Nugs/Blazers Real Powder Blue Is In SD Numnuggets

The Blazers is playing huge like Maverick's, so are the Chargers

The Blazers are not yet elite, but they are playing close to that level in the NBA so far this season. I will try to do an entry a week as I have neglected my once popular blog. I was at the Roy 52 pts game against PHX. Ah, the 1/2 season tix pack, too cool. My one splurge to myself. It has been fun and a bunch of games are upcoming.

Tonight though it is the Blazers @ Denver, awesome! On regular TV too. And this cable less TV stud has the free conversion box, crystal clear. Why is that cool? Cuz Portland is covered in snow, lots of it. Very rare. Surreal actually. Wonder if tomorrows game here in Portland will be played. Airport is pretty much shut down. Someone told me the Blazers chartered a plane out of Eugene, OR and thats why they are in Denver. These are the teams battling for 1st along with the Jazz, like always!

I'm not a stat guy. Our team plays together and compliments one another. Sometimes its hard to watch. Can't quite put that nail in the coffin when needed. I'm not complaining. I like what I see. Chauncey Billups has made Denver a better team. Always like this game, it's a mild rivalry. It's on KGW8 in Portland tonight at 6pm. Check it out if your in the Portland area.

SAC @ POR I'm There

Nobody reads it. I've lost my passion. It'll get better. Be at the garden tonight as the 1/2 season tix pack kicks back in, I love it!

i'm done, this is lame

ROOOOYYYYYYYYY!

Still comin!

Nice block, Magette
Pryszbilla again!
14-4 run

1st QT

sucks so far 9-0 no worries. like it? people who do this are lame.
Blake hits a 3, Blake draws a charge, game over! Oh, another Blake 3! 9-6.
I was right 10-2 run.
12-2 run, Prysbilla

At Golden State, live drunken blog 7:31 PST

This is gonna be lame.

A Nice Run & One 4 the Road

I have been absent and lazy, but when nobody reads it hacks into your motivation to perform. Like playing for the NJ Nets, you just don't care. But I do it anyway. From rags to riches to rags, an American tale! But onto the Blazers, Portland's only major league team in any sport, so we have to deal with it. And the deal has been pretty good lately.

I attended the game 11/6 against the Rockets and it was, like Faith No More's 1989 album, EPIC! I want it all and I can have it, at least a little for now. And like Obama, the new president elect, there is HOPE in Portland. And it happened for us, a little prayer and it was answered mixed with Brandon's skill that made for a 30 ft. rainbow shot with .08 seconds remaining for the win over the Rockets. The Garden exploded and the confetti and streamers rained on the crowd as it does after every home victory. And this after Yao Ming sunk a fading baseline jumper with 3 Blazers surrounding him and making it, and then a foul! The basket tied the game, and with .08 remaining he had a foul shot to basically win the game by 1! He made it and then it was Blake to Roy, ka boom nothing but cord! One of the better regular season games I have witnessed.

I saw some of the game against MN on local TV and we were flat. Al Jefferson can play though. McCants had some moments also for MN but Portland came out victorious, barely. Kevin Love returned to Oregon and was barely noticed. But he is a tree trunk. Saw his dad in the crowd. Stan Love. I went to Lakers basketball camp in 1974. I was 13. Stan Love was the low rent celebrity who did clinics with us but he was awesome to us, he bench warmed for the Lakers. Love was the low man, we did have a visit from Mel Counts (ha ha!). The stars we worked out with were the mighty Kareem (he was there maybe 1 hr for a 3 day camp!) Lucious Allen was the coolest. And Bill Sharman taught me how to shoot free throws, very well I might add. Think he made like 100 in a row after missing on the 3rd attempt the 1st go round! A 60 yr old man whuppin' Lucious. We stayed in the U of SD Torero facilities and watched World Football League games at night. The mighty Jacksonville Sharks against the Detroit Wheels. Our team won the 7th and 8th grade divison tourney going away at the camp. We had a guy who went on to play Pac 10 ball at AZ who dominated, think he floated in n out of the NBA a few yrs after college, Luke something. My mind can't bring it back. That was a great time for me. Stan Love taught a 5'5" 7th grader to pivot and roll under the basket to achieve an uncontested layup, it is basic but works all the time.

Ok, memory lane has been travelled so lets go on to the next game that was on the Blazers agenda. Beginning of a 6 game road trip, starting in Orlando against the strong Orlando Magic. And the beast that is Dwight Howard. Portland won a road game to open the east coast swing. But Roy strained his back near the end and it questionable for tonight's game against the Heat. Oden may return is the rumor. Participated in a full practice yesterday and looked good I hear. We are 4-3 and starting out with a ball breaker of a schedule. Here we come Miami. Our team is major adaptable. We haven't showed a breakdown yet. Yes, we have lost. But we are building to win.

