MY COURTSIDE NIGHT WITH THE D'BACKS: PART 1

I'm hanging in the D'backs locker room during the 6th inning of their game against the Rockies (which they barely lost 12-11) to grab interviews with Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Orlando Hudson and a few other guys who were leaving early. Before I could ask Hudson for an interview, he runs out from the workout room and starts yelling.

"Man, no one else in the bullpen wants to go tonight!" Hudson says. He isn't talking to anyone in particular. "Hey sugar," he says looking at me. "I don't know who you are but you wanna come? We got an extra ticket."


"Um, sure," I hesitantly say. I still don't know what I am saying yes to but my other option is sitting in my hotel room, so I'm in. "What am I saying yes to exactly?"

"A bunch of the guys are driving up to the Suns game tonight but dude, don't you be kidding with me," he says seriously. "I've got one extra ticket so if you're not really gonna come -"

"No, I want to come," I quickly reply to Hudson who has started walking around he locker room singing the Backstreet Boys I Want It That Way.

"Where are you going?" ask outfielder Eric Byrnes who just walked in the room.

"Too late," Hudson promptly says. "She's already going with us to the Suns game. I only had one ticket."

***

After a couple more interviews and a two hour drive, I arrive. I'm about two feet away from Shaquille O'Neal looking at the sweat drip off his forehead as he elbows a couple Houston players while going for a lay-up. Such a clear offense foul but he gets the call and goes to the line to shoot his free throws.

"Yeah that's right baby!" screams Orlando Hudson from a few feet away.

"That was such an offense foul," I whisper to D'back right fielder "J-Up" Justin Upton sitting next to me.

"Oh yeah, I know," he admits.

I'm sitting courtside next to D'back players Hudson, Upton and center fielder Chris Young as the Suns pound on the Houston Rockets at US Airway Center in Phoenix. Veteran player Augie Ojeda and catcher Robby Hammock are a few rows behind us. "You my Southern boy, I got your back!" Hudson said to Hammock when inviting him earlier to the game.

"A big welcome to Arizona Diamondback's Orlandooooo Huuudson!" says the announcer during a timeout. The crowd goes nuts when Hudson's on the jumbotron waving. He's a regular here at the Suns game and the D'backs' Drake Stadium is just next door.

I was along for the guys night and I still wasn't quite sure why or how. It was just me and five of the Arizona Diamondback players and I wasn't about to question the situation; I was going to enjoy it. It was pretty ridiculous - security escorts, pictures, autographs, the whole deal. But there I was, just joking around with the guys.

No big deal.

MY COURTSIDE NIGHT WITH THE D'BACKS: PART 2

Hold me to these words: If Orlando Hudson - or "O" as the players call him - ever runs for governor he will win by a landslide. The guy seriously knows everyone in the state. He runs the show here at the Suns game. He knows the security guards, players, photogs, parking attendants and even a referee. He works it. He's loud, friendly and in a bright yellow shirt.

He always asks what someone's name is when they come up for a picture or an autograph and he has a way of making each person feel a 'special connection' with him, whether it's calling a security guard 'brother' or fist pounding with a fan.

"Man, you're working out there!" Hudson says to an out of breath referee during a break in the game. "I couldn't do it. I tell you man, I couldn't do what you do." The referee laughs and comes over to chat with the pro.

At halftime Hudson leads the crew and I across the court under the tunnel and with a simple, "They're with me," we're led to a VIP buffet with salads, pasta, fruit, turkey, hot dogs and desert. The whole time he's shaking hands, saying "what's up man" and cracking jokes. "He's funny, isn't he?" Augie Ojeda says to me. "Half the time none of us can understand what he's saying because he talks so fast but it's always funny."

The Suns dominate over the Rockets with a 122-113 win and immediately fans run up to Hudson and Justin Upton asking for pictures and autographs. Los Angeles Angels pitcher Justin Speier, who was in the crowd, comes over to say hi to the guys and starts shooting some baskets from our courtside seats. Hudson picks up the basketball and the fans cheer. First one's a miss. Second one's nothing but net. "Justin shoot!" yell the fans at Upton, but the shy newbie just shakes his head. "I don't want to miss," he confesses. "Oh, no one will care," I insist. "They all know you play baseball for a reason. They won't like make fun of you."

"Oh yes they will," counters Chris Young who still hasn't completely warmed up to me like the other players. "They all talk."

So as we leave the game we're escorted by security down the tunnel underground to where all the Suns players park their cars. "Thanks for making the guys look good," says a security guard. I just laugh. The guys want to go out but first things first. "You all better buy me some food!" Hudson says. "I didn't get to eat the buffet cause I was waiting for your asses and running around and getting tickets. I'm hungry!"

We all pile in Orlando Hudson's huge white SUV to drive next door to their baseball headquarters, Drake stadium, where our cars are parked. Everyone drove separately so it looks like a scene out of Swingers as five cars follow each other into town.

"You are young bucks," Hudson says to Justin Upton and Chris Young while munching on hamburgers and fries at dinner. "It's okay, I was there once." Young is a bit less accepting of the lecture, while Upton just listens. "Everyone's going to be looking at you," he tells Upton. "They want to see what you can do. You can't think about it. You've got to go out and do your thing."

"That's what I'm gonna do," agrees Upton.

"He's right," Young says. "You have more to prove."

After the guys get their food, the four of us head down the street to the club E4. Robby Hammock's already gone home to crash. The bouncers immediately recognize Hudson, of course. We are escorted to a table where the guys chill, chat and people watch. They groove a bit but when a crew of skimpily dressed groupies come over, the guys brush them off.

"Phoenix is so small," says Upton. "You see the same people every time you go out." After a few people come up asking for autographs, they happily sign away but I can tell they've had enough. Before we leave, Upton and I conspire together to have the DJ announce to the club that it's Hudson's birthday -which it's definitely not. "Did you do that! You did that didn't you?" Hudson says laughing as I return with a guilty look on my face.

"It works better at dinner when like five waiters come over and sing," I say to Upton.

"Yeah, you're right," he agrees. "But I like where your heads at."

We call it a night by 12:30am, say our goodbyes and promise to stay in touch when they come to L.A. to play the Dodgers.