An Ode to Oracle (Pt. 1)

An Ode to Oracle Pt. 1

It used to be called the “Arena in Oakland.” Three hundred dollar nosebleed seats could get you courtside tickets to see Antawn bang in the post with Vlade.

This season, Warriors faithful will say farewell to the oldest arena in the NBA, the smells of bacon wrapped hot dogs, and the sounds of plastic bucket percussions during the walk back to BART. 52 years filled with celebration chalupas, championship banners, record setting performances, third quarter explosions, all-time franchise lows, and deafening playoff moments.

And if the Warriors get home court advantage throughout the playoffs, there is about 50 to 60 more times to celebrate Oracle. This is my personal “Ode to Oracle ” - a list of the good and bad moments from the times I’ve watched games at the Oracle Arena over the years.

The “Are We Ever Going To Be Good Days”

Dwight Howard Breaks the Record For Free Throw Shots Attempted

There was a time where I thought Dwight Howard would be a Warrior. Not this past offseason, but the first time around - the same time Warrior fans thought the team could replace Andris Biedrins with DeAndre Jordan.

This seems to be a recurring theme in my life as a Warriors fan - my family friends had season tickets in the years the Warriors sucked. You know how we trail at halftime, give teams a surmountable lead, and somehow end up winning? Ya, every team did that to us prior to the 2014-15 season.

Orlando Magic Dwight Howard was like Get Rich or Die Tryin’ 50 Cent and pre Herbie Fully Loaded Lindsay Lohan. This man was Superman. We called him just by his first name. And in this installment, he put up 45 points and 23 rebounds. He could have dropped 63 if he made all his free throws.

There was a moment where I thought the “Hack a Howard” strategy would work. The man went 53% from the line. I actually went 100% from the line that night since it was one of those “kids and teens shoot a free throw on the court” after the game night.

2014-15 NBA Finals Game 2

Another recurring pattern in my life – every time I watch a game by myself, the Warriors lose.

Tickets to the finals were disgustingly expensive. The Warriors were also in the Finals for the first time in my life. I happen to be home for summer break. I just got out of church, wearing my Steph jersey. Tickets went from disgustingly expensive to “It’s 50 dollars for brunch?” (but you end up paying) expensive.

It was one of those games where only Steph or Klay felt it. Klay dropped 34 and Steph had problems with Delly. The best player on the other squad posted a triple double. No, not Delly, but Lebron.

All was well down the stretch, but the game had little to no momentum. In the same way that the game shall not be spoken of in the following year, each team threw counters – none really hitting a haymaker.

Like most of our losses since the 2014-15 season, we beat ourselves. And what better way to cap off one of these games – A Steph turnover.

I lived off of Maruchen Top Ramen for the next 6 months.

The Times I Partially Lost My Voice

Derrick Fisher Hits Buzzer Beater Against the Bucks

Again, my uncle’s friend had box season tickets – when we had Derek Fisher. Before he shattered the “We Believe” squad in the Western Conference Finals, DFish was a Warrior. His two seasons where he posted career highs in points per game –  in Golden State. 

Side note - Imagine if he stayed another year and suited up alongside Matt Barnes.

DFish has, is, and will always be known for his late game heroics. Though his most iconic should not have ever counted – this is up there for favorite moments at Oracle. It was the first time I experienced a buzzer beater – on a winning side. The confetti and “Rock and Roll Part 2” (Hey Song) felt so good. I bet Bob Fitzgerald had an epic call and burst of sheer joy.

It was either a two to tie or three to win – what do you think the Dubs went for?

22…In a Quarter

This may be my favorite moment in Warriors history. Sure I cried when we won all three titles, but there’s something about Steph’s game 4 against the Nuggets. And from a larger point of discussion – it was the start of Steph’s legacy of the greatest Warrior ever. After battling ankle injuries since his Rookie season (even in this playoff series) and being wrongfully left over the All Star roster, Steph showed up and showed out.

This man not only torched Denver in the third – but actively recruited Andre Iguodala in the process and give him the infamous post game Steph Hug.

To give you a sense of how the building progressively got louder after every shot, let me paint a picture of the most notable and mind boggling points:

3 of 22: One of the most disgraceful and legendary Stephisms – Shoots three, knows it’s in and heads back on defense…in front of the opposing teams bench

Crowd Energy Level: 5/10

6 of 22: Me – “Jarrett, why are you dribbling to the corner and kicking it out…Oh wait that’s Steph (motions three with fingers) LET’S GO”

Crowd Energy Level: 6.5/10

8 of 22: Crossover by logo on Andre Miller, followed by an assist from future two-time champion Javale McGee. Come for the luck stay for the right handed English Steph put on that ball.

Crowd Energy Level: 6.5/10

15 of 22: Steph’s mind: You’re going to put Andre Miller on me again? Okay. Over 7 foot Javale Mcgee, full extension, and jumping, Steph somehow puts up a left handed finger roll that finds its way to the basket. The best part of the sequence: Steph clapping it up, Jarrett Jack hyping him up, and the crowd loving every second of the growing lead.

Crowd Energy Level: 7.5/10

19 of 22: The Doctor of Ruining the Game of Basketball, Wardell Stephen Curry PhD, pulls up from the El Camino Real Costco. This man cannot miss. It’s hysteria at Oracle, I can’t hear, my vision is shaking due the eruption from the crowd, people are running down the aisle to give strangers high fives – this was a moment.

Crowd Energy Level 11/10

 I’ve been to more games at Oracle Arena – and there’s more stories that I will share in the second part to this “Ode to Oracle” series.

Steph and (for a tiny bit) Klay experienced the suckage. The older gentlemen behind me during my first game (Warriors v. Kings in the CWebb/Peja era) that cussed out Mike Montgomery and Chris Cohan, the cellphone holder slinging, Nike Monarch wearing dads that call GSW players by their last name, and all people that have moved closer to the rafters once the Warriors got successful – know the suckage too. Pour one out for Oracle.

To be continued.