Wednesday, January 25, 2017

We were the champions


If you've visited my blog for any length of time at all, you know I'm a HUGE fan of the Lakers, a basketball team in the Western Conference in the U.S.  If you are new to my blog, the fact they were once the champions, but now are in the bottom of the barrel, makes no difference to me.  I will still love them forever.

This story is fairly self explanatory.  It is intended to be one shared with Erika, whose theme, "Every journal page tells a story," is for Art Journal Journey.  And since there is nothing square on the page, I'm also joining Try it on Tuesday.  I still have no way to scan photos, but tried to find some light, which today is on my dining room table.

I began by sewing some laces I dyed specifically for this spread. 

These are the colors of my beloved Lakers' uniforms.

I'm not quite sure which year this was taken, but I was either working in or visiting Los Angeles for several years in the mid to late 1980s when

the Lakers were at the top of their game.  As you can see, this was taken in LA at the Forum, their old home.

My photo was from so far away, and I didn't bring any extra lenses to the game, or I would have used my telephoto with my old SLR.  The only person I can truly make out in the photo is Kurt Rambis, who was also known as Superman because he looked a lot like Clark Kent. 

Although I know Jamaal Wilkes, James Worthy, Byron Scott, Michael Cooper, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and A. C. Green were all on the floor, Rambis is the only one I can clearly make out. 

The word "basketball" was a plastic sticker, but I broke it as I was adding it to the lace and fabric.

Yes, indeed.  They were champions back then.

In their heyday, the Lakers were known as "Showtime," because their owner, Jerry Buss thought his newly purchased Lakers should put on a show.  He wanted to create a Hollywood atmosphere that would be similar to that culture even if it was hated by the rest of the country.  I always called them "Poetry in Motion," mainly because of their fast breaks up and down the court that were followed by gentle layups or slam dunks.

During this period, they were coached by Pat Riley who helped them win four titles in the 1980s.  I've often said that even though the Showtime Lakers were known for their offense, they won championships with their defense.

Although they will never be Showtime players again, they are still my champions.

For this spread, I began by spritzing some of my handmade shimmering mists onto a used file folder.  While the file folder was drying, I dyed two bits of lace purple and yellow.  I sewed those to a piece of my left over sun dyed fabric.  I glued the lace to the file folder, then added the real photograph I found as I was cleaning out the basement.  To that, I added the words and the three plastic embellishments.

The Lakers will always be my champions, and I have a great deal of memorabilia and many of their autographs to prove it, too.  I even have a purple and gold striped authentic NBA Lakers jacket that got moldy when the basement flooded.

Thanks for sharing these memories with me today, as I join Art Journal Journey and my anything but square Try it on Tuesday entry with my journal story about a bunch of true champions.

15 thoughtful remarks:

Valerie-Jael said...

Wonderful page, every team needs true fans who stick to them through thick and thin and very thin! Thanks so much for joining us at AJJ, and TIOT, much appreciated. Have a great day, hugs to you & to B&S! Valerie

chrissie said...

Wonderful page with such beauty in your fabric additions. The fact that you support the team come rain or come shine is the mark of a true fan and what helps team climb right back up to the top.

Thank you for joining in at Try it on Tuesday

Love Chrissie xx

My name is Erika. said...

I remember the 1980's Lakers. And I remember the 1980's Celtics. I have never been a huge basketball fan-but back in those days I do remember watching because basketball was pretty exciting. I suppose it is still exciting-and I'd know if I watched. :) Like how you used the Laker colors on your page and the old photo. Its a good memory and a fun page-glad you shared it on AJJ ! Happy Wednesday! Hugs-Erika

froebelsternchen said...

You made a wonderful page for your team! Wow! Just great and super you linked it with AJJ and Try It On Tuesday ! Always great to see you at the challenges ♥♥♥
Don't stress about Moo Mania's new theme..it was quite hard for me to make a page for this .. I am not the great fan of carnival.
Happy Day dear Eilzabeth!
oxo Susi

Sandra Cox said...

Awww, what a lovely tribute to your team.
Hugs

Neet said...

You stick with the Lakers Elizabeth, that is the mark of a true fan - through thick and thin you will stick. A lovely tribute page to them further proves your loyalty.
Sorry about the CHA-less post. Only got back last night after a long drive from Phoenix with a stop to see a wonderful 92 year old lady whom I once stayed with. The stop was in PalmDesert and we enjoyed the sunshine which was wonderful after the cold and rain of Phoenix. Yes, the weather is all over the place isn't it? Anyhow, by the time we arrived in LA we were pretty beaten up and just wanted to climb into bed after unpacking suitcases.
Not sure when I will be uploading as we are heading off to see our adopted family so have a busy schedule and then we are going to San Diego for a few days but will definitely be uploading something soon.
Hugs to you and tickles to the fur babies with a special whisper in Bleubeard's ear to tell him how handsome he is.
Neet xxx

CJ Kennedy said...

Great page with pictures and a great story. I'm not much of a sports fan though in my young days I was an avid tennis player and followed players like Rod Laver, John Newcombe, Cliff Drysdale. Back in the day when tennis was a polite spectator sport. In the early 1980s, a friend took me to a Boston Celtics game at the Boston Gahden. (-; I don't remember who the Celtics were playing, but someone from the opposing team made a beautiful, arc of a basket. SWISHHHHH I politley applauded because in a tennis match, you applauded both players for their skill. My friend elbowed me in the ribs with a hiss, and I fell into the aisle.
:-D

Divers and Sundry said...

Who needs a fair weather friend! No, teams need faithful fans like you :)

Meggymay said...

I'm sure lifelong fans are very much appreciated by the team you follow. Its a fantastic tribute page with so much to see and enjoy looking at. I liked the touch of lace, perhaps a feminine touch to this masculine great team of yours.
Yvonne xx
Thank you for coming over to TioT's to share as well.

Rike said...

This is a great page for your champions! Cool that you decorated them with lace and feminine colors - like "yin yang" for the whole page.

Sami said...

Nothing wrong with supporting a losing team! You should support them whether they are losers or winners.
Great page Elizabeth.

Lula said...

What a beautiful page! Love how you have used the fabric!
Thanks for playing along with us over at TioT this time.

Stephanie Faris said...

I know nothing about sports at all, but I love lace and I LOVE lavender!!! So that page looks great to me.

~*~Patty S said...

Even thought you wrote "WERE" the song popped right into my head with lyrics in tact ;-)
You are a true blue fan and not a fair weather fan which is admirable E.
Your page is super with the wonderful watercolor touches and more.
oxo

pearshapedcrafting said...

So pleased to see that you have joined us at Try It On Tuesday! This is a fantastic tribute to your team! I would love it if basketball was on TV more often here! We get a lot of football (soccer), speaking of which....my home town team, well known for dropping down the league tables, have won another round in the FA cup today! Made me smile today! Hugs, Chrisx