2019: Basketball roadtrip to Charlotte, Davidson, UNC and Duke
NBL x NBA Wishlist for Salt Lake City, Oklahoma City and Phoenix
- Basketball Never Stops 2017 (Seattle and LA): NBA Roadtrip wishlist
The South 2017: NBA Roadtrip wishlist
Texas Triangle 2016: NBA Roadtrip wishlist
- Coolspotting: 30HG '2015 NBA RoadTrip' Champagne and Campaign spots (2 of 2)
#30HGroadtrip on Instagram

Friday, January 11, 2019

North Carolina All Stars 2019: Basketball roadtrip to Charlotte, Davidson, UNC and Duke

Hive mind: Purple Shirt Guy and the Cameron Crazies
As the clock ticked past midnight on New Year's Eve, I resolved that I'd embark on my 12th NBA city to tip off 2019. I'd been working on some zines to close out 2018 which put the Cameron Crazies on the brain. I don't put much forethought in my trips but as someone who revels in narrative, I can act quickly when things feel right. I went to Memphis for the 2017 playoffs sensing the core-4 of my favorite team would soon disband. I traveled for the inaugural NBLxNBA preseason knowing there was no better time to visit the northwest than being a part of Aussie basketball history.

All. Stars: Warriors Big5, Hornets Anniversary Team, Duke Freshmen
There were several reasons why North Carolina for February beckoned me:
  • Experiencing my first All Star weekend
  • The 30th Anniversary year of the Charlotte Hornets. Baron Davis, one of my all-time faves.
  • Duke being the must-watch basketball team of the year. Featuring the most electrifying prospect of this era in Zion Williamson, flanked by 2 sure-fire stars in RJ Barrett and Cam Reddish 
  • Now imagine that in the cauldron that is Cameron Indoor with the Crazies
  • Better yet. Imagine THAT against sworn enemies, the UNC Tar Heels for the 'Blue Blood rivalry'. Arguably the fiercest in all of sports.
  • Golden State at Charlotte was tantalising as the window to see the Durant-era Warriors was closing. This season's Boogie edition ramping up the star power.
The star-studded North Carolina tour:
Charlotte + Davidson + Durham + Chapel Hill (Feb13 -Feb27)
Spectrum Center
333 E Trade St,
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202

NBA All Star Weekend Schedule
Fri Feb 15
- All-Star Celebrity Game presented by Ruffles
- Mtn Dew Ice Rising Stars ----------

Sat Feb 16
State Farm All-Star Saturday Night ---------- wishlist
- Taco Bell Skills Challenge
- Three-Point Contest
- Dunk Contest

Sun Feb 17
68th NBA All-Star Game ---------- wishlist

Charlotte Hornets NBA schedule
Fri Feb 22 - Washington
Sat Feb 23 - Brooklyn
Mon Feb 25 - Golden State ----------
Wed Feb 27 - Houston

Greensboro Coliseum Complex
1921 W Gate City Blvd,
Greensboro, North Carolina 27403

Greensboro Swarm
Thur Feb 28 - Westchester

John M. Belk Arena
200 Baker Dr,
Davidson, North Carolina 28035

Davidson Wildcats NCAA schedule
Fri Feb 15 - Saint Joseph's
Tue Feb 19 - Dayton ----------

Cameron Indoor Stadium
115 Whitford Dr,
Durham, North Carolina 27705

Duke Blue Devils NCAA schedule (Men's)
Sat Feb 16 - North Carolina State
Wed Feb 20 - North Carolina ---------- wishlist

Duke Blue Devils NCAA schedule (Women's)
Thur Feb 14 - Virginia Tech
Thur Feb 28 - Clemson

Dean E. Smith Center
300 Skipper Bowles Dr,
Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514

North Carolina Tar Heels NCAA schedule
Sat Feb 23 - Florida State ----------
Tue Feb 26 - Syracuse

#NBApostcards: Charlotte, North Carolina
 Wallpaper (1920 x 1080)
At this stage I haven't secured tickets for the two bucket list games as both cost upwards of $1000+.
  • UNC at Duke (Wed Feb 20)
  • NBA All-Star Game (Sun Feb 17)
The cheapest available seats for the rival showdown between the Blue Devils and Tar Heels costing more than my return flight from Sydney. I'll be on the ground come game day soaking the atmosphere, hopefully winging into an experience somehow. Plans are sudden and will be on the fly. If you have any North Carolina tips or friends in the area I may connect with, let me know.