My internet is out, it's pouring. I'm sittin' it out at the outpost. I'm switchin' to radio bitch! I'm so old even at 47, I LIKE to visualize the game in my mind! No cable here, but I sure like like that NBA League Pass. I may buy it 1/2 way through.

8:30 pm est Oden's 1st field goal, dunk! Still offline, I'm typing on the coffee connection today. Hopefully these pages will hold. Portland is off to a great start @ MIA, and they will be. 12 mins in 29-19. Love what is left of NWest B ball. I'm out, don't wanna do a game blow by. I'll recap and 4:20. 5:41 pm PST now. 32-23 BZERS.

1/2 time BZRS: 50 MIA: 47

Still offline but my neighbors cat just jumped through my window like Ruuuu deeeee. I'm gettin' him high on catnip.

In unrelated monumental rock history, Mitch Mitchell, drummer for the Jimi Hendrix Experience, died here at the Benson Hotel last night at the age of 61. Natural causes. Lotsa heroin here, I wonder. All 3 are dead now. Jimi, Noel, now Mitch. AC/DC and Bon Scott said it best, like being a Charger fan...It's A Rock N Roll Damnation!

Heat 72-71

Heat 74-73

Rudy eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. Not over yet.

Blasting Off On the Max

Getting ready on some fermented rice fuel on a slightly stormy and wet night here in the Rose City. The Rockets! Stoked on this match up. Blazers schedule tests them plenty right out of the gate. Least this one is at home. So I will begin my ascent to my nosebleeders, up a stairwell so long it's like a freakin' picture from a Dr. Suess book! But I love them nonetheless. Gettin' to know the folks in my section. Lotsa mullets, yeeeee haw. It's diamonds and Chanel #5 from row #10 up, Timex and cubic zirconia in C29! YaYYYYY C29! The big city experience. Like DeLaSoul I'll be takin' a train, takin' a train, takin' a train!

Blazers Hang on, Defeat Spurs 100-99

The Garden was rawkin' and the Blazers put on quite a show. Chants of RUU-DEEEE! echoed to the rafters whenever he came in or touched the ball. And Rudy delivered. Earth, Wind, & Fire opened the show with "Shining Star" introductions after a medley of hits. It kinda rawked as cheesy NBA shows go. But they wuz tight!

Remember when this was a Sonic blog? 3rd best Sonic blog in the nation by Deadspin.com in 06 I believe. It was called Sha Lock Lock Sonic Boom. Last night after a thundering dunk by 19 year old French phenom Nicolas Batum that brought the house down they flashed a little nickname graphic on the Jumbotron, and Nic's nickname is now Sha Lock lock BAAA-TUUUUM! Eerie, huh? I thought so. Batum is good. A defensive freak with an enormous wingspan. It was an entire team effort and a great confidence builder going into tonights game at PHX and right after the Laker shellacking, nice turnaround. Team looked solid and extremely confident. We let them have the last shot though when we should have nailed it shut. Michael Finley missed a mid short range jumper as time expired and we semi backed into the win at the end. We controlled most of the game in my opinion.

Roy was the leader and a main leader as usual, finishing with 26 points. More coming...

Home Opener/Vote Barak

Bin Laden released a new tape today and proclaimed his love for the Trailblazers. Hard to get a signal in the cave though. In reality, I will be attending my 1st real game w/my 1/2 season tix. We are Oden less but not defenseless. I'll take a few pics, the Rose garden should be rockin'. Let me drink, I write much better then!

So It Will Be Halloween

I'm working too hard to care. The 1st year I take the plunge to get 1/2 season tix the whole country, er i mean, the Bush regime kills my buzz! I like the Blazers and guess I should count myself lucky to have them for this year. I'll be there for the opener against the Spurs on Hell o Ween! Hear Seattle, oh bite me Stern, is in talks with guess who...$$$. Money sways. Vote Barak.

Drunk n Ready

If ya'll care. Cuz nobody come here no more. These places sold out before everything collasped. But Wanna Blaze will on occasion. I'm stoked. As banks collapse Iam fortunate enough to be able to afford 1/2 season tix...plan B.  Stay transfixed. I know ur down.

OLY HOOPS

 Rudy, ya'll is good with me on the Blazers. The UPS of Spain (or is it the DHL?) gets the blame from the players. They do what $$ says. But I'm gonna go one more. Spain hoops, u suck for falling back on wimp explanations. I'm white. I'm 47 years of age. I have made that gesture before. In 4th grade. For real. And my buddy was Henry. I did it to him. He was a violin prodigy and his dad owned the local market. I have hind sight now. I got beat up every other day and Henry took shit from the same group of bully's, totally backed up by the parents.

