One of Those Crazy Awesome Games

Man, I feel like today is flying! Not just today, but this week, this month, and this entire year.  I mean, how are we already well into April already?

Slow downnnnnnn 2013!

Yesterday was a huge reality check for me.  The end of the 2012-13 NBA season is quickly approaching, and before I know it I will be hanging up my dancing shoes for the summer.  Since the Pistons did not make it into the playoffs this year, our off-season starts April 17th, with our last official home game on the 15th. Ummm, that is next Monday!

We only have two more home games to go, and in less than a week it will all be over. Where the heck did the time go?

As most of you already know, Scott and I both work for the Detroit Pistons.  I am a dancer, and he is an Entertainment Director for HOOPER, as well as the Detroit Pistons Flight Crew.

NBA entertainment is how we met, what brought us together, and how we continue to work and perform together to this day.  After completely uprooting our lives and saying goodbye to one team to start working for another, we have much appreciation for the opportunities our line of work brings us.  This season, we have both lived for the moment, and taken moments to soak in every step (game, appearance, experience) of the way.

All games are fun, but all games also have different levels of it.  I often get goosebumps at the beginning of a game when I am on court for player introductions, but there are only a handful of games I can remember in my five years of professionally dancing on court where I took a step back from everything to say to myself, “WOW! This is amazing, and I love my job.”

Sunday’s game vs. the Chicago Bulls was one of those games.

One of Those Crazy Awesome Games

It is a given that when a good or popular team comes into town, it going to be an exciting game to watch and perform at.  Chicago is under five hours away from us, so our stands were pretty full (and loud!) with both Pistons and Bulls fans.

I came onto the dance team late in the season, so there are very few games where I know all of the choreography to perform both featured routines, halftime and a sideline during a hot timeout.  This time I was pumped to be on court for every single one!

Photo credit: Brian Sevald Photography

It finally felt like I was a true part of the team, and great about how I performed.  That is such a good feeling!

While getting ready for halftime, HOOPER introduced a new stunt to the Pistons crowd: sledding down stairs.  Yikes.  Unfortunately, I did not get to see him actually do it, but I had a lot of people come up to me after to share “he’s alive!” which is fantastic news.

Photo Credit: Dan Lippitt

Scott certainly has his hands full with that crazy horse!

A Flight Crew Tribute

Speaking of stunts, I mentioned earlier that Scott is the Director of the Flight Crew.  They are a group of dunkers that fly high to flip, pass, and do tricks off of trampolines to dunk basketballs.

Scott was the coach of our all-girl Orlando Magic Dunking Dancers back when I was on the team, so you can imagine how excited he was to work with a group of guys who have been doing this for years!  Coming from someone who has actually attempted this before, the things they put together and execute during shows are out of this world.  Incredible tricks!

This game, however, the guys made me actually tear up.

During their performance, they paid tribute to dunker B.I.G., who had a life changing injury during practice at the beginning of the season.  You know the horrifying leg injury Kevin Ware just experienced during the Final Four NCAA Tournament?  Picture that kind of fracture, but on an ankle.  Literally.  What was a misguided jump off of a trampoline turned into a freak accident that no one there could even explain.

B.I.G. – also known as Glen – has been an absolute trooper this entire season.  He has come to every game he can, always with a HUGE smile on his face.  He is one of the most uplifting and inspiring people I have ever met, and have never heard anything negative come out of his mouth.

After six months of surgeries, physical therapy, and praying, B.I.G. is still on crutches and is unable to put weight on his foot.  Before the season ended, the Flight Crew wanted to not only include him in a show by throwing some passes, but show their love and support by dedicating it to him.  Each member sported B.I.G. head and wrist bands, and the announcer made sure the crowd knew how big of a deal it was for him to be on the court.

 Photo Credit: Dan Lippitt

After the game, a friend of mine from Chicago sent me a television clip of their show with the words of Bulls commentators Neil Funks and Stacey King.  They were incredibly impressed with their dunks, saying they might be “the best they’ve seen!”  I shared this video on YouTube yesterday, but wanted to also post it here.

I still get a little teary eyed when I see the guys huddle around Glen at the end.  We BELIEVE in you, B.I.G.!

Court Side Seat with the Lions

I am usually pretty good at scoping out celebrities that are at the games, but completely missed this one.  Sitting court side was Matt Stafford, quarterback for the Detroit Lions.

Photo Credit: Dan Lippitt

It was not a huge deal to me really, until after our second dance routine.  While getting off the court, I happened to be the last dancer getting back to the sidelines when out of nowhere I got scooped up by HOOPER and placed directly on his buddy’s lap.

I was later told HOOPER was aiming for Stafford, but did not want to make his girlfriend angry, so went for his friend instead.  After what felt like the longest few seconds ever, I quickly got up and said “enjoying the game?”

Talk about an awkward situation!  Luckily, they were great sports about it and thought it was pretty funny.

Annnnnnnd the entire thing made television.  Awesome.

(Thanks again for all of the awesome footage, Kelley!)

Salt-n-Pepa Halftime

As if this game could get any more eventful, we got to perform with Salt-n-Pepa during halftime!  As far as I know, we are the only team in the NBA who put on these type of halftime shows that includes named artists, light up boxes and stages, complete with entertainment by our teams.

Photo Credit: Dan Lippitt

This was the last big show of the year, and I cannot even explain what it feels like to get to dance with a recording artist you grew up singing along to.  Here is a quick glance of the “Push It” finale, which was obviously my favorite.

Photo Credit: Dan Lippitt

The day before the game, we all had rehearsal with Salt-n-Pepa, and they were so great.  Their voices were still on-point, they had some great moves, and they could not have been any sweeter and appreciative to us.  It was one of our best halftime shows yet!

After the game, a lot of our team went out for a celebratory dinner.  Oh, did I forget to mention we WON the game?!  After a bit of a losing streak, there was a lot to smile about!

Looking back on this game knowing we only have two more left is a very bittersweet feeling.  On one hand, I am looking forward to being able to travel and visit home this summer, but on the other I will really miss dancing and performing.

Do I have plans to try out next season?  Yes.  Are Scott and I planning on starting a family anytime soon?  Maybe.  I guess we will have to take it one game and season at a time.

Thank you for sharing some exciting moments of my job with me today!  Off to the next halftime rehearsal.  Hoping to have one more of those crazy awesome games to close the season!