Were You There?
by 12sharks on Aug 1, 2008 3:32 AM PDT
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I'm a Blazer fan. I have been for at least a year. I'm not an Oden-on-clinger (I actually wish we'd drafted Durant). I'm not a .500-on-clinger (to me, that's not so impressive), I'm not a potential-on-clinger (take the potential of my parenthetical comment and imagine what it could do in a year or two).
I live here. In Portland. Portland's my home, and I follow the Blazers. I didn't have the opportunity to do so when they were down-and-out - I didn't live here and couldn't have cared less. The only time the Portland Trail Blazers entered my New York-ass radar was when the magical Bulls were matched up against some team with Clyde Drexler in Sega's "Bulls vs. Blazers" video game. In fact, lifelong basketball fan that I am, I didn't even care about the Blazers the first two years I lived in this city.
That said, I have since come to love the Blazers. It pained me to cut Trout's statistical prospects from my fantasy team last year. I didn't have cable, yet I managed to find sports bars (Claudia's, mostly) that aired hometown games and catch them there. I actually attended games, and cheered, and followed, and worried.
I'm a Blazers Fan
No, allow me to repeat that - I am a Blazers fan. I follow their every move, I think of cockamamie trade ideas, I pray that KP can work magic once again with every draft. That said, I've only been following the Blazers for - get ready for it - a little over a year. Is that so bad?
Am I on the outs? Is, say, an Oden-lover (forgive me for never even knowing the banned acronym) too late or just in time? Granted, people take issue with hitchers-on (particularly when a team's been hurting so badly). I remember living in New England when the Denver Broncos won the Super Bowl and my friend's father bought hats for all his family with the winning team's insignia adorning the top. That's not sportsmanship. That's not even fans-manship. That's just terrible.
That's also not what I'm talking about. What I'm speaking to is more of a "were you there when it mattered" kind of outlook. Say, for instance, Kobe scores 82. As Laker fans are known for showing up just before halftime, are they entitled to claiming to having "been there" at a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle or were they casual witnesses to transcendent greatness? Were the fans that showed up before the first quarter more entitled to the bravado? Were season-ticket holders that stuck with them post-Shaq even more entitled? Pre-Magic? Pre-West? Pre-Mikan?
So..
Say the Blazers are as good as many of us BEdgers think and are champions once or more - where is the line of true fanhood drawn, if it is? Does suffering predicate commitment? Does the excelsior of victory dilute itself without yearning?
If, say, we were to win one or more championships, do the accolades fall most upon those longest amongst us? The longest suffering? Does being a fan during the JailBlazer era give one entre or does it take more? Does a JailBlazer fan outrank an Oden fan? Does a Rip City fan outrank a JailBlazer fan? Does a Blazers 2k0_ fan stand a chance against either?
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Sottie Pippen? He drinks?
Sorry. I’ll redeem myself by reccing your post. I’m also reccing it because it’s worthy of being recced. My husband is a transplanted New Yorker and couldn’t care less about sports. He’s been tolerant, if not always understanding, of my Blazer fanaticism for lo these many years.
"Besides, AnntheFan will be here any minute to #25 you." T Darkstar
I wrote this last summer in another thread....I still think it
” I was thinking bout this the other day and decided that it doesn’t matter WHEN you jump on the Bandwagon….but how long you ride.
I jumped on both the Blazers and Raiders wagon in ‘77 (15 years old at the time). I have been life long fans of both. I think I’m gonna cut some slack to these newcomers in hopes that they will say (in about 20 yrs)something like “I became a fan the 1st time I saw Greg Oden in a Blazers uniform’”
Does that answer your question?
Homer: "Oh no!! A Bear is eating my father!." (On seeing Selma kissing Grampa)
Yep, how long you ride. That's it.
And continuing to ride when the seas are stormy and all looks lost.
I remember telling him how impressed I was with a player during summer league. In Avery's unique voice, he replied, "Marc, it's summer league." I
You stud!
I became a Raider fan that same year, much to the chagrin of my father who was from North Dakota and an avid Vikings fan. I thought he was going to disown me as a heretic while we watched that super bowl (I was 8) . I had become a Blazer fan the year before. Thank God we both loved the Blazers or I think I would have been in trouble.
P.S. Out of spite I think, he got me a Cleveland Brown jacket to wear to school that year…so mean.
deserving satisfaction?
I just think it will be sweeter for some. No offense, but fans who jumped on board that fateful day in May of 2007 are not going to have the same Blazer committment as those who’ve been around since the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s teams. Good post though.
Love is blind.
God is love.
Ray Charles is God.
Satisfaction comes from within
I could not careless about hangers on. My joy comes from watching my team win. I buy their gear, wear it to opposing teams’ stadiums, yell at the TV and tick of the wife when she’s trying to sleep, goo-goo and gaa-gaa at post-game stats, bla bla bla.
I never had the slightest loyalty or fandom for the Bulls when they were winning everything. I admired their team and its abilities (much to my consternation) but I never did any of the above listed fan things.
I expect the Blazers’ fan base to grow as they get better. It almost has to. Welcome one and all. What I don’t like is talk like: “Yeah, well I’m a bigger fan than you because …”
That’s just silly. Got no time for it.
“Pride never helps, it only hurts.” - Marcellus Wallas, Pulp Fiction.
“The Tao that can be named is not the eternal Tao.” - Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching
“Rock out with yer c*ck out.”—Drunk Girl, Doug Fir Lounge, 10 am New Years Day 1999
Live at Doug Fir Lounge on Aug. 7, 9 pm -- YEAR 5000 -- http://www.myspace.com/y5k
by Y5k on Aug 1, 2008 8:07 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs
No kidding!
I wish I could rec this post twice.
Enjoy your satisfaction with the team. Who cares if people jump on the bandwagon? Let them have their fun. Maybe some of them will jump on for the duration and become a part of the next generation of die-hard Blazer fans.
