two posts in one day

Men in belted sweaters, my prediction for fucked up fashion of 2011.


I'd vote for him.

Glenna Evans as hot for teacher.

Rev. Phil rocking my boat on Lake Piticaca.

Lt. Uhuru

Anthony Perkins playing bike polo.

Bust a bucket

Huge game for the Trailblazers tonight. It's been a tough series to watch though I have developed a grudging respect for the Rockets. They play great team basketball. I've always rooted for Rick Adelman (Chemeketa Community College, woot!) and Aaron Brooks, due to the Oregon connection. I've also enjoyed (in a masochistic kind of way) the defensive clinic put on by Battier and Artest. I am not a fan, however of Luis Scola and his headband or Yao and his giant pouty face.

These could only be Rudy's kix.


If you're not sure what his shirt means watch this video:




If the season does end tonight at least I can start thinking about ways KP could scheme to land Ricky Rubio in the draft.

All pictures stolen from courtesy of Blazers Edge, the best Blazers blog ever.

trailblazers update

Big game for the Blazers tonight, I hope G.O. can stay in it.

This was one of my favorite posters as a kid. The unofficial update is pretty sweet too.



Ghostface Pryzbilla, the ultimate warrior?

B. Roy : closet dunker?

“I’m a country boy, and ya’ll got a lot of things that you can do outside,” said Outlaw. "Nature walks and all that stuff? That’s cool".

Trout has now replaced Channing Frye as the Blazer most likely to join us on a DeathMarch.

Wow, not only does Sherman Alexie post on my favorite Trailblazers forum but two of his 21 points concern corndogs! We have so much in common!

"I'm a chameleon"

The look on his face cracks me up.

NBA Update

I was going to write a long essay on my love for the Trailblazers but I lack the wherewithal. Instead I'll follow C. Murder's lead and post some amusing video.



Here's Chris Bosh (PF, Toronto Raptors) lobbying for a spot on the all star team. This cracks me up for some reason, I may be simple.



Here's my man G. Od. in the midst of rehab. That dark little pool looks depressing but I'm glad he's working hard. If he comes back strong the Blazers will be unstoppable.



Here are a few of my favorite sporting links.
Blazers Edge
True Hoop
The Sports Guy
Free Darko
Agent Zero
Oregonian
I used to be anti-podcast but I've changed my tune.
The Basketball Jones
When C. Murder told me I had to listen to a Canadian NBA podcast I resisted. Eventually he wore me down and I gave it a try. It's perfect. Quick, snappy, with a solid format, interesting music during the breaks and sometimes witty repartee. Plus their canuck accents are precious.
The Shuttlecoque Sporting Hour
podcast of a KPSU radio show, often very funny.

Rip city, baby.

I watched the Trailblazers defeat the Toronto Raptors last night for their 9th win in a row. I also saw the first game of the streak and got this free shirt as part of Hannukah night.



What a great time to be a long suffering Blazer fan. The team is playing so well together and it seems like B. Roy can take over a game whenever he wants to. Check out this Jordanesque move he puts on Chris Bosh.



"That was a hell of a move," coach Nate McMillan said with a big grin after the game. "It was really like that Michael Jordan move in the Finals against the Lakers. It happened so fast, it was like 'Did he just do that?' You know? Just an unbelievable move, and I think the crowd was surprised because it took them a while to react like all of us -- 'Did we just see what he just did?' "

Both teams played hard.

If I wasn't already in love with Greg Oden this fantastic interview would have pushed me over the edge. I can't wait to spot him downtown so I can be like "What's up, G. O.?"

Draft Day!

*Warning. Don't bother reading this post unless you are a big Trailblazers fan. This one is pretty much just for my blazers buddies.*


Tomorrow is the NBA drft and my beloved Trailblazers will pick either

Greg Oden





or Kevin Durant



I've had a lot of time on my hands lately and have read a lot of opinion on who we should pick. Most of it says Oden, he is the safe pick, the defensive anchor and by all accounts a genuinely nice, personable guy. Durant is more of a gamble but if he reaches his potential he could be incredible. He's got so many beautiful offensive moves and he seems to have that Jordanesque will to win, he described himself as an assasin who lives to play basketball. Oden wanted to be a dentist. Anyway, I trust Kevin Pritchard to do the right thing. I expect a few trades on draft day and probably another mid range lottery pick.

