Homeless LA Clippers Season ticket holder

[dfwabel]

From today's Los Angeles Times

Clipper Fan Along for Ride of His Life

Carl Cook is homeless, but the longtime supporter spends a third of his income on tickets to every home game and rides his bicycle to get there.

By Jerry Crowe, Times Staff Writer

Carl Cook is not a typical Clipper season-ticket holder.

For one thing, he's homeless.

For another, he owns no car.

Nor is he licensed to drive.

But Cook, 46, nevertheless is unflagging in his support of the Clippers, who return to Staples Center tonight for Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinals series against the Phoenix Suns. Putting mettle to pedal, he rides a bicycle to the arena from his home base in Marina del Rey, if not farther, game after game after game.

The lenghts people will go to see the LAC

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[Brendan]

i would hate to sit next to him but seriously the clippers should buy him a house or something.

[rams80]

i would hate to sit next to him but seriously the clippers should buy him a house or something.

Except the Clips' owner defines "cheapskate"

[Jezus_Ghoti]

If that is actually true...

Wow, mental illness or not, I don't think many of us can say we are a bigger supporter of our favorite team than that guy.

I don't have any kind of contingency plan for how to handle sports in the event that I ever become homeless, but I assume I would just not have the leisure time to even think about sports.

[CZzyzx41]

Hey, somebody's got to root for them!

[NJTank]

Only the Clippers can have a story like this. The Lakers season ticket holders Jack Nicholson, the Clippers Bob the bum.

[LMU]

Hey, somebody's got to root for them!

Hey, they do in fact have a celebrity fan base... which pretty much is just Billy Crystal and Dr. Phil, but at least that's something.

[Ben5]

i would hate to sit next to him but seriously the clippers should buy him a house or something.

Good idea. Maybe we can get sports teams to give free houses to all their homeless fans. I'm sure you won't mind paying higher ticket prices so some bum can get a free handout to trash.

[winters in buffalo]

Man and wife are walking down the street, they see Carl sitting in an alleyway.

Wife: Oh honey, look at that man.

Husband: Terrible, isn't it, dear?

Wife: Yes. Isn't there something we can do to help him.

Husband: It's unfortunate, dear, but that's how the system works. Some of us are well-off, and some end up being Clippers fans.

[Brendan]

Hey, they do in fact have a celebrity fan base... which pretty much is just Billy Crystal and Dr. Phil, but at least that's something. 

and Frankie Muniz

Good idea. Maybe we can get sports teams to give free houses to all their homeless fans. I'm sure you won't mind paying higher ticket prices so some bum can get a free handout to trash.

most homless fans dont actually go to the games and ride a bike to get there. And no i wouldnt mind paying highere ticket prices so one man could have a better life. I dont no why the owner of even a player could buys this guy a house of something nice. It would be good publicity and a nice thing to do.

[quantum]

So a homeless guy spends 1/3 of his money on season tickets rather than the essentials in life. Forget the house. Get the man some psychiatric help.

Or do him a real favor. Help the man get a decent job to get his own home. Geez, talk about f'd up priorities.

[NJTank]

Heres an idea the Clippers hire him to be an usher. I'm serious it would be a real classy move he gets to still be at the game and ushers from what I see do get a good view of the games.

[winters in buffalo]

I dont no why the owner of even a player could buys this guy a house of something nice. It would be good publicity and a nice thing to do.

No, it'd be an incredibly stupid thing to do.

What kind of idiot spends his money on basketball tickets instead of a place to live?

Tank has the right idea.. the nice thing to do would be to get him a job as an usher, so he can earn a paycheck and attend the games for free. But he has to have enough sense to use the money he earns to take care of himself first.

[Brendan]

No, it'd be an incredibly stupid thing to do.

What kind of idiot spends his money on basketball tickets instead of a place to live?

Tank has the right idea.. the nice thing to do would be to get him a job as an usher, so he can earn a paycheck and attend the games for free. But he has to have enough sense to use the money he earns to take care of himself first.

I said they could buy him a house or something nice so giving him a job would qualifie as something nice. Its a better idea to.

