Pack a bag for cold weather. We’re taking a trip and it’s a surprise. That’s what Jenna told her Father before putting him on a plane at D/FW airport bound for Charlotte, NC during a record setting cold snap on January 5, 2018.
The wind chill was deep into negative territory outside The Pavilion at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex’s Fieldhouse. It’s the home of The Swarm.
Shane and Jenna arrived in Charlotte on Friday. Jenna had to drive to Greensboro to meet with her officiating crew and begin preparing for their game the next day. Karen, Shane and I drove to Greensboro Saturday. It was brutally cold and windy, which limited our sightseeing to indoor activities. Jenna ate lunch with us and returned to work. We avoided the cold by visiting Natty Greene’s, Little Brother’s, Joymonger’s and Preyer Brewing Companies. We took a nap before going to the game at 7:00pm.
The newly renovated Fieldhouse looked full with an attendance of 2,118.. The 30,000-square-feet structure has no columns and is cozy enough to make every seat feel close to the action. A proud Dad gets a shot of #77 at work.
The G-League is the official NBA Minor League. Jenna goes toe-to-toe with Pro-sized players.
Players and coaches don’t agree with every call referees make. You have to know your stuff and stand pat to function at this level.
Replay triggers have been reduced to only five events: Flagrant Fouls, Two-point/three-point field goal attempts or fouls, Made basket at end of period, Foul at end of period, and Altercations. Coaches get one challenge per game. The NBA uses the G-League to test rule changes that may improve play.
All 26 G-League franchises are affiliated with NBA teams. The Swarm is with the Charlotte Hornets and Santa Cruz with the Golden State Warriors.
The NBA G-League plays a 50-game schedule for 2017-2018 that runs Nov.-April. The Playoffs go four rounds with a 12-team format. Every game will have referees like Jenna working hard to move up to the NBA level full-time. This game was another great job by #77. We’re pulling for you, Ms. Jenna!
It wasn’t all work on this trip. We took Jenna and Shane to Lumberjaxe to relax and throw some axes when we got back to Charlotte. The deadly cold outside persisted, but it was warm and fun inside punishing pine with sharp objects.
Axes don’t always stick, but when they do it’s time to celebrate.
Shane preferred the underhand throw and beat me 2 out of 3 games. He’s a natural “Axe Man.”
Charlotte is named for the British Queen that married “mad King George III” and gave him 15 children. Shane and Jenna pose with her petite statue during our Charlotte driving tour.
No tour of uptown Charlotte would be complete without a selfie at the Panthers’ BOA stadium.
We had a good time with Shane and Jenna during the “Great Surprise Trip.” I hope they come back when the weather is warmer and we can explore outside without frostbite.