7356http://fullcourtpress.kingsconnect.com/archives/735Holiday+Bloggin%272008-12-29+07%3A30%3A11Jason+Thompson

Holiday Bloggin’

Before the holiday we had a long four-game road trip. We started out in Portland, where we’ve played the Blazers before and played them close, but again a few plays here and there and we could have won, but we lost. I also did some holiday shopping. I got my friends and family some gifts and also myself! In Portland, they also have a casual shoe store for guys with big shoe sizes like me. So for all the people out there with big feet, go out there and get yourself some kicks.

Following our game against the Blazers, we headed to Houston. It was one of those times where we stayed in a city for more than two days, so we had an off day and my teammates and I went to the ‘Lil Wayne concert at Toyota Center. T Pain and Keisha Coles also performed. Donté, Bobby Brown, Bobby Jackson, Francisco and (Manager of Player Services) Hakeem and I had a good time there. It’s just another example of how we chill off the court, which helps us keep a good team bond.

The thing I remember most from the game against the Rockets is what happened when I checked in. Right after I got in the game, I went up strong to the basket and ended up getting hit and landing real hard. It was a little bit like déjà vu because a similar thing happened to me my sophomore year in college. I went up for a dunk and got low-bridged and was knocked out and unconscious for about five minutes, so it was kind of like a flashback. It was one of those times where you go up and you feel the contact, but the rest is a blur. I thought while I was still in the air that I had already hit the ground. I was thinking I was good! Then I hit the ground and I was like, ‘Wow! I was in the air for a really long time!’ But it was good that I was alright. The fall kind of affected me throughout the road trip a little bit, but it also helped me out because I try to play through adversity and play through pain, not to the point where I’m going to hurt the team, though.

Following that game we played a tough game at New Orleans. A couple plays could have gone the other way and we could have had the W, but they’re a tough veteran team. We had beaten them before so they came in with a lot of confidence and were eager to get us back from our earlier win on their home court.

We ended the road trip in San Antonio. The last time I was out there was for the Final Four. I was out there because I had been elected to the Senior All-Star Game. So it was a little bit different compared to how many people were out there for the Final Four and the cold weather didn’t help either. For some reason, I don’t know if it’s just people on the East Coast, but they always think Texas is hot. But it wasn’t on Monday. It was freezing! It felt like we were out in Jersey. It was freezing in the arena too. We weren’t prepared for that. It felt like we were playing outside! As far as the game, they have a lot of veteran guys and we didn’t have our best game. So we just have to pick things up and learn from what we’ve been doing and hopefully this three-game home stand will be good.

I had my first Christmas away from home but I enjoyed myself. I had some people come out to Sacramento. I went over to Donté’s on Christmas Eve and then went to Bobby Brown’s on Christmas. We just hung out with our families and stuff. It was a good time.

I haven’t gotten all my gifts from my family, some of them are waiting for me at home for when I go to Jersey on January 4, 2009, which is also when I’m getting my jersey retired at Rider University! My favorite gift so far is a framed drawing of my rookie card my parents had done by an artist. It’s real nice! Just to have my first card was a great feeling and then for them to have it sketched out like they did is real tight. My aunt sent me my Bachelor’s degree framed, so that was interesting to get as a gift. But to finally see it was good, and it showed all the hard work I put in in college paid off.

Speaking of Rider, to answer Sean’s question from my last post, my favorite Bronc diner meal depended on what I was hungry for, but the cheese steaks were good out there. I got the chicken fingers and fries sometimes, but I would have to say the cheese steak with extra American cheese was bangin’!

I hope everybody had a good Holiday. Merry Christmas! For people that don’t celebrate Christmas, Happy Holidays! Have a good New Year, too! Be safe. I know a lot of people want to party and stuff like that, but this is the most important time to be around your families and celebrate.

Keep supporting us. I know it’s hard times out there right now, but the true fans keep supporting their team even when they’re not winning a lot. For all of the Sacramento area people reading this, keep coming to ARCO because we play our best when ARCO is rockin’!