By Mark La Monica
SEATTLE -- It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you, without a new addition to the Nicky Eyes Hit List. I had to travel all the way to the Pacific Northwest to do it, but alas, such is life.
Last week, I made Emerald City Kingpin friend Jay secure tickets to last night's Celtics-Sonics game. I know, I know, it's a regular-season NBA game, but at least it was Ray Allen's return to Seattle and I get to see Kevin Garnett play in person. Two perks. And then when Emerald City Kingpin friend Jay dropped the "third row on the floor" tickets on me, I felt even better about the decision to attend an NBA regular-season game.
No matter the arena, no matter the city, when you sit that close to the court, you greatly increase your chances of seeing and meeting people slightly more famous than you. Here in Seattle, that group consists pretty much of the Seattle Seahawks, Dr. McDreamy, Dr. Grey and Dr. Frasier Crane.
On this night, it was all Seahawks, all the time, Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird and George "The Iceman" Gervin. At the half, we walked on the court toward the VIP area (Row CC on the floor gets you that kind of access; of course, it also cost a dollar amount that I will not publish here to save Emerald City Kingpin friend Jay from the wrath of Lovely Wife Saira).
In the front row near where we walked was Seahawks receiver Nate Burleson. He was signing an autograph for a little kid.
"Nate, you're signing a Frank Gore Niners jersey. Are you serious?" I said.
"I know, it's terrible," Burleson said with a smile. "Go throw that out when you get home," he added.
"Nate, do me a favor and beat the Giants, please," I responded.
"Definitely," he said.
"What's up, guy?" I said.
Boom! No. 10 on the Nicky Eyes Hit List. I forgot just how easy it was to do that. John Manca would be proud.
For a more in-depth description of what we're talking about here, read the Nicky Eyes Hit List explainer.
P.S. Wally Szczerbiak, Cold Spring Harbor's finest, plays for the Sonics. I represented for all Long lslanders and started a "Cold Spring Har-bor!" chant. Of course, I was the only one doing it, but I know he heard it.