Why are YOU a Blazer fan?
by kajuayn on Nov 17, 2009 7:00 PM PST
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PrintSo in the 9 years I have been a Portland Trailblazer fan, I have longed to have a a group of people to share my passion. It was not often I found other Blazer fans, since I lived in the Bay Area (Northern Cali-FOOOOOOOYA if you didn't know). For this, I am extremely grateful to have stumbled upon Blazersedge. I thank all of you for the contributions that collectively make this such a great site. I appreciate the links, the debate, the insight, and our two outstanding moderators.
I created this Post after RenoBlazerFan asked me how I became a Blazer fan, in my other post titled "A live Spectator's Perspective ATL vs POR", without any ties to Portland. This made me think...I'd like to know how other people came to be Blazer fans that have little or no ties to the Portland area, or greater Northwest. That is why I created this FanPost. I think it would be an interesting discussion to hear some of the bizarre stories that created lifelong, diehard, fans. Therefore, after the jump, I will divulge how I became a Blazer fan and everything that follows.
I moved to the Bay from St. Louis Missouri, where I was a huge soccer fan. I hate basketball because I thought it was too easy to score. I always felt like they scored 100 plus points because there was no strategy, you simply scored. So I remained adamant that soccer was the superior sport. Whenever we played during PE, I HATED it so much.
Then...
I moved to the Bay where there is simply not enough room to play soccer during recess. At my middle school, our playground was on the roof. With 4 grades playing at any given time there was not enough space to play soccer. Also, If you kicked ball over the fence, it was likely gone, since we were on a HUGE hill...the bay is like that. So, my friends indoctrinated me, the new kid, into the world of basketball. Granted I SUCKED, i played to get along with my new classmates. As the school year passed I really grew no new affinity to the sport.
After spending the entire year playing basketball, I still didn't embrace it the way I do now. Then, that June, I was at visiting my Uncles house down the Peninsula. While it was a sad event (he had cancer) a lot of my family was there to see him. This was right during the tragic Western Conference Finals we ALL remember. I had to watch since the only tv was occupied and no one my age was there (I had no cell phone etc to fall back on). So, I watched. My family was all rooting for the blazers, many of them hated the Lakers (stemming from the Nor Cal vs SoCal rivaly). I was enamored by the intensity and passion of the players on the screen AND my family members. Portland won that game but, as we know, lost the series. Ever since I was a vicarious citizen of Rip CIty.
While in middle school, my "upper school", 5th through 8th grade, head was a diehard blazer fan. I'm not sure how he became a fan, but he was the only true fan I knew. My best friend was a fan, but more because they were RAW in video games. My upper school head and i discussed the team, though my understanding was limited as a new basketball fan.
When I graduated to Highschool, my friends all thought I was crazy, being a Blazer fan...They SUCKED. My teammates (I was a 3 year varsity bball player . By now I spent all my free time playing and had improved SIGNIFICANTLY) lambasted me for my choice. They were all Warriors fans or something (not much better, but at least the home team). It was hard, but no matter what happened, I was Black and Red through and through. I rooted for every draft pick, watched any game I could and hoped for the best.
My Senior year my coach took me and my co-captain to a preseason game in Sacramento. A blessing...The Kings were playing the BLAAAAAZZERRRRS. That was easily the best experience of my life...we sat COURTSIDE! Even though it was preseason....How can you complain? (That's when I learned Outlaw was slightly pigeon-toed). The Warriors upset the Mavs and the Bay came ALIVE. I still couldn't embrace the movement since I just had a special affinity for PDX. I received even more ridicule for my Blazer love. THEN we won the lottery...Roy took the ROY....NICE. We got GREEEEEEEG OOOOOOOOODEEEEEEEEN!...EXCELLENT. The team was on the come up....We all know what happened after that.
Once I got to college in Georgia, I retained my Blazer Love, but even more removed from the west coast. I somehow stumbled upon different streaming schemes and kept up with any game I could. Slowly, that persistence opened me up to places like RealGM, and finally the illustrious BLAZERSEDGE. Ever since, my love for the team has only doubled. I hope to one day work for the organization or at least have a house in the Portland area. (Of course that includes season tickets as well) It sounds like a great place and I anticipate my first visit.
With that, I invite anyone to tell us their blazer story...perhaps not in as many words as I did...but i'm long winded (I plan to go into politics) so its expected. This is somewhat similar to the competition we had just before the season started, so i apologize if this is redundant.
