I wasn't at the Magic-Heat game on Feb. 4th, but I did watch it on the computer. A friend of mine in Chicago watched it from his snowed-in living room and commented to/asked me this morning: "Why did the Magic fans begin leaving the game with over five minutes to play? Don't they realize that a lot of things can happen in an NBA game in five minutes? That's at least 10-12 possessions per team! I know they'd shown nothing to that point, but two stops, a turnover and two deuces and a trey for the home team and you've got a 13 point game with just over 3 min. to play. Is there so much traffic, or interesting things to do on a Thursday night that everyone wants to be the first to leave? Stranger things have happened."

And so I began to reflect. And I have to admit that there were many times I recall people coming back to their seats in the last decade or so, confused by the turn of events. Why is this so? Do you think that perhaps we still don't have the same passion/knowledge/experience as a Midwestern team's fans? Or NY? Or Boston?

Another point is the ooohs, aaahs and murmurs you hear in Chicago or Boston when the OPPOSING team makes a great play (except when it's the Lakers!). I remember when we had our first real competitive teams and the Magic lost like 1 or 2 games all season at home; we had a reputation of being a very difficult place to play. I just don't get that feeling anymore. Perhaps the type of fans have changed, I'm just not sure. What do you think?