#30HomeGames in 2015: USA Roadtrip and being the Ultimate NBA fan

<< crossposted on the 'Loz in Translation' blog

One of the primary reasons I created 'Loz in Transit' and its offshoot blogs was because I enjoyed having an undertaking that fostered life experiences. Since becoming a "content seeker" for these projects I feel more connected, inspired and proactive. Even though I've recently returned from a short USA trip, activity on my travel blog has been sparse as nearly all my focus has shifted to my basketball mission. In particular the @30HomeGames Instagram which I update daily and consumes most of my waking thoughts.

We embarked on the maiden #30HGroadtrip to the snowy US East Coast, cruising from New York to Cleveland by SUV. I had a Fairytale in New York as the Knicks graciously hosted us to pregame access at Madison Square Garden aka "The World's Most Famous Arena". We also sat Courtside behind the player's bench in Philly and capped it off watching this generation's greatest player, homecoming king LeBron playing in Cleveland.

Having the #NYknicks host #30HomeGames with #pregameaccess at the #WorldsMostFamousArena will go down as the highlight of the #30HGroadtrip. Being able to share this cherished moment with friends was a blessing. Whatever happens during the remainder of our #USAtrip is simply a bonus. It seems I did an unwitting #photobomb as I was snapping #KevinDurant. To organise your own unique Fan experience, check out the creative packages on the @nyknicks website (nba.com/knicks/fan-experience)

Una foto publicada por 30homegames (@30homegames) el 2 de Feb de 2015 a la(s) 9:22 PST

At this stage, my growing obsession for Instagram has me viewing the world through a square, basketball-themed prism. The shift largely precipitated by my new life as a Smartphone user, its been 7 months now. A lot of the inspiration and insight which filled these pages came to me during quiet moments of reflection traveling Europe and South America. I didn't have a camera for the majority of my travels but on the occasions I did I realised it made me neglect writing. The smartphone has made this worse tenfold, conversely "gramming" has helped me develop a more economical way of storytelling.

There's a lot in store for '30 Home Games' in 2015 so stay tuned.
I have an interview with a diehard Australian jersey collector coming. I'm also campaigning to be the 'ESPN Ultimate Fan' so please show your support. As its an even year, FIBA basketball returns. I'll be contemplating whether to continue my streak having already attended EuroBasket '11 and FIBA Americas '13. I have a choice between a mid year trip to either Asia or Africa. There's AfroBasket 2015 hosted by Tunisia between August 19 to 30 or FIBA Asia in Changsha, China from September 23 to October 3.

- FIBA Africa, Tunisia 2015 (August 19-30)
- FIBA Asia, Changsha 2015 (September 23 - October 3)

Coolspotting: 30HG '2015 NBA RoadTrip' Champagne and Campaign spots (2 of 2)

It'll be interesting negotiating the trip with 3 other people with various interests. I'll have a fellow running mate who's also a hoops and hiphop head, a buffet enthusiast and a foodie. Personally I enjoy exploring subcultures and supporting local scenes, from wrestling, punk & hiphop to comedy. It's something I seek at home and in my travels, in some cases it overlaps with my love for basketball. We'll be working together to tick off our collective to-do lists as we explore each neighbourhood.

The '30 Home Games' Inside/Outside game
We come for the Basketball, we stay for the Culture

Our local contact in New York will be particularly handy, especially for finding local parks to ball in. One of the first things he did after relocating from Sydney was to find a local hoops league in Manhattan. I'm not a stellar player and haven't had to face tough competition in my travels. Basketball has not been widely played in many countries I've visited, relative to national sports like soccer and certainly its popularity in the States. I'll need to improve my game in the months leading up to the North America trip.
- 30HG NBA Destinations: WrestleMania 29 and Indy Wrestling
- 30HG Destination Spotlight: Finding Comedy in the NBA Cities

- NBA Cities: Eastern Conference
- 30HG mission: Atlantic Division map (Brooklyn, New York, Philadelphia)
- 30HG mission: Central Division map (Chicago, Cleveland)