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So I can get pissed at Outlaw & Blake.
*Unless KP has a secret plan that makes this statement incorrect.
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by staylost on Nov 17, 2009 8:02 PM PST reply actions 5 recs
This needs to be green
Rec’d for awesomeness
I hate Comcast
Card carrying member of Team Bayless
Start Rudy
by blazeraddict on Nov 17, 2009 8:12 PM PST up reply actions
I was raised a Blazer fan by my dad who had season tickets. I have been going to games since elementary school.
I remember he started crying when the Blazers lost to the Pistons in the finals. I cried a little with him. I was already a fan of the team, but that moment transformed my blood to being colored black and red…much cooler than just red.
My dad has since passed away, and that makes the Blazers even more special to me.
by dario argento on Nov 17, 2009 8:20 PM PST up reply actions
I feel that.
Sorry to hear about your father. But now its like an everlasting memory.
GREEEEEEEEEEEEEEG OOOOOOOOOOOOOODEEEEEEEEEN
Because I grew up in Portland.
No other reason, really. If I grew up in any other NBA town, I’d be a fan of that team.
"Ain't nothin' in this world for free."
But the Blazers are far
superior to “that” team…and dont u forget it
GREEEEEEEEEEEEEEG OOOOOOOOOOOOOODEEEEEEEEEN
Nice post kajuayn....I was just wondering.
For the record, I moved to Reno about a year and a half ago from Portland, after living there my whole life.
I am an oasis of Blazer fandom in a bleak desert of Laker fans.
by RenoBlazerFan on Nov 17, 2009 8:41 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
I feel it
Why Reno? I went there once for a Bball tournament…didn’t seem too enticing…no offense.
GREEEEEEEEEEEEEEG OOOOOOOOOOOOOODEEEEEEEEEN
Work, mostly.
And Portland is a much better place to live. I’ll be back there one of these days.
I am an oasis of Blazer fandom in a bleak desert of Laker fans.
by RenoBlazerFan on Nov 17, 2009 10:28 PM PST up reply actions
rec for the avatar
GREEEEEEEEEEEEEEG OOOOOOOOOOOOOODEEEEEEEEEN
I grew up here
And this team has always been a part of my life. Yet, I would say its a combination of hundreds of Schonz games on the radio, the camaraderie of the fans and players and the fact that they are OUR team. They are not a normal team, they are ours.
This city is a happier place to be when we are winning, everyone, even non-fans seems more hopeful and joyful.
As the intro video says, THIS IS MY TEAM!
"Good evening Blazer fans, wherever you may be!"-Bill Schonely
Same here..
Born in Vancouver, raised the metropolis of La Center, the Blazers were always in my sports world. One of my first memories was of my family watching the championship game in June 1977. I even remember some of the commercials from that broadcast..
When I couldn’t get to games, there was always Schonz to paint a picture in my mind. Like many others, if the game was on TV, we’d listen to him along with the TV volume down.
born in portland
raised in the Couve. Thats pretty much it
bayless leaves over my dead body
thanks for starting Andre
Bill Schonley
"OK, it's going to rain tomorrow. And there is going to be a Greenpeace meeting and hippies are going to be protesting" ~ The Buffet of Goodness on Portland
Watching the games w/ my late auntie
When we first immigrated to this country in the early 80’s my aunt had a hard time adjusting to American culture. Hardly spoke any English. But she was the biggest Blazer fan I ever knew. I’m talking about a 62yr old Cambodian lady who didn’t understand anything about American Pop culture or hardly could speak English. But could name the entire roster of the Drexler-Era Blazers. She was so passionate about Blazer games I remember her cheering so load or yelling so hard at the TV set almost to the point where I almost had to leave the room. She always thought that the refs where paid off by the other teams to make calls against us. I just thought she was nuts, but now as an adult I think she was on to something.
She is no longer w/us but I’ve been a fan mainly due to those childhood memories of watching the games w/her. I’ll always be a fan of this team and could never imagine rooting for any other team.
The magic # is 0!!!
that's awesome
I am an oasis of Blazer fandom in a bleak desert of Laker fans.
by RenoBlazerFan on Nov 17, 2009 10:29 PM PST up reply actions
beautiful, nuggz503!
Memories, family, sharing love .. really beautiful. Thanks – jayfisher
I became a fan during the playoffs in 1977.