  They (the bullies & everybody) freaked that they taught music and sold candy. Ignorant is no excuse and is not possible to spanish (spain lower case). If it matters, USA hoops so good. You have NO chance. Stand up to the mike and admit your racism. Or Stern your address. The NBA is an international league now. We all in the same gang.

 Expelled from AOL way back when for mixing politics and sport and a thinly veiled attempt by AOL "to better their product" from the working man writer (for free) they hired pros and dismissed us to further little bitches careers who would say yes I say no...to yes! I'm watching TV w/out cable and soon to be gone rabbit ears. It's a show about the Border patrol busting peeps for pot and steroids and cigarettes! They mention cocaine but I see nobody arrested for that. Thanks for protecting me. The seat belt law is a ruse. It's not to protect you. We used to have respect. Cops tase you for asking why. It's non lethal. All the good busts pass customs. Like Gitmo, we catch the cig dealers. The tobacco companies just market and sell. Bad cig dealers. Crack is good though. 0% prosecution rate. Dateline is propaganda for the war. On who? You driving down the street or winning the war in...where? It's on terrorism. A tactic. Do the math and don't be arrogant. Or pegged as arrogant. KNOW. GO BLAZERS!

I'm Down

The Thunder. Clay, your rich. But your really stupid and outta touch. The 89'ers woulda been cool. Like Sam Schulman you'll crumble. Like Paul Allen, billionaire crumbled, a few years back. My job is sweating and selling falafel. I don't get a bailout. Ironic that my falafel stand is across from the WORST Starbucks in the nation! And, you conservative honks don't even know. I may crumble someday, but the Star Bucks tell these kids, oh, and people my age, around 50, that they have a chance to keep they're jobs. We'll all transfer as 600 stores close and they launch a new smoothie line and put kids on the corner handing out 2 oz samples of their new smoothie line. And new image. Oh, yeah...this is a Blazer blog.

 So I'll start with this. Got the 1/2 season tix pack here in Blazermania. I'm psyched. And growing up in a 60's divorced family put me in Seattle. When I was 8, I watched the Pilots go, baseball, 1969...Seattle. You can go to a Lowe's I think...and step on home plate of Sicks Stadium. Who cares again about the Mariners? You will if they leave. Look at Tampa Bay. Oh, they have a farm system. All you rich people who own and threaten a city for not doing your bidding, fuck you. Sell your soul. I can't tack on a fuel surcharge for my sandwich, nor get bailed out if I fail.

 Blazers are something to deal with. Stern can bite me. He protects and gives to who pays. Katrina brought Stern & Bennett together. You outsourced your league bitch. And I truly believe the ref scandal is bigger that Dick a Hay. Ask Sacramento...oh, it's only SAC. I figure the law of averages and allow a % for discrepancies.

 Fuck you Clay...billionaire Bush boy who gets what he wants. I grew up watching privileged. Beating rich kids with their own tennis courts. Beverley Hills High School with Kelly Jones and a fleet of limos to take you to their houses. When they had like 2 courts on campus. We were Newport Harbor and we got on a yellow school bus for every match. At least we played public school. Intimidation by the rich is a ploy. You didn't play at a school, you went to people's homes and maids served you lemonade. That was 1978 and nothing has changed. Don't be intimidated. An American will kill you before an Iraqi or any other. I'm a street vendor, trust me. Oh wait, trust Bush. I don't get a bailout. You buy into this you get what you deserve.

 Paul Allen, supposedly losing his ass with the T Blazers a few years back. Threats/ NO. They will win. I had a beer with Gates (at the Brooklyn in SEA) where I was a chef in 92. Didn't even know it was him. Till everyone told me. I was too busy drinking to forget that i had to come back again the next day to a bunch of coke sniffing, do nothing loozers. I wonder where they are now? Thanks for the Hefe Bill G. Then I saw you tear apart a gazillion sq miles right as I guess I was lucky enough to have you buy me a beer. Oh, did I mention I drank like 3 shots and 2 beers with OJ at LasBrisas in Laguna beach in 82? Nobody speaks about his yrs in Laguna, FUCKING every blonde and movin' on. But fuck, he was the nicest guy and he bought me the shit. I worked there, before YouTube. He was arrogant but so am I, I just played collegiate tennis. I liked Billy Paultz alot better, the ABA center who hung with us all at Main Beach. Look em up. I'm going to sleep.