Below are the many places of interest in the respective NBA cities:

2015 NBA RoadTrip: New York

NEW YORK

New York Knicks

Madison Square Garden 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, 

New York, New York 10001 

Eats
- Joe' Shanghai
- La Esquina NYC
- Stumptown Coffee
- Spitzer's Corner

Comedy
TimeOut New York Comedy listings:
- Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre
- Comedy Cellar
- Gotham Comedy Club
- Carolines on Broadway
- Whiplash [UCB Theatre]
- Cake Shop

Streetwear
- Billionaire Boys Club/BBC Bee Line
- Kith
- ONLY NY
- Staple
- Supreme

Wrestling
- 2CW Wrestling
- Empire State Wrestling
- Family Wrestling Entertainment
- House of Hardcore
- Warriors of Wrestling

Others
- 'Book of Mormon' on Broadway
- I'm New Here--Can You Show Me Around? (Jon Ronson and Maeve Higgins @Union Hall)

BROOKLYN & NEW JERSEY

Brooklyn Nets 

Barclays Center 620 Atlantic Ave, 

Brooklyn New York 11217 

Other 

- The Knitting Factory

- Jay & Silent Bob's Secret Stash

2015 NBA RoadTrip: Philadelphia
#NBAPostcards Philly Roadtrip variant

PHILADELPHIA

Philadelphia 76ers

Wachovia Center 3601 S Broad St, 

Philadelphia, PA 19148

Music

Philly-Shows venue listings

- Barbary

- The Electric Factory

- Milkboy

- PhilaMOCA

- Underground Arts

Wrestling
- Combat Zone Wrestling
- Dragon Gate USA Pro-Wrestling
- Extreme Rising
- Keystone Championship Wrestling
- Women's Erotic Wrestling

2015 NBA RoadTrip: Cleveland

CLEVELAND

Cleveland Cavaliers

Quicken Loans Arena 1 Center Ct, 

Cleveland, OH 44115

Comedy
- Cleveland Improv
- Pickwick & Frolic Restaurant and Club [Hilarities]

Music
- The Grog Shop
- House of Blues

Wrestling
- Mega Championship Wrestling

Other
- The Flats

2015 NBA RoadTrip: Chicago
#NBAPostcards Chi-Town roadtrip variant

CHICAGO

Chicago Bulls 

United Center 1901 W. Madison St 

Chicago, Illinois 

Eats
- Garrett Popcorn Shops

Comedy
TimeOut Chicago Comedy listings
- iO Improv Olympic
- Chicago Laugh Factory
- Second City
- Zanies Comedy Nightclub

Find my Eastern Conference to-do list here:
- Coolspotting: 30HG '2015 NBA RoadTrip' Tip-off and Schedule (1 of 2)
- Coolspotting: 30HG '2015 NBA RoadTrip' Champagne and Campaign spots (2 of 2)
- Champagning and Campaigning in the NBA Cities: Eastern Conference edition
- Find other Coolspotting and Subculture posts here

Coolspotting: 30HG '2015 NBA RoadTrip' Tip-off and Schedule (1 of 2)

<< crossposted on the 'Loz in Translation' blog

The '30 Home Games' mission, my pursuit to visit all the NBA Cities officially tips-off in 2015. I'll be joining 3 friends on a two week Eastern Conference roadtrip. Primarily visiting a friend who's relocated to the Big Apple, we'll be passing through Philadelphia, Cleveland and Chicago then cap it off in Vegas. Returning home with a friend, the other half continue for a snowboarding excursion in Utah.

@30HomeGames 2015 NBA Roadtrip (January 26  - February 8)
 New York, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Chicago, Las Vegas

This preliminary trip will serve as a sampler for my 30HG mission. A chance to experience the North American travel infrastructure, budget considerations and hospitality expectations. For our accommodation and travel, we'll be AirBnB-ing and renting a car collectively. Outside of family I've never travelled overseas in a group, having backpacked Europe and South America solo. I've Couchsurfed and rideshared several times but have yet to try AirBnB. In fact none of the guys have, so we're looking forward to the experience.

