I’m sure I have some readers who have been wondering why I stray away from tennis and write articles from time to time on other topics. Well let me ask you this, when you wake up do you eat the exact same thing everyday? When you are on your way to work, do you listen to the same songs? I’m sure the answer is NO because your not a square and it would be strange and boring. My main focus is to educate those on the game of TENNIS and the experiences I go through, this being on court, in the gym, or at an event such as X Games. I enjoy the fact that I can appeal to a broad range of viewers with everyone being able to take something from my experiences.
With this being said, this year’s L.A open championships is held at the Home Depot Centre which was also home to the X Games 15. I felt like a kid in a candy store (that sounds pretty lame but true). The first thing I did when I got to the centre was figure out a way to get tickets. They told me I would have to go buy tickets unless I wanted to wait until the final day on Sunday. I thought in my head “are you crazy” followed by saying out loud, “are you crazy”. I quickly put my thinking cap on and started to brain storm. It didn’t take long before I thought of my master plan, why not use my tennis pass and act as though I’m one of the competitors in X games? After all, I do fit the profile. So that’s exactly what this boy did. I made my way over to the front gates…. Took a deep breath and went for it. Not only did I get in, I got to avoid the whole line as they yelled out “competitor coming through”, well not really yell but they did help me. Now that I was in I ventured around the grounds watching all kinds of madness. BMX, dirt bikes, skateboarding, girls, rally cars, and more girls ;)
Each day I came back and tried my luck more and more. I decided that just getting into the events was not good enough. I noticed the best place to be was in the V.I.P section with the families and girlfriends of the competitors. I thought to myself, now how the hell am I going to get through 3 main security gates for just one event. So I scoped out and observed how the people who did have access act. It took me about 15 minutes to get the courage to make a break for it. I took a deep breath and off I went. I cruised through first set of guards no problem. The second set of guards took a good look at me but I distracted them a quick “what up boi” and asked them if they needed anything from inside, smooth I know. The third set of guards literally showed me the way in, and like that I had made my way into the best seats in the house…. Park side baby! I got to watch all my favourite skaters, bikers, rally car drivers as if I were competing with them. I have to admit, I didn’t have the B$all$ to approach them and snag a pic or vid with them. I beat myself up for it now. While we are on the topic of admitting things, I did on my last day get kicked out of the skate park finals after watching for an hour and it was definitely a little embarrassing.
So with a little courage and role playing I was able to experience what I have always wanted to do. Be a part of X Games up close and personal. There is so much to respect from those style of athletes that most people overlook due to the sport it is. I urge you to get a feel first hand before you make any judgements. I’m sure this article will appeal to all my friends at tennis Canada. Yes you, you are guilty.
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I’m sure I have some readers who have been wondering why I stray away from tennis and write articles from time to time on other topics. Well let me ask you this, when you wake up do you eat the exact same thing everyday? When you are on your way to work, do you listen to the same songs? I’m sure the answer is NO because your not a square and it would be strange and boring. My main focus is to educate those on the game of TENNIS and the experiences I go through, this being on court, in the gym, or at an event such as X Games. I enjoy the fact that I can appeal to a broad range of viewers with everyone being able to take something from my experiences.
With this being said, this year’s L.A open championships is held at the Home Depot Centre which was also home to the X Games 15. I felt like a kid in a candy store (that sounds pretty lame but true). The first thing I did when I got to the centre was figure out a way to get tickets. They told me I would have to go buy tickets unless I wanted to wait until the final day on Sunday. I thought in my head “are you crazy” followed by saying out loud, “are you crazy”. I quickly put my thinking cap on and started to brain storm. It didn’t take long before I thought of my master plan, why not use my tennis pass and act as though I’m one of the competitors in X games? After all, I do fit the profile. So that’s exactly what this boy did. I made my way over to the front gates…. Took a deep breath and went for it. Not only did I get in, I got to avoid the whole line as they yelled out “competitor coming through”, well not really yell but they did help me. Now that I was in I ventured around the grounds watching all kinds of madness. BMX, dirt bikes, skateboarding, girls, rally cars, and more girls ;)
Each day I came back and tried my luck more and more. I decided that just getting into the events was not good enough. I noticed the best place to be was in the V.I.P section with the families and girlfriends of the competitors. I thought to myself, now how the hell am I going to get through 3 main security gates for just one event. So I scoped out and observed how the people who did have access act. It took me about 15 minutes to get the courage to make a break for it. I took a deep breath and off I went. I cruised through first set of guards no problem. The second set of guards took a good look at me but I distracted them a quick “what up boi” and asked them if they needed anything from inside, smooth I know. The third set of guards literally showed me the way in, and like that I had made my way into the best seats in the house…. Park side baby! I got to watch all my favourite skaters, bikers, rally car drivers as if I were competing with them. I have to admit, I didn’t have the B$all$ to approach them and snag a pic or vid with them. I beat myself up for it now. While we are on the topic of admitting things, I did on my last day get kicked out of the skate park finals after watching for an hour and it was definitely a little embarrassing.
So with a little courage and role playing I was able to experience what I have always wanted to do. Be a part of X Games up close and personal. There is so much to respect from those style of athletes that most people overlook due to the sport it is. I urge you to get a feel first hand before you make any judgements. I’m sure this article will appeal to all my friends at tennis Canada. Yes you, you are guilty.