lol it hasnt been easy over the years
my dad and uncle owned a construction company years ago. When I was a kid they remodeled the LA Sports Arena locker rooms, where the Clippers played before Staples Center. I was about 11 years old and a Laker fan at the time. Nick Van Exel, Eddie Jones days. My uncle was given Clippers season tickets for the next 5 years as partial payment (by his request). My uncle soon became somewhat of a in house celeb, he knew everyone in the stadium. Many times we showed up with no tickets and just being with him, plus no one ever going to the games, we walked in with no problems. We would get to walk on the court, locker rooms for players autographs, it was great. Well my first Laker game I got stiffed by almost all of the Lakers except Ceballos. Few other chances over the next 2 season, no luck with Lakers autographs. But Clippers and other visiting teams were always willing. One memory that always stuck with me was during Ray Allen's rookie year and he had a lady with a box of shirts approach him from side of the court where he was practicing shooting about 2hrs before the game. She had about 100 total shirts in the box and he stood there and signed every single one. I have dozens of balls all signed by Clippers teams over the years. But after been brushed off by the jerk Lakers players and being appreciated by the Clippers after the first season I became a fan. I didnt pay much attention to basketball really before that, but after going to a few games and seeing everyone in person, I was hooked on the NBA been a fan ever since, we still have the season tickets for the Clippers in the family but once they moved to Staples uncle lost all his fame lol. He was treated same as every other season ticket holder. New staff, new stadium. They are very strict at staples security. Metal detectors, pat downs, sometimes its very similar to feeling like airport security. We still have the old Clippers coach Bill Finche's desk, players chairs w/ names on the back, old shoes, and other stuff from the locker room that was just to be disposed of