Jerryd Bayless has two emotions: Kill and Win.
"I think it’s going to be very beautiful game next year."
-Nicolas Batum
by rockingharder on Aug 1, 2008 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions
Oh Man,
I know fatty is cringing at not being able to type absurd runs-ins and sentence structures, lots of ”*’s” in respone to this post…
Ball Don't Lie
by bothteamsplayedhard on Aug 1, 2008 8:23 AM PDT reply actions
I do think...
... it will mean more to those who have been fans for the longest, but I have no problem with people becoming Blazer fans now. If they remain fans through our next rebuilding project, then there is no doubt they are true fans. If they stop being fans when our run is over, then they are bandwagon fans (which is fine- it just means they aren’t true fans).
Boomshakalaka
You still wish Portland drafted Durant?
Even after he stunk up the league last season? Obviously he won rookie of the year (based purely upon lack of competition and the proverbial green light), but the Sonics’ offensive efficiency was almost exactly the same with him on or off the court (not surprising – if you shoot 35-40% to get your 20 ppg, you’re probably hurting more than helping), and their defensive efficiency was ten points worse (which is a ton). So, whether you blame it on the coaches or whatever, the fact is that, for the most part, Durant was making his (already terrible) team worse.
Would you be more excited about keeping Pryz at the five spot and bringing in Durant at the three, or working Webster/Outlaw at the three and Oden/Pryz at the five? Consider, too, that KP will have the opportunity to bring in even more help either via a trade or free agency. Is it easier to sign or trade for a useful small forward, or a useful center?
No contest, in my book. Bayless-Roy/Rudy-Durant-LA-Pryz/FA is a good young foundation. Promising, for sure. That team could win some games. Bayless-Roy/Rudy-Webster/Outlaw/FA-Oden? That’s a potential dynasty. Screw winning some games – that team could win some championships.
Bayless isn't the second coming of Jordan.
Jordan was the first coming of Bayless.
jury very much still out on Durant
He wasn’t great at all last year, but he was in a bad situation and he got better towards the end of the season. I still think he’s going to be a stud, but I’m very comfortable with the Oden pick (as long as he stays healthy).
Boomshakalaka
that is a pretty big if
I’d say. I like Durant, and I feel really bad that he has to play in O*. Still, it’s going to be simply electric when Oden walks out on the floor. that will be a beautiful day
Just what we need
Another SF who is helpless on defense but I do feel sorry for him geting stuck in such a sorry situation and I am sure that he is thinking exit plans.
by southern oregon on Aug 1, 2008 5:01 PM PDT up reply actions
I wish we would have drafted Durant too.
Maybe I’ll change my mind when he finally plays in his first NBA game. Or maybe it will take a complete season.
BTW, Durant was heavily defended every game as the opposition knew that’s where the ball was going to go. “stunk up the league”? Considering the circumstances, Durant did a credible job, improving as the season wore on.
I remember telling him how impressed I was with a player during summer league. In Avery's unique voice, he replied, "Marc, it's summer league." I
dang .... "he" of course is Oden.
I remember telling him how impressed I was with a player during summer league. In Avery's unique voice, he replied, "Marc, it's summer league." I
Durant is a top tier forward already.
To say anything less is ridiculous. I’d take him over Beasley or Rose any day.
Krikey! Kiteboarding is Kewl!
Top tier forward?
The other comments above I can live with (and for the most part agree with). Jury is definitely still out. He’ll likely develop into a solid player, assuming he can pack on an ounce or two of muscle and start guarding SFs intstead of SGs.
But top tier forward already? He’s not even close to being close. In fact, he’s closer to Martell or Trout than he is the top tier of guys like LeBron, Nowitzki – hell, even the solid, middle tier guys like Tayshaun, Hedo,etc. are light-years ahead. I’d say he’s a bottom tier forward with the clear potential to jump past the middle tier guys to the top tier.
I do agree with you though – I’d take him over Beasley or Rose. But (wait for it) not over Bayless. I’m sure the whole world will disagree, laugh, snicker, deride, etc, but that’s just my take. He’s got a long, long way to go, and I think Bayless will be a more balanced and valuable player (read: efficiency and defense) from day one.
Bayless isn't the second coming of Jordan.
Jordan was the first coming of Bayless.
wow
you really see that much in Bayless? If you are right on him and Oden, its not even going to be fair.
Boomshakalaka
Hey, KP Corleone is technically an 'outsider' still
Coming to Blazers Edge as a fan of Oden and of KP, so we can at LEAST say he isn’t saying this stuff as a homer!
I think Durant will be great, but his rookie year was… well, there are a lot of excuses for it. GOOD excuses, all good excuses. He’s 19, and I always give the benefit of the doubt to young NBAers. I was a big fan of his last year, even played Devils Advocate for him leading up to the draft.
He took a lot, lot, lot of bad shots and it bugged me how they brought him along. He can be so much more than a gunner.
But, it was one season and he has enormous potential.
Mortimer
Idiot, maybe, but homer, no. ;-)
I just think Bayless’s athleticism and skill level, as far as scoring is concerned, are off the charts for a 19 year-old (he runs and cuts like Devon Harris, shoots like Pargo, takes it to the rack like Ellis, and jumps like… actually I can’t think of a 6’2” to 6’3” guy who jumps that high that quick). His opportunity in Portland is off the charts (just a perfect fit, for reasons better articulated by others). His attitude, poise, intelligence, and work ethic seem to be off the charts (what 19 year-old says he’ll bring “leadership” to an NBA team with a straight face, and you believe him?).
There are far more question marks about Durant, many of them related to his circumstances. Will he ever adjust to not being able to jack threes whenever he feels like it? Will he figure out that he’s not yet a great shooter and needs to focus more on his countless moves to the bucket? Is he actually aware that his teammates are still in the building when he has the ball in his hands? Will he ever be strong enough (or quick enough) to guard elite NBA athletes (can you imagine him, ever, guarding LeBron? I would be concerned for his safety).
