A Pleasant, Normal Evening

It's hard to see the live action from on high, but
the gigantic screen keeps everyone informed.

I had never been to the Chase Center, but when the alumni group bought a block of seats for Tuesday's Warriors game and threw in a commemorative T-shirt, it would have required an iron will to pass up the opportunity. (I don't have an iron will.)

Before the start of the game we saw a pale-skinned guy in shorts--clearly not a professional basketball player--running around the floor with the Warriors during their warm-up.

From the nosebleed seats I couldn't tell what was going on, but my seatmate immediately advised that it was Will Ferrell acting the part of Jackie Moon in his 2008 movie, Semi-Pro.

After the Warriors defeated the Clippers, players and coaches credited the actor-comedian for the victory.

"Jackie" and Steph (Chron photo)

When Warriors head coach Steve Kerr received an email from someone claiming to be Will Ferrell, he assumed it was a prank.

But no, the emailer assured, he was the real Will Ferrell. And after hearing that his 2008 movie, “Semi-Pro,” had helped guard Klay Thompson weather a 2½-year hiatus from games, Ferrell wanted to do something special for one of his most famous fans.

So there was Ferrell on Tuesday night at Chase Center, fist-bumping Thompson during warmups in the costume his character, Jackie Moon, wore in “Semi-Pro.” Hours later, Thompson would call Ferrell’s cameo “a huge catalyst” in the Warriors’ 112-97 win over the Clippers.

All in all it was a satisfying evening: the Warriors broke their five-game losing streak, I saw Klay and Steph do their thing, and I explored the $1.4 billion arena. I also ate a lobster roll and got a free T-shirt.

For the first time in two years it felt like things were normal, and normal can be pretty good.