Let me just say right up front, two things:

1.) In the grand scheme of things, what I'm about to post isn't really that important. I know this. Of course, in the GRAND scheme of life and happiness and eternal significance, I'm not sure that NBA basketball is really all that significant, so I guess either way it's a wash. But spare me the "why waste time talking about this" response. If this is a place where devoted fans can break down the cases for and against Steven Hill's beard, I can discuss this.

2.) If enough people can say honestly and clearly that I'm wrong and point to several examples of publicity -- particularly internet publicity --  that they noticed prior to September 15th, then I will eat my humble pie, get off my soapbox, go home and vow to be relentless next September.

Now... having said that... what the heck happened???

Among many talents, I am a singer. I've been singing for most of my thirty-plus years on this earth. I've sung jazz, gospel, and even some opera in college.

I got the privilege to be able to sing the national anthem at the Rose Garden twice... once last season and once the season prior, both during games against the Chicago Bulls. (Even though I'm from Portland, I have tons of friends in Chicago since I lived there for eight years.)

I was hoping to do a third year straight, and I had been searching blogs and doing Google searches and I even called the switchboard asking to find out when the auditions were... and I heard nothing. Nobody could tell me anything. Yet now suddenly the auditions have already taken place.

What's up with that?

The reason why I heard about it in years past was because it was posted on blogs like this one, like the OLive Blog (when Eric Marientette was running it, even before Casey Holdahl) and on Blazers.com. I was planning to make another round of calls this week when I saw the story last night about the auditions.

Did anyone hear about this beforehand? I mean obviously the word got out somehow because people were there, but... was it on the news or something? Was it on the BFT or the MSP on 95.5? Was it on 1080 The Fan? Was there some secret text message society I was supposed to be a part of?

I'm just a little annoyed that I missed out on the opportunity. I had Todd Bosma's email address, but not wanting to look like some desperate fanboy, I refrained from emailing him in the beginning of September. Now I wish I had.

Instead I just sent Todd an email apologizing for missing the audition and asking for consideration since he's seen me before. So far he has yet to respond, and I don't really expect him to.

I'm wondering if they intentionally dialed down the publicity because they didn't want so many auditions?

If so, that kinda sucks. I mean I'm glad others have gotten a chance, but hey... I would have rather auditioned again and done badly then not gotten a chance to audition.

As it was, I was out of town on business Monday, but if I had known ahead of time maybe I could have worked something out with someone in the production staff.

Or maybe not. I don't know, maybe I should just be grateful that I got to do it twice and leave it at that.

But still... I know I can sing. I can sing well. I dig the national anthem, I love being an American, and I love the Trail Blazers. And I'm broke, so getting in doing the anthem is the only way I can ensure seeing at least one game in person without being in the extreme upper deck.

Here's the video, if you don't believe me...

(turn up your volume, the audio feed is only from the mic itself, there is no arena audio.)