The 'Tony Parker' game.....

Most of you already know by now that the NBA lock out ended earlier this week and you even may have heard that many NBA players had gone overseas to play while the lock out was still going. Some players went to China, some went to Turkey, while others went back to their 'home' countries to play. As you could imagine, the lock out has had an effect on many things in the US, not just the players and owners. Parking companies, security companies, and a number of other smaller aspects were impacted by the lack of games earlier this season. As I said earlier, many of the foreign players in the NBA returned to play in leagues in their 'home' countries. Being 'French', Tony Parker decided to play for the team he is a part owner in over here in France, Asvel. Now the french have a habit of claiming people as their own when they succeed, but not so much when they perform not up to their standards. Tony was born in Belgium, so to me, I am pretty sure it makes him Belgian, but hey, what do I know?  My french is not perfect but I am pretty sure I heard many a Tony Parker-Eva Longoria -Affair and BELGIAN in the same sentences last year, so you be the judge. Back to basketball, so Shaun's team has struggled in the front office area of the club....money, error in judgements, having a real hard time telling the truth etc...you know, the normal stuff in european basketball. Well, the front office all got together and thought that the Asvel game and the appearance of Tony Parker was going to fix all that. They advertised the game as a 'gala'- still trying to figure out what that means( might wear my prettiest dress to be prepared) and even bumped the price of tickets up from 5-10 euros a game to 3x that. They saw that every time a team played against Asvel, the game was sold out, so they were going to strike while the iron was hot. The longer the lock out continued the more the front office could feel, or even taste, the money from the game. Sales of tickets were up and they were even not giving players their extra tickets for friends and family that is in their contracts so they could sell those tickets and make that extra little money.( For those of you who don't know, guaranteed contracts in France often double as a coaster for their coffees or a starter for their evening fire.) We have even received phone calls from people, can't even say friends, asking for Tony Parker tickets. When Shaun says, " Oh, for the Asvel game?" They say, " No, for the Tony Parker game." So Shaun's team is playing Asvel this weekend...... cruel twist of fate.  6 days before the game, the lock out ends and the NBA'ers are gone.  Poof, no Tony Parker, poof, no Turiaf,  just the regular 'ol Asvel team. I'm sure some people who paid the extra money to see Tony Parker are upset, who knows,  might even hear a few Tony Parker and Belgian comments in the same sentence...This will be Shaun's first game back from injury, so for me, it is not the 'Tony Parker' game, it is the 'Shaun Fein Returns' game.

Last but not least.......