Right now, Durant’s like a much (much, much) higher ceiling version of Outlaw and Webster combined (Trout’s midrange game, Webster’s shot, but amazingly, worse D than either).
The doubts about Bayless are these – can he pass, or is he a one-dimensional guy? Will his shot become consistent? But either way, he’s got an edge, he’s ridiculously athletic, he can D up point guards, and he can take it to the rack. Those are NBA skills that can contribute (with a bunch of other pieces) to a championship. He’s a low risk, huge reward guy. Durant is also huge reward, but he’s high risk. That’s my spin. Insane as it is, I’m sticking to it.
(As an aside, Oden is also high risk, huge reward. Obviously, there’s primarily one question. Can he stay healthy? Needless to say, the jury is out, and has been out for a long time. In fact, I’m not even sure where they went – the judge might have just given up and sent them home.)
Bayless isn't the second coming of Jordan.
Jordan was the first coming of Bayless.
The reason I like Bayless
Is his potential for defense, even if he is more of a SG than a PG.
Normally, I HATE undersized shooting guards forced into a PG role because they are short. It never works well, and you always have to heavily compensate for their shortcomings. They get stuck in that Twilight Zone between too short to guard SGs, too slow to guard PGs (or just horrible at it, ala Monta Ellis), and while those “combo” guards can often put up decent numbers they almost always seem to hurt more than help.
The key to this working here, even if Bayless is a SG on offense, is Brandon Roy. He covers up any POTENTIAL weak playmaking Bayless might have.
Now, I don’t think or know Bayless will have playmaking problems, but it does seem to be the question mark regarding his game. He DID have 4 assists a game in college, and that’s pretty dang good on a poor team where (like in Summer League) you gotta do all the scoring as well.
If Bayless couldn’t guard PGs, we’d be back to the same problem, except with more offense (hopefully). His defense and Roy’s playmaking from the SG spot makes everything work perfectly.
Gives Roy a great target to get assists with, another attacker to help a stagnant offense, etc. Switch up on defense, badabing we’re champions.
Before we got Rudy, I foresaw an eventual Rudy/Roy backcourt where we just use team defense on the quick PGs of the league. Now, I think Bayless will be able to guard them well and there will still be plenty of time and lineups to use Rudy as well—because I haven’t forgot about him. I got high, very high hopes for him and I love how he looks on offense. His passing is what has impressed me the most, and we can only wish Bayless can do 64.8% of what Rudy looks like he can do with the ball.
I don’t think you’re an idiot OR a homer. I’m a huge homer! Plus, I’ve been legally categorized by the State as an idiot :-( So I would know.
I dunno if Bayless > Durant, but I definitely think we need a guy who can guard PGs and score to boot more than we need a scoring SF. We need the potential of what Bayless might be over the potential of Durant. I still like our Oden pick.
Oden is my man and I think he’ll be incredible. No one can stop him. Our roster is completely unfair.
Mortimer
Well said
That’s the way I should’ve put it – it’s not that Bayless > Durant, but that Portland + Bayless > Portland + Durant. Same, except the difference is wider, for Oden.
The ideal incoming piece of the puzzle for Portland would be a guy who comes in at the one, plays great defense on PGs, brings a little toughness, takes SOME of the playmaking/scoring pressure off Roy, and is comfortable at the same time playing off the ball for extended stretches. There couldn’t be a better fit for Bayless (or for Portland). He’ll have a great chance to maximize his potential because of the circumstances (whereas Durant, unfortunately, is looking at the mirror image of those circumstances).
That should have been (I think I focused too much on skills) my primary point about the ridiculous hypothetical Rose trade, as well – Rose may be the most likely player to develop into a Chris Paul type guy, but that’s not what the Blazers need. (However, I also do think the public perception of Rose has been melded into something he’s not. What he is, is a ridiculous physical specimen who plays the point. What he’s not is a guy who has NBA point guard skills right now. Ok, I officially retire the topic!)
As for Durant, of course, a lot of teams would love his potential to develop into an unstoppable offensive weapon. The Blazers just aren’t one of those teams. I think that’s why they went after a defensive “upside” three guy in Batum (a new kind of upside), as opposed to an offensive upside guy like Donte Greene.
Bayless isn't the second coming of Jordan.
Jordan was the first coming of Bayless.
They played him at SG to prevent him from getting beaten up while his body fills out
That’s certainly not his correct position. He is a forward. And he will be a special player if he continues to improve his outside shooting, slashing and especially his shot selection (he still takes too many shots that he should rather pass up). If not, he doesn’t have that much upside. But I’m very confident he will. He is already showing the ability to take over games. In a few years, he will be great.
Odenied: Coach, I promise I wasn't running hard ...
Agreed.
Crazy that he guarded SGs last year. But can he guard SFs? Can he get stronger?
But yeah, he has shown that he has that special something, at least in spurts. The game towards the end of the year when he hit two buzzer beaters from three was ridiculous.
He’ll be an elite scorer, there’s no doubt. But will he be efficient, can he play D, and will he win?
Bayless isn't the second coming of Jordan.
Jordan was the first coming of Bayless.
I am not sure that moved him forward
(seemed more backward to me)!
Aldridge said. "We feel like we can beat any team. We feel like we can beat the Spurs, Suns, Lakers, Mavericks, whoever any night right now, and we'll still be here when those teams get old and their guys retire. We're going to be here for a long time."
didnt he spend the season
getting double teamed. i didnt watch his games, just read that since he was acting as the primary scoring option, that he was catching alot of defencive heat.
"If I was in anyway unclear(,) I am implying that Dave is a serial murder(er)."