I had grown up in L.A., been a Laker, Bruin, and Dodger fan for most of my adolescent years. At the end of the 60s I discovered pot and psychedelics, and a whole new perspective on life. After following many hippie trails, I eventually moved to Oregon in the “Back to the Land” movement. During these years I totally blocked out sports. It was a rejection of many things (competition, capitalism, empty and meaningless fandom, idol worship, etc.).
Then, a peculiar thing happened all across Oregon. There was a team that had leaders that personified our movement. Their coach had long hair and plaid pants. Their star was a deadhead, had long hair, was a vegetarian, had liberal politics. His best friend on the team was a black man, who became a vegetarian, too. About half the team sported beards or mustaches. they were rebels. But more than anything, they were the epitome of team. Team was one concept that the hippie culture valued at the top of the list. Blazermania was born. Then, this team dominated.
I was reborn back into the world of sports. I started playing softball, with a whole new, reawakened understanding of team. (I love how the Europeans say they are “in the team”, rather than “on the team”.
This experience served to ground me, my head no longer in the clouds, reality not so bad, acceptance that not everything needed to be rebelled against. All of this change would have occured anyway, just by growing up, having a family, accepting responsibility, but the 77,78 Blazers really did serve as my catalyst.
I continued to be a fan, during all of the ups (Drexler years) and downs (Jail Blazers) and the in betweens. I got one of the first big satellite dishes, when everything was in the clear and free. From rejection of and not owning a TV to having everything, and every game, on TV. I got NBA League Pass the first year it was available, and watched every Blazer game that I could.
Now, no Blazer games available on Dish except national or Eugene feeds. Even our local ESPN radio affiliate broadcasts local high school games instead of the Blazers if there is a conflict. These seem to be major irritants in my life now. i am angry about this. I think I have gone too far with this fandom. I think it has become too important in my life. I’m at work reading, typing, meandering. Maybe there is something more important to be spending so much of my energies on. Maybe there is something more important to spend so much time reading about. You think?
I moved here from Ohio
and sports was a big part of my Ohio roots, but I was more attached to first baseball, then football. I had a love/hate relationship with the Cavs, because if they got to the playoffs, that meant that my family would watch basketball instead of the Cleveland Indians (1980’s & early 90s version, where a 70 win season was an accomplishment).
Anyway, I already had buddies here when I moved to Portland who were Blazer nuts, and since I loved sports so much, I started watching and going to the game. I started to really appreciate basketball, even though the team was nuts at the time (when I first started to get into the Blazers, Jeff McInnis was one of my favorites), and I’ve grown with the team. I didn’t even feel like I was betraying the Cavs, because 1) the Cavs have been consistently better since I’ve been here, so I’m not just band-wagon jumping, and 2) they were the Cleveland team I was least attached to, and had the least history with, anyway.
If you ever hear of someone punching out a girl scout and stealing her Samoas, it was me
- Mortimer
by Clevelander among roses on Nov 17, 2009 11:57 PM PST reply actions
I always wanted to be a fan but hated Schonely
Once they kicked him to the curb in 1998, I fully embraced the Blazers. I almost became a Lakers fan in when they brought him back in 2003, but then I figured that since I stopped vomiting when I heard, “BOOM-CHAKA-LAKA,” that I could also inhibit my gag reflex when I heard, “Bingo Bango Bongo.”
I just puked a little in my mouth reading both those horrible catch phrases in one sentence.
2 out of his 6 catch phrases are good
But I don’t know if we can count, “You’ve got to make your free throws” as a catch phrase. Everyone says that.
I got real tired of him at the end too ...
I think I’d just listened to him too many times.
Rip City
You gotta make your free throws
Bingo Bango Bongo
Nobody every said it would be easy
crossing the Cyclops at mid court
climbing the golden ladder for the rebound
How many did I leave out?
I was a blazer fan despite Schonley (although I did like him early on)
I actually liked Eddie Doucette even though he was lacking a deep resonant broadcaster’s voice.
If this Blazer team doesn't light your fire then your wood is wet
I'm mostly kidding
I heard him at the end where he just sounded kind of crazy and confused. I respect what he did back in the day.
You missed: Lickety brindle up the middle, Moving left to right on your radio dial, & ocean to ocean.
I only understand a few of them. I’m surprised he didn’t make hoop and stick references.
