The L.A. Times on Saturday did a story on a university student in Newcastle, England, who is a rabid Lakers fan — perhaps the only one in the United Kingdom. And this guy is desperate to see the Lakers in the playoffs.
Well, preferably in the NBA Finals.
The guy’s name is Ian McCabe, and he is 23 and about to graduate from college.
He doesn’t have much money, though, and is worried about the cost of staying here in town. Not unreasonable, considering a lot of hotels are at $200 a night, no sweat.
I have a solution.
Hey, kid: You can stay with me. Honest. If you can get here, I will pick you up at the airport, and you can crash on my couch here in downtown Long Beach. The wife already has signed off on this.
Here is the L.A. Times story on the guy, from Saturday’s newspaper.
Really, Ian, come on over. I mean, don’t buy a plane ticket right this minute, since the Lakers are anything but a sure bet to get out of the second round of the Western Conference. But if it works out … plan on staying here.
You’ll have your own bathroom. I’ve got cable. Are you OK with a cat? Generally harmless, but if the fur makes you sneeze … We can feed you, too.
Turns out, I have a little extra time on my hands at the moment, and we can even show you around a bit. Maybe Disneyland? At the least, we can drive around. Do the Walk of Fame, Venice Beach, maybe even a Dodgers game, if you want to get really exotic.
Also, I’m exactly two blocks from the Blue Line, which can get you to Staples for $1.25 each way. Cheap as dirt.
Now, for the plane ticket. That will not be cheap. Maybe you can ask the Lakers to pay for it, to bring you over as a sort of representative of the crazed international fan the NBA is so fervently hoping to create.
Also, the Lakers get something like $2,500 for one courtside seat, so they won’t bust the bank by paying for your plane ticket. They could introduce you before a game, then let you go sit up in the rafters.
(That is, I can’t help you with tickets. You’re on your own there, and scalping a seat for the Finals … that might be pricey. Well, count on it, really.)
I’ll take care of the rest. And I have some experience housing British kids. A decade ago, a kid from Wales was a foreign exchange student who stayed with my family the entire 1996-97 school year. So, yes, I know you lads like your ale.
My e-mail is noted on this blog site.
So, Ian, let me know if I can help. You get to LAX, I can take you the rest of the way.
The couch really isn’t bad to sleep on, either.
4 responses so far ↓
1 Damian // Apr 27, 2008 at 11:39 AM
What a cool story. I loved the story’s opening quote by Ian’s dad. Hilarious.
Newcastle-ites do love their football team and are among the most passionate fans in the Premiership, which makes it even funnier that this guy is trying to convert anyone who will listen to him into being a Lakers fan in a sport so random in England like basketball. English TV airs NFL and MLB, and even MLS every week, but not NBA.
Then again, Newcastle hasn’t done anything but underachieve this century in soccer so you almost can’t blame for Newcastle youth looking for another team in another country to support.
I hope he makes it over. I’ll take him to the King’s Head Pub in Santa Monica to help him feel at home. You should pass along you blog post to Simers or someone at the Times who will post it in their column or at least pass the word along to Chuck Culpepper.
I’m sure you are aware of this already, but let me provide a couple pearls o’ wisdom for you, Paul, in case he does take you up on your offer:
1) He is from Newcastle, so you may need to buy a Newcastle dialect-to-English dictionary and a tape recorder, so you can play back and break down what he is saying. As you know, the further North you go in Britain, the faster they talk and the harder it is to understand what theyare saying.
2) I know you know the Brits like their drink, but this kid is from Newcastle. So he’ll like it by the keg, rather than the pint. Alcohol has been in his veins from birth. Should make for some fun chanting and singing around the house around 3 a.m. for as long as he stays.
3) And don’t bother supplying him with the Newcastle Brown Ale. No one I know or have seen in England drinks that. Then again, I’ve never been to Newcastle, so Newcastle-ites might be the only ones from the isles that touch that stuff.
2 DPope // Apr 27, 2008 at 2:40 PM
Newcastle Brown Ale is the finest beverage imported from Europe. I’ve enjoyed its smoothness on many occasions and so have you, Damian. You had one at this year’s Fantasy Draft. I GAVE it to you. What an ingrate. That’s the last time I give you a beer.
3 Damian // Apr 29, 2008 at 7:16 PM
Dennis — And I thank you for your Newcastle. I don’t have a problem with it. I’m just saying no one in England drinks it, in spite of its cool logo. Every time I mention Newcastle to one of my English relatives or friends, they immediately respond to me with a cringing bitter beer face.
4 cindy robinson // Apr 30, 2008 at 4:39 PM
Damian, Dennis, enough about the ale, I want to know, did Ian take paulo up on his offer? Paul, if he did, Dani said she will help show him around. He might like that better since she’s his age… 🙂
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