As always I'll be documenting the journey on @30HomeGames. I'm buzzing.

Find my previous wishlists and NBA road trips here:
NBL x NBA Wishlist for Salt Lake City, Oklahoma City and Phoenix
- Basketball Never Stops 2017 (Seattle and LA): NBA Roadtrip wishlist
- The South 2017: NBA Roadtrip wishlist
- Texas Triangle 2016: NBA Roadtrip wishlist
- Coolspotting: 30HG '2015 NBA RoadTrip' Champagne and Campaign spots (2 of 2)
- #30HGroadtrip on Instagram

Update:
30HomeGames country playlist

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

NBL x NBA Wishlist for Salt Lake City, Oklahoma City and Phoenix

The inaugural #NBLxNBA tour:
Salt Lake City > Oklahoma City > Phoenix (Oct1 - Oct17)
Before I even have a chance to process my recent Summer hoops tour I'm embarking on yet another adventure. A Western Conference trip to witness the NBLxNBA preseason games. I recently quit my hospitality job which allows me free time. The fact the games were conveniently spaced apart and hosted in cities I'd yet to visit was too compelling an invitation to refuse. It'll be an honor to witness this historic occasion for Australian basketball. There's an ANZAC connection with these NBA teams, adding extra excitement for the matchup. Utah have two Aussies as prominent ball handlers in Dante Exum and Joe Ingles. Whilst OKC have Kiwi Steven Adams as part of their newly formed Big3. The arrival of superstar Paul George energising the fan base as he links with reigning MVP Russell Westbrook.

This is my first time buying a multi-city ticket, I wasn't even aware of them. I shared car rental costs on my first NBA roadtrip and used the Megabus for the majority of my travel. On my Summer hoops tour, I bought two separate return flights which unwittingly worked out cheaper.
This set of neighboring teams is the farthest spread so there aren't great overland options. Whilst my flights transit through Denver, I'll be skipping the Nuggets to keep with the NBL theme. This'll give me ample time to absorb what the host cities have to offer outside of the games.

Aussie themed trips:
#30HGaustralasia FIBA Oceania '15
#30HGsouthwest Texas Triangle '16
This will be my third Aussie themed roadtrip. Having followed the Men's national team for FIBA Oceania '15, as the Boomers battled the Tall Blacks in Melbourne and Wellington. I also did a month in Texas watching every team with Aussies on their roster to start the 2016 NBA season. I've been quite the lucky charm, with home teams winning 9 straight when I've been in attendance. Whilst the odds are firmly against them, my heart's with the Australian visitors as they challenge the world's finest.

Greetings from Salt Lake City, Utah
SALT LAKE CITY
Comedy
- Norm Macdonald Special Event (Oct 5-7 at Wiseguys Comedy Club)
Wrestling
- Ultra Championship Wrestling Zero (Nov 4 at The Complex)
Other
- Strung Out (Oct 3 at The Grand, Complex)
Events
- Now Playing Utah
- Salt Lake City Weekly

Utah Jazz:
Vivint Smart Home Arena
301 S Temple,
Salt Lake City,  Utah 84101

Sydney Kings at Jazz (Monday Oct 2, 7pm)
Maccabi Haifa at Jazz (Wednesday Oct 4, 7pm)

Greetings from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
OKLAHOMA CITY
Comedy
- The Loony Bin
Combat
- Oklamania II (Oct 7 at Hardy Murphy Coliseum, Ardmore)
SCS MMA #33: Clark VS Lopez (Nov 11 at Sugar Creek Casino)
Events
- VisitOKC
- Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill
Other
- Kicklahoma Kiosk at Sooner Mall and Quail Springs Mall
- Mickey Mantle's Steakhouse
- Bleu Garten Food Truck Park
- Empire Slice Pizza
- Sid's Diner and Pop's on Route66
-
Oklahoma City Thunder:
Chesapeake Arena
100 W Reno Ave,
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102

Melbourne UTD at Thunder (Sunday Oct 8, 2pm)

Greetings from Phoenix, Arizona
PHOENIX
Comedy
- This Week Sucks Tonight (Oct12 at Crescent Ballroom)
- Uhh Yeah Dude Live podcast (Oct14 at Crescent Ballroom)
- All Things Comedy Festival (Oct 26-29 at Stand Up Live)
Wrestling
- Arizona Wrestling Federation (Sep 30 + Nov 11,12)
Other
- Visit Phoenix Calendar and Concerts
- DTPHX Downtown Phoenix Events
- Lost Lakes Festival (Oct20-22)
- The Shins at (Oct3 at Comerica Theatre)
- Dinosaur Jr (Oct17 at The Van Buren)
- Red Hot Chili Peppers (Oct18 at Gila River Arena)
- Majerle's Sports Grill

