Right now, the New Jersey Nets are sagging like cougar breasts. Not to mention they suck like … never mind!

Anyway, I was at the Izod Center last night and witnessed yet another loss for the Jersey team. Man, this team loses like there’s no tomorrow! They lose like their survival is at stake.  In fact, I am convinced that they are an “always say die team.”

Two minutes left in the game last night against the Pistons. The Nets were leading by five points. Rip Hamilton scores five consecutive times. Nets lose. Now, their record is the worst in the history of the league: 4 W – 43 L.

I overheard one of their more unknown players (the team has lots of these) while he was being interviewed post game. The guy, despite the horrendous loss, was all smiles: “”It was a great game,” he said. “We’re happy that we lost the game by only four points. It could have been 20.”

How about that for optimism?

So, where’s the food in this basketball story? It’s in the concession stand of course.

After several months of eating local-unprocessed-whole foods, I was reunited with coliseum food: an Italian sausage sandwich and a box of popcorn. There was soda, but I wasn’t brave enough to try it again. The reason I decided to try the sausage and popcorn was to find out if I would feel anything weird after a long period of time of not having them. I was face to face with these in a movie theater when we went to see Avatar, but I wasn’t quite ready yet and hoped for healthier fare. But now I am more secured that I will not be addicted to these things ever again.

My first bite of the sausage sandwich was good sensually and emotionally. Sensually because sausages are engineered to appeal to the senses: juicy, salty, and texturally pleasing. Emotionally because one bite immediately ushered in a rush of childhood memories. The parades. The football games. The summer outings.

It was the same with the popcorn. Though the box boasted some added vitamins and minerals, I didn’t give it plus points. But yeah, as usual, it was delicious.

Now, did I get sick after eating these things now that I am strictly observing a local-unprocessed-whole-natural lifestyle?

No.

Did it add to the experience of watching a basketball game?

Yes.

Am I going to re-insert these items back into my table?

No.

Will I always have these every time I watch movies or sports?

No.

But I am relieved I ate these last night and proved to myself that I did not turn into a food snob that everybody hates. I proved that in a given situation, I could allow myself some of these things to enhance any experience that culture dictates.

Of course I could improve the experience by choosing healthier fare instead of the conventional kind like homemade sausages made of grass-fed beef or pork and home cooked popcorn.  But in a situation when choices aren’t there, I guess, the best way is to eat the sandwich, munch on the popcorn, and enjoy the game. At least there is the consolation that these food items are real foods unlike the dreaded Chicken Nuggets.

By the way, I am a Celtics fan.