Reporter Reflects on Chatting with Cavs

November 4, 2008 by Alissa Ohashi

The Cleveland Cavaliers made their debut appearance at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus last Friday, Oct. 24. They faced the Washington Wizards for their eighth preseason game of the year, and I was lucky enough to be in attendance.

I was an athlete all throughout high school, coached middle school basketball and still have a burning passion for the game, so when I was asked to go to the game with a friend, I was more than excited to accept the offer.

The extra ticket I was offered was just the beginning of an amazing night. I told my Journalism teacher that I was going to the game and much to my surprise, I was hit with even better news; he was able to get me a press pass.

I got to sit in the media section with the "real" journalists, had a press meeting with head coach, Mike Brown, and got an inside look into the locker room of the Cavs.

After entering the Schott, I was able to get my pass. I walked down the hall to the gym and I saw a huge shadow that overcast in front of me. As I extended my neck upward as far as it would go, I saw the king himself, LeBron James.

I have to admit I was a little star struck. I have been watching James, 23, play basketball since he was a senior in high school. I guess you could say I’m a fan!

I took my seat, 12 rows back and to the right of the Cavs’ backboard. Sitting among 25 or so other journalists, I couldn’t help but notice the equipment they had compared to what I brought. I had a miniature notebook, pen, a recorder and my camera phone. They had laptops, high-tech cameras, and video recorders. I felt like a novice among professionals, but I worked with what I had as the game was about to begin.

It was a battle among giants as the whistle blew for tip off. Washington’s center, Etan Thomas, 6’10" didn’t let a five inch height deficiency stop him as he leaped over Cleveland’s center, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, 7’3" and won possession of the ball.

Antwan Jamison’s, of the Wizards, attempt for a three point jumper was no good. LeBron rebounded the ball, pushed it up court, and passed to Delonte West. West passed it back and assisted James with the first three points of the game.

The score was 25-25 at the end of the first quarter, and I was overwhelmed from trying to write down every play and all the stats. I was trying to figure out a solution when a man came by with a sheet that listed play by play details! If I would have known the statistics were going to be printed out in detail, I would have focused on other aspects, but you live and you learn.

I wasn’t learning on my own, so I turned to a professional journalist sitting beside me and asked him for some advice. Beginning the second quarter and throughout the rest of the game, I didn’t frantically write any more statistics

Instead, I focused more on the environment. I focused on how the audience was reacting to NBA basketball in Columbus. The gym was packed on the lower level. There were 10,404 people in the stands. I started wondering why attendance wasn’t at capacity when I realized that the Blue Jackets also had a game that night.

I wondered if Ohio was ready for another professional basketball team, specifically in Columbus, so I asked the most logical person I could think of; a Cavs’ fan watching the game in the stadium

Nichole Armstrong said, "I think that it would be great to bring another level of competition to the NBA specifically in Columbus. It would be a great rivalry between Columbus and Cleveland fans. If Ohio is big enough for two professional football and baseball teams, then why can’t it be for basketball as well? I think Columbus could use another mainstream sports team."

I have to agree with Nichole. Ohio has some major sports fanatics. The Ohio State Buckeyes are the biggest sports team in Columbus and their presence was definitely felt at the Cavs’ game.

During a T.V. time out one guy shouted, "O-H" and it seemed like almost everyone in the gym responded, "I-O."

The intensity of the game dwindled as time ran out. The final score was 107-80 with Cleveland taking home the victory and leaving the preseason games with a 3-5 record. The players and coaches headed to the locker rooms, the fans cleared the stands, and we waited in the media room.

Finally, Coach Brown came out into the hallway. The journalists swarmed around him like a flock of vultures. I squeezed my way in the huddle and followed the crowd by putting my recorder in his face to get his comments.

After the meeting with Brown, we were allowed to go into the Cavalier’s locker room. All the players were either showering or walking around in white bath towels.

The press immediately flocked to James. My trembling hand held out my recorder to catch his words, but I didn’t actually speak to him myself. I was too nervous at the time.

Everyone cleared away from LeBron and started mingling around the other players. I stood in the middle of the room, looking around, and taking in everything. I had to remind my self that I was really surrounded by professional basketball players and that it was a once in a lifetime opportunity--- for now anyway.

So, I gathered my thoughts, and spotted guard, Daniel Gibson standing alone in the corner. I walked up to him and asked him a question that had been troubling me for quite some time, especially after I reviewed the stats sheet.

"Why is there no offensive rebounding in the NBA? After the first quarter alone, the Wizards managed to grab one rebound while the Cavs had zero." He seemed stuck for an answer, but after a few seconds replied, "I don’t know. I feel like we have always been one of the best offensive rebounding teams since I’ve been here, in the NBA. There are a lot of athletes out there so it’s hard. You know we got guys like Ben (Wallace) that take pride in getting offensive rebounds and things like that. Sometimes I think the ball just don’t fall your way."

I would say interviewing Gibson was one of the biggest rushes of my life. I have been an undecided and confused college student for about three years.

They say it takes time to find yourself and your calling in life. I definitely agree. I have changed my major several times and I never thought I was going to figure out what I wanted to do. After having been blessed with this experience I have much more of an understanding of what I want to do, or at least the direction I want to go.

My best advice to undecided college students would be to take your time. You may feel at a standstill as your life passes you by, but if you keep an optimistic attitude and surround yourself with positive people, things will eventually fall into place. Take advantage of opportunities when they are given to you.

Life is a crazy beautiful mess, and you never know where the journey will take you.