DoktaKra.com

Updated: July 29, 2008, 9:05 AM ET

I've been looking forward to this Friday for months, ever since I developed a weird infatuation an innocent crush on Candace Parker.  Her Los Angeles Sparks make their only visit to New York to face the Liberty, and there was no way I'd miss it.  The problem is that it's not easy to find someone who's interested in going a WNBA game...nevermind someone who'd pay decent money for courtside seats.  I scrambled to call everyone I knew after the person who was supposed to go with me bailed just weeks before the game (I ain't mad at cha).  No worries, I found someone who was crazy enough thought it would be fun.  I'd finally see my dream girl in person, maybe even get an autograph....or a hug, maybe steal her sweaty, game-used headband...er, forget I said that.  And then literally minutes after everything was in motion, Candace was involved in the first brawl in WNBA history...and the suspension talk started.  It was a knife to my heart...I didn't think I'd make it through night...would Candace end up missing the New York game?  This can't be life....this can't be love...

UPDATE:  Crisis averted!  Candace was only suspended for one game, which she served last night.  So, CP will be at Madison Square Garden, and I'll be in the third row.  I've got my camera, Mitch Richmond throwback jersey, and a "Candace -- will you marry me?" sign?  I'm more excited than Jesse Spano right now!

UPDATE:  Well, I didn't get a chance to talk to Candace...it was probably for the best, since I can definitely see myself pulling a Greg Oden.  I wasn't surprised to see lots of purple Sparks gear at the the game, but I was a little shocked by the number of grown men wearing CP jerseys in the stands....I can't get myself to do that...not yet, at least.

I found out that Candace is not a very shy girl.  At one point in the second half, she needed to adjust her shoulder brace...so she just pulled up her jersey almost all the way off for about 20 seconds.  I'm not gonna lie to you, this may have been my favorite part of the game...without sounding like too much a perv (too late, I guess), I felt bad staring so hard...

And finally, I waited for Candace by the Sparks team bus after the game with at least 100 other fans.  When she eventually came about 45 minutes later, she just waived to the crowd and boarded the bus.  It was a little disappointing...almost like, we waited in the blistering cold for you, four hours and you just said, "no."  I mean, I thought she'd give the New York fans a little love after the bad publicity with the fighting, but CP wasn't feeling it.  If it was meant to be, it'll be soon...I'll be there next year, no doubt. 

Sorry for the poor quality photos...it's hard to get good shots when there's so much movement on the court...