Nothing but net: Winnipegger wins trip to watch Raptors in California
NBA promotion doles out two tickets to Game 4 of final series
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/06/2019 (2661 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
It was, admittedly, a lucky shot.
Christian Aaron and a friend are going to Oakland, Calif., to watch the Toronto Raptors take on the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, after his number was drawn Tuesday during an NBA Canada promotion in downtown Winnipeg.
“I don’t even know how to feel right now,” Aaron told reporters after the win. “My legs are shaking and I have to walk home.”
To commemorate the Raptors’ historic moment — the first title-round appearance for a Canadian-based team — NBA Canada and Google teamed up this week, stopping in five cities to play “NBA Finals Ball Drop.”
The promotion features 100 basketballs marked with a number between one and 100. People line up to pick one for the chance to win electronics or the grand prize of two tickets (plus flights and accommodations) to an NBA Finals game.
Stop four of the tour was at Upper Fort Garry Heritage Provincial Park, across from the train station on Main Street. The event started at noon, but people started lining up hours before.
Allan Godschuck, Jennifer Byra, and their 10-month-old daughter drove from Selkirk to participate. Godschuck, who sported a vintage, red Chris Bosh Raptors jersey and a Raptors snapback hat, said they arrived at 10 a.m.
“If we went in order (of who arrived first), we would have been eighth in line,” he said.
When it was time to start picking basketballs, the line was out to the street. People working the grounds of the park stopped to watch as, one by one, balls were selected.
Set up near the main entrance was a stand with a Google Home Mini. When all 100 basketballs had been selected, everyone gathered around the stand, as one of the event employees asked Google to generate a number between one and 100.
There was a tense silence as everyone waited to hear the number called. Google’s female voice announced: “64,” which belonged to Aaron.
“Ninety-ninth, baby! Ninety-ninth in line,” Aaron said as he accepted his prize.
Aaron, a Raptors fan from the beginning (1995), told reporters he arrived at the park around 11:30 a.m., coming straight from class.
The Raptors suffered a tough 109-104 loss to the Warriors in Game 2 on Sunday, tying the best-of-seven playoff series 1-1.
Aaron said it was “heartbreaking… but I believe in the boys, I believe we can turn this around, make history for Canada.”
Game 3 is Wednesday night in Oakland. Game 4 goes Friday night, with Aaron in attendance.
nicholas.frew@winnipegfreepress.com
Twitter: @n_frew6