---jonestr on Aug 3, 2008 12:25 AM PDT
let me lay out a little case for Beasley
I think Beasley is going to turn out to be a better pro based on my limited viewing of his summer league.
He already attacks the rim which took KD most of the year to do.
He has beautiful shot mechanics. KD’s are solid but Beasley is really fluid and I think he will sell shot fakes well which will open up his devastating driving game.
He has a lot more post game going towards the basket than KD.
He has a much more developed body that should easily put on bulk. i think the jury is still out if KD can get the strength and weight he needs to be able to play down low and expand his game.
He is left handed which is hard to guard even when you know it is coming. I think this explains some of ZBo’s success.
I guess time will tell, but I am excited to watch both of them play hard on offense and then not make it over half court to play D.
Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.
He's tough to read.
Beasley could be NBA MVP one day, or he could be MVP of the rec league at some asylum. It’s just hard to say. He’ll be fun to watch this year. He’s a matchup problem already for most teams in the league.
Bayless isn't the second coming of Jordan.
Jordan was the first coming of Bayless.
He seems like
a dude who just needs some guidance, but he is not a bad dude. He just like to play pranks. Seems very Arenas to me.
Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.
I am the true fan
You are on time only if I let you ride along. Hope that clarifies things.
By the way, I was a fan since 1970. I chucked my fandom in during the thug years, even when the thugs were still winning. I reclaimed it about a year and a half ago, even while we still were losing a lot of games.
Other people don't have as much practice at being wrong as I do -- HT, timbo
Gas for $1.45
That is so 80’s! Nice find.
Aldridge said. "We feel like we can beat any team. We feel like we can beat the Spurs, Suns, Lakers, Mavericks, whoever any night right now, and we'll still be here when those teams get old and their guys retire. We're going to be here for a long time."
It's OK, everyone...
I reserved his seat during the ‘thug’ years. That was jscot’s jacket.
I’m a bandwagon fan as I only started rooting for the Blazers in 1977. My excuse was that I was 8 at the time.
In retrospect, 1977 was a kick-@$$ year. We had the Blazers championship, Star Wars and The Clash’s first album. Not bad.
I was there!
I was at that wonderful game in June of 1977 when we beat Philly. It remains one of my top three memories in life (My Wedding day is #1 just in case my wife reads this)
I have have been an avid fan ever since and even before, but I will say my interest definately rose the day Paul Allen bought this team. It’s never too late for a person to catch Blazermania! We should welcome any and all new fans, ESPECIALLY the Sonic fans after what has happened up there. That rivalry has produced so many good games over the years and I think the support that Blazer Fans have shown Sonic fans in their time of need is a credit to all! Go Blazers!!!!
Admitted bandwagon fan
Well, maybe not quite that bad, but I definitely lost interest in the Blazers during the darker years of this decade. I was a huge fan of the Clyde era Blazers. I remember listening to the games on the radio during the finals with Detroit and being so stressed out I had to walk outside for a bit (Curse you Bill Laimbeer!!!). Probably somewhere around 2002 or ‘03 I was no longer able to recite the entire Blazers roster (Trader Bob’s frequent changes didn’t help). I found myself drifting away.
I moved to Washington somewhere back then and even figured I should be a Sonics fan since I was so disappointed with the Blazers and, heck, the Sonics were my home team now right? Yet I could never take any joy in a Sonics victory and always found myself creeping back in the dead of night to check Blazers box scores…who did we draft….will we ever make the playoffs again?
The 2006 draft brought me back from curious onlooker to casual fan, and the 2007 draft cemented me back squarely in the middle of fandom. For me, the management of the team and the personalities we had were what made me shy away from the team, not just those pitiful win/loss records.
Later still I found Blazersedge. I believe a full recovery is at hand.
So to answer your question, when the Blazers win their next championship, I plan to celebrate with the best of them…but I probably won’t be wearing a Bonzi Wells jersey.
...and it’s good that Sonics fan thing didn’t work out!
Doesn't sound like Bandwagon at all
I am sure that many followed much the same path in their fandom. It was admittedly different from my path but it is a legit path considering the path that the franchise took. Glad to have you back in the fold
Homer: "Oh no!! A Bear is eating my father!." (On seeing Selma kissing Grampa)
by 92wastheyear on Aug 1, 2008 12:03 PM PDT up reply actions
I completely understand
I could never be a Sonics fan, but there was definitely a time where I didn’t follow close enough to recite the roster or the record. Those were dark days, but I still wore the Blazers gear, and people would literally laugh at me and ask me if I was high. I think the anti-Blazer sentiment in this city was pretty high in the early part of the 2000’s. It was an uncomfortable time to root for the team you loved. So sometimes it is frustrating as a fan because these same folks who were dogging you 3 years ago are saying “Oden this…and Roy that..” excited about our future. However I think we should embrace all fans because we all had to start somewhere and it sure wasn’t going to be during the “Jailblazer era.”
by The Natural ala Mode on Aug 1, 2008 4:47 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't think it matters when you started (or start) rooting for the Blazers...
if you’re rooting for them and they win, you should feel some reward. However, I do think the quality of the reward may differ.
If you’re a moderate NBA fan and your team is, say, Orlando, and they get bumped out of the playoffs early, but you still want to root for a team, you “adopt” a team. You don’t like any of the remaining teams in the East, you don’t like the remaining teams in the West, you never got to watch much of Portland as you’re in the complete opposite corner of the nation and they’re new and exciting, so you decide to take this plucky young Portland squad as yours. So this is your horse for the playoffs, they end up winning, and you feel satisfied. Maybe this is your new favorite Western Conference team, the team you root for when your beloved Magic are out. You still feel that “YES!” when they win.
If you’re a slight sports fan and always watch championships and not much else and Portland and Detroit make the Finals, and you hate Detroit (for obvious reasons) so you root for the Blazers, and they win, you feel some reward. Even if it’s the reward of seeing the Pistons lose, the Blazers gave that reward to you.
