Tina's Tales from Cleveland: Day Off
A little R&R before game day
by: Tina Cervasio
Saturday, March 15th
The good news is, it's significantly sunnier and warmer than Milwaukee, Detroit, and Minnesota. The bad news is, I made a stupid wager. A bit over-confident in my Maryland Terps, who upset Wake Forest to draw Duke in the ACC Tournament Semifinals, I made a deal with Chris Duhon when I ran into him at the morning practice. If Maryland won, he had to wear a Maryland T-shirt. And not just in front of his teammates, but during an interview on MSG. If Duke won, I had to interview him while wearing a Duke T-shirt. Well, that didn't exactly work out in my favor. Hopefully, he'll forget to provide the shirt, because I'm sure not bringing one to a game. Stay tuned.
Before the Terrapins' demise, Mike Crispino and I walk from our hotel to the Quicken Loans Arena. The Knicks are practicing on a satellite court, within the Arena, because the Women's MAAC Tournament is on the main court. The security is wicked tight, and even though Mike and I show our Knicks IDs, we don't have credentials to enter the building on that day. So at one point it looked like we weren't getting to practice. I was texting both of the Knicks public relations officials. No response. (Cell phone service was rough in the building.) It's about 30 minutes now, and finally I hear from them. But just as my phone goes off, the guy at the desk finally gets clearance. Let's just say Mike and I were slightly annoyed.
At practice I talked to Quentin Richardson about a story I want to report on during tomorrow's game. We talked to the assistant coaches and watched the practice. Good times.
After practice, we walk back to the hotel. When I finish typing my notes from practice, our game producer Spencer Julian, AD Kevin McHale, Crispi and I meet up in the lobby and head out to a famous Cleveland Watering Hole to watch the Maryland-Duke Game. If you've been to Cleveland, you've been to the Winking Lizard. If you haven't, it's your loss. Spencer also went to Maryland, and we were meeting up with some other people that afternoon to watch the game, including Mike Smith who works in the Knicks video department ... another Terp.
Okay, we know how that went. So let's just say, we had to numb the pain a bit. Before I know it, I'm late for my next date!!! I'm meeting up with the girls for dinner at a trendy little sushi place.
Look, it's pretty clear there aren't many gals on these road trips. That's why when the girls ARE around, we need to stick together. Donnie Walsh's assistant Marivic, is on every one of the Knicks road trips. She is amazing! So much energy, so nice, so passionate about the Knicks. And she's obsessed with shopping and designers ... so ... we click! This trip, the team traveled their massage therapist, Kelly, who regularly works out of the MSG Training Center in Greenburgh.
Time to leave the boys ... I grab a cab, head over to the restaurant, and before we could order edammame, the girl talk begins. We had a blast! It's been a testosterone-filled week, I really needed this. When the night is finally over, I CRASH, because I'm tired ... of course. Wink.
King James tomorrow!!!
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