Phoenix Suns:
Talking Stick Resort Arena
201 E Jefferson St,
Phoenix, Arizona 85004

- Brisbane Bullets at Suns (Friday Oct 13)

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Basketball Never Stops 2017 (Seattle and LA): NBA Roadtrip wishlist

Since the inception of the 30HomeGames project in 2011, I've embarked on biennial trips to watch FIBA tournaments around the globe. It began with EuroBasket '11 in Lithuania followed by FIBA Americas in 2013 (Caracas, Venezuela). Continuing on to FIBA Oceania (Melbourne, AUS + Wellington, NZ) and FIBA Asia (Changsha, China) for 2015. I cleared my August schedule this year for AfroBasket, which would've completed the set.

@30HomeGames taking summer seriously:
Los Angeles & Seattle (Aug 18 - Sep 1)
Originally slated for Congo-Brazzaville, the tournament was handed over to replacement hosts Angola. Due to VISA hurdles and uncertainty about competition dates in Angola, I organized alternative plans. With a premium on summer basketball options and hubs of culture, I've decided on a return American visit to Seattle and Los Angeles. What I've affectionately dubbed the Jamal Crawford AKA The Steve Ballmer tour. I'll be checking out the inaugural Big3 tourney at Key Arena and the recently rebranded Crawsover League. Both in their Playoff stages. I'll also be watching the Drew League in South Central LA. Fingers crossed, I can catch some Pistol Shrimps shenanigans despite them being on their summer hiatus.

☔☀️ Basketball Never Stops!
Both cities have plenty of cultural spots that take my fancy, particularly LA which I anticipate I'll visit multiple times on this 30HomeGames mission. It's the home for a vibrant comedy and theatre scene. I look forward to visiting spots like Jensen Karp's Gallery 1988 and one day catch a Pro Wrestling Guerrilla show. I'll be in California for the much anticipated McGregor VS Mayweather showdown, it'll be a treat watching the fight among American fight fans.

Greetings from Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES
Basketball
- Drew League (Weekends at King/Drew Magnet High School)
- The Pistol Shrimps (Tuesdays around LA)
- LA Sparks (Aug 22, 27 at Staples Center)
Wrestling
Lucha VaVOOM (Aug 3 at Mayan Theatre)
Championship Wrestling from Hollywood (June 25 at Oceanview Pavilion)
- Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (June 16)
Comedy
- UCB (FranklinSunset)
- Comedy Store
- NerdMelt LA 
- Largo at the Coronet
- Anthony Jeselnik and Enemies (Aug 30, 9pm at Largo)
- Set List: Stand-Up Without A Net (Aug 26, 8pm at NerdMelt Showroom)

Other
- Gallery 1988 (7308 Melrose Ave)
- Museum of Jurassic Technology (9341 Venice Blvd)
- Levitated Mass at LACMA (5905 Wilshire Blvd)
- And Still Shop (114 South La Brea Ave)
- New Beverly Cinema (7165 Beverly Blvd)
6 places to see magic in Los Angeles (TimeOut)


SEATTLE
Basketball
- Seattle Basketball Pro-Am (Aug 14, 19-21, 27-28 at Royal Brougham Pavilion)
- BIG3 3-on-3 (Aug 20 at Key Arena)
- Seattle Storm (Au 18, 27 at Key Arena)
- The Museum of Jurassic Technology (9341 Venice Blvd)

Comedy
- Rendezvous Jewelbox Theater (Comedy Nest and other weekly shows)
- The Stranger (Comedy things to do)
- Comedy Underground
- Laughs Comedy Club

Wrestling
- Defy Wrestling

Other
- Paramount Theatre (911 Pine St)
- Seattle Pinball Museum (508 Maynard Ave)
- Atlas Obscura for Seattle

MISCELLANEOUS
- Summerslam (Aug 20 in Brooklyn)
- Mayweather VS McGregor at T-Mobile Arena (Aug 26 in Las Vegas)
- Australian NBA Tourism: NBA Summer Leagues and other Pro-am Summer events

Sunday, May 7, 2017

My Memphis Wrestling experience at Game6 Grizzlies and the RSWF [Real South Wrestling Federation]

>> crossposted on the 'Loz in Translation' blog

Whenever I travel, I search for my 3 loves of basketball, wrestling and comedy. I've found them with varying success around the world but have had an easier time on my #30HomeGames mission as they typify Americana.

