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Our visit to an Orlando Magic Basketball Game
Our visit to see Orlando Magic Basketball team play the Cleveland Cavaliers, was quite amazing.
We arrived later than planned due to very heavy traffic heading into Orlando and then getting very slightly lost, so if you are planning on going, then allow yourself plenty of time. We parked on spare ground hoping that on our return not only would the wheels be still on the people carrier, that the vehicle would be there at all ! We took our chances and set off for the main entrance. One of our party tried to sell off a spare ticket we had whilst the rest of us tried to appear detached from his brave efforts, just in case he was arrested for doing something illegal - Yer on yer own there mate !
We entered the TD Waterhouse Centre and found our seats up on the first balcony just in time to see the opening ceremony before the match started. It was very typical American Razzamatazz, lots of flag waving, cheer-leaders/dancers, marching bands and singing of the American anthem.
Now the players appeared ready to play. I’ve never seen such huge guys, they were man mountains. Magic had been having a poor run of it lately, so the chances of a win was slim. Play was nip and tuck and from one end of the court to the other and the scores crept up within a few points of each other. Everytime the ball went out or a player was injured, the clock stopped, so even though the play for the quarter actually lasts for 12 minutes – it takes considerably longer to complete the Quarter.
During the break there was entertainment – this was as good as the game itself. The entertainment in the first break was ‘baby racing’, this consisted of two babies being put at one edge of a large mat and their mothers calling and encouraging them to crawl towards them. After much cheering and encouragement from the mothers and also the whole arena – the girl won. Girl power, it never fails !
On with the game – nip and tuck again from the players and the score steadily climbed for both teams.
During the second break around about twelve people appeared on the court and started to throw Orlando Magic tee-shirts into the crowd below – I was just thinking there would be no chance of getting one up in the balcony when there appeared people on court with what can only be described as rocket launchers. They immediately started to aim at the balconies and shot tee-shirts up to the higher levels. We almost caught one, but alas no, the rugby player in our group let one slip through his fingers, what can I say !
Also, a large inflatable green dragon (named Stuff, the Magic Dragon !) was released in the roof which floated around during the break.
On with the game, Orlando Magic fall behind by 10 points – come on guys, you can do it.
During the third break we watched a couple dance during which they were able to change their clothes quite by magic (no pun intended !). During their dance routines they magically changed their clothes culminating in the grand finale of the last change turning their outfits into sparkly stars and stripes gear. Very clever.
On with the game, Orlando Magic pull the score back to 96 all and win in the last seconds scoring another goal.
Apart from the game and the entertainment, there was also the Orlando Magic Mascot named, Stuff - who generally made a nuisance of himself but also did some daredevil acrobatics by hanging over the balcony rail – where’s ‘elf and safety when you need them !
All in all a great evening, and a win to boot, and well worth the price for all the entertainment whether it was during the game or not !
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