[Seadragon76]

Hey, they do in fact have a celebrity fan base... which pretty much is just Billy Crystal and Dr. Phil, but at least that's something.

No wonder the Clippers sucked ass. Their only fans are a washed up comedian and a big, freaking quack.

[NJTank]

Well you do have to say this though their B-List celeberties are still enjoying Clipper games while Jack is golfing with Kobe.

[FiddySicks]

So a homeless guy spends 1/3 of his money on season tickets rather than the essentials in life. Forget the house. Get the man some psychiatric help.

Or do him a real favor. Help the man get a decent job to get his own home. Geez, talk about f'd up priorities.

This guy spends his money on tickets to see his favorite basketball team play. He spends his money on something that brings him true joy (i think, well, i hope) rather than spending his money on something that society says is "normal". He takes a different path than most of us by accually trying to make his desperate life an enjoyable one rather than a stressful and pain filled one. Now, this is my question. Is his priorities really that fu*ked up, or is society's priorities the ones that are fu*ked up?

IMO, this guy seems to be kinda dumb to most, but hes probably a pretty enlightened dude.

[winters in buffalo]

So a homeless guy spends 1/3 of his money on season tickets rather than the essentials in life.  Forget the house.  Get the man some psychiatric help.

Or do him a real favor.  Help the man get a decent job to get his own home.  Geez, talk about f'd up priorities.

This guy spends his money on tickets to see his favorite basketball team play. He spends his money on something that brings him true joy (i think, well, i hope) rather than spending his money on something that society says is "normal". He takes a different path than most of us by accually trying to make his desperate life an enjoyable one rather than a stressful and pain filled one. Now, this is my question. Is his priorities really that fu*ked up, or is society's priorities the ones that are fu*ked up?

IMO, this guy seems to be kinda dumb to most, but hes probably a pretty enlightened dude.

I dunno, man... I think shelter is a priority regardless of which society's rules you follow.

[FiddySicks]

So a homeless guy spends 1/3 of his money on season tickets rather than the essentials in life.  Forget the house.  Get the man some psychiatric help.

Or do him a real favor.  Help the man get a decent job to get his own home.  Geez, talk about f'd up priorities.

This guy spends his money on tickets to see his favorite basketball team play. He spends his money on something that brings him true joy (i think, well, i hope) rather than spending his money on something that society says is "normal". He takes a different path than most of us by accually trying to make his desperate life an enjoyable one rather than a stressful and pain filled one. Now, this is my question. Is his priorities really that fu*ked up, or is society's priorities the ones that are fu*ked up?

IMO, this guy seems to be kinda dumb to most, but hes probably a pretty enlightened dude.

I dunno, man... I think shelter is a priority regardless of which society's rules you follow.

Yeah but Shelter takes many forms. Did the article say (i couldnt access it) If he was in an arranged housing program, or if he lived in a tent or under a freeway pass? I mean sure, it aint no Buckingham Palace, but it covers your head when it rains.

[quantum]

So a homeless guy spends 1/3 of his money on season tickets rather than the essentials in life.  Forget the house.  Get the man some psychiatric help.

Or do him a real favor.  Help the man get a decent job to get his own home.  Geez, talk about f'd up priorities.

This guy spends his money on tickets to see his favorite basketball team play. He spends his money on something that brings him true joy (i think, well, i hope) rather than spending his money on something that society says is "normal". He takes a different path than most of us by accually trying to make his desperate life an enjoyable one rather than a stressful and pain filled one. Now, this is my question. Is his priorities really that fu*ked up, or is society's priorities the ones that are fu*ked up?

IMO, this guy seems to be kinda dumb to most, but hes probably a pretty enlightened dude.

I dunno, man... I think shelter is a priority regardless of which society's rules you follow.

Yeah but Shelter takes many forms. Did the article say (i couldnt access it) If he was in an arranged housing program, or if he lived in a tent or under a freeway pass? I mean sure, it aint no Buckingham Palace, but it covers your head when it rains.

The short answer is the guy is f'd in the head. Anybody that puts sports ahead of basic necessities is an f'ing idiot. And chances are that if he is homeless, he's mooching off of society.

This guy is no hero and there is nothing noble about what he is doing.