Watching Hawks in their aerie

ATLANTA—I’ve never had a problem watching basketball games in the bleachers.  As a student, I watched NCAA games in the peanut gallery and later sweated out as a cheerleader in the same stands.  I’ve seen PBA games and even recent UAAP games high up near the ceiling.   It’s just something you get used to, even if nowadays you get a choice sideline seat broadcasting sports.
 That’s why here at the Philips Arena, the home of the Atlanta Hawks, I have a cozy bleacher seat in section 317.  Tonight’s game against the visiting Washington Wizards does not fill up the whole venue and there’s room to glide easily from the concession stands to my seat.
 The arena is linked directly to the CNN center.  Fans arrive as early as 5:30 p.m. to have meals that have more variety than what the game venue could offer.  It is the first home game of the Hawks and they are coming off two straight wins on the road.  There is a warm, home game feeling all around.
 The Hawks are a young, sprightly team led by the versatile Mike Bibby and the aggressive Joe Johnson.  For the last six years, the Hawks have increased their regular season wins, from a forgettable 13-69 record in 2005 to 53-29 last season.  The Hawks stopped Miami in the first round of the playoffs last year but got swept by Orlando in the semis.
 With new coach Larry Drew, the Hawks hope to move deeper into the playoffs.  Size seems to be their only problem as they have no real threat in the post. The 6-foot-10 Al Horford is a decent player who averaged 14 points and nine rebounds last season but does not really look for the ball.  6-9 Josh Smith is a defensive warrior who enjoys swatting shots but does not have the skills nor height to play center.
The Hawks start slowly and fall behind by nine in the first quarter.  Then the Wizards, who don’t have the injured Gilbert Arenas tonight, lose steam and can’t make a shot.  The Hawks have Johnson and Jamal Crawford scoring everything from jumpers to free throws.  The home squad turns the game around with a 26-13 run in the second period and holds off any remaining Wizard rally in the second half to win their third straight game, 99-95.
The fans in my section are an interesting mix of young and old folk, even whole families that came to enjoy the game.  Interestingly, there are so many of them in the walkways near the food stands during the second quarter.  They seem more interested in the game chow and beer, although there is a limit to how much could be consumed.  By the end of the third quarter, the concession outlets all pack up and the fans focus on the game.   The Atlanta faithful receive free “It’s Happening” t-shirts at the entrances, NBA League Pass lanyards and giveaways during the game.  There is entertainment of all kinds from the Atlanta cheerleaders’ dance routines to a trampoline assisted dunk exhibition by a group of nimble players.    No matter what gimmicks there are, from playful videos to audience participation fun, they never interfere with the conduct of the game.    The coliseum announcer is a key actor in the entire two hours, shifting from serious game commentator to comedian.  He is the main conduit to the fans, not really concerned with how well his voice projects but on how he interacts with the audience.   There is a traffic jam around the venue en route to the endless freeways and exits that connect America.  But the fans have a win and an opening home game to remember, whether they watched from the sidelines or high up in the bleachers.