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The Lost Laker
A Transplanted L.A. Hoops Fan Hosts 30
Friends
Who Get Buzzed in Charlotte's Bee Hive for a Game
By
Gordon Vasquez
El Segundo, CA
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Three years ago USAirways closed its LAX flight
attendant and pilot base resulting in 1,000 ids-placed employees. One
of those employees decided to transfer to the Charlotte base and stay
with the airline. By choosing to do so, however, he gave one of his
favorite activities, going to Los Angeles Lakers games.
Thus, this mid 40s gentlemen became "The Lost Laker."
Pete is his name and like any devoted sports fans, he devised a method
for seeing his Lakers play with friends he left behind in L.A., as well
as others scattered about the country. He put together a Road Trip to
Charlotte when the boys from L.A. come in to play the Hornets.
So, once a year, guys from all over the U.S. assemble for a 3-day raging
party and a chance to see the Lakers kick some butt.
 This
year, we met the third week of February to see Kobe, Shaq and the guys
whip the Hornets in the "Bee Hive."
The party started on a Thursday, one day before the Big Game when 30
people – including myself and three others from L.A. – invaded
Pete's territory (those with wives brought them along for their own
party).
The first activity was the "House Party" with Pete hosting
a tequila-shooting debacle at his house in Huntersville, a Charlotte
suburb.
Most of us only get together for this once-a-year event and we party
it up as heavy as humanly possible. As the night progresses, people
begin to drop left and right. At least one guy passes out and rides
that magic porcelain bus which give everyone a big laugh.
Friday was the big game and Pete had set up a Party Bus from www.RaginUptown.com.
The party bus picked us up at 6 p.m. – 30 guys piled in with plenty
of hard alcohol and a keg for good measure. Imagine the carnage of having
30 guys on a booze-loaded with NO WOMEN!
With all those cocktails on board, we took our time getting to the
game and arrived at the Hive just about tip off. We continued to party
inside. All except The Lost Laker – he partied too heavily and
had to take a quick power nap on the bus during the first part of the
game!
It was not too difficult to see that the Hive needs to be upgraded.
It does not have any luxury suites. And without luxury suites you fail
to attract luxury fans. And luxury fans always include rockstar-looking
babes. With that type of eye candy missing, one could easily imagine
what was on our minds besides a Laker victory.
 It
was an epic game. The Lakers trailed for most of it until Kobe dropped
in a game-winner at the buzzer. The Lost Laker, back with us now, loved
it!
We got quite buzzed in the Hive and after the game had a little trouble
finding our bus. Once we got there, though, we were ready for some club
action. We headed straight to the Have a Nice Day Café downtown,
a 70s theme club with locations in various U.S. cities.
It's rated as one of Charlotte's best clubs and within a few moments
my buddy Dave and I found out why. We came across three insane babes.
One was a Daisy Fuentas look-alike. The other two were as loaded up
on conversation as we were on booze. Eventually, they met everyone in
our group.
Of course the killer babes did not believe we flew in just for a Laker
game. They sure weren't like L.A. girls – full of Southern charm
and very low maintenance. In fact, only one cheesy drink was requested
upon the first offer as an icebreaker. We did well with only 5 bucks
spent for the 30 minutes of entertainment they provided us and when
the song by Sir Mixalot, "Baby's got Back" came on, their
asses were swaying – these babies definitely had some back.
But this could only satisfy the whole group for so long, so it was
off to the Uptown Cabaret. This strip club was packed to the
gills and every Pimp Daddy in town was there. Lap dancers were available
for $10 on the lower level and 20 bucks upstairs. The place would have
been better if they limited the amount of people inside. It was OK but
we should have probably chose The Gentlemen's Club on the other
side of town.
The Party Bus ride came quick back to Pete's and another great trip
to visit "The Lost Laker" was a success yet again.
 Next
stop on the Party Bus: 2002 Winter Olympics
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