If you’re a long-term fan, someone who has devoted years, decades even, of time and energy and money and fandom and love and passion for this team and suffered through so many close calls and being second best and coming up just short and getting to the Finals at the absolute wrong time (MJ in his prime) and watching 15-point 4th quarter leads get blown and going through the Dark Years and you’ve lost sleep and been depressed for weeks and broken remote controls by throwing them at the wall after heart-wrenching losses (I’ve never done this, but would totally understand if anyone has) and felt like you did that one time in high school when your girlfriend dumped you so you didn’t want to wake up for days and you’ve felt torn about your relationship with this team because you love it so much and it makes you excited and happy and giddy but usually ends up not giving you that taste of ultimate victory… if that’s you, a championship might just be slightly more rewarding than the guy from the other two options.
I’d guess that most of the people in this forum are in that 3rd category. Even if you haven’t spent that much time as a fan, if your heart’s in it that way, if you truly are high on the ups and low on the downs, if when the day comes that this team finally captures that elusive championship and it goes down as one of your Top Ten Greatest Days of your Life, you might as well have spent a lifetime as a fan.
It will easily be one of my Top Ten Greatest Days of my Life.
Ba da da da dah... I'm BEdgin' it!
by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Aug 1, 2008 12:07 PM PDT reply actions
That sums it up superbly
See the post above and you will see that I have been a Blazer fan (and Raiders fan) since 77. That being said…while I have strong fondness for that magical 77 team…...I freakin’ loved the 90-93 teams. Why? Precisely because I had invested 13 years to my fandom at that point (imagine if they had actually won one of those finals). This current team is gonna make my dreams come true (or break my heart), but I promise you the feeling will be even stronger because of the 30+ years of fandom acumulated.
PS I became a Raiders fan because I was tired of seeing the Steelers win everything and bet this other kid $5 the Raiders would beat the Steelers in the playoffs (AFC title game I think) and they did and went on to win the Superbowl. So I guess that it can be said that my fandom has 4 championships.
Homer: "Oh no!! A Bear is eating my father!." (On seeing Selma kissing Grampa)
by 92wastheyear on Aug 1, 2008 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions
B-Roy bandwagoneer
I was at UW (go ahead and boo) while he was there. Was a huge fan. East coaster now, but when he got drafted by Portland, I started watching. Haven’t stopped. Before then I was just a college ball fan.
I mostly lurk here except for the jersey contests, and I only get to go to one game a year (saw that stinker in DC last year), but I think I’m a pretty decent fan.
Well, since you asked
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Jerryd Bayless has two emotions: Kill and Win.
"I think it’s going to be very beautiful game next year."
-Nicolas Batum
by rockingharder on Aug 1, 2008 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions
going to school with
and following a star before and during his tenure on a team makes you a lagitamate fan of said team.
"If I was in anyway unclear(,) I am implying that Dave is a serial murder(er)."
---jonestr on Aug 3, 2008 12:25 AM PDT
Good Read
I was a Lakers fan until I my beloved team had their butt handed to them in the playoffs by the Celtics this year. I saw what Jerryd Bayless was doing in the summer league and I thought, “Man, when they add that guy to Roy, Aldridge, Outlaw, and Oden, they’re going to be unbeatable.” I decided right then and there, that I was was going to be a Blazers fan, so that I could say that I was a fan of the team before they were good. I’m going to ride this bandwagon of into the sunset.
+1
I’m really more a fan of the summer league club than the actual Blazers. They should have their own name and blog so I can make my alliegances more readily apparent. The Baby Blazers? That could be misconstrued. We’ll come up with something.
Along these lines, I am not acknowledging Nate as the head coach this year. Make no mistake, the train stops with Monty.
Bayless isn't the second coming of Jordan.
Jordan was the first coming of Bayless.
After what happened to the Baby Bulls
maybe the “Baby Penguins” would be better?
Aldridge said. "We feel like we can beat any team. We feel like we can beat the Spurs, Suns, Lakers, Mavericks, whoever any night right now, and we'll still be here when those teams get old and their guys retire. We're going to be here for a long time."
The sunsets
In West Maui are average but my people there are from OR and they get all the games.
by southern oregon on Aug 1, 2008 5:10 PM PDT up reply actions
King of the wild frontier
Homer: "Oh no!! A Bear is eating my father!." (On seeing Selma kissing Grampa)
What did you eat and why are you so adamant about it?
"Besides, AnntheFan will be here any minute to #25 you." T Darkstar
Bear meat
Is greasy and i dont really care for it.
by southern oregon on Aug 1, 2008 8:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Kilt myself a bar, when I was 57 (I didn't shoot straight at 3),
and again when I was 59.
Not greasy at all. Delicious. Depends totally on what they’ve been eating. These two were on berries and roots. If they eat carrion they’re bad. If they’ve been eating fish, they’re inedible. But oops, I think I’m off subject here. Damn Tom will do it to you every time.
I remember telling him how impressed I was with a player during summer league. In Avery's unique voice, he replied, "Marc, it's summer league." I
Actually, I'm referring to Mr. inHawaii's signature.
"Besides, AnntheFan will be here any minute to #25 you." T Darkstar
I'm so bad that if there was a chance in 851212
that such a thing existed and I might inflict gout upon it I’d go off topic anyway. Would an angel be subject to gout? I thought they were exempt from that kind of thing once they passed Pete’s gate.
Instigator! Now look what you’ve done. Bunches of old hymns are rattling away in my mind right now. I could write a parody but I wouldn’t want to get banned.
"Besides, AnntheFan will be here any minute to #25 you." T Darkstar
I just had an idea
I should start tracking the stat of comments from comments. I’ll start my own webpage called Blazer’s Edge Outsiders.
