Dad and Daughter (and Grandpa) Night

Jason Archer has been a longtime Pistons fan, so much so that he renovated his nine-year-old daughter�s bedroom to look like the Pistons court. It didn�t take long for Jason to find the next thing that would help his daughter, Grace, follow his sports obsession.

�When she took to sports I love the fact that we have the WNBA, so as a girl growing into a young woman she has role models she can look up to,� Jason said. �Examples that she can say, �I want to be like that.� So we said we wanted to start going to WNBA games.�

The first game the Archers, from Spring Arbor, attended was the �Dads & Daughters� night May 30 when the Shock hosted the Washington Mystics. And while most of us will celebrate Father�s Day on June 17, Jason thought May 30 would work just as well - so he invited his own father, Dave, who was visiting from out of town and never been to The Palace.

�This was perfect because its Dad and Daughter night,� Jason said, before Grace interjected.

�It�s dad, daughter and grandpa night.�

The Dads & Daughter package included game tickets, exclusive access to the Shock practice facility and a chance to meet the Shock assistant coach Rick Mahorn. They spent about what it would cost for a trip to the movies (popcorn and Coke included). �We like to hang out together,� Jason said. �We didn�t expect how cool this would be.�

Before the game the dad and daughter pair competed in the dribble, pass and shoot competition at the Shock practice facility. Grace and Jason took second place, winning a WNBA backpack and Bill Laimbeer bobblehead doll. Grace had a high-five and a hug for Dad after the big win. �Being by yourself is not very fun,� Grace said. �But when you�re with a team it�s fun.�

At The Palace, the Archers sat courtside during pre-game and watched the team warm-up with Mahorn. From their courtside seats, the Archers watched the Shock win their third game of the year, but the best moment came in the third quarter, when a dancing Grace got on PalaceVision. �It�s been a great experience for our family and it�s been really fun to watch the girls play,� Jason said.

Grace had a feeling before they even arrived at The Palace that this Dads & Daughters day would be one to remember. �As we were coming in, she said, as any third grader would, �man, this is going to make a great show-and-tell tomorrow,�� Jason said.

But if Grace could bring anything to class with her the next day, it wouldn�t have been her ticket stub, her new backpack or the Laimbeer bobblehead. As she said, �just hanging out with my men� is a lot to brag about.

The final �Dads & Daughters� Night is Wed., June 27, against the Connecticut Sun. �Dads & Daughters� tickets are $15 apiece, and can be purchased by clicking here or by calling The Palace box office at 248.377.0100.