Starting from Scratch

Site of Lakers vs. Jazz Game 5, tonight

After losing both games in Utah, the Los Angeles Lakers return home to Staples Center where they face the Jazz tied 2-2 in their second round playoffs series. I’ll be in the upper level to cheer on Purple and Gold with hopes that they can respond following Sunday’s 123-115 overtime loss that left Kobe noticeably injured, sustaining a strained lower back early in the contest. The playoff game I caught last year against Phoenix was a real nail-biter that LA ended up winning and this one looks to be a great match-up as well. Tip-off is right around 7:30 pm, televised on TNT after the Boston Celtics / Cleveland Cavaliers game. Fiercely competitive, that series is also deadlocked at two with the home team winning each time. I’ll make sure to watch it on the enormous wall projection when I enter Staples to stay abreast of all the action.

Metallica play The Wiltern this evening and if I was feeling particularly adventurous I’d head over there after the game. However, as it’s a benefit show for the Silverlake Conservatory of Music, tickets start at around $200 apiece so that’s good enough reason to pass. It’s been over 10 years since I’ve seen Metallica and I always enjoyed “new” bassist Robert Trujillo when he was in Suicidal Tendencies and Infectious Grooves so I’m willing to give them another shot. Sometimes one big event is enough to satisfy the craving for a few days and besides, it looks like I’ll get a chance to see The Police this Saturday night in West Palm Beach when I begin a family vacation to Florida. They’re playing Cruzan Amphitheatre a few hours after I arrive so as long as my flight isn’t absurdly delayed I should be able to make it over there and rock out before traveling up I-95 and Florida’s Turnpike to Disney World in Orlando the next morning. I’m already in for both nights of The Police at the Hollywood Bowl in a few weeks, but if it really is their final tour, it doesn’t hurt to see an extra show here or there. Plus, it will be nice to see my first concert in the Sunshine State since Phish’s millennium party at Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation. With a high of 89 degrees and thunderstorms forecast for Boca Raton this weekend, it will be a hot and wet start to the trip.

The Police and Elvis Costello perform here on Saturday. Hopefully it doesn’t rain.

This entry was posted on May 14th, 2008 and is filed under Entertainment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or Trackback from your own site.