#NBApostcards: Greeting from the Eastern Conference

I'm not one to make an itinerary, as in life preferring to go with the flow when travelling. I've stumbled onto happenings, made new friends, found places to crash and scored free tickets armed with a spirit of adventure and a curious eye. I usually don't have much lead time heading into a destination as I'm directed by my whims. I found out about the existence of EuroBasket weeks before I headed into Lithuania for the tournament. For FIBA Americas in Caracas, I mentally prepared myself having been forewarned by friends about the Country's complicated infrastructure. I was forced to scrap the playbook when faced with the reality on the ground.

'30 Home Games' figures to be a different experience as I've been researching and anticipating events and places well ahead of time. Whilst I've indulged my interests in comedy, wrestling and music in my travels, the States is the epicenter and birthplace for many of these things which sets some lofty expectations. That's not even considering the NBA!!!
- Find my NBA Roadtrip to-do list here

Eastern Conference NBA Destinations:
Atlantic (NY, BK, PHI) and Central (CLE, CHI)

'30 Home Games' has been 3+ years in the making and now it's really happening. I can't wait!

Find my Eastern Conference to-do list here:
- Coolspotting: 30HG '2015 NBA RoadTrip' Tip-off and Schedule (1 of 2)
- Coolspotting: 30HG '2015 NBA RoadTrip' Champagne and Campaign spots (2 of 2)
- Champagning and Campaigning in the NBA Cities: Eastern Conference edition
- Find other Coolspotting and Subculture posts here

30HomeGames' Collection of Souvenir Basketball Shirts from Vegas, Argentina and Lithuania

Whilst my blog updates have been protracted and sporadic, my fledgling @30HomeGames Instagram continues to develop and has begun to dominate my attention. I update the account twice daily and have enjoyed the constant hunt for basketball-inspired snapshots.

I've also begun looking through the archives, cataloguing possessions and souvenirs accumulated in life and my travels to feature on Instagram. Below are my collection of souvenir Basketball Tees annotated with when and where I got them.

Find the full set on Instagram at #30HGtees

WEAR: 'Las Vegas Summer League' by Adidas
WHERE: Las Vegas, USA (July 2009)

WEAR: 3on3 FIBA Basketball
WHERE: Kaunas, Lithuania (Sept 2011)

WEAR: Official 'Lithuania' tee for EuroBasket '11
WHERE: Kaunas, Lithuania (Sept 2011)

WEAR: Official "Ventspils Basketbola Klubs" shirt
WHERE: Ventspils, Latvia (Oct 2011)

WEAR: 'Dallas Mavericks, NBA Champions 2011' by Adidas
WHERE: Istanbul, Turkey Jan 2012

WEAR: "Angel Dunk" by Argentinian brand 'All Day'
WHERE: Mendoza, Argentina (Aug 2013)

WEAR: 'Australian Boomers' warmup by Peak
WHERE: Sydney, Australia (Aug 2014)

City of Sydney and 'Youth Services' present 3on3 Half Court Games in Glebe

I don't recall the last time I played Streetball since returning to Sydney, it seems I've become one of the asphalt snobs pundits have described. Instead I've opted for organised full court runs in Auburn and Sydney Uni with work and school colleagues. Now that I'm playing more competition basketball I've lost interest in casual outdoor games, which is all that's available when traveling.

My local courts, the Peter Forsyth Auditorium in Glebe provides free access to its facilities on Fridays with refreshments, training and referees. An initiative to foster community amongst neighborhood youths.

Youth Worker Mereani hosting 3on3 Halfcourt games at Glebe

'City of Sydney' and Youth Services present 'City Hoops in the Park'
Free for young people 12-25 years old
3 on 3 and half court games Basketball Tournament
Fridays 3pm - 6pm
Peter Forsyth Auditorium Glebe
Come with team or make new friends. Games will be played on half courts and have free play training
Healthy Snacks and refreshments provided

Youth Services run a range of programs, events and activities. They also offer support and advocacy for young people. For more information contact your local youth worker on 9298 3120

"Everydayness": Heidegger on Death and Kevin Garnett playing a midseason Game in Charlotte

<< crossposted on 'Let's Get Real podcast' blog

An aging Kevin Garnett VS Charlotte's Cody Zeller.  

