The Mind of a Blazers Fan

by Oppy on Dec 6, 2008 9:34 PM PST

I've noticed that a lot of people on BE and O-Live seem surprised at how quickly the fans become worried or despondent after short stretches of bad play or tough losses. Even Jason Quick has mentioned that he is surprised that more people don't seem to be enjoying the team's success. I think these people are not familiar with one thing: the mind of a Blazers fan.

See, anyone that's been a Blazers fan is so used to seeing his team somehow screw the pooch that we're all just waiting for the other shoe to drop. I love this team, and I'm loving this season, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that I'm always a little nervous about us falling apart, getting injured, melting down or choking in key games, etc. I watched the Blazers come up on the losing end of so many big games and so many crucial situations that it's impossible not to have that mentality ingrained into me.

Watching us come up short against the Pistons, seeing Danny Young hit the shot....AFTER the buzzer, watching Magic launch the ball downcourt as time expires, Jordan hitting six threes in one half, Sean Elliott and the Memorial Day Miracle, the JailBlazers, the Game 7 meltdown in the 200 WCF, etc. etc. Having been born too late to enjoy our only title, my life as a Blazers fan has been one long stretch of us being not quite good enough. In fact, it's been a lot of watching us look like we're good enough only to get punched in the stomach with last minute collapses and terrible decisions.

Part of my joy in this team the past couple of years has been watching us change so many of those trends. Suddenly we're "clutch" in late game situations, we have awesome character guys, young talent, limitless potential, and the dream that we're finally going to be the team that comes up big when it matters most. But despite all that, it's going to take more than a few win streaks and .500 seasons before I can let go of all my old fears. The truth is, being a Blazers fan teaches you to expect the inevitable collapse, so it's only understandable that so many get so down after tough losses like last night. It's not that loss in itself, but the shadow that it seems to bring up in the back of our mind...that it just might, possibly, maybe... be the beginning of the next downward spiral.

I don't think (hope) it is, but with this team, it's hard not to worry just a little bit. So for everyone surprised that some of us worry a bit too much, let's keep in mind where we've been for the past two decades.

Here's to the next decade of dominance, memorable wins, and titles.

Oppy

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Comments

There's always a bright side

Like, the fact that we haven’t had a 100 year championship drought, alá some baseball teams that don’t need to be mentioned…

That is really hideous
--jscot

by prezofdeath on Dec 6, 2008 9:48 PM PST reply actions

What's scary

is that a few years ago, I was talking with a close friend of mine who’s also a Blazers freak, and we were legitimately worried that we were the next Cubs franchise. Of course, then we drafted Roy, Aldridge and Oden, so I’m a little less worried now.

But the Cubs have had lots of talented teams in their day. There’s no telling.

by Oppy on Dec 6, 2008 9:51 PM PST up reply actions

If we don't get a ring between now and 2020

I will most likely conclude the NBA is rigged and quit watching.

Everything in moderation, including moderation

by prezofdeath on Dec 6, 2008 9:57 PM PST up reply actions

Is 12 years enough time to reach that conclusion?

I'm a really really ridiculously good looking orange mocha frappaccino drinking manhammer sandwich

by hobobob on Dec 7, 2008 8:27 AM PST up reply actions

the blazers have one championship

and lost in the finals twice in the early 90s. a lot of other teams have no real glory to look back on at all. cleveland and phoenix and utah have made it to the finals but never won. the ny knicks won in 70 and 73 but not since, not even when they had pat riley coaching and patrick ewing at center.

most of the time portland has been in the upper echelon… we’ve had good teams.

ignacio

by ignacio on Dec 6, 2008 10:53 PM PST reply actions

Talk about depressing

Explains a lot and I sure hope not everyone is like that. I don’t see things that way.

by tominhawaii on Dec 7, 2008 2:44 AM PST reply actions

But to honest

Tom doesn’t believe that the NBA existed before the year 2000 or so

On drowning my daughter before she becomes a teenager (to my son)-"You know how when you want to drown someone, you first tie something heavy to the their foot?" My Son: "Yeah?" Me:"You're the something heavy"

by 92wastheyear on Dec 7, 2008 8:18 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs

I just see the glass half full

I don’t understand why people waste energy or emotions on something that hasn’t happened. I’d rather be an elitist than a defeatist.

by tominhawaii on Dec 7, 2008 8:43 AM PST up reply actions

Me either

I generally an optimistic guy….so I tend to avoid this place after one of these losses. This kinda loss bugs me as much as anyone…however I don’t need to hear all negativeness (fire Nate……bench Roy in favor of Shavlic…whatever) that permeates this and other sites. Even with this loss, I still think we have a fantastic young team who is really going places and I will not allow myself to go all gloom and doom re this

by 92wastheyear on Dec 7, 2008 8:59 AM PST up reply actions

Defeatism is an elitism of its own.