 I live the life of loving winning over somebody that sucks his own gravy. Made by his family and spit down his throat like regurgitated worms. I'm accountable. RU? Ocean life extinct by 2040. If we continue. You want your newborn in this? It's a new world. Celebrate not having kids. Show some love to your earth mother. Believe in REAL science. And no, you don't have restless leg syndrome. If you can't get a woody, try psychology.  Don't do Viagra. Quiet, it's just Portland talking. We don't matter, like New Orleans or you. I'm going local, how bout you?

 J Bay looks great in SUM league, eh? Real Blazers and just that. NOT. You read this as we get ready for the biggest election to ever come our way. Like I said, politics and hoops. On rare occasions. Red n Black c'min at ya.

Ho Hum Age

 A huge W against the Lakers. I sat 5 rows from the floor VS Seattle. More coming, I have been busy due to unexpected sun in Feb.

Get the Funk Outta Here!

 For the Trailblazers this week wasn't so great. For yours truly, it was awesome. I attended the Sacramento game, sat in the usual 10 buckers in the 300 level. Still, they are cool and affordable for me. The Blazer effort was weak. We continue on a horrid low shooting percentage streak. And missing free throws. Oh, I had fun. Artest just killed us. Sac: 105 Por: 94.

 Why was it a great week for me? It was sunny and pushing 60 degrees all week. For Portland in winter that is the bomb. And I as a street vendor took it all in. Great sales. And then the capper. My good friend Kirin got tickets to the Sonic/Blazer game from the company she works for, we knew they were really good seats, but little did we know. She tried typing the seat "letters", not numbers into the Blazer site to see the virtual view and they wouldn't come up. Here's why.

Kevin meet Roy.

My friend met me at my apartment and we drank some sake' and walked down to the train. Eight minutes later, off at the Garden with a nice warm buzz and absolutely fabulous tickets. First level we enter on A. The usher led us to our seats, and just kept going down. Off to the right of the basket, literally just a few rows back from court side. We were gawking as the Blazers warmed up. So close. I've been in luxury boxes, which always are mid level it seems, but you have all the comfort. Still, not that close. I had great seats to Charger games for years. Right behind home plate Mariners tickets many times.  I snuck twice in my younger years at NBA games in Seattle to seats comparable to these. Got kicked out once after fifteen minutes, the other time was better. The Sonics were beating up on the Kings and led by like 20 late 3rd quarter. People were leaving in droves and I noticed a whole row empty 3 rows from court side. A girlfriend walked right down there with me and we walked by an unattentive usher and sat in the 1st two seats in that row. People were looking like they knew we didn't belong, but no one said anything and even though it was garbage time, it was great to be that close. With like 3 mins. left in the game a very well dressed totally rich mid 40's couple daimonds a blazin' and her fur coat a sheddin', I sound like a hick, huh? They walk up to us, and the entire empty row and dismissively say we are in their seats and for us to move. Did I mention this was the height of grunge, I was a Seattle downtown  resident and I was black teed and chain walleted,  and the black Sonic beanie. My date was rawked out in Doc's and those grunge lookin' pioneer dresses. I was drunk too. I have had problems with dealing with elitists my whole life. The silver spooners.

 I looked at this guy and thought he was such a dick for showing up to a game where the Sonics were up now by 24 and less than 3 mins. remaining. I related to him that he was a shitty Sonic fan and was there just "to be seen" and to fuck off and take one of the many empty seats all around us. They left. 30 seconds later Mr. Seattle Policeman approaches me, with a smile so I knew we were cool, and the couple was hiding like 20 yds away in a tunnel. He said he thought they were a holes too but he had to make me move regardless. I moved two seats over, he left, the couple never came back, score one for the home team poor boys! They made the right decision in avoiding an awkward social scene that Jagermeister, youth, and grunge angst had instilled in me and I would have thrown on them had they returned. There, those are the best seats I have had until Thursday, 2/21. And these tix were given to me, no sneaking involved. It was an awesome experience even if the game was lackluster for highlights. Another cool thing happened, and that is next.

 The Blazers won this game ugly, the 1st in home and home series. Someone let some air out of the balloon. The Blazers are stagnant. As we approached the end of the 1st quarter I believe a guy was poised to take some shots for what we thought was a Toyota truck or $50,000. The walkway where the dancers and mascot hang out was to my immediate right, and there was a little divider fence. The kid who was to take the shots was almost touching me through the fence and looked very nervous. So I grabbed his shoulder and told him to relax. Then I got to the point. I asked him directly, "Dude, are you a hack, or have you actually shot a basketball?" He looked at me and humbly said, "I play a bit, I can shoot." I said, "Block out the crowd, your at the park...only listen to the cheers when you make it." Sounds like a cliche moment of the low rent variety, huh? A C list "Win one for the Gipper" moment. He shook my hand and said to me, for real, "I'm gonna do it!"