- Tom
Grist for the TiH desk calendar.
"Besides, AnntheFan will be here any minute to #25 you." T Darkstar
Similar story to lukeyhere
I started following the team in the 99-00 playoffs, which is what really got me into basketball and made me a Blazer fan for a few years (needless to say, I got my solid dose of Laker hatred). But as the Blazers started to get arrested and fall apart completely, I followed the Kings for a few seasons, while they had that fun Bibby/Webber team to watch and were rivals with the Lakers (that WCF didn’t turn out so well either). I kept up with the Blazers too during that time, but wasn’t really a big fan. However, I’m happy that I returned to Blazer fandom during the absolute worst season of the Blazers’ decline (05-06 I believe) rather than bandwagoning when fortune turned. I saw that things were changing despite the losses and we were rebuilding, so that was enough to come back. And sure enough, the rebuilding happened quicker and better than anyone could have imagined. The rise in the past few seasons has been exciting to watch. Having missed out on any real Blazer success, besides at the very beginning when I didn’t know enough to appreciate it, I can’t wait to watch the string of playoff runs up ahead.
I'm unabashedly post-Oden
But not post-.500. I rooted for the Bs this year even with GO on the sideline. Only I rooted for them to develop their young guys, and do well… but not too well. Because I wanted to save the dramatic transformation phase for Oden. It was an internal conflict. I found it conflicting. I was conflicted.
Also, I wanted one more decent draft pick to fill things out. Things worked out pretty well.
As an aside, Oden is not only living in my apartment building this summer in Columbus, but he’s on the same floor as me. Pretty crazy. I haven’t actually seen him, but my roommate was in the elevator with him (before we had any clue he was in the building) and was absolutely blown away by how big the guy is up close.
Bayless isn't the second coming of Jordan.
Jordan was the first coming of Bayless.
fourth quarter of game 7 vs L@
I couldn’t stand watching basketball till about 10 years ago. I very peripherally followed the Blazers, since I lived here, but always more interested in playing pick-up ball than being a fan. I happened to watch the abhorred game seven of the western conference finals, when we lost to the L@kers. Stunning. Ever since then I’ve considered myself a fan, and ever since then L@ has been at the top of my nemesis list. Quite a low water mark to come in on, and the next 5 years weren’t much better, but quite delighted to be riding this swell of dedication, enthusiasm, and cohesiveness that marks the current Blazers team, franchise, and fan base. First post, although I’ve been reading this site for months now. Thanks for all the insights, everybody.
welcome
post more often
"If I was in anyway unclear(,) I am implying that Dave is a serial murder(er)."
---jonestr on Aug 3, 2008 12:25 AM PDT
Post more often... or there will be consequences :)
You can´t come, post and go away, man, now you, Lookup, are a Bedger, a good one it seems, and we don´t let good Bedgers go away.
By the way, I miss BlazerOrBust.
The Midnight Rambler
yeah huh
bob, wared ya go bob? was it my spelling? i can change, i promise
"If I was in anyway unclear(,) I am implying that Dave is a serial murder(er)."
---jonestr on Aug 3, 2008 12:25 AM PDT
You wouldn't be our beloved Amlmart without the charming Spanish touch.
"Besides, AnntheFan will be here any minute to #25 you." T Darkstar
i want to learn spanish
"If I was in anyway unclear(,) I am implying that Dave is a serial murder(er)."
---jonestr on Aug 3, 2008 12:25 AM PDT
Shouldn't you learn english 1st?
Za-Zing!!!
Homer: "Oh no!! A Bear is eating my father!." (On seeing Selma kissing Grampa)
by 92wastheyear on Aug 3, 2008 3:35 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
that was seriously funny
well played, sir, well played
"If I was in anyway unclear(,) I am implying that Dave is a serial murder(er)."
---jonestr on Aug 3, 2008 12:25 AM PDT
pedantry alert
Kobe scored 81 not 82.
I was a Blazers fan from 88’-93’ .. Then I discovered drugs…....then I became a fan again in 01’ minus the drugs.
that is embarrassing but that is how things go
Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.
Dang...you missed the good part of the Jailblazer era
Drugs are bad for you
Homer: "Oh no!! A Bear is eating my father!." (On seeing Selma kissing Grampa)
yeah
I remember hearing the JR Rider lynching comment and the Rasheed and Damon driving incident. I did catch some prime time QWoods though.
If you think about I was an even bigger fan than most during the late 90s as I was living a lifestyle (minus the money) close to that of the players.
Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.
Yeh but the winning was really over by
2001 is all
Homer: "Oh no!! A Bear is eating my father!." (On seeing Selma kissing Grampa)
true that
but it is always pretty fun being a fan. One thing you could say about them Blazers is there was always something to talk about and I like that.
Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.
True
I was going to a lot of games after I moved up here in 2001…so I wasn’t one the ones voting with my checkbook…however….I was pretty fed up with Sheed by the time he left. I got tired of the most talented guy on the team wanting to be a role player. That is why I have a soft spot for Zach…...for all his faults….he wanted to be the man…take the last shot and get his sorry butt down on the block (I am glad he is gone though and love where the team is now)
Homer: "Oh no!! A Bear is eating my father!." (On seeing Selma kissing Grampa)
Jailblazers all the way
A group of guys who have affected my worldview and my philosophy for my entire life.
Jail Blazers topic is old old as your underwear and twice as crusty
Im assuming for some reason you mean we have all learned the lesson of character over talent.
Dont smile half the time bro. We Smile all the time here.
"Meow" --- My cat Bonzi suggesting my money would be better spent on albacore then a couple months of mindless TV from COMCAST.... at least until the season starts.
