Road Diaries Revisited: OKC

Since September 1st, I have hosted 10 episodes of 'Tailgate Overtime,' three live pregame shows on-location in Gainesville and Jacksonville, called the play-by-play for Florida State vs. Miami at Dolphin Stadium, co-hosted 28 (!) live pregame and postgame shows for the Tampa Bay Rays up to and including the World Series, and spent the rest of my time writing and hosting various and sundry episodes of 'Inside The Magic' and 'Under The Lights.' What I have not done, yet, is perform pregame and sideline duties for a Magic game.

Which is about to change, seeing as how I'm writing this at an altitude of 38,000 feet, on the team plane.

Actually, it's not the 'team plane' anymore. As we wing our way to Oklahoma City for a three-game, five-day roadie, we do so on a chartered Northwest Airlines A319 VIP. The 'VIP' in the title is no accident -- this is an aircraft specifically outfitted for charter travel. Every seat on the plane is first-class sized and lined in leather; entertainment options include personal DVD players for each passenger, and a library of movies from which to choose. This is the first year that the Magic have used this service.

For the better part of 15 years, the Orlando Magic traveled on their own personalized 737, a handsome craft painted the correct shade of blue and dubbed 'Magic Carpet Aviation.' She rested on a gleaming white floor in her own custom-built hangar on the Tradeport side of Orlando International Airport. As one might imagine, her upkeep was pricey, especially when one factors in the staff, which included pilots, flight attendants, and mechanics, all working full-time. At some point, the bottom line became the bottom line; the rumor is that the team will save $5 million per year by chartering instead of owning. And that figure was before they sold the 737, which apparently was snapped up quickly (in fact, I was told that the mere rumor of a sale drew inquiries from interested parties). I suppose that an airplane as lovingly maintained and sheltered as the Magic Carpet craft would be a hot commodity for those in the market for such things.

For now, the Magic have held onto the hangar itself, which has become a very expensive parking garage for the players' very expensive cars. Because this is a charter service, however, there is now a security element before we climb the stairs onto the plane, which presents the fascinating dynamic of watching Rashard Lewis fishing into his wallet for a driver's license. Once the traveling party has been checked, it's simply a matter of walking 100 yards across a tarmac and up the stairs. As I have written in this space before, it's the only way to travel.

So anyway, we're on Northwest, and it's a much better deal for the broadcasters. In the old plane, we were crammed into two parallel benches at the rear of the cabin. Now, while we still occupy the last third of the aircraft, we do so in comfortable seats. Interestingly, the plane is divvied up precisely as the old plane was: players in the forward section, coaches amidships, everybody else in the back. On this plane, just as in the old one, the coaches sit across from each other at card tables, where they can work their laptops and talk strategy. Or sleep, as a couple of them are doing at the moment.

Today, the manifest also includes Magic general manager Otis Smith, who travels as frequently as any GM in the league. He's made a point of being on the road as much as possible ever since he was elevated to his current position; I get the sense that he wants to feel the vibe of the team by watching them during their down time. I'm sure it doesn't hurt his standing with the players for them to see him, too.

One note about the charter: remember back in the olden days, when airlines actually served hot food, with silverware, while in transit? They still do that here. Tonight it was chicken marsala or beef stew. At last check, chicken was winning in a landslide.

This trip features two new destinations for me, Oklahoma City and Charlotte. The middle stop is Dallas, which, coincidentally, was one of the infrequent road trips I made with the team in years past. Nice hotel there, as I recall, and a damn good hamburger down the street. Early scouting reports on Oklahoma City from David Steele and Joey Colon included the words "clean" and "absolutely nothing to do." Joey, the Spanish radio voice of the Magic, deserves kudos for a transformation since I saw him last; the man has dropped 52 pounds and is rightfully proud of it. I note that he ate the chicken dry, without pasta or sauce. Well played, sir.

The Thunder on Wednesday night, followed by the Mavericks, then the Bobcats. Two wins in three games would be expected; three in a row wouldn't be impossible. I seem to recall that the Magic lost a tough one in Big D the last time I was there. Perhaps I will not be a bad-luck charm this time around.

Oh, yeah, and one more thing: Dwight Howard, the face of the franchise and the most dynamic center in the league today, made the entire flight from Orlando to Oklahoma City dressed as Sho'nuff, the 'Shogun of Harlem,' from the 1985 film 'The Last Dragon.' Seriously. It was a really good costume, too. Fright wig, bright red kimono, the whole nine yards. I wish I was making this up. Clearly, there is a story behind this...perhaps he lost a bet. Then again, he seemed to be enjoying himself immensely.

Sorry to bury the lead story like that, but...this is the kind of thing that happens on the road. Some investigative journalism is necessary tomorrow, I think.