 He was part of a National Car Rental promotion. The game consisted of making a layup, free throw, top of the key, a three, AND a freakin' half court shot in 30 seconds for the top prize. After the free throw, thats a stretch for any average dude in society. This guy was in shape, lean and about 6'3". The layup he got 1st try, the free throw was net and you could tell he had good rotation and form. He hit the top o the key on the 2nd attempt. It took him till the 3rd try for the three, net. 6 seconds to get it done. He ran to half court ball handed to him, he spins around, does the right thing, two handed Larry Bird half court chest pump. Net! 2 seconds on the clock to spare! He streaks off the court right by me, jumps in the air and high fives me and says, "THANKS DUDE!" Did I have something to do with it? Just a little. He was at ease going into it. But here is the kicker. This wasn't the "for the car" shot. People were booing and why? This guy did all this for 10 free car rentals, 10 days of car rental for that? The insurance will be $150 for that. What a rip. Poor guy. What a letdown. The 1/2 court shot was some tie dyed Blazer shirt wearing, gray hair pony tailed 50 something guy who only has seen a basketball on TV and never touched one. He launched a feeble attempt that landed 30 feet short at least, and 20 feet to the right of the board. Pathetic. He got booed  too. Freakin' Grateful Dead listening, acid flashbackin', Cheech & Chong 3 lb roach smoking hippie loser. Still livin' for the Walton era. Bill Walton is like the A Hole John Madden of NBA announcing. John Madden is likable. Bill Walton's head is so far up his culo it's a wonder we can hear his inflated opinions of hot windedness. Anyhow National Car Rental, and your lucky they didn't mention you by name on 1080 the fan when they actually talked about it for 15 minutes the following day, your a cheap ass penny pinching loser of a company. He should get a Rolls for 6 months! Losers, what a comedown when everyone realized what happened. Yep, bloggin' about the entertainment, this is where it's at!

 Anyhow, my great seats rewarded me with an uninspiring 92-88 win over Seattle. On the one day road trip the next day in Seattle the Blazers came out flat, got behind by as many as 20 points and lost 99-87. The score sounds closer than it was. Thoroughly whipped.

KG with his hand over his selfish, taunting, name calling but afraid to fight self. Yeah,
your good and all, but your past playoff failures haunt you. So it was with the Wolves where you only got past the 1st round once. I believe when your hoisting the trophy whiner boy. Got love for x Sonic Ray but I hate the Celts. Bought and paid for. Hopefully the Blazers will rise from the funk they have been in and take it to the leprechauns, who have been on a 3 game skid. James Jones out of the line up is killing us. Sergio isn't playing well when inserted. Jack has had some solid games recently.  Let's do it. 3pm PST at our GAAAAHHHHH DEN!
*trade notes: The Blazers traded little used rookie Turean Green to Denver for Von Wafer. Big F^ckin' Deal! Von's new nickname in this blog if he ever plays will be 'Nilla. 'Nilla, behind the back pass to the Thrilla, Joel Pryszbilla!**The Sonics were trading also. Trying to get worse so they can draft high the next 2 years and then split Seattle when they start to get good. NBA players are gonna love OK City. What a destination point. Bennett, ur scum.

Back at It

 We enter the second half of the season four games out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Fading a little, but far from out of it. Did I mention Brandon Roy's spectacular All Star game performance? 18 pts and more. I'm not much for the All Star thing. But I did see the Green cupcake dunk and the D Howard "Just Like Suuuuuuper Maaaan!" dunk also. Which technically wasn't a dunk, it's like he threw it through power style and power swished with G force! Amazing sh*t!

The Kings will have to defend our All Star Brandon Roy. Delonte West here in the process of being beaten to the hoop.
I will be attending both 2nights game against SAC and Thursday's game also. THU game is VS Seattle and I hear the seats are gonna be awesome. My companion is a hottie too, lucky me. Who says girls don't like b ball?

 I'm also excited as the Blazers resume play tonight against the Kings of SAC. Yeah, you heard that right. SAC town. I reiterate every year that  I saw the biggest back snapping cockroach ever in the SAC town Amtrak bathroom. And it came OUT of the urinal I was peeing in! It was as big as a gerbil. It actually cast a shadow. Hey, I know it's an Amtrak bathroom, but 1st impression means a lot. Sacramento? I'll take Portland any day.

Bibby is out of the Kings picture. Unfortunately for them they still have Abdur Rahim and Brad Miller.
The slow O. Like these jerseys though, nice. But Kings is on the front and that equates to SAC.

