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After a three-game road trip to Sacramento, Utah and Phoenix, I had the chance to take a break and go to Game 5 of the NLCS and watch the Dodgers get a much-needed win.
It's been quite a few years since I've been to Dodger Stadium, but from the moment I drove into the Ravine I could feel the excitement all around, a true playoff atmosphere. The fans were all geared up in their Dodger Blue, repping for the fellow L.A. team. The energy was amazing, and even though it was a baseball game, the fans showed me a lot of love, asking for autographs and taking pictures. It felt like home.
I could feel the sense of urgency in the air, with the Dodgers being down 3-1 in the series, it was win or go home. The first inning was a little scary when the Cardinals loaded the bases with no outs, but they were able to get out with no runs scored, and from there the rhythm was set and the Dodgers began to take control. It was amazing to see the crowd react to each of the four home runs, it's like they knew it was going out soon as it left the bat. We were on our feet nearly the whole game and felt confident that the Dodgers would live to fight another a day.
I have to tip my hat to Magic, he is truly an inspiration. He is a legend on the court, one of the most respected global brands, an awesome philanthropist, and is now blazing trails in baseball, breathing new life into the Dodgers, and always reps LA. As I progress in the NBA and begin to establish my brand, I hope to have similar success and impact as Magic, hopefully we can collaborate on something soon.
Seeing the Dodgers in action was tremendous motivation as we embark on our season. They are currently on a quest to get to the World Series and win a championship after a roller coaster of a season; Matt Kemp out with injury and Hanley Ramirez playing with a broken rib (wow) and still focused and determined. Our goals are alike, win and doing something special for the City of Los Angeles. I'll have my rally cap on as the series goes on and as we prepare for our own journey.
Go Dodgers!