Slightly OT
I lived near LA when Kobe scored 81. I found out about a year later that somebody I knew was at the game. When he was telling me about it, it made me jealous. I wished I could have been there to see it myself, even though it was the evil Lkers. Looking back even more, it’s probably better that I wasn’t there as I would have been rooting against the Lkers and Kobe scoring 81 would have probably been gut wrenching in the moment. It’s funny how fandom can be some times.
Hopefully someday I can witness something similar from the Blazers.
Oh, something like Blazers 128-Lakers 24.
At LA, of course, because their pain it´s more important than our pleasure :)
The Midnight Rambler
roys little jordan-esk move would have been sweet to be courtside for
"If I was in anyway unclear(,) I am implying that Dave is a serial murder(er)."
---jonestr on Aug 3, 2008 12:25 AM PDT
I like 12Sharks
So, he’s allowed to be a Blazer fan. It’ll be reviewed and determined on a case by case basis.
ACTUALLY, I’m all for everyone loving and following the Bee-Lazers. The fact we can even DISCUSS potential ‘bandwagon fans’ shows we got a GOOD TEAM. You want to have bandwagon fans because it means you have a team worth a spit.
People will follow the team for various reasons. I understand people turning away for a bit during the dark years, as there wasn’t really much to be gained by still following the team. Of course, I stuck through it, and feel rewarded for what we’re gonna get to experience now. I don’t know if I’ll enjoy it ‘more’, but I’ll enjoy it nonetheless and I do not mind ANYONE enjoying it as well.
Bein’ all uppity and restricting ‘true fan status’ to only those who, for whatever reason, happened to follow the team while the team was awful is arbitrary. Everyone came to the team originally through one way or another. If the team sucked in the early ‘90s, would a lot of us be so faithful all these years? Either being lucky and being from Portland, jumping on because Drexler and Friends were awesome, loving the bad-boy ne’erdowells of the Jail Blazer years, whatever.
People are SMART to start following and rooting the team on now, because we’re right on the cusp of greatness. We got a lot of players that regular fans will be attracted to and want to cheer for. We should encourage that at every level of our future success.
Winning doesn’t always get bandwagoneers—anyone ever meet a bandwagon fan of the SPURS, for example? It’s nice to have a team other fans want to cheer for.
Mortimer
Old School Blazer fan
I’ve been a Blazer fan since75/76 the year before the championship. And have been riding the bandwagon all thou the peaks and valleys. And had to hang on tight in some of those years. But the Love I have for the Blazers has always kept on the wagon.
post-introduction-to-blazersedge blazers fan
I have been a blazers fan ever since I stumbled across this webpage in around june of last year after a google search trying to find info about the oden vs durant debate. I cant remember the particular article I read, but I do remember being extremely impressed with the quality of writing I was presented with. Not just from Dave, but even in the comments section, which is unheard of for a blog. I kept reading more and more and found myself checking the site more and more frequently, and all of a sudden I found myself caring about how some guy named “fernandez” was staying another season in spain, “trout” was re-signing with the team and so many other issues from brandon roy’s heal to the heartbreaker which was oden’s knee. Before I knew it I was checking the blazers box scores even before I looked at the raptors ones (my previous favorite team) and I havent looked back since. I even recently looked at a job opening in portland just due to the thought of purchasing season tickets!
Im not sure where that puts me as a blazers fan, but Im getting there. I think this website has even more pull than some people realize!
by danevan on Aug 2, 2008 7:58 PM PDT reply actions 3 recs
Wow....just wow
I am sure Ben and Dave really dig that they have converted a new fan to the fold based on seeing the site…(not the team 1st, then the site which is the usual way). Real cool
Homer: "Oh no!! A Bear is eating my father!." (On seeing Selma kissing Grampa)
Me too...
“I have been a blazers fan ever since I stumbled across this webpage in around”... February of
this “year after a google search trying to find info about”... Rudy. “I cant remember the particular article I read, but I do remember being extremely impressed with the quality of writing I was presented with.” “I think this website has even more pull than some people realize!”
That is.
The Midnight Rambler
As far as pedigree there are few stronger
but I don’t deserve the Blazer Championship. Having invested in 4 pretty great season tickets for over 30 years my financial support deserved 30 years of watching basketball in MC and RG. Nothing more. It was entertainment. The greatest delight I have in the current team is the delight of re-awaking the former civic sense of community formed around the team. It does not mean I am not hoping for a championship. Of course I am. But I don’t deserve it anymore than the Utah fans deserve it or the Minnesota fans deserve it or a number of other teams’ fans who have never won a championship,
So I embrace everyone equally and throw statistical arguments at young and old alike! Beware!
Aldridge said. "We feel like we can beat any team. We feel like we can beat the Spurs, Suns, Lakers, Mavericks, whoever any night right now, and we'll still be here when those teams get old and their guys retire. We're going to be here for a long time."
Since the founding of the franchise, I have been a fan.
I remember going over the list of players the Blazers drafted in the expansion draft from the established teams. I believe they were able to protect 8 and then there were limits of how many players they could lose to the Blazers or Cleveland who also started in 1970. Danny Manning’s father was a Blazer selected from that list. My friends and I thought there were several very good players selected by Portland. We over estimated those guys but they did better than other franchises in their first year. Petrie was co-rookie of the year and a fantastic shooter.
I have been a fan ever since. I did suffer through the Whitsett years and the unbelieveable dismanteling of the team that lost to LA after leading by 15 in the 4th qtr of game 7. I am very happy with our present roster and see great things ahead. I plan to stay on the Blazer bandwagon as long as I follow sports.
Stu Inman: a soft-spoken, witty and brilliant basketball guy -- who had so much to do with Portland's only championship. He believed that you won with not just great players, but with great people. (D Jaynes 2-2-07 Portland Tribune)
>> I've only been following the Blazers for - get ready for it - a little over a year. Is that so bad?
No.
"He shoots....................... he scores!!!"
yeah,
about the same for me too. I was at the game that trout dropped 18 freethrows. I didnt really watch lma that much. it was toward the end of the season of roy and aldridge that I went to my first game.
