a color story: the purple suit

Game 7 Heat vs Celtics Eastern Conference Finals streamed via internet. The good old reddit page provided accessibility to the live sporting event. Watching highlights via Youtube displayed my following to NBA entertainment. But streaming the game live indicated my rejuvenation as a fan.  

My peculiar interest was not on the young Boston Celtic team - Tatum's dominant prowess as a goody two shoe player felt familiar to Steph Curry's energy. Jimmy Butler peeked my interest as the leading Miami Heat player and the "bad boy" or rebellious type of player. With his brand, would the NBA allow his team to overshadow Lebron Jame's history this early? All eyes were on Jimmy Butler after his playoff career high 47 point performance. Who doesn't enjoy watching a shining star?

Looking back, I noticed the underdog narrative being sold for the team that finished first in the regular season - I could see why my attention spurred elsewhere as the game proceeded with a soft a grip on my viewing pleasures. First place (Miami Heat) was against Second place (Boston Celtics). During the breaks, I sought another story by actively studying the commercials in hand. The "annoying" commercials became a color case study as they repeated continuously throughout the game. I doubted Jimmy Butler's ability to step up like Lebron James in game 7 situations - I hid the crumbs of trailing nostalgia.

I resumed my fun by bringing up the thought, "Where was my local Taco Bell?"

The silly Taco Bell commercial caught my attention with a purple suit. Why did it leave such an impression? NBA players had an avenue for fashion statements when they walked to their locker rooms. Many All-stars like James Harden, Russell Westbrook took whim at the opportunity to display themselves in a non-athletic but entertaining sense. 

In the commercial, the director used the suit as a medium to sell an emotion. The young prospect smiled as he awaited his name being announced. When the anticipated announcement became official, he walked up to the stage for his celebratory "moment". But a stage staff toppled over a stand of some sort which reminded me of the Kanye and Taylor Swift iconic incident -  I assumed the event was heavily trademarked by one of the parties. Regardless, the purple suited player calmy left the stage and made a drive-thru at Taco Bell. When he picked up the food order at the window, a luminous purple light accentuated the magical moment; my memory recalled a darker hue of purple in the extra-lighting or CGI edit. This was my first time witnessing purple used as a coherent branch for a storyline - purple suit, extravagant purple suit, iconic Taco Bell color. 

Emotional translation from NBA draft announcement to the convenience of drive thru seemed like a far-stretch - I would know as my writing was restricted within color's influences on my daily life. The average Joe will probably never have their NBA draft moment, but one could find their silver-lining - in this case, their purple-lining (pictured) - through a late night pick up at Taco Bell. I was not sold. I knew I would never have my NBA draft moment - not even in an imaginary situation. The NBA was entertainment at best, not a dream nor an illusion. 

I resumed my fun by bringing up the thought, "Where was my local Taco Bell?"

The Miami Heat lost. They almost told came back from a 17 point deficit. But, they lost. Jimmy Butler didn't have the Lebron's James Magic. And I knew that my town didn't have a local Taco Bell. Thankfully, I extended my entertainment through the cheesy commercial.