Indiana Pacers staffers live tweet ‘Bus Ride from Hell,’ C.J. Watson getting locked in bathroom (pics)
The Indiana Pacers had one hellish of an experience traveling from Salt Lake City to Texas for the team’s upcoming game against the San Antonio Spurs.
Thankfully, the team’s game against the Spurs isn’t until Saturday, so the fact that inclement weather meant the charter plane had to land a few hours outside of San Antonio in Houston wasn’t the worst thing ever. But that does not mean it wasn’t a horribly frustrating experience nonetheless.
The plan was for the Pacers to take a bus from Houston to San Antonio — a three-hour ride — which would mean the team would arrive at its hotel in the early, early morning. And that’s when things started going horribly, horribly wrong.
Yeah, the bus had issues.
Pacers radio play-by-plan man Mark Boyle and David Benner, the team’s Director of Media Relations, chronicled the snakebit bus trip.
Weather in San Antonio has forced us to land in Houston. 3 hour bus ride to SA, which puts us in the hotel around 7 AM. Love The Association
— Mark Boyle (@Mark_J_Boyle) December 5, 2013
And we are stopped on side of I-10 with a What-A-Burger at the next exit. Curses! Foiled again!
— David Benner (@PacersDMB) December 5, 2013
So now we find a What A Burger, and it’s closed for construction?? This day is getting better and better. pic.twitter.com/ju5zCmtGcV
— Mark Boyle (@Mark_J_Boyle) December 5, 2013
Made it to What-a-burger and greeted by this. Now now how Griswold’s felt. Sorry, Moose says park closed. pic.twitter.com/UF5LA3uS7h
— David Benner (@PacersDMB) December 5, 2013
Bus has re-generated, whatever that is, and we are rolling again. To the exit. And What-a-burger. Started this tweet, and then THE SIGN!
— David Benner (@PacersDMB) December 5, 2013
View from the bus. Defroster not working. Really, what next? Hopefully not a vehicle in front of us. pic.twitter.com/4IOBLkOjqc
— David Benner (@PacersDMB) December 5, 2013
Last night’s game ended at 9:12 PM MDT. It is now 9:17 AM CDT and we’re still on the bus. Not exactly Lewis and Clark, but still.
— Mark Boyle (@Mark_J_Boyle) December 5, 2013
Good news: defroster working. Bad news: to clear windshield, temperature in bus now 178 degrees.
— David Benner (@PacersDMB) December 5, 2013
Finally made it. Good night. Or good morning. Or whatever. pic.twitter.com/w4YtuxrtPk
— Mark Boyle (@Mark_J_Boyle) December 5, 2013
9:30 in the morning? Jeez Louise, man, what a hellish night. Someone cue up Bob Seger’s “Turn the Page”, pronto.
And meanwhile, when all this was happening, guard C.J. Watson managed to get himself locked in the bus’ bathroom. Roy Hibbert and his freakishly bulbous elbow chronicled that part of the “Texas Bus Ride Nightmare”:
When it rains, man, it most certainly pours. A hotel bed probably never felt as good as it did for the Pacers on Thursday morning.
