Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Ariana was always early on game days. She went into the quiet dressing room and stopped at her locker.
Hanging there was her game jersey as well as her uniform shorts.
She reached into the closed compartment and took out her warm-up shirt and shorts.
Once she changed she sat down and pulled on her new game-day shoes.
She had already practiced in the new shoes several times to make sure they wouldn’t cause any blisters or discomfort.
A few other players filtered in and patted her on the back.
Everyone had a different game-day ritual.
Some players were hyped with adrenaline already flowing and could be a little too loud for her.
She preferred to spend a quiet moment appreciating their state of the art dressing facility and her equipment.
Most of her teammates knew she took this focused approach on game-day and simply said hello or see you on the court.
Ariana got up and took the walk through the hallway until it opened up to their entrance onto the gym floor.
She stopped and looked up into the vast arena and smiled.
In a few hours the stands would be full and the noise level would be off the charts.
The excitement from all the fans, coaches, support staff, and players would be like a current of electricity humming through the arena.
She slowly walked over to a rack of balls then wheeled it out onto the court.
Out of nowhere a few of their practice squad personnel appeared to rebound for her if necessary.
One reason Ariana liked to get there early was to shoot from her favorite spots on the court and hear the whoosh of the net as she connected or the clang of the rim when she missed.
The sound the bouncing ball made on the court would echo for a few moments either way.
Ariana emptied the rack and, without asking, two of the practice squad players positioned themselves under the basket to throw the balls back to her. She smiled at the comfort of this routine and began to shoot from near and far as she dribbled around the court.
“Let’s do a few long ones,” she said. She dribbled to half court then took a couple of steps and let the ball fly. She made a few to the cheers of others coming onto the court.
Her teammates began to join her for shootaround, testing their shots from various places on their end of the court.
“Are they all going in?” Cameron asked, dribbling up next to her.
Ariana chuckled. “You know it.”
“Don’t waste any out here during shootaround,” Cameron teased. “You want to save all the good ones for the game.”
Ariana laughed as balls flew around them on their way to the basket.
“Want to run through a few passes?” Cameron asked.
Ariana nodded. One advantage of playing together for so many years was that they both knew what they liked to practice during shootaround. Ariana waited while Cameron took a few shots then they simulated different passes Ariana would make to Cameron as she cut to the basket during the game.
A little later several players began to line up at the free throw line. Ariana took a few free throws and stepped back so her other teammates could toe the line.
While they had been shooting, most of the LA players were on the other end of the floor doing the same thing at the other basket. Ariana met several of the players she knew at mid court and talked for a few moments.
There were quite a few people on the sidelines getting everything ready and tested for the game.
Ariana walked back down to where her teammates were still shooting and dribbled a ball as she watched.
She could usually tell during shootaround if one or more of her teammates were ready for a big game.
It was her job as the point guard and playmaker on the court to be aware of how her teammates were feeling.
Were they loose and ready to go? Or did they appear stressed and nervous?
“Hey, your favorite commentator is at the table,” Cameron said, sidling up next to her.
Ariana glanced over to the long table that took up most of one side of the court.
This was where the game officials, commentators, announcer, and other personnel sat during the game.
She saw Nicole Neal dressed in jeans and a hoodie talking to several of the LA players.
She would nod and smile while one of the players spoke.
“Shouldn’t you go over and say hello since she said all those nice things about you?” Cameron teased.
Ariana smirked. “They don’t want to talk to me. I’m not the star.”
“Hell yes you are,” Cameron said. “Just wait until they see what you’re going to do today.”
Ariana chuckled. She prided herself on her passing skills and getting the ball to open players for easy points. Occasionally Ariana would shoot when she was open, but she wasn’t the most prolific scorer on the team.
This season the coaches had encouraged her to shoot more and this was a little out of her comfort zone.
They’d practiced several plays just for her and she’d worked on her shot during the off season.
Ariana was confident in her game and hoped today this new skill in her arsenal would benefit her team.
That’s one thing everyone knew about Ariana: she was the ultimate team player.
She glanced over at Nicole Neal several times and noticed the ease with which she conversed with players and coaches.
“It’s a shame you won’t be able to hear what she says about us during the game,” Cameron said.
“Oh but we will later tonight,” Ariana said, letting a shot fly and smiling as it whooshed through the net. She looked at Cameron. “You know I’m recording the game. I’ll be able to start studying what worked and what didn’t as soon as we get home.”
“You mean after we all go out for a celebratory dinner with the team,” Cameron replied.
“Hell yeah!” Ariana held up her hand and Cameron high-fived her.