I love that one
There’s an old man who has season tickets down here at OSU just behind the student section. Every single missed free throw without fail you can hear him from behind you “you’ve gotta make your foul shots.”
Things happen for a reason they say, but I say there's a reason things happen.
Dad had season tix through his business, got to go to a couple games each year including Finals 1990
The atmosphere hooked me. It was a little different back then though. They only had one set of strippers and they were much classier than the ones now. The music was only loud enough to cause your ears to hurt, not to bleed openly. And the entertainment during breaks was far more subtle. It was still a circus, but a tamer circus.
I rarely go to games anymore, but I avidly watch them on TV. And I’ve been a fan ever since those early days at the Glass Palace. I even watched passively through the Jailblazers era.
Blazer Fan
I'm a Blazers fan because of my Gramps
He was a very big basketball fan and really knew how to play. He taught me how to play basketball. I was born in Beaverton but moved down to El Paso, Texas after just 6 months. My dad taught at UTEP (University of Texas, El Paso…formerly known as Texas Western in which the movie Glory Road depicted) so basketball was still a fairly big topic. My gramps would always watch basketball and try to watch as many Blazers games as he could on TV down in Texas. He told me that if I wanted to be good at basketball, I would need to play the right way and that the Blazers played the right way. He was more so just a fan of good basketball more than anything, but the Blazers were just the best at it.
Then we moved to Vancouver, WA in 1997 and we were able to watch a lot of Blazers game on TV. As he was able to watch a lot more Blazers games than before, he told me that there was something fishy with the refs and that there is no way that corruption wasn’t involved. Lo and behold, the 2000 WCF. He wasn’t upset about it though, which surprised me. He was expecting it to happen. Since then, I moved to Shanghai in 2001 and the Jail Blazers (that couldn’t win) began.
When I returned to Vancouver, WA in 2005, I was disappointed that the Blazers didn’t play the right way anymore. My gramps passed away the summer of 2006, right before the draft. My sister and I were watching the draft in 2006 since Brandon Roy would be drafted—she was attending UW and we are big fans of Roy. I said that it would be pretty awesome for the Blazers if we drafted Roy with the 4th pick since I figured Roy would be picked around there. Then we drafted Tyrus Thomas…I was quite disappointed and thought the downward spiral of the franchise would continue. When we traded to get Aldridge though, I felt a little better because of my Texas background. And when we finally traded for Roy, I knew that the Blazers would finally become special again and I would never doubt Pritchard again.
A lot of you guys may not agree, but I like Nate as a coach. Sure his rotations can get better, but his philosophy is hard to argue with—especially since he always emphasized that he wants the team to play the right way—which reminds me of my gramps.
He would have liked this Blazers team a lot and would have loved Nate as a coach since he has always respected him as a player.
And that’s why I’m a Blazers fan.
"There are a few teams you have to watch out for in the fourth quarter."
"Yeah, but Portland definitely is not one of them."
-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters at the end of the third quarter with the Hornets leading 74-59. Portland later ends up winning 97-89.
"They don't mind him shooting that shot at all. Rudy Fernandez is not that great of a 3pt shooter."
-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters right after a Rudy Fernandez missed 3pter. Rudy Fernandez finished the game with three 3pters on six attempts.
Becuase I'd suck to be a L*ker fan. ..... just ask timbo. (he's gonna lie to ya though)
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out, burns out farms, and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
pretty deep...
-respect
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out, burns out farms, and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
Great story!
I missed it the first time around…
I'm a Blazers fan because of Blazersedge.
I was practising my poor broken English in the internet in Feb-2008 when I was hooked by Bedge. I kept myself reading and posting here, and here I am still. At first I was only a Blazersedge fan. I think I became a real Blazers fan time before I could even suspect I was starting to. I realized something had changed in me when I participated in a Blazersedge poetry contest with this one:
The flowers of my garden.
Between the flowers I chose
The white flowering lily,
The mysterious black dahlia,
The Portland red-blood wild rose.
Between these flowers I found
The colors of my heart,
The players for my team,
The letters by my soul.
Between the flowers I went.
Between the flowers I remain.
by amlmart1 on Nov 18, 2009 8:08 AM PST reply actions 3 recs
I'm a Blazer fan because...
I spent some of the best years of my youth living in the great City of Roses. My dad and I would go to games every year and I was hooked at the ripe old age of 8. Nothing, including the Jail Blazer era, would not deny me of loving this team.