 My other Kings story, it's kinda funny. I once attended an NBA exhibition game in Bellingham, WA in about 1989 or so. It was the Sonics/Kings at a small college gym, the Western Washington University Vikings. This gym had the pull out wooden stands, pretty big ones. I was kind of drunk and attended with a friend. I was sitting like 4 rows from the floor watching Vinny Del Negro and Dale Ellis warm up. Also a very oily Michael Cage. Jeri curled rebounding machine. Anyway. Entering into the building like some kind of royalty, old and grey grizzled royalty, comes Bill Russell. I think he was the coach or something. He also was noticed because he had on a powder blue satin Kings warm up suit. Too much. Nobody approached him as he walked to the other side of the gym. But I did. I stepped from my seat walked down to the floor, stepped right in front of him in his path, with my hand out of course, like I knew him. Today in the NBA, 7 footers are standard issue. Bill is 6'9" and he towered over me. He shook my hand no problem and I said to him, "Good seeing you again Bill, good times...have a good game!" And I went back to my seat. I swear he walked away scratching his head and shrugging his shoulders talking to some owner type dude in a suit and tie. The NBA is a high school gym, and as I remember all the name players were there. Think the tickets were $12. I was in the 4th row center. Nice for the price even though it was a meaningless exhibition, I'll never forget it.

 I give us a B+ for the 1st half of the season. The surprise of the NBA for sure and everybody sees the future and we all hope to be wearin' shades! I live in Portland and they aren't quite back to the Rip city days in fandom, but there is a definite buzz here in town. People are paying attention. We can start a nice little streak starting tonight with the Bibby less Kings. Abdur-Rahim , the boring playoff cursed former Blazer will be back in town for another underwhelming evening hopefully. We can get back that feeling and groove. Team has to believe in itself. James Jones being out hurts. Sergio needs to play his way on to the team, it seems him and Jarrett Jack are battling not to be trade bait. I like Sergio. I've seen Jack win a few games. Both inconsistent but Sergio is flashy and is the Spanish Pistol!

Sergio hopes for more minutes and consistency in the
2nd half of the season.

 So remember this was A Sonics blog turned Blazer blog and I weighed in why? Picked 3rd best Sonic blog in 2006 by Deadspin.com? David Stern, NBA commish just said himself the Sonics are as good as gone. I don't root for lame ducks. I don't root for a Championship won in Seattle hanging from the rafters in Oklahoma City. Thanks for making my decision an easy one. Bennett sucks ass. Salud! To a great 2nd half for YOUR PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS!!!

0 fer 4 Road Trip & Reality Humble Pie

 Ouch. The doldrums. Man I sometimes get emotional and write checks my predictions can't cash. I forget during waves of emotion and overachieving. But as we have reached the 1/2 way point of the season I must say, we are doing well. Alas, we reside in the mighty Western Conference. I still say we can make the post season. Here are the scores of the bagel trip:

 2/8   DET: 91 POR: 82
 2/9   IND: 101 POR: 93
 2/11  HOU: 95 POR: 83
 2/13 DAL: 96 POR: 76

More coming...

Nice Free Throws, Still In A Shooting Slump

 The game was a blast and the Garden was rockin' as usual. I'm writing this a few days after the game. Life catches up. Even if nobody reads this, it's therapy.

 The Blazers finished the recent home stand 3-3 with an underwhelming victory over an undermanned Bulls squad. The Blazers gotta get back to finishing opponents. I've gotten spoiled. Usually a 3-3 home stand in the past 4 years would be cool. Guess I've grown to expect it. Better a confident fan than a beaten down one just hoping for a few wins. I have called playoffs for this team, and I believe it. Do the Blazers? See what a 13 game winning streak makes people think? But I have seen the mountaintop and the view was great. The Blazers are definitely in a little funk, but .500 home stand  funk I can bear for now.

 Loved attending the Nuggets game. AI had an off night but made a spectacular extra long 3 and of course...won the game in OT from the top of the key with .09 seconds left. Rose Garden toast. FT's down the stretch, poor. Outlaw choked a 3 free oppurtunity to give Iverson the chance. Make them free throws, they aren't called free for nothing. Melo can play. I recommend seeing the Nugs if you live in an NBA town or are planning to attend one.

 The Bulls were let back in the game after Portland had a 13 pt lead in the 4th quarter and they played poorly down the stretch. I must now watch "LOST" and cut this short. The Blazers did hold on and scored a W over Chi town. They are playing Golden State right now. I'll have that on the laptop and check scores on the breaks. 