I'd be totally happy with either of these scenarios:

1. Draft Kevin Durant, trade Zach and Jack for a mid range pick and cap fodder then select Joakim Noah. I know a lot of people can't stand him with the hair and the screaming and everything but I think he would be a good fit. He plays Team D, doesn't need the ball, is a good passer and can run the floor. Then make LMA and Sergio starters and sign Steve Blake (who just bought a house in West Linn btw) to the mid level exception.

Starting linup:

Noah / Ghostface Pryzbilla
LaMarcus Aldridge / T. "Trout" Outlaw / Raef
Kevin Durant / Ime Udoka / Martell
B. Roy / Martell
Sergio / S. Blake

2. Draft Greg Oden, trade Zach and Jack for a high pick and cap fodder then draft Corey Brewer or Jeff Green. If we don't draft Durant we'll need someone to shut him down, because he's going to be pissed and we'll play him a lot if he goes to Seattle. Once again, sign Steve Blake and make LMA and Sergio starters.

lineup:

Oden / Pryzbilla
LMA / Trout
Corey Brewer / Ime / Martell
B. Roy / Martell
Sergio / Blake


In either scenario I would move Zach Randolph and Jarret Jack. Though I like both players a lot I don't think they fit the uptempo game that B. Roy, LMA and Sergio are suited to and I think that is where the team and the NBA are headed. Zach has been truly impressive in his recovery from microfracture surgery and I love his work ethic. I remember watching him play for Michigan State and thinking "wow, he's trying really hard, I hope the Blazers draft him", and they did. Thank you Bob Whitsett. He gets an amazing number of points and rebounds for being 6'9" with a 2 inch vertical. But...he needs the ball to be effective and so do B. Roy, LMA and whoever we draft, he's not good on D, sometimes walking back, he has gotten a lot better at passing out of the double team but he still throws up a lot of wild, double teamed shots, and he is the last vestige of the Jail Blazers (well, except for D. Miles). I think Jack will be a good player in the L but I think he is suited for a half court game and I think it will be Sergio's team soon. Both players should have decent trade value and I could see several teams giving up a 4-9 pick, a role player and an expiring contract for them. KP also has four second round picks that I expect he will trade or pick Europeans and leave them there. Wow, I'm excited, this is a good time to be a Trailblazers fan. I might even go to the Rose Garden for the draft day party.

Rip City, baby.

The Portland Trailblazers have been a big part of my life since I can remember. They won their only championship when I was four. My grandma Pauline was a big fan and she took me to a lot of games. We would always sit in the nosebleeds, the cheapest seats that are all the way back against the wall, which was nice in some ways as you could stand up and jump around without pissing anyone off. We would always go an hour early to get autographs. Back in the early 80s at the Glass Palace the players were a lot more accessible. I remember meeting Jim Paxson, Darnell Valentine, Wayne Cooper (Coooop!), Kiki Vanderwhe, Maurice Lucas (Luuuuke!) and others. We would always stay for the postgame interview with Bill Shonley (bingo, bango bongo baby!).
As a teenager I was a rabid fan. In the glory years of 1988-1992 I rarely missed a game, whether in person, on the radio or on TV with the sound turned off and the Shons turned on. A highlight was when a coworker shared his dad's 9th row seats for a playoff win against the Suns that went to double overtime and we could hear every profane thing Charles Barkley was saying.
Then, finally came June 6, 2000 and the collapse in the fourth quarter of game seven in the Western Conference championships. After that game the Trailblazers entered a dark period, as did I. I still watched a few games but my heart wasn't in it.

I wrote the preceding as my second blog entry but never posted it becase I thought it sucked. Now my standards are lower and I'm using it as an intro to a post about today, April 18, 2007, henceforth known as "Portland Trailblazers 1977 Championship Day" or something. Mayor Potter was not the smooth talker I assumed him to be but I still enjoyed his proclamation.
Bill Schonley was great as MC and it was nice to hear Dr. Jack Ramsey speak so warmly of his time in Portland. The only current Blazers there were Joel Pryzbilla and Ime Udoka and of course Nate and Maurice Lucas. I was a little disappointed at the turnout, both players and fans, but it was still fun.



Here's El Torque posing with the championship trophy. The trophy had two handlers who wore white gloves and had their hands on the trophy at all times.