PHOENIX SUNS GAME

I just had the BEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE!!! Cassie and I went to the SUNS game tonight against the Utah Jazz. We were invited to the game from a friend named Ze, who is one of Phoenix Suns player's Leandro Barbosa's good friend. We had VIP Guest passes that we wore around our neck which read "Barbosa Guest". CASSIE AND I WERE LEANDRO BARBOSA'S GUESTS!!! Unfortunately, he did not play tonight due to a knee injury he obtained a few weeks ago, and the whole purpose of us going was to watch him play, but we had the best time and it was so much fun!

Halftime VIP Family/Guest eating area with Ze

LEANDRO'S GUEST!!!

4th Period AND WE'RE TIED!
SUNS defeated the JAZZ 118-114!

We finally had the chance to meet Leandro, thanks to Ze and our boss. We definitely had the hook ups! After the game, we were waiting by the player's cars and I was so nervous. Cassie and I felt a little out of place because everyone knew each other and we were these two little dweebs having a little kid experience :) Leandro came up to us and I didn't even know he was there until Ze pointed him out. He introduced himself to us and I spoke Portuguese to him! He smiled and looked a little surprised and spoke back to me in Portuguese. He was extremely nice and didn't hesitate to take a picture with us. He even signed our guest passes that we were wearing around our necks!!! I already have an official Leandro Barbosa NBA jersey signed hanging in a glass frame for my birthday 2 years ago, BUT I still had him sign my pass! He really is humble and down to earth. I wonder if it's the Brazilian side of him, or just his personality.

Cassie of course asked me to do all the talking and taking of the pictures. Ze overheard and took our camera and said, "I will go!" and would walk up to any player we wanted to meet and say, "THESE ARE MY FRIENDS, CAN THEY GET A PICTURE WITH YOU? THANKS!" even before they would respond. It was HILARIOUS! Definitely a moment I won't forget.....

NOW, MEET THE PHOENIX SUNS...

# 10 - LEANDRO BARBOSA

ASSISTANT COACH - DAN MAJERLE

# 13 - MVP STEVE NASH

# 33 - GRANT HILL

# 32 - SHAQUILLE O'NEAL

# 23 - JASON RICHARDSON

# 22 - MATT BARNES

Matt Barnes has twin identical boys that look EXACTLY like him. Can't you tell? The NICEST players were Steve Nash and Leandro Barbosa. They were both extremely nice and more than willing to take a picture. My heart was pounding as I got enough courage to speak to them. Ze was helping us catch the players and get pictures with everyone we wanted to. He was great.

I told Dan Majerle that I used to watch him play when I was a little girl and he was on the SUNS team with Danny Ainge and he said, "You did?!" He was so nice. When Ze was taking our picture with "THUNDER DAN", it wouldn't take and it was because he was recording us:

Shaq was the least excited to sign anything or take pictures. What do you expect when you've been in the NBA for 16 years??! PEOPLE LOVE YOU! I was wearing 4 inch heels and didn't even reach his shoulder. The man is a giant. It's unreal. Everyone else acted just fine. I spoke Portuguese with Leandro, as he's from Brazil, and he was a little impressed I think. He smiled and spoke back in Portuguese.

This was a once in a lifetime experience and Cassie and I had SO MUCH FREAKING FUN!!! My Dad, Kelly, and Connor were at the game and Caliph, shooting trainer, got them better seats (they were sitting in the rafters 3rd to last row), even though they ended up being in the handicap section. At least they were better seats! Cassie and I sat behind the player's bench in the 11th row. I was hoping to be on TV, but we might have been too high up.

Cassie and I both were talking on our way home about how bad we felt that Kelly, Connor, and our Dad weren't able to meet the players. Our whole family are HUGE sports fanatics and we wish they could have snuck in with us.

It really isn't that big of a deal meeting someone famous, but IT IS because they are considered out of the "ordinary" and are well known for their talents. They really are just normal people with impressive skills that pay them a boat load of money. But I can speak for myself when I say that I WAS impressed and will NEVER forget tonight. What an awesome experience!

LB, YOU DA' MAN!