 Tomorrow Portland takes on the mighty Pistons in Detroit. It is my understanding Brandon Roy didn't fly with the team and is currently in Seattle for a family emergency. His status to play in tomorrow's game seems unlikely to me. But they say here on radio he may. Hope all is well at the homestead Brandon. Tough task to win at Detroit. Let's see what they are made of shorthanded against one of the beasts of the East.

Plush Nuggies?

 After witnessing the awesome alley oop Eli-Plaxico connection and a defense that brought Brady to his knees, literally, and on his back, and a thrilling Giants victory, I start my Blazer blog with mad kudos to Eli, Plaxico, Strahan, and the whole Giants defense and team. You guys made my day as a Charger fan. I only feel for Seau. The rest of those self entitled, Bellicheater Pats can go home losers. In the big one. All Charger & Blazer fans can you see now, against the odds is possible. I'm hyped for the 2008-9 season. But now, let's focus on the sport now in my limelight, NBA basketball. Especially the Blazers, and still got Sonics love as long as Seattle is in the title.

 
The incomparable, tattooed short bad boy comes to the Rose City. I like AI.
He is a gamer. Takin' it to Charlotte the other night. Hopefully Roy & the
boys will put the hammer down on him and the Nuggies. No Denver love
here. Broncos suck too.

 We be bloggin' in Blazer red when we talk Portland hoops, aight? Tonight at our soon to be renamed and corporatized Rose Garden. If that last word isn't really a word so be it. You know what I mean. It will be rockin', and the white bang sticks will be poppin' behind Denver's basket. I can't wait. My ritual for the Blazers is tie a little buzz on at home, I prefer Japanese rice wine, or sake'. Then I walk 6 blocks to the MAX train station and I'm off at the arena in 8 minutes. I avoid traffic, parking fees, oh, and $8 beers! In all my years, and seeing many teams, almost 1/2 the NBA, in many different cities, I have never seen the Nuggets in person. So Melo and AI in our house. We need to break out of our funk, even though the last game against the Knicks went into the W column, it was a somewahat disappointing game. Need to go the full 48. Not storm back in the 4th quarter and win on the last possession. Although the stats peeps will tell you, we are almost perfect in games we were behind in at halftime this year. And there are quite a few. Which isn't good but I won't argue with success!

The top MIB in Portland. Rookie of the Year and 2008 All Star Brandon Roy.
3 All Stars on the floor tonight. Can the Portland magic from nowhere continue?
Tune in to the Blazers and see, I know other NBA fans have at least picked up on the story
of Portland's resurgence in the NBA. We here in Portland love it. Takes you out of the rainy day doldrums.
And takes you to an arena packed with thrills. GO BLAZERS!!!

Outlaw, as in Travis, not Bo! Lame ass network TNT losers.
Here ready to drill a J on Melo. These trade rumors swirling about him better be unfounded.
Idiocy to trade this baby Jordan esque (at a reserve level on again off, just capable) 2 game winning shot
starter of the W streak role player who can electrify. He used to electrifry, no more.
Needs a few more big games to get me to totally believe. But I'm getting there.

A W Nonetheless

This was about as ugly as a W gets. Scoreless for 6 minutes in the 3rd and still win. It was a gift. NY is a really bad team. But for all they laid on the table for Portland to grab for the taking, the Blazers were polite and let NY go first.


 
 OK, I'm a Charger fan so I have misgivings. I'm always expecting the worst and when the best happens I think it's mostly luck! And you look for disturbing patterns and trends. At times over the last two games I have had thoughts of, maybe they are coming out of this zone and reality looms. Like .500 is perfectly fine for the rest of the season. You get a taste, and you get greedy. I think this team has crossed a plateau of sorts, and will continue. Or is it like the new QB that kills it his rookie year and plummets to reality when all the defenses have him figured out during his sophmore year jinx? On paper, at the beginning of the season you could think this. But not now.

 I heard some stuff on the local sports radio (1080 the fan) and already one guy says its done. This team is experiencing it's 1st shooting slump since this ride began. I think they have lost like 3 or 4 out of the last 20. Not bad for starting like 7 games below .500 this season.


 Barring any injury to Roy, this team has the components to play solid ball and play above the break even mark and make the playoffs. I disagree with Big Suke or Gavin or whoever these honks be who give up. They make a point. I see what they are saying. Still they find a way to win.

 Isiah Thomas...pack it in dude! Have you no shame? It must suck to be you. Except for all the $$. I would give you a pat on your behind but, eh, that's your job. You had this one is the bag. Go away!

 Onto this Monday night. I'm psyched for the Nuggets game. So far 2 of the top 3 of the NWset Division. And they clash at the Garden and I'll be there in the luxurious 300 level in the $10.00 end zones. Still a gas up there too!