My ongoing collection of wrestling Grizzlies graphics

Part of the reason why the Memphis Grizzlies are my favourite team is their reverence for pro-wrestling. America's Mid-South has a great wrestling tradition and the Grizzlies honour that with themed wrestling nights. Their mascot 'Grizz' incorporates wrasslin' into his shtick with the use of ladders and championship belts. Local wrestling icon, Jerry "The King" Lawler periodically appears at games to inject excitement into the crowd.
During game 6 of the Grizzlies game, former WCW superstar Buff Bagwell was curiously in the front row. Interviewed during a timeout, he revealed that he was in attendance to support the San Antonio Spurs. Perplexed at first, I immediately marked out as it signaled that Memphis icon Jerry Lawler was just around the corner to challenge him. They worked a program over the course of the game. Buff Bagwell with the upper hand at first, parading around the hallways and arena stage over several play stoppages until he got his comeuppance. Lawler setting up the mascot 'Grizz' as he delivered a top-of-the-ladder splash onto Bagwell's surrogate who was splayed on a table. The experience was bittersweet as the Grizzlies couldn't match that script, coming up short against the Spurs. The fact Memphians entertain such absurd theatre makes them my kind of people.

Real South Wrestling Federation: Memphis' only weekly pro-wrestling show!
I was looking forward to experiencing wrestling in one of its traditional home's of Memphis. RSWF (Real South Wrestling Federation) is the biggest of the remaining federations in the Blues City. They host weekly Saturday night main events which I was excited to catch while I was over there. My last night stateside would be at RSWF. Despite competing with WWE NXT in town for that evening, the performers and loyal crowd put on a spectacular go home show. Had the Grizzlies staved off elimination and forced a Game 7, I would've been torn but there's no way I was going to miss this.

One half of Tag Team 'Full Deck' taunting the RSWF faithful

RSWF founder, Soultaker plucked me from the crowd before the show to introduce himself. He'd been expecting me as I'd expressed that I was coming from Australia to watch Memphis wrestling. He gifted me with a goodie bag that included his patented mask previously cracked by Jerry Lawler himself. It was a humbling display of southern hospitality and grassroots outreach, evident with the sense of community and camaraderie in the arena. The wrestling scene at its finest.

Stash of wrestling goodies from Memphis:
'Memphis Heat' vinyl from the Flashback store and a gift bag of memorabilia from Soultaker.

The show was a blast, an excited crowd of adults and children really making their presence felt. From the constant taunting to the raucous lumberjack match where paying attendees were encouraged to "interact" with the combatants as they spilled outside the ring. The audience of lumberjacks each given leather straps so the performers felt the love. The night didn't end there. After the show, Soultaker invited me backstage to meet the wrestlers. Several photos were taken with skinny ol' me posing between the champions and their belts.

A post shared by Loz In Transit (@30homegames) on

Of the NBA cities visited, I've found Memphis' public transport the least sufficient which is no mean feat. You're effectively obligated to use Uber to travel affordably. I'd Ubered to the show but didn't have wi-fi at the venue to hail a ride home. I ended up getting a lift with some wrestlers back to my hostel, riding with the tag team of 'Pure Power' who main-evented the evening. I would find out that V-man's kids who shared the backseat with me were students at Treadwell, Penny Hardaway's High School. I'd visited the Memphis Tigers' college campus the day previous and would've explored Treadwell had I discovered the connection earlier.

The Game 6 and RSWF Wrestling Nights were indicative of the good fortune and welcome I had in Memphis and Atlanta. I would cross paths with WWE star Tye Dillinger on my transit home, a fitting end as my road trip south was a "perfect 10".

Find RSWF (Real South Wrestling Federation) on Facebook and YouTube here

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Find my other posts on wrestling x travel here:
- 30HG NBA Destinations: WrestleMania 29 and Indy Wrestling
- Coolspotting: Nerding out in England - Comics, CosPlay, Video Games and Wrestling
- Pro Wrestling and Mixed Martial Arts in South America
- Memento Spotlight: UFC and WWE autographs in England
Memphis Grizzlies meets "Memphis Wrestling"

Saturday, April 15, 2017

The South 2017: NBA Roadtrip wishlist

@30HomeGames goes South:
Memphis & Atlanta (April 23 21 - May 1)
I'm heading to the South for my first taste of Playoff basketball, hoping to catch two teams with sentimental connections.

