Well fellas...I know a lot of you are die hard fans for your team no matter what the sport. I am a huge sports fan and have been all my life. But today is the biggest day of my "sports fan" life.
A lot of you have gone through ups and downs with your teams I am sure...rebuilding...disappointing playoff losses...blockbuster trades...etc. As a Clipper fan, I have rarely had the opportunity to enjoy anything other than the excitement of draft day where we always held a lottery pick.
I have been a Clippers fan for over 25 years. I am only 30 so I started young when the rest of California was busy jumping on the Lakers "Showtime" bandwagon. I still remember the last time we went to the playoffs when I was in high school. An awesome feeling.
I have sat through the following drafts:
1998...we take Michael Olowokandi with the 1st overall pick. Here is who went in the top 10 after our pick:
Mike Bibby
Vince Carter
Dirk Nowitzki
Paul Pierce
Boy did we get a steal there...
1996...we take Lorenzen Wright at #7. Good thing we passed on these guys who went after him:
Kobe Bryant
Pedrag Stojakovich
Steve Nash
Jermaine O'Neal
1995...we take Antonio McDyess #2. Then we trade him for Brent Barry and Rodney Rogers. Thank God we took McDyess at #2 instead of Rasheed Wallace or Kevin Garnett who followed our pick.
1994...we take Lamond Murray at #7. This actually turns out to be a decent pick as no one after him really made it other than Eddie Jones.
1992...we take Randy Woods at #16 and get another steal in Elmore Spencer at #25.
1990 #8 Bo Kimble
1989 #2 Danny Ferry
I have sat through these seasons:
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" align=center bgColor=#ffffff><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle bgColor=#000099>Season</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#000099>Wins</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#000099>Losses</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#000099>Pct.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>2002-03</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>27</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>55</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>.329</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>2001-02</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>39</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>43</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>.476</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>2000-01</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>31</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>51</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>.378</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>1999-00</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>15</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>67</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>.183</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>1998-99</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>9</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>41</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>.180</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>1997-98</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>17</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>65</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>.207</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>1996-97</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>36</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>46</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>.439</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>1995-96</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>29</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>53</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>.354</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>1994-95</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>17</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>65</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>.207</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>1993-94</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>27</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>55</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>.329</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>1992-93</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>41</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>41</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>.500</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>1991-92</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>45</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>37</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>.549</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>1990-91</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>31</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>51</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>.378</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>1989-90</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>30</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>52</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>.366</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>1988-89</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>21</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>61</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>.256</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>1987-88</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>17</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>65</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>.207</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>1986-87</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>12</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>70</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>.146</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>1985-86</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>32</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>50</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>.390</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>1984-85</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>31</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>51</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>.378</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>1983-84</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>30</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>52</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>.366</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>1982-83</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>25</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>57</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>.305</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>1981-82</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>17</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>65</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>.207</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>1980-81</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>36</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>46</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>.439</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
But this weekend I will be heading to the Staples Center to see my first ever Clippers playoff game. After sitting through season after season of absolutely miserable basketball...this feels really great.
With tonight's loss, we are the #6 seed and have home court advantage over Denver in the 1st round of the playoffs.
Granted, we aren't a contender for a title without Maggette, but going to the playoffs for me as a Clippers fan is about as rewarding as the top teams winning a title. There were years where I felt we would never be a playoff team. I thought Sterling would do everything possible to keep this team away from the spotlight.
Awesome, awesome feeling to be heading to the Staples this weekend as an honest LIFELONG Clippers fan that has waited for this day for 25 years. I can assure you no other fans have waited this long and gone through this many years of horrid seasons...simply because no other franchise has been this bad. The future looks bright, but it wouldn't feel near this good if this was something that happened year in and year out.
A lot of you have gone through ups and downs with your teams I am sure...rebuilding...disappointing playoff losses...blockbuster trades...etc. As a Clipper fan, I have rarely had the opportunity to enjoy anything other than the excitement of draft day where we always held a lottery pick.
I have been a Clippers fan for over 25 years. I am only 30 so I started young when the rest of California was busy jumping on the Lakers "Showtime" bandwagon. I still remember the last time we went to the playoffs when I was in high school. An awesome feeling.
I have sat through the following drafts:
1998...we take Michael Olowokandi with the 1st overall pick. Here is who went in the top 10 after our pick:
Mike Bibby
Vince Carter
Dirk Nowitzki
Paul Pierce
Boy did we get a steal there...
1996...we take Lorenzen Wright at #7. Good thing we passed on these guys who went after him:
Kobe Bryant
Pedrag Stojakovich
Steve Nash
Jermaine O'Neal
1995...we take Antonio McDyess #2. Then we trade him for Brent Barry and Rodney Rogers. Thank God we took McDyess at #2 instead of Rasheed Wallace or Kevin Garnett who followed our pick.
1994...we take Lamond Murray at #7. This actually turns out to be a decent pick as no one after him really made it other than Eddie Jones.
1992...we take Randy Woods at #16 and get another steal in Elmore Spencer at #25.
1990 #8 Bo Kimble
1989 #2 Danny Ferry
I have sat through these seasons:
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" align=center bgColor=#ffffff><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle bgColor=#000099>Season</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#000099>Wins</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#000099>Losses</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#000099>Pct.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>2002-03</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>27</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>55</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>.329</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>2001-02</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>39</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>43</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>.476</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>2000-01</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>31</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>51</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>.378</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>1999-00</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>15</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>67</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>.183</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>1998-99</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>9</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>41</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>.180</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>1997-98</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>17</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>65</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>.207</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>1996-97</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>36</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>46</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>.439</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>1995-96</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>29</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>53</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>.354</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>1994-95</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>17</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>65</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>.207</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>1993-94</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>27</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>55</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>.329</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>1992-93</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>41</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>41</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>.500</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>1991-92</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>45</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>37</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>.549</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>1990-91</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>31</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>51</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>.378</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>1989-90</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>30</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>52</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>.366</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>1988-89</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>21</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>61</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>.256</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>1987-88</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>17</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>65</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>.207</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>1986-87</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>12</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>70</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>.146</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>1985-86</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>32</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>50</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>.390</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>1984-85</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>31</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>51</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>.378</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>1983-84</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>30</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>52</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>.366</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>1982-83</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>25</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>57</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>.305</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>1981-82</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>17</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>65</TD><TD class=gsGROWOdd align=middle>.207</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>1980-81</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>36</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>46</TD><TD class=gsGROWEven align=middle>.439</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
But this weekend I will be heading to the Staples Center to see my first ever Clippers playoff game. After sitting through season after season of absolutely miserable basketball...this feels really great.
With tonight's loss, we are the #6 seed and have home court advantage over Denver in the 1st round of the playoffs.
Granted, we aren't a contender for a title without Maggette, but going to the playoffs for me as a Clippers fan is about as rewarding as the top teams winning a title. There were years where I felt we would never be a playoff team. I thought Sterling would do everything possible to keep this team away from the spotlight.
Awesome, awesome feeling to be heading to the Staples this weekend as an honest LIFELONG Clippers fan that has waited for this day for 25 years. I can assure you no other fans have waited this long and gone through this many years of horrid seasons...simply because no other franchise has been this bad. The future looks bright, but it wouldn't feel near this good if this was something that happened year in and year out.