What does Champion NBA Power Forward Kevin Garnett have to do with influential thinker Martin Heidegger? Authors Daniel M. Klein and Thomas Cathcart in their humorous book on the Philosophy of death finds a way to explain Heidegger's often complicated ideas via a basketball analogy

Heidegger and a Hippo Walk Through Those Pearly Gates:
Using Philosophy (and Jokes!) to Explore Life, Death, the Afterlife, and Everything in Between

Ch 4. Heideggerty-Dog, Ziggity-Boom, What You Do to Me
Look at it this way: Say you're Kevin Garnett and this is Game 7 of the NBA Finals. You're going to play with way more intensity, way more energy, way more life, than in one of those dreary Thursday night midseason games in Charlotte. Heidegger called the latter "everydayness," and he put it down as the ultimate drag. So let's face it squarely, Daryl, this -- right here, right now -- is Game 7 of the Finals, and what a joy it is to be here!

For Heidegger, the worst possible news would be that our souls are immortal. That would condemn us to a never-ending string of those Thursday night games in Charlotte.

My only quibble is the use of Garnett for the example. He's arguably the most consistent and unfailingly intense player currently in the L.

'Posterized': An Artshow Tribute to the Baller Legends. Opening Night September 23 at Blacklisted Gallery, Surry Hills

'Posterized': An Artshow Tribute to the Baller Legends
Grab a flyer at the @ThrowbackStore, Bondi

Illustrator and avid hoops fan Karl Tagle (KYT Illustration & Design) will be exhibiting his new Solo show in tribute to the Legendary names of the hardwood. Featuring the likes of Larry Bird, Dominique Wilkins and Clyde Drexler amongst many, expect to find these stars visualised as Portraits, Graff type and Poster-sized trading cards.

Basketball played an integral part in Karl's upbringing and nostalgia for his youth. He grew up in Chicago when it was firmly MJ's playground, studied in hoopsmad Philippines and currently resides in Sydney. "I've been a hoops fan since early 1991" Karl begins. "The first game I remember was back in the Summer of '91 in Manila watching the Bulls vs Lakers finals on a small Black and White TV. From then on I was hooked and was passionate about basketball. I then moved to Chicago with my family in '94 right when Jordan just retired the first time. I would play ball on a Junior High School team winning our first District Championship. Later that year Jordan returned and the rest was history."

Karl in studio working on 'His Airness'

Incorporating his interests in "Typography, Illustration, Retro Design, Pop Culture, Hip Hop and Funk" with basketball memories from his youth, Karl describes the show as his mixtape for the love of the game. "Back in the day (80's to 90's), Basketball culture was at the golden age in my opinion, just great calibre players aside from Jordan. Everyone at that time knew something about the players back then. The shoes, attire, the marketing of product was just a great age for Ball".

Tuesday September 23 is the opening night for the 'Posterized' exhibition, held at Blacklisted Gallery (648 Bourke St, Surry Hills). Doors open at 6pm. The show continues till the following Monday.

Find Karl Yvan Tagle on the usual Social Media platforms: @KYTID on
- Facebook,
- Instagram
- Tumblr
or on his folio site at
- KYTID.com.au.
Make sure you peep his art in living colour too. See you at the show.

Update:
Great show!

The #Posterized Exhibition: An Artshow tribute to the Baller Legends is underway at #SurryHills and runs till Monday Sep29th. Works by @kytid and presented by @blackpennysurryhills. Make sure to peep it. Grab a print or score the #tradingcards. #kyit #basketball #halloffamers

A photo posted by 30homegames (@30homegames) on Sep 23, 2014 at 2:24am PDT