Where Does A Clipper Fan Go Now?

by Chris Tagawa

It’s about half way through the conference finals and I have finally made up my mind on which team to root for now that my beloved Los Angeles Clippers are gone from the playoffs (congrats Clips on a great season). It was not an easy decision, but I am officially a Miami Heat fan for the remainder of the playoffs. Here's my logic:

I started out rooting for the Phoenix Suns. Most fans (including myself) gravitate to the team that just defeated their team, with the hopes that they go all the way. Then as a fan, you can always say, “At least we lost to the eventual Champions.” It is somewhat comforting knowing your team was “Beaten by the Best”. Then, as I watched the ending of game one of the Western Conference finals, I was consumed by the pain of Game 5 of the Clippers series like a bad flashback of Rocky getting punched in the face by Drago . It made me realize that I hate the Suns and much like Drago did to Rocky, the Suns probably damaged the Clippers franchise permanently.

My newly found hatred of the Suns forced me to the Dallas Mavericks. The old excuse of, “My favorite team is whoever is playing Phoenix”. On paper, what’s not to like about the Mavericks? They've got speed, size, and a bona fide superstar in Nowitzki. But then again, they always say do not make decisions when you are angry. Call me shallow, but being from Los Angeles, image always has to be taken into consideration. Have you ever seen a nerdier group of basketball players? It’s like watching the Tri-Lambdas playing basketball. Lamar (Jason Terry) is grabbing penis, Poindexter (Keith Van Horn) and Gilbert (Dirk Nowitzki) are about as geeky as they come and Lewis (Mark Cuban) is running the whole show from behind the bench. I just could not bring myself to cheer for these guys after game three.

I never considered Detroit. Who could like those arrogant and pompous thugs?

Finally, there was the Miami Heat. Their main player is a humble-overachieving 6-4 guard with the heart of a lion. Their support players go by Employee #8, Udonis, White Chocolate, Zo, and The Glove. How cool is that! But the best part about this team is that it has Shaq. Remember, I am a Clipper fan and when the Lakers turned their backs on Shaq, he blew-up the Lakers organization and became the anti-Laker. The enemy of your enemy is your friend. It was so easy to like this guy once he left. He hates Kobe, I hate Kobe. He is motivated to win a championship only so he can rub it in the Lakers’ face. All Clipper fans dream of this. I can only hope and pray that when the Heat win the NBA Championship and Shaq gets loose on the podium he starts with “LA, Can yoouuuuu Diiiiiiiiig It?”

Go Miami for us Clipper Fans!

*EDITOR'S NOTE: Chris is a friend of The Association, as well as a lifelong L.A. Clippers fan who knows his hoops. The opinions expressed by Chris are his own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the rest of us at The Association. We sure like reading them though.

Comments

[Harrisburg]

Only a Clippers' fan would root for Shaq. Despicable.

Go Tri-Lams, uh, I mean Mavs.

[JenM]

Chris -

I call you shallow.

But hey - I live in Dallas, LA is my fav place to vacation and I'm a Spurs fan - but even my coworkers agree Dallas has the most homely group of guys on the court. I'm not necessarily rooting FOR the Suns - but they are nicer looking guys.

Find peace - go ahead and cheer for the Heat. That Dwyane Wade is a cutie.

[Madcap Vagrant]

How could you not root for the Mavs? They have some of the best talent in the league working together as one; with one goal to win a championship.

I like Dallas or Phoenix over Miami.Iv'e witnessed a Miami and Phoenix season game where the Suns ran the Heat out of the building. It was just discraceful to watch if you are a Heat fan.