Amber Fox: January 2009 Archives

The New Orleans Hornets were just the latest victim to fall to the Cavs on their road to total domination of the league. Though, if you turned on the game midway through, you may not have known it was the Hornets due to the white and red retro "Bucs" uniforms they wore. The Cavaliers also paid homage to the old school uniforms with the maroon and yellow version of their hardwood classic jerseys. While I'm all for taking a little retro here and there, it seems that teams nowadays have taken it to the extreme and are throwing on a new uniform every other game. Even as a female I'd like to see less focus on fashion, and more on the game. While I suspect this has something to do with making a few extra bucks in the team shop, in this economy, it's hard to hold it against them.

The Cavs came into the game 19-0 at home and this fact was not lost on the crowd. In fact, one fan's sign implored "CP3 Get that Weak Stuff Outta Here" and their wish came true as Chris Paul was never able to run the offense with the precision that he can against most opponents. Defensively, the Hornets, like most teams, had a hard time controlling LeBron. Though they were able to hold him to 8 points in the first half, he broke free by the second half and put up 21 more for a total of 29 points.

Sports, even women's sports, have always been a boys' club. While I'd like to think I've made small strides in the reporting of sports with my weekly video NFL picks, when it comes to the mass media, it's still male dominated. Therefore I've decided to go behind the scenes at some NBA games and get the scoop from the female perspective.

As I walked in the media entrance at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, I got the first of many "You're a writer?!" stares. A woman, any woman, would stand out; so an attractive one only makes the situation even more confusing to the rows of older, sun-starved men in polo shirts. I found my seat in the media section settled in to watch one of the most anticipated games of the year between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics.

The Cavs came into Friday night's match-up unbeaten at home while the Celtics were still reeling from three tough losses in a row. Many were anxious to see if the Cavaliers would be able to continue the dominance they have had this season against a formidable opponent like the Celtics without their big man up front, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who is out with an ankle injury. Though the Cavs lead the entire game, there was no shortage of action as the Celtics gave the Cavs everything they had. In the end however, they were out matched and outscored time and time again.

I must take a moment for fashion before I get to the action of the game. The Cavs wore a tribute to the 1970s hardwood classic jersey and donned a blue and yellow number. I'm tempted to say that this further shows how deep down, even Ohioans (is that a word?) love the Maize and Blue, but I digress. The uniforms were fashionable but a part of me wished they would have also donned the short-shorts of the 70s to go with them. I'm pretty sure I was the only reporter there with that thought.