Section 15: A Five-Hour Pilgrimage Amy Creedon, 37, who designs architectural ironwork, brought Jamie Lohr, who owns a landscaping business, to Section 15 recently with a pair of $200 tickets purchased online to celebrate his 40th birthday. Q. What brings you guys to Brooklyn? A. Amy: It's his birthday present because they're his favorite team. Jamie: We're from upstate New York, up around Syracuse. We drove down for the game. Amy: My sister lives just on Clinton Av in Clinton Hill, right around the corner. So we're staying at her house. Q. So the ride was how long? A. Amy: About five hours. (Then) we walked over, about five minutes. Q. How did the Nets become your favorite team if you're from upstate? A. Jamie: They have been for about 20 years. You can get the games through the cable channel. It's either the Nets or the Knicks you can get every night. And I'm not a front-runner. I'd rather pick a team that's historically bad and watch them come up, rather than take a team that's good or that everybody likes. I don't really follow a lot of New York teams, but the Nets were available, and I started listening to them and watching them on TV. I like the announcer really, Ian Eagle. Amy: The announcer for the games, he's fantastic. Jamie: He and Bill Raftery. He used to do the games. And even if the games are horrible, you can still watch and listen to those guys. And I just always stayed with the team. Q. Can you do an Ian Eagle impersonation? A. (Laughter) Jamie: What is one of his things? Most of his impersonations are things that Billy Raftery used to do, like the "rack attack" and things like that. Q. Can I get one Raftery "Kissss?" A. Jamie: Yeah, "with a little kissssss." Q. And what about a "dagger." A. (Laughter) Jamie: Oh, I don't know...."there was a DAGGER....."I don't know. Q. You've got to work on that one. How has your experience with Barclays Center been? A. Amy: It's beautiful. We've been to a couple of other arenas. We saw the Hornets play in New Orleans. And this is, to me, a much more beautiful arena. Q. So, you've been a Nets fan for 20 years. What is your most memorable Nets moment? A. Jamie: Well, I guess when they traded for Jason Kidd. And they turned it around and they were good for two years, and then they traded him away. I'd say that was the highlight. Amy: You were excited when they got Deron Williams, though. Jamie: Yeah, i was happy when they got Deron Williams over Carmelo, even though we're from Syracuse and we watched Carmelo when he played at Syracuse. I was more excited when they got him because I know he's a better team player. ... I'd say that's about it; they don't have a lot of highlights historically. Laughs Q. It's interesting that you mentioned Carmelo Anthony because I expected you to talk about Derrick Coleman and Pearl Washington, two Syracuse guys who played for the Nets. A. Jamie: They were a little bit before I started watching them solid. When I started it was just before they drafted Keith Van Horn, and then they got Marbury. Keith Van Horn, Marbury, Petrovic, that era. Q. So you lived through some hard times. So what are the expectations now? A. Jamie: They're getting better since the beginning of the year. They'll definitely make the playoffs and probably compete for the Eastern Conference, but as far as when they get up against Miami in a seven-game series, I don't think they're there yet. But maybe next year. It takes a team a couple of years of getting to the playoffs to be able to get to the championship level. I mean, look at Oklahoma City. They have all the talent in the world, but they couldn't win a championship because it just takes a couple of years, I think. Amy: I don't know. I feel like this is a fresh start for the Nets. They've had some bad times, but this is a clean slate now. I think they play more like a team than I've seen them play since I started watching them with you. I think they're showing up every day in ways that they didn't before. So I think that this is showing a potential. Q. Now, having those kind expectations, if they don't reach them, are you still going to have the same patience you've had over the years? A. Jamie: Yeah (laughs), it doesn't matter. Amy: He will. He's one of those life-long lovers of the team. Jamie: I'm a Denver Broncos fan since around 1980. They were bad before I watched them. They were good for a while with John Elway, and then they were baaaaad. You've got to stick with your team. Q. You said you listened to Knicks games up there, too. Do you have an affection for them? A. Jamie: I don't like them.