7. Which unexpected event took place when I attended my first Lakers game in 1988?

A) I was sold counterfeit seats outside The Forum. While I was arguing with the ticket taker, Pat Riley overheard the commotion, just having come over to the entrance area to assist a relative get a complimentary seat. This person had dropped his name at another ticket-checking aisle, insisting Pat would allow them in free. Upon noticing I was just a teenager after overhearing the situation, he told them to give me and my friend comp seats as well, and we sat 4th row center court.

B) On the drive home, I inadvertently angered some gang members, by accidentally cutting them off and not letting them into my lane when theirs was ending and becoming a parking lane. They kept trying to pull up along side of me, and I was terrified, as was my friend. They then attempted to follow us wherever I went, no matter which direction I turned. I lost them by pretending to turn left, and then jerking my vehicle right in front of a long line of fast-moving traffic, preventing them from following me further.

C) My car was stolen while I was at the game, and I was sure that I had just forgotten where my car was. After finally calling the police, I learned my car had been used in a drive-by shooting in Inglewood, and it took 9 months to get back. My parents had to buy me a new (used) car in the meantime.

D) My seat was that night's "lucky seat", and I won a $30,000 new car. The celebration was short-lived when I learned that you had to be 18 to qualify for the prize, so they re-drew the seat and awarded someone else.
In 1988, I had made a new friend on a BBS, who lived somewhat nearby. We were both big Lakers fans, and he somehow got 2 tickets to a game in November of that year. He invited me to use the other ticket (for free). Even though we both were able to drive, somehow I ended up being the one driving, even though he was closer to The Forum, which was located in a very bad neighborhood.

The game was good, and the Lakers won. We both enjoyed it a lot, and in fact it had been the first Lakers game for both of us.

On the way back, still in Inglewood, the third lane on the street turned into a parking-only lane. I was in the center lane, and wasn't even paying attention to that. Four scary-looking young black dudes were in a car in the right lane, and tried to get out of it. I was inadvertently blocking their way, and they almost hit a parked car. As you can imagine, they were furious at the young white boy who had just almost caused them to get into an accident.

They sped up, got alongside of me, and started all yelling at me. My new friend was terrified that a drive-by was imminent, and he ducked down and got on the floor. I had no such luxury, as I was driving! I was very nervous that shots might ring out at any second. Keep in mind that late 1980s Inglewood was a very violent place, and shootings in the area were common.

I tried to yell out the window, "I'm really sorry, I didn't see you guys", but they weren't having it. They still shouted all kinds of obscenities at me and were super pissed.

I tried to avoid them pulling alongside of me after that, and it became very clear that I was scared of them. They started following me everywhere I went. Anywhere I turned, they turned. My friend kept saying, "We're gonna get shot, I know it! We have to get away! It's gonna happen any second now!"

Finally, I had an idea to escape. I pulled into a left turn lane, and so did they. I waited at the red arrow, though the light to keep going straight was green.

"What are you doing?", my new friend asked. "They're turning, too, and this street you're turning to is quiet and isolated. They're gonna execute us here!"

"I have a plan, just watch...", was my reply.

A big line of fast-moving traffic was approaching, including some big trucks. I waited until the last second, then floored it and popped out in front of that whole line of vehicles, which was led by a large truck. The dudes didn't have time to react and do the same, and they were stuck in the left turn lane. I looked back and saw their mouths agape with shock (I'll never forget their expressions, it was kinda like that Dee Gordon gif I always post).



I then made a bunch of random turns to get off that road and made myself hard to locate. Indeed, they never caught up, and we got home safely. Looking back, I'm proud of this maneuver I pulled at the age of 16, while under incredible stress.

I'm still friends with the guy to this day. I do wonder what would have happened if I didn't ditch them like this.

Correct answer: B