Good news: I'm flying in to Memphis for the 2017 NBA postseason.
Bad news: I might not get to see my team play.

It was always going to be a Riverboat gamble. Threading the needle with work leave, I was securing travel plans before the Playoff schedule was released. Using last year's programme and comparable seedings as a rough guide, I took a chance. It turns out a previous season's calendar has no bearing on future schedules. Lesson learnt.
Memphis starts their series rematch with San Antonio on the opening day of the Postseason. Unlike last year, the first round games this season have a tighter turnaround. Arriving Stateside on the 9th day of the Playoffs, I narrowly miss the two guaranteed games at FedExForum. I'm left to pray that the series grits to a 6th game where it returns to Memphis. That would be a dream.
Mercifully I'm able to catch Game 4 in Atlanta versus the Wizards. My initiation into Playoff basketball.

This trip came about quite suddenly. A flash of inspiration had me scrambling for work leave and securing flights before the schedules had even been released. 30HomeGames will be at Game 4 in Atlanta and Memphis.

Believe Memphis
The Grizz are my team and Marc Gasol is my favourite player. There's uncertainty about how much longer the Core 4 of the Memphis will remain intact and the retirement of the ageless Vince Carter looms. 1st year Assistant Coach, Nick Van Exel is one of my all-time faves too. Having welcoming colleagues within the Grizzlies organization in 'The Basketball Physio's Dean & Dave gave me the impetus to make my Grindhouse pilgrimage sooner rather than later. I hope to connect with the Melbourne lads during my time in the Blues City.

True to Atlanta
Inspired by Outkast and Hawks basketball, my current rec ball team are the 'ATLiens'. We emerged as Champs in our maiden season and as an added surprise got major love from some of the ATL's biggest boosters. NBA Hang Time's Lang Whitaker and Sekou Smith are our 6th men from across the pond, complete with team jerseys. I'm not sure if either sportswriter will be returning home to cover Atlanta's games but it would be a treat to run into our ATLiens teammates.

Atlanta and Memphis rank 4 and 5 respectively on Jalen Rose's "Black Guy City" power rankings. Coupled with one of America's finest cities in Nashville, the trip is fixin' to be a blast. Truth be told, I'd also love to meet Harry the Hawk and Grizz, my two favorite mascots. Harry has the League's best Social Media game, whilst Grizz reps Memphis Wrestling.

My grand plan for the year had been Congo-Brazzaville for AfroBasket 2017. This completes my set, visiting each Continent for FIBA competition. I'd allocated most of my work leave and bankroll for that adventure in August. I had a feeling my 30HomeGames mission would never feel whole if I never watched my Grit-'N'-Grind Grizzlies in person thus my impromptu jaunt. It's a brief trip but I have my fingers crossed the Grizzlies will come through.

Greetings from Memphis, Tennessee
MEMPHIS
Wrestling
Millington Mayhem 4 "United We Stand" (Apr 29 at N-82 gymnasium)
Real South Wrestling Federation (Apr 29 at 3715 South Perkins suite 21)

Other
Jerry Lawler's BBQ
_ King Jerry Lawler's Hall of Fame Bar & Grille
_ Grizzlies-branded court at 'Howze Park', Binghamton
_ Riverboat Gambling
Gus's World Famous Hot & Spicy Chicken
- Champagning and Campaigning in the NBA Cities: Western Conference

Memphis Grizzlies:
FedEx Forum
191 Beale Street Memphis,
Tennessee 38103

Game 3: Thursday Apr 20, 9:30pm
Game 4: Saturday Apr 22, 8pm
Game 6*: Thursday Apr 27 TBD

Greetings from Nashville, Tennessee
NASHVILLE
Wrestling
Freedom Pro Wrestling

Comedy
Zanies (Gary Gulman, Apr 27-29)
Third Roast Comedy Club

Other
_ 'Master of None' Hits and Misses

Greetings from Atlanta, Georgia
ATLANTA
Comedy
Relapse Theatre (Myq Kaplan, Apr 27)
Laughing Skull Lounge
Highwire Comedy Co.