"If I was in anyway unclear(,) I am implying that Dave is a serial murder(er)."
---jonestr on Aug 3, 2008 12:25 AM PDT
i wasnt even there for the 06 draft
"If I was in anyway unclear(,) I am implying that Dave is a serial murder(er)."
---jonestr on Aug 3, 2008 12:25 AM PDT
Watch it buddy
No problem with the hopping on board part, more people to celebrate with when the time comes, or giving someone a knowing nod when you see them on the street with matching insignias. However…...
PLEASE watch your use of the word L*kers. Please, never ever try to put me in the shoes of a supporter of the dark army. Don’t ask me what qualifies as an acceptable fan there, there is no such thing. Be very cautious when you bring that subject up, and try and avoid trashing this site with that kind of stuff. The Celtics could have been a fairly good example without saying some of the things that made me shudder while reading your post.
If..
you’re offended by the Los Angeles franchise, the team, its fans (ughh, I agree on that one) and even the word Lakers, then you must be offended by real life, no? These things exist, whether you defame their moniker with random punctuation marks or not. If I were to call things R@pe or H*locaust or 3!nman77 doesn’t mean they go away, cease to exist or don’t effect myself or others. They’re real and to call them by anything other than their name only adds legitimacy to their association and detracts from the speaker’s standing.
Children and would-be hackers skew the language to inflate their self-importance, rectify their fears or communicate with likely-concerned brethren, but that does not negate the fact that the Lakers do, in fact, exist and do, in fact, thrive. Game 7s and 81-point games included. Wouldn’t it be best to accept these uncomfortable realities at face value and move on? Wouldn’t it be healthier to let go your petty hatred and acknowledge the fact that there is, after all, a 30th team in this league that comes from Los Angeles and isn’t named the Clippers? Wouldn’t love and respect be preferable over time-consuming nit-picking (after all, adding asterisks and so on must take some time)?
Can’t we all just get along?
p.s. Also, curiously, Firefox says “Lakers” is a misspelled word. That’s pretty funny, if you ask me.
"Well, Travis just showed us that we can go to Travis Outlaw." - Nate McMillan
Hmmm.
I see it as an insult to the Fakers and everything they stand for not to call them by the name they call themselves, that’s a time honored american tradition. In this case, I think you’re making a huge jump to compare playing with the name of a rival sports team to the holocaust or rape but I understand your point of view. I’ll continue to mangle their name, however. Fail Clankers!
"Besides, AnntheFan will be here any minute to #25 you." T Darkstar
If you re-read my comment you’ll see I wasn’t comparing intentionally misspelling “Lakers” to rape or the holocaust, I was saying that calling things by another name doesn’t mean they go away. In fact, considering your less-than-loving feelings towards the Lakers, I’d assume you were happy they were lumped in the same category!
Also, of course, including einman77 in that list was a joke.
"Well, Travis just showed us that we can go to Travis Outlaw." - Nate McMillan
I should have said
In this case, I think you’re making a huge jump to compare playing with the spelling of the name of a rival sports team to intentionally mispelling holocaust or rape.
Also, I have to respond to this quote from your post:
“In fact, considering your less-than-loving feelings towards the Lakers, I’d assume you were happy they were lumped in the same category!”, meaning the “catagories” of rape and the holocaust, I suppose.
I think it would be best if you don’t assume things about me.
Fail Flakers.
"Besides, AnntheFan will be here any minute to #25 you." T Darkstar
Oh jeez..
Huge jump or not, that’s still not the comparison I was making. In fact, I wasn’t comparing anything at all – I was providing examples (albeit extreme ones) of the futility of name-calling and its manifestations manifold. I could have as easily said calling a vegetable “bru**el $prouts” doesn’t mean they taste any different. “A rose by any other name” type of thing.
I won’t make assumptions about you in the future, promise, but your obvious hatred of the Los Angeles Lakers and their respective culture seemed to lend itself to the comment I made. In a “ha ha, they’re as bad as cancer or the holocaust” sense or whatever. If you took offense, I think you were missing the sarcasm there. But, apologies, anyway.
"Well, Travis just showed us that we can go to Travis Outlaw." - Nate McMillan
I probably got up on the wrong side of the bed
and accidentally turned off my sarcasm detector.
"Besides, AnntheFan will be here any minute to #25 you." T Darkstar
Totally
I forgot to mention that you’re one of my favorite comment-writers here and wouldn’t have extended the olive branch so much if it wasn’t the honorable AnntheFan whose feathers were ruffled.
Peace in the Middle East and BEdge..
"Well, Travis just showed us that we can go to Travis Outlaw." - Nate McMillan
Bedgy Buddies forever.
You’re also one of my favorites. I always make a point of reading your comments and fan posts.
"Besides, AnntheFan will be here any minute to #25 you." T Darkstar
He just threatened you
with the O-live stick!!! Run!!
"There something going on with that Skipper. No one gets that fat eating coconuts"
i think we mostly do it (l*krs) cause its fun
and we all kinda bond it that respect. not really a big deal, i guess we could all change to YOUR liking if its really that important. but then again we DO kinda have fun with it, is that ok with you?
"If I was in anyway unclear, I am implying that Dave is a serial murderer."
---jonestr on Aug 3, 2008 12:25 AM PDT
Email Dave,
--- Mortimer --- for Blazers Edge Ambassador to the SBNations
Nope
I like the Blazers and therefore must maintain constant vigilance to ensure that all Blazer fans share my priorities and opinions. If you step out of line, I will let you know in a way that will be clear that you’ve been told.
"Well, Travis just showed us that we can go to Travis Outlaw." - Nate McMillan
Anybody can enjoy a Blazer championship
But I happen to think that those of us who have been fans for a long period of time will enjoy it more….
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