LeBron, Whiddle to da Middle

 Nothing matters in the outside world, nor has relevance, in the big $$ world, nor could I influence it. But a fuckin' butterfly flaps his wings where? And it does what? Where? I'm just gonna say this...u believe in voodoo? Neither do I. Wait. I do. That James Bond movie. The Uncola nut dude. You see tonight's game? I can't lie, I handed it to CLE earlier in the day at my falafel stand. I let, WAIT, I let an aggressive baby handle the Nate McMillan bobble head that graces my stand. He kept pointing at it, mommy said no, I said cool. He stretched Nate's head and then dropped his ceramic ass. Nate's left hand index finger broke and he had a nice gray patch on the right side of his dome. Of course it was no big deal then. But now it is!

 Oh...I must sleep now. LaBron...er...uh, u da man. Mike Brown ain't no coach. He just whines all game for LB J. I think Portland will learn from this. But the lesson was taught. Contain the king? Not in the end. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Sonics Break Losing Streak/Blazers-Cavs Tonite

 The Sonics snapped their 14 game losing streak by beating none other than the SA Spurs. The Blazers will match up w/LeBronavaliers and the other strays who feed him. They are better than that, but not much. What happened to Larry Hughes? Shell shock? Not going tonight, but I'll be tuned in for sure. Go Blazers!

Hawks Fizzle Fo Shizzle!

  Like Spinal Tap went jazz fusion when they opened for "Puppet Show" at Six Flags after rockin' for 25 years I have flip flopped and become a Blazer fan. Many circumstances play into my decision. Most would think I'm just a flaky little band wagon jumping metro sexual, but I'm not.  I have followed the Blazers since I was a school kid in Seattle. Geoff Petrie baybee! Ouch, LaRue Martin. 1972. It was exciting to have a team down the road to develop a rivalry with. I never hated the Blazers. They were my 2nd fave. I'll never forget watching the downtown celebration parade for the 77 Blazers, I was in awe. I loved Walton as a player and was so stoked to see the underdog NWest newcomers win it all. I had a few personal experiences as a kid and teen with Walton, and yeah, he owes me nothing. But he was a DICK. Crushed me when I was 13. That story will be for another day. I love to mesh the new with the old. You gotta respect history. Yours, and your teams.

 I apologize to all Sonic fans of which you can still count me as one just on the tradition itself. As long as they reside in the Emerald City I will be a fan. But your being hijacked. I only renounce Clay Bennett ownership and underhanded deceitful tactics. I was in Seattle in the early 90's when the war cry was "Save Our Mariners" they stayed and thrived. Anything is possible. I have a source in the know up there who says kiss their ass goodbye. I also as a 9 yr old kid saw many Seattle Pilots games at the crusty old Sicks Stadium. I was INTO it. Collected all the cards. Ray Oyler (RIP basically puffed heaters on the field!) Don Mincher, Diego Segui. Saw Boog Powell, Frank & Brooks Robinson, Frank Howard! Then they bailed. Seattle is a fair weather town. I cried like a little bitch. I NEVER rooted for the Brewers, ever. It's that kind of scenario, comprende?

 As for yesterday afternoon's game, what a thriller. The Blazers showed mad heart. I was listening on KXL. Oh yeah, I'll go old school. The freakin' radio call rocks. Boom Shaka Laka! I must admit I was texting a fine looking friend who attends games with me and she was agreeing...it's pretty much over. Portland came out swinging in the 2nd half but the Hawks answered the call. They would answer with a basket every time Portland sunk one. It was maddening. But near the end of the 3rd quarter, down by 19...the Blazers began to chip away at Atlanta's stone. The stone began to crack, and finally, crumble. The defense and a few stops ensued, it was within reach, but still seemed a stretch. Brandon Roy would take it on himself. He is $$.

 So I saw this ride start. I attended opening night against New Orleans. Picked up a nice cap commemorating the event and a Nate McMillan bobble to boot. Oh, and the Blazers won against the new Western Conference powerhouse. I thought it was pretty cool but little did I know what was in store. I wear the hat like it is special now, like who knew? Lots of season to go, but this team will make the playoffs.

 I saw one win out of 6 visits to the Rose Garden last season. So far I have witnessed no losses in the Garden. This year I've seen W's over NOH, Jazz, Warriors, Sonics, Wolves, & Sixers. Definitely not the elite, but this is the Trailblazers remember. Tickets are getting tougher to get. I will be at Monday's upcoming Northwest Division showdown between the Blazers and the Nuggets. Should be eventful. Also will witness the Sonics this month and picked up 2 tix to the Suns too! Good times. Keep the faith. LeBron and the hot Cavaliers creep into the Garden this Wednesday. This is our sport here, the only major. See you come playoff time.