They started towards the dressing room and Ariana glanced over her shoulder just in time to see Nicole look her way. She smiled and disappeared down the tunnel to the hallway.
Nicole hung her garment bag in the small closet provided in the commentators’ dressing area. This was one of the premier facilities in the league. They didn’t wear their on-air clothes to the arena and sometimes the area they changed in was sparse.
“Hey partner,” Shealyn said, walking into the room. “I’ve always loved coming here.”
Nicole nodded. “Me, too. I stopped by to watch shootaround for a few minutes.”
“Oh?” Shealyn said, hanging her clothes next to Nicole’s. “Is this something new for the new season?”
Nicole shrugged. “I wanted to speak to a few players before the game and didn’t want to interrupt them during warmup. Plus, I checked to make sure everything is ready for us.”
“Well, what did you find out?”
“As usual, Keith was getting our equipment ready. Some things never change.” Nicole paused. “And I saw Ariana Villa and Cameron Benson practicing passes. Their connection is as sharp as ever.”
“I know Ariana is one of your favorite players to watch.”
“The things she can do with the basketball,” Nicole said with awe in her voice. “She can fit a pass in the narrowest of openings to her teammates and let them shine.”
“I could feel the building buzzing with excitement as I came in,” Shealyn said.
“Ah, the sound of shoes squeaking on the floor and the clank of the ball as it hits the rim.”
“It better be the sound of whoosh as it goes through the net,” Shealyn said. “It never gets old.”
“It was a little hectic out on the floor, but it’s expected, especially on opening day.”
“I’m sure! Don’t you love it!”
“You know I do,” Nicole said. “It feels like the excitement builds the closer we get to tip-off.”
“It’s not like our playing days,” Shealyn said, “but we still have an important job bringing the action to the fans who watch from home. Your preparation and attention to detail amazes me. The little nuggets of information you drop during the game makes it more entertaining for our audience.”
“Ah, thanks, Shea,” Nicole said. “I love to analyze and figure out what works and why something else didn’t. It can be like a giant puzzle.”
“Yeah, I know you love analysis, that’s why it’s your part of our job.” She chuckled. “I just like to talk!”
Nicole laughed. “That you do and thank goodness you do it well.”
“Shall we prepare to dazzle them with our brilliance?”
“Hell yeah, partner.” Nicole raised her hand and Shealyn slapped it for a high-five.
Nicole changed and walked into the small bathroom to freshen her makeup. When she walked out Shealyn stopped and stared at her.
“What?” Nicole asked.
“You’re bringing it this season, Neal,” Shealyn said. “Or is this just for the opener?”
Nicole shrugged and looked down at her outfit. “Too much? What’s wrong with it?”
“No, no,” Shealyn said. “All the single women should be drooling over you.”
Nicole scoffed and shook her head. “Right.”
“Seriously, you look nice,” Shealyn said, taking her turn in the bathroom.
Nicole had chosen this outfit because she felt confident and professional. If she looked nice too, that was an added bonus, she thought as she smiled.
Shealyn walked out of the bathroom in a black and white fitted dress. “Well?”
Nicole laughed. “We’re both wearing black. I hope people don’t think we’re going to a funeral.”
“If Ariana Villa plays like you think she will, it may very well be Los Angeles’ funeral,” Shealyn said.
Nicole smiled and held out her arm. “Let’s do this.”
They left the dressing room and made the walk into the arena.
As they walked towards the table, both teams were warming up under the eyes of their watchful coaches.
Nicole stopped to talk to the coaches on both teams. She’d been in the game long enough to know most of the coaches, some of the support staff, and even the owners of the teams.
Nicole set her bag under the table and took out a notebook full of comments on players and coaches for this game. She sat down to make sure her chair was comfortable and gazed around the court assuring she had an unobstructed view.
“Everything okay?” Keith asked. He had been their equipment handler for the past several years and knew what she and Shealyn liked in their area.
“Looks good, feels good,” Nicole replied.
“Jeannie is in the booth and I’ve tested both of your headsets,” Keith said. “You should be good to go.”
“Thanks, Keith,” Nicole said. She held out her closed fist and bumped his.
“Here’s to a good season.” Keith smiled.
Nicole returned his smile and stood up to gaze around the arena. The seats were beginning to fill as excited fans added to the already charged atmosphere.
“All set?” Shealyn asked, walking up next to Nicole.
“Keith has everything ready.”
“Okay, here’s to another year of successful broadcasting bringing the game to the masses,” Shealyn said, grabbing Nicole’s hand.
Nicole smiled and squeezed Shealyn’s hand. “Let’s make them feel like they’re courtside with us. That’s what we do.”