One down...; Kings v Hawks: 2004/05 NBL Grand Finals: Game 1 - Entertainment Centre - 11/03/05

Ethan Switch - Saturday, 12 March, 2005 - Print Version

Black curtains running the flanks behind row O or such close in the Entertainment Centre and give it a nice cosy feel. With the rows and rows of back seats cut off, the sea of bodies across the way is most reassuring and doesn't stink of the regular season's spotty emptiness. Red and glints of white hold fort in the south-east corner, the Wollongong crowd are moderate. Gone for tonight is the Airganix blimp, in its stead, a torpedo-like and limp Virginblue airship, willowy and struggling to stay airborne against the strong currents of the air conditioning system. Rita May falters for on the middle of the national anthem, but holds the end well enough to make it insignificant.

Messy though the tip off, the Hawks are left watching as the Kings bolt away to a twelve point start before warming back into the game to notch an effort on the board themselves. Pace from both sides is good, their toes roll in rapid rotation. Energy is vibrant, a tight crowd adding a great deal. Kings end shines at 27 to 17.

Sheer terror locks the body of a little girl in her purple tutu outfit, all alone on the court with a dozen of the mini cheerleaders surrounding her. Dancing around, their steps increase her fears more and more as the seconds pass and the bright lights of the stadium bear down. The Lion's leg serves a refuge, the grip around the knee is tight and sure to cut off circulation. She doesn't look like she's crying though, tough little girl.

Spittle flies from a row behind; the enthusiastic guy cheering is also a dry throat. Coughing with the old fashioned technique of an open hand for cover sees a dodging installation throughout the night. Especially when his posse storm the seats in front. Clearing of which thanks to the lone Hawks fans who bolt for their section of the Kingdome after the end of first quarter. Moments of bounding and boosting joy see his arse sway lost and way too far left before narrowly missing the face to seat itself.

Foul counts start to go awry in the second. Beginning a charge to charge the other team to the line, the Hawks make all they can of their foul limits, ratcheting up the numbers faster than they can the points. The fight back here is only a squint. Mark Sanford brings down a torrential slam over the head of Adam Ballinger a second after a call. Hawks fight strong in this quarter and stay in it to steal back the lead with a late shot to clip in at 41 to the 39 of Kings.

Brisbane troupe, the Scream Team, own the court for half-time. Their act is pretty much dead on similar to previous showings, save for a couple of oh so slight variations in the delivery. With that, the mini tramp seems as if it's tighter than before, the height and propulsion looking a hint stronger. They sure love flipping all over the place, getting dizzy just watching them. Listening to their soundtrack is as annoying as listening to that of the Lion's dance routine. Choppy, the string fields various songs and tracks with no easy marriage between the beats, out of step and chaotic with no sense for movement.

Much vigour and energy in Spittle man, so much so that he starts beating down on his woman in flash points during the match. Starving on a state of shock and clearly distraught, her eyes are reading doubts into their relationship. As soon as things look right, Spittle Man is back into the swing of things, shouting about "racial" inequity on calls to Sanford and Roberts and slipping fists and backhands to the girl's face every now and then as part of his rampant connection with the game.

Back into it in the third and the Hawks of Wollongong make easy work of sinking from the perimeter. Shots from the outside diffuse the feisty Kings defence with Ballinger, Glen Saville and Darnell Mee gunning the runs. Mostly. Periods of laughter ensue as the hands fly all over and a series of shut outs lends the Hawks plenty of chances to make it good. Three chances they are given and they're even taking it hard with that. The guests are still behind and looking harder for each point as Jason Smith later dominates the boards to usher the Kings into the black. 70 to 62.

The announcement of what appears to be a soapie star winning the night's Trendwest draw triggers a succession of "Home and Away sucks" flowing from a section with mirth. Over on the other side of the fence, a drunken and disorderly Kings fan—who is either bravely stupid or stupidly brave—braves the Hawks section and chances the hits against flying bottles and trash. Another, possibly a Hawks fan, is pushed down and out half-naked all groggy-like, cheering himself on with the cheers of the commies in the stands.

Rodney O constantly reminds the Kings fans that "this is your house Sydney" to the point that where the homeless from up the way are walking in and demanding some squatter's rights. The Lion coaxes a blonde in tight faded jeans for his little dance bit. Ever the hardest thing to dance to, with two seconds to each track, she keeps up with the pace, only serving as foil for his own beheading. Not once, but twice, first with Gene Simmons and then with Michael Jackson. Jokes with no money concerning little children start hitting the fan. The side announcer, calling the sponsor notes, is a flat and unending sore with selling Samuel L. Jackson's Coach Carter a laboriously hard earn. It could be his voice, devoid of a certain, flow.

Fourth quarter, flying up in the air, the Kings are playing up alley oops and showing all sorts of aerial skill. Dunks flow fast and heavy. David Barlow gets a chance to join in on the fray, but pulls up short to sleep down a casual lay. Luke Brennan is suddenly on court, his walk on a flash caught by no one until the minutes run down and the Hawks are out on their backs. Hawks are flailing all over the court, no direction as their heads are in the air and are totally blanking, shots hit the rim and bounce right off. Realisation hits, not a single player theme song or punctuation plays during the entire match.

The Sydney Kings take game one of the NBL Championship Grand Finals with 96 over 73 for the Hawks.