NO away fans, no venom, no snarling spite - but passion still spills down from the 20,000-plus seater stadium.

Welcome to American sport close up and personal.

My first introduction to sporting passion-plays USA style was a National Basketball Association match between hosts Sacramento Kings and the Milwaukee Bulls.

And what a first footing. Neither side are doing particularly well in their Western Division, yet the Arco Stadium rocked, and friends Gill and Tom affirmed this was regularly the case at the high-tech, purpose-built venue that has hosted concerts by Elton John among other acts.

If Saturday night is alright for fighting according to the aformentioned Elton, then Monday night is dead on for roaring and yelling and banging thunder-sticks - my wife Diane quickly seized upon those - against each other so as to make some noise'.

The Kings prevailed 114-106 - a major boost to the 17,000-plus crowd, who revelled in the encounter, which incorporates a sky-high degree of non-basketball entertainment.

Wanna win a year's supply of gas, sorry petrol? Wanna grab one of 50 a hot out of the oven pizzas?

And how about this? Out on the concourse, concession stalls which sell the most amazing nachos combination this side of the Sierra Madre (or South Bank if you're imagination does not stretch beyond the medieval environs of York) vy for your buck with cocktails stalls. Cocktails. A martini with that sir? That would make Roy Keane choke on his prawn sandwiches, surely.

It's all there for the taking as well as witnessing the endeavours and skill of the dozen or so players on either side.

For the Kings, the shaven-headed Ron Artest passed the examination as main man, though to be fair, the man of the match was the Bulls' Earl Boykins, who cut a quite outstanding figure on the court.

Besides mustering as many points - his 36 haul equalled that of the 6ft 7in tall Artest, Boykins stood at a mere 5ft 5ins. That was Jimmy Crankie proportions in a land of the giants. Jeez, one of his team-mates stood at 7ft tall in his well-heeled boots.

For a dyed-in-the-Liverpool-wool football fanatic, the only downside for me was the lack of an away following.

The geographical vastness that is America precludes visiting fans attending any of a veritable fusillade of fixtures in the season. For example, the Kings' derby duel is against the Los Angeles Lakers some 350 miles away.

That leads to a slightly antiseptic feel for someone reared on baiting the opposition fans.

But if you want family entertainment, choc-a-bloc with sound and fury, then the NBA will be right up your street. Bye all.