Ailene Voisin: A great time for Margie, not team

Margie Parilo, the season-ticket holder who represented the Kings at the NBA draft lottery Tuesday night in Secaucus, N.J., provided cell-phone updates and a personal account of her experiences. No, she didn't improve the team's No. 12 draft position. But Parilo dined in fine restaurants, stayed in a five-star hotel, went to a spa, had her hair styled, shopped at Macy's and mingled with Larry Bird, Mitch Richmond, David Stern and Jay-Z. Not a bad 24 hours. And though she failed to beat the odds, no one was forced to take the Greyhound back to Sacramento.

9 a.m., PST, Monday. As the flight departs, a flight attendant informs the passengers that the winner of the "luckiest Kings fan" contest is seated in first class. Parilo, unmistakable in her Kings regalia, receives a rousing ovation and is encouraged to bring home a winner.

7:57 p.m., EST, arrival in New York. Parilo, who collects coins for a hobby, plucked several pennies off the ground while changing planes in Minneapolis and after landing at LaGuardia. "I'm telling you, it's working," she insists during the limo ride into Manhattan. Accompanied by her husband (Mike), son (John), Kings limited partner John Kehriotis and all-purpose employee Mitch Germann, she will be joined by daughters Michelle and Theresa at the hotel. The group has dinner reservations at Orso.

8:45 p.m. During dinner in the theater district, a nice bottle of red wine is shared, several appetizers are sampled, and Parilo feasts on a "grilled char" entree. "I had never heard of it," says the certified public accountant and part-time professor, "but it was delicious."

11:52 p.m. Back at the hotel, the group splits up. The next day's activities begin with a 9 a.m. breakfast with Joe Maloof.

10 a.m., EST, Tuesday. In the limo ride to the Bumble and Bumble spa, Parilo, a native Sacramentan and original season-ticket holder, describes her introduction to the Kings' co-owner thusly: "We talked about our Lebanese histories, our families. Joe told me about his grandfather, who started with nothing when he came to New Mexico. I told him about my grandmother who came from Beirut and did not take the Titanic because she got there too late. He asked if I could cook Lebanese food, and I told him 'only a few things,' but that I would invite him over for dinner. Then he said if I get the No. 1, 2, or 3 pick tonight, it would be the biggest sports story of the day. I said, 'I don't plan on taking the bus home.' He laughed and said, 'Don't worry. We'll get you back to Sac first class.' "

10 a.m.-2 p.m. Per the Kings' arrangements, the Parilos visit the spa, then make a hasty shopping spree to Macy's. Fashion consultants await their arrival. Margie, who says she went "bold" with a "straight, more modern haircut," buys a purse, black slacks, white blouse and "wedge-type" shoes to make her appear taller (she is 5-foot-2) than the competition. No glasses tonight, either. She's on television. She's wearing her contacts.

4:32 p.m. Before the limo enters the Lincoln Tunnel en route to Secaucus, and with her entire family squeezed inside, Parilo starts with the mental gymnastics. Sounding like a player before tipoff, she says, enthusiastically, "I'm starting to feel it. This is going to happen."

5:17 p.m. The attention can be overwhelming. So can the crowd. Parilo, 49, clears security, sees Bird, Richmond and several of the other well-known contestants and, speaking in excited bursts, admits: "I'm a nervous wreck. I can barely put one foot in front of the other." She reveals that she brought an oversize purse (and second pair of shoes) in case she stumbles in her wedge sneakers. An official pre-taping makeup session still awaits. "I have never worn so much makeup in my life. I am so excited. I can't even tell you."

6:50 p.m. Fifteen minutes before being summoned onto the stage, Parilo meanders around the reception room with Joe Maloof. Stern introduces himself. Richmond comes over. Jay-Z, a limited partner with the New Jersey Nets, offers his hand. "She's the biggest star here," Maloof says. "Forget Dwyane Wade. Everyone wants to talk to Margie." Parilo gets back on the cell phone and almost screams, "Do you know who I'm sitting next to? Larry Bird and Jay-Z! Jay-Z is the nicest person. He told me I can be a lucky fan, but I can't be luckier than he is. I told David Stern, who is leaving right after the lottery for Sacramento: 'Thank you for coming to Sac to help us with this (arena).' Joe (Maloof) told him the same thing. OK. Here we go."

8:38 p.m., back in the reception room. Parilo still sounds upbeat. "We didn't go backwards," she said. "Joe told me, 'Good job.' It was incredible. During the breaks, Jay-Z did a little rap for us. Larry Bird was so nice to me. To be in that room … but I'm very exhausted now. We're going back to the hotel. I may collapse, or we may go out for dinner. Probably dinner. This is a once-in-lifetime experience."

About the writer:

• Call The Bee's Ailene Voisin, (916) 321-1208.