I never ran into him at Disnedyland or at a Chuck E Cheese in Vegas or anything like that.

I was, however, in the same room as Kobe one time. That room happened to be the Delta Center (I think actually Energy Solutions at the time but always Delta Center to me). Yes I know, many of you can make this claim 100 times over but for me it was just this once. I very rarely attend Jazz games in person. This was the era of DWill, Okur, Kirilenko, and the Jazz were a fun team to watch. Having attended many games in the nosebleeds I really wanted to get a good seat for once, lower bowl. I found someone selling a couple tickets on KSL and we agreed to meet so I could purchase them. I was a bit nervous because we met at a gas station next to Pioneer Park in SLC. You know what I'm talking about. The tickets were $125 each and were about the 12th row, free-throw line extended. Really good spot! My brother went with me to the game and from that proximity I could actually tell who was who on the court. Amazing.

February 11, 2009

Los Angeles Lakers (42-9) with Kobe, Odom, Gasol, Bynum, Fisher, Ariza
Utah Jazz (29-23) with DWill, Okur, Kirilenko, Boozer, Harpring, Millsap, Korver

I BELIEVE this was the game. Everything seems to line up from what I remember.

The Jazz were coming off a run to the WCF and this was a legit group. The Lakers were in the midst of a championship run, and Odom always killed the Jazz. I actually worried about him more than I did about Kobe.

Awesome game, really Jazzed (get it?) up environment. I screamed my voice out the entire game but the 4th quarter turned out to be really special. With time winding down and both teams retaking the lead, things were tight. That's when DWill and Kobe took over. It was back and forth. The two all-stars trading baskets, nailing 3s, and willing their team to victory. I couldn't imagine a better value for my money that what was on display that night. DWill went for over 30, Kobe for nearly 40 but in the end... Utah was victorious.

That was the first, last, and only time I ever saw Kobe play in person.

Moral to the story? I should get out more. Oh, and yeah he was pretty good and that was really cool to witness.