The Daily Gamecock

Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: Sports

For sports fans looking for something to do but are tired of going to the Colonial Center to watch the Gamecocks blow yet another lead, or feel that it is still a little too cold to head out to Sarge Frye Field and watch the baseball team play, I have a suggestion for you: take a trip up I-77 to Charlotte and watch a Bobcats basketball game. Even though the Bobcats may not be much better than our basketball team, the entire experience of going to a game is something worth traveling to Charlotte. Plus, with tickets starting as low as $10, even broke college students can afford to see a game.
To start off, the Bobcats play at Charlotte Bobcats Arena, which is a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility that opened in 2005. Since the arena is located in downtown Charlotte, there are plenty of places to eat if you want to arrive to the arena a little early to catch the pre-game shootaround.
Once you enter the arena, the first thing that you will probably notice is the massive scoreboard hanging in the center of the arena. The scoreboard is the largest of its kind in the country and has the largest video screen of any NBA arena.
Another unique part of the arena for those that are 21, is the full-sized open-air bar located at one end of the arena, which allows you to watch the game while you stand at the bar and enjoy your favorite frosty beverage.
The in-game entertainment is much better than what we have here at Carolina basketball games. During each timeout there is some sort of different contest that takes place on the floor that keeps the crowd engaged enough to stay in their seats, so that they do not run off to the bathrooms or concession stands once the buzzer sounds.
Aside from the standard T-shirt launching and dance team performances, entertainment includes basketball trivia and families racing around the court on tiny bicycles.
After the game, a group of drummers and dancers perform for fans in the main lobby as they leave the arena. Also, as an added bonus, you just might even run into an former NBA player on the concourse, just like I did after the game. For those of you who remember Muggsy Bogues from his playing days and his acting performance in the movie "Space Jam", he is even shorter in person than he seems on TV.
Another added bonus of going to a Bobcats game is the ability to see some of the most talented athletes in the world perform in person. In the remainder of this season the Bobcats will host superstars like Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Kevin Garnett. Seeing these players in person will allow you to appreciate the athleticism of NBA players more than you probably already do.
So sports fans, the next time you are looking for something different from the sports selection that Columbia offers, make the short trip to Charlotte and check out a Bobcats game. It is fun, affordable and you definitely will not leave disappointed, despite the game's result.

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