David's Wish List: Best Seat In the House

I'm never good at making gift wish lists come holiday time. This year the only thing I can really think to ask for is a new belt. Maybe some Starbucks cards. But if we're talking about the ultimate gift, there is one thing that I immediately thought of - Wizards tickets. And not just any Wizards tickets. The best Wizards tickets.

When I first read that Reliable Source piece last year it became my new life's mission to sit in those courtside seats for just one game. I go to as many Wizards games as I can, but being a Guru isn't such a lucrative job, and Wizards tickets aren't exactly cheap. Especially since I can't bring myself to sit in the 400 level. Yes, I'm a snob, what can I say? When I heckle those opposing players I want to be able to at least kid myself into thinking they can hear me. There are a handful of ticket packages that offer reasonably-priced lower level seats, and it's fairly easy to score good, cheap, tickets on Craigslist on game days, particularly on those weeknights in the dead of winter when, say, the Bucks are in town. (I'm expecting it to be even easier this season with Gilbert Arenas on the shelf.) Still, there's a huge difference between sitting a dozen rows back behind the basket and being right next to the action.

I was able to experience courtside seats once at Cap Centre when I was a kid, but that was too long ago. I have vague recollections of Rex Chapman and Michael Adams, but not much more. But these aren't "just" courtside seats. These seats, which cost a cool $2,500 a pop, are right next to the Wizards bench. I would be able to hear what's going on in the team huddles. I would be able to yell at Eddie Jordan, telling him to play Andray Blatche and Brendan Haywood at the same time. I could offer Caron Butler some of my fries. I'd be able to be the guy who gets to throw the ball back to the referee when it ricochets out of bounds. With a seat this close to the action, I'd just do my best to avoid being the guy who trips a player as he runs to check into the game.

By David Malitz |  November 29, 2007; 3:41 PM ET
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