"Which team makes your heart beat?" our waitress at China Garden asked my boyfriend before the Houston Rockets v. Los Angeles Lakers game at the Toyota Center on Tuesday night.
After a bit more pressing, he was compelled to admit that he's an LA fan. Luckily our food had already been delivered.
My answer would have been much more complicated. As with most sports, I'm not really in it for the competition. I'm more interested in watching the players interact, admiring individual dexterity and skill and personality.
And Nash appears — at least on the court — to be above the overblown self-importance so common in professional athletes.
And also, to be frank, the eye candy. I admit that I ogle — and specifically at one Steve Nash. Our seats were close enough to the court that I had to warn my boyfriend in advance that I might not go home with him.
I have followed Nash with glassed-over eyes throughout his career with the Phoenix Suns and into his inaugural season with the Lakers, admiring his floppy hair, his youthful vigor and his propensity to bring a team of egos together.
While I realize the latter quality results partly from his position as a point guard, it seems that his easygoing brand of leadership is inherent. And he appears — at least on the court — to be above the overblown self-importance so common in professional athletes.
On the other hand, there's James Harden. He's on the home team, he's a contender for the NBA's annual Most Valuable Player award and his beard is so damned handsome.
So I found myself cheering every time either team scored, a sort of vacillating fan. After each of Harden's three-pointers and at Nash's milestone 10,000th assist, my heart beat faster.
The Rockets won 125-112 of course with Harden scoring 31 points and Nash contributing 16 points and 10 assists.
