How we drove a girl to a basketball match and what came of it

Editorial comment:

We have been stubbornly drowning for Spartak Moscow for a long time. And we are often called to hockey. But we got to the basketball match almost for the first time. And it was this time that they decided to send a man to the stands who does not understand anything about sports — before each match he asks: "Who are ours?" and "Who to root for?", goes to sports bars, yells along with everyone when "our" score, beer gushes like a real fan, but still - doesn't know a damn thing about the game.

We convinced her that "it's different in the stands." And then they handed over the camera and sent it straight to USC CSKA. And you know, she liked it.

(49 photos in total)

The final series of VTB United League basketball matches was in full swing. While the eyes of sports fans around the world were turned towards football fields, a real bacchanal was going on on the basketball floor — the struggle for leading positions was serious. I witnessed the second match of the final playoff series between CSKA Moscow and UNICS Kazan.

I showed up early. There was no one on the parquet, almost all the seats for journalists were empty, and harsh guards even let them sit in the VIP stands until guests began to come. I ran around the playground like crazy. Together with me, children and sometimes serious men with tripods — representatives of the sports media - were running between the rows.

I tried as little as possible to catch the eyes of the security guards — it constantly seemed to me that I was about to be sent back to the seats for streamers (in the corner, far away) and forced to sit there for the next hour and a half of the match. At some point it really happened, and even my sheep's eyes and a look of sincere bewilderment did not help here: ka-a-ak, is it absolutely impossible? At all.

The game started, and I followed the bearded photographers with a "brick face" expression. Took a trump place almost under the ring. For a long time I was afraid that they would ask me from there. But no, they left it.

A separate delight was caused by the warm-up of the players before the match. And not just me.

There was everything on the floor: a determined attack, a stern defense, truly legendary three-point shots and sometimes a really cruel game. During the first three quarters, the teams went toe-to-toe, only occasionally breaking away from the opponents by a few points. In fact, the last quarter was decisive: the red and blue sharply accelerated the pace of the game and beat the opponents with a total score of 90:77.

Editor's comment: Yes, we helped her write this part.

However, what really created the atmosphere of the whole game was not only on the floor. Fans reigned around. It's hard to find another word. If you imagine crowds of shaved men, one look at which makes you want to hide under the table and never get out of there, you are fundamentally mistaken.

They were people of all ages: children, adult men and women, young boys and girls, even citizens in years. They didn't stop chanting chants. They worried about their teams as if it was not a victory in a basketball game that was at stake, but the life of an important person for them.

The most noticeable of all was a dad with a one-year-old son. The latter was very partial to the mascot of CSKA Moscow.

In the breaks between the game quarters, charming cheerleaders ran out on the parquet, who supported the players as best they could. And they could not be weak! Even those who were not particularly interested in the game itself came to life here (although you could count them on your fingers).

Basketball is a spectacle for everyone. I realized this when a flock of young girls in dance costumes rushed to throw heavy balls into the basket. The most marked was Maria Sharafetdinova from the support group. All this delight for the eyes was part of the beauty contest "Miss Cheerleader" (beauty contest, Carl!), which Maria won.

At some point I decided to get closer to the fans' stands. It was loud, crowded and a little scary. At first, the guards standing on the approach to the podium did not miss for a very long time. A tall, stern man in a jacket said: "You can't!" (safety is above all), despite the fact that I was actively waving my accreditation in front of his nose. Nevertheless, later I managed to "break through the defense".

When you become part of this close-knit crowd, everything is seen in a completely different light. Together with the fans, I want to shout, beat drums and wave tall flags. Fans of UNICS, which by that time was decently lagging behind CSKA in terms of points, generally caused awe and, along with it, respect. Despite the obvious loss of their favorite team, the fans supported it until the end of the match.

It's really different in the stands. The match is exciting, the atmosphere permeates completely. And there is a treacherous desire to come here every day to watch among the most furious like-minded people how tall, handsome guys show a great game.

In general, if you have never been to the basketball stands — you urgently need to get there.

Editorial comment: The correspondent returned alive, with equipment and without bruises. And CSKA became the champion of this year, with which we sincerely congratulate the Red Army!