Other
_ Hawks-branded court at 'Welcome All Park', College Park
- Champagning and Campaigning in the NBA Cities: Eastern Conference

Atlanta Hawks:
Philips Arena
1 Philips Drive,
Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Game 3: Saturday Apr 22, 5:30pm
Game 4: Monday Apr 24, 8pm
Game 6*: Friday Apr 28 TBD

Related posts:
- Jalen Rose's City Power Rankings aka Black Guy City Power Rankings
- 30 Home Games mission: Southwest Division map
- All posts on the Memphis Grizzlies

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

LozinTransit trip to Texas, 2016: Spurs/Rockets/Mavs. Comedy, Wrestling and the US Election

<< crossposted on the 'Loz in Translation' blog

My first 30HomeGames road trip was a short getaway with friends, an east coast jaunt at the start of 2015. I've just completed my second NBA journey, a month solo backpacking around Texas. On my first trip we rented a car and stayed in swanky accommodation. My recent outing was budget travel in the fashion I'm accustomed to, catching public transport and staying in hostels. It was quickly evident how impractical and atypical this was. Backpacker infrastructure in America isn't well developed, particularly outside the main metropolises. American road trips customarily involve rental cars and motels, a function of how ingrained car culture is in the States.

#30HGsouthwest Texas Triangle
Oct 27 - Nov 23, 2016
My maiden 2015 visit was a more traditional American road trip. Whilst saving on comfort costs as part of a collective, I conversely found it more touristic. I wasn't able to indulge in as many of my passions and go down weird rabbitholes having to conform to the whims of the group. This Texas trip was more like my previous backpacking adventures. Going solo opened me up to more opportunities and connections. I sought out comedy and wrestling, hung with locals at their spots and got to explore Universities and sit in on a megachurch. The clash of styles I experienced on my first two trips gives me perspective for future excursions and how to best balance the pros and cons.


Timing was crucial on this trip as I had a target of seeing all 8 Aussies in the NBA. I had a set itinerary of games to make which posed some restrictions. The 'ROH' wrestling show in Arlington were the only advanced tickets I purchased however so I wasn't beholden financially. Thankfully my calendar dovetailed nicely with several events. Notably Houston's 'Come and Take it' Comedy festival and 'Unelectable You' in Dallas. The latter a treat, realising the regional advertisements I'd heard on podcasts for months were suddenly applicable being in town.

I love these games
Playing board games was a new pastime I'd picked up last year and it translated well on the road. On my first night stateside I attended a games meetup and made new running mates which opened the door to many local experiences. I attended several parties for halloween, experienced VR at a lavish house and finally participated in a Hash Run after being made aware of it years ago. I'd often tell people that basketball was great because while "you couldn't invite yourself over to dinner, you can with sports". The board game scene is similarly welcoming.

Whilst I value organic experiences, part of the 30HomeGames project is connecting with fellow hoopsheads and seeking unique fan experiences through social media. My first contact with the NBA was at Madison Square garden, the New York Knicks kindly hosting my friends and I to pre-game access. Whilst difficult to top, I was kindly welcomed by Rockets die-hard @00_rocketgirl and the 'Red Rowdies' cheer section to fire up the team. Particularly memorable as they're enjoying renewed success and celebrating their 50th Anniversary as a franchise. Olajuwon and the Rockets were my first love when I began watching the NBA as a kid.

Part of the reason I traveled during that time was to witness the outcome of a historic election. It gave the period a special sense of import. Austin, the only non-NBA destination for the trip was finally ticked off my bucket list being a big fan of local filmmakers Richard Linklater and Robert Rodriguez.

I'm undecided for my next NBA plan but with fingers crossed am plotting a quick return for the coming playoffs. With my modest means (work leave and money) I can only manage one stateside trip per season but I'd make special exceptions to watch my Grizzlies make a finals push. Prioritised for 2017 is AfroBasket in Congo-Brazzaville, which would complete the FIBA set. Having been to EuroBasket, FIBA Americas, FIBA Oceania and FIBA Asia biennial tournaments previously.

As for the NBA home games, 6 teams down and plenty more adventure to go :)

My NBA Trips so far:
East Coast 2015 (NYK, CLE, PHI)
- Coolspotting: 30HG '2015 NBA RoadTrip' Tip-off and Schedule (1 of 2)
- Coolspotting: 30HG '2015 NBA RoadTrip' Champagne and Campaign spots (2 of 2)
- LozinTransit in 2015: American Roadtrip, FIBA Oceania and Asia
- #30HomeGames in 2015: USA Roadtrip and being the Ultimate NBA fan

Texs Triangle 2016 (DAL, SAS, HOU)
- Texas Triangle 2016: NBA Roadtrip wishlist
- LozinTransit in Texas, 2016: Spurs/Rockets/Mavs. Comedy, Wrestling and the US Election