Usually a cadre of one.

by zaruga on Dec 7, 2008 4:33 PM PST up reply actions

I think arguably the Blazers could end up in the top 5

of the league this year. The tough question is, just how big the gap is between the top 2 and other possible contenders. If the Blazers continue to improve at the current rate, that gap might not be as big as some think by years end.

GO
THE TEACHER ......come into my classroom "THE PAINT" for some tutelage.

by Blazer1342 on Dec 7, 2008 4:07 AM PST reply actions

Basketball is a game

where the best team doesn’t always win. When a big part of the game is just hitting shots, anything could happen. Also, refs and parity in foul calling. Regardless, we didn’t look ready to play the Celtics a few days ago (and they are the best team right now), but I also wouldn’t be surprised if we evened the series out when we play at home. All in all, I feel great about this team, but we need to realize that we have 3 rookies in regular rotation, and maybe 4 now if Bayless gets some more playing time after his good showing in the 4th quarter on Friday.

I think the biggest uncertainty of our team is just finding out whether talent will actually be realized into consistency. We know we have two players that are always rocks of consistency – Roy and Przybilla – and we’re figuring out of everyone else who can bring it every night. I’m actually not worried about this team, because we are very well coached and with Brandon Roy as our leader I see the foundation for consistency similar to what the Spurs had with Robinson and Popavich – building their team around their best player. Once their other pieces fell into place, the system and leadership lead to championships.

The team we most recognize now is that 94-95 Magic (or maybe the 93-94 team) team that was swept in the finals by the Rockets. Their stars had raw talent, but were very young (I know, we don’t have anything like Shaq, but work with me here). Looking at the records that year – The Magic were 57-25, the Rockets were 47-35, and the Spurs had the best record in the league at 62-20. This demonstrates not only that everything changes come playoff time, but also that a litle experience and a good run at the right time (end of season, beginning of playoffs) can make a world of difference. We all know that if that team had patience and would have been able to keep their pieces together, they’d likely have won a championship looking back at that roster. We need patience too as fans.

In spite of the issues we have as a young team with consistency problems, I wouldn’t give up on this team just yet as being a top team in the league. There is a lot of basketball left to play, and if we get hot at the right time you might be surprised at how far we get in the playoffs.

Chris Dudley for three!

by wilbjammin on Dec 7, 2008 10:04 AM PST reply actions

You nailed it Oppy

Go Blazers

by Miker Blazer on Dec 7, 2008 10:07 AM PST reply actions

You said that's being a Blazer fan,

But in reality, I think that’s more of being a sports fan. There are 30 teams in the league, and only one champion. All 30 teams have dreams for next year, then 29 are disappointed again. It adds up to a lot of frustration, not only in basketball, but in every sport.

Take the Cleveland Cavs of the late 80’s and early 90s. That was a team with Mark Price, Brad Daugherty, Larry Nance, Hot Rod Williams, and a handful of quality veterans surrounding them. Every year they would be expecting a championship, and they never even got into the finals because they played in the same conference as Jordan, Bird, and the Bad Boy Detroit Pistons.

Every fan base has it’s regrets, because a part of being a fan is hope for the future. Unfortunately, 29 out of 30 fans are disappointed every year.

Travis Outlaw is an alien, but in a good way.

Awesome Graphic was provided by CIC, because he felt like he should be hazed.

by Clevelander among roses on Dec 7, 2008 4:24 PM PST reply actions

Blazers fans, Oregonians

We tend to be tightly wound bundles of insecurity, particularly when it comes to California and how the rest of the country perceives us (anyone remember the move “Overboard” with Kurt Russel living in a trailer in the middle of a forest and wearing a cutoff flannel? That’s the one). Having one major sports franchise ends up being a microcosm of those insecurities. We have the geographical and fandom equivalents of short man syndrome.

by zaruga on Dec 7, 2008 4:38 PM PST reply actions 1 recs