I’m now 22 and have since moved to a land far, far away. But fear not, I still proudly fly the colors 2,500 miles east, in the land ruled by King James. Come the 11th of December, I will once again proudly represent the Black and Red and cheer the Blazers to victory!
I will forever devote my fanhood to RIP CITY!
Columbus til I die, Columbus til I die. I know I am, I swear I am, Columbus til I die!
Pretty standard for me . . .
Born and bred in Beaverton. Since I can remember my dad and I would watch blazer games on TV. Being born in ‘86 some of my earliest memories are of watching Clyde, Terry, & co. I was only 5 when they lost the finals in ’92 but I still remember game 6 (and that sickening 4th quarter) vividly as we had a big party for it. I had a brief lapse when Danny Ainge went to the Suns. He was pretty much my idol at the time for whatever reason, and I was too young to know that he was really a Celtic. That only lasted a season or so and it’s Blazers for life now, though the Suns have always remained my “other” team.
Things happen for a reason they say, but I say there's a reason things happen.
You talkin' to me?
You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me? Then who the heck else are you talkin’ to? You talkin’ to me? Well I’m the only one here, unless you’re countin’ the bots. Who the heck do you think you’re talking to?
I never rooted for anybody in my life didn’t have it coming to them. You got that? All I have in this world is my basketballs and my word and I don’t break them for no one.
After they lost, I felt like puttin’ a bullet between the eyes of every panda that wouldn’t make love to save its species. I wanted to open the dump valves on oil tankers and smother all those French beaches I’d never see. I wanted to breathe smoke. I felt like destroyin’ somethin’ beautiful. But just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.
Well analyze this!
Big Time Pro Sports Fan... who else is there?
Having lived in New England for the first 33 years of my life, I pretty much had to become a rabid sports fan. That’s all any guys talk about back there. And, of course, we had the Bruins winning Stanley Cups, the Celts dominating, and well, we had pro football and baseball teams too…
It was pretty tough my first few years in Portland, but being able to follow this current bunch of winners is really a treat. I was fortunate enough to work as a consultant for the Blazers for a couple of years, and then REALLY got hooked… Rented a couple of Blazer Boxes each year, then when they got the #1 pick, the next morning I convinced three other guys to go in on season tix, and here I am…
I'm a Blazer fan...
..because there’s nothing better to be… and I was born one. Of course I was also born a Rams fan in the NFL and remain one today so you gotta question my motives right?..
No band wagon jumping for me!!!
GO BLAZERS!!!.. no matter what
My first memory of the Blazers
Was playing football with my best friend at age 8 in the courtyard of his apartment complex when all the sudden the whole place erupted in cheers. June 5, 1977. I’d moved here from Alaska a few years before and didn’t know much about the Blazers till that day. I jumped on the bandwagon that day.
because i was born in portland but moved across the river but moved to vegas a couple of years ago (which is filled with laker fans.) gotta rep where i came from!
by portlandgiirl91 on Nov 18, 2009 5:58 PM PST reply actions
when i was younger i got into the NBA
during high school i guess, and always enjoyed watching the symmetry and team work of the drexler era teams, my first big disappointment was seeing the blazers win in detroit then lose the championship in portland! i always disliked vinnie johnson after that, although i knew he was a clutch player. omg i just realised that was 20 years or so ago :S
it was that same game. Game 6 of the 2000 WCF
Although it really started in 1992 during the finals. I was a snot nosed 7 year old kid who was the only Michael Jordan fanatic around. I hated the blazers. We had a “blazer” day at Faye Wright Elementary in Salem, and I was the only kid decked out in all Bulls gear. At the time, I didn’t realize the implications, or that it was even the finals. I just knew I was a Jordan/Bulls fan and everyone else loved the blazers. I didn’t know why they loved the blazers so much. All I knew is that I didn’t like them because everyone else didnt like jordan and my bulls. But I was a kid, what the hell did I know?
As I grew older, my love for Michael Jordan never died (and still hasn’t), but a new love was blossoming and taking over the top spot. I had grown weary of the NBA as I knew I would not see MJ in a bulls uniform once the shot on Byron Russell was taken, but that wouldn’t be for long. As I gathered with my Dad and his friends to watch game 6 of the 2000 WCF in front of a 20 inch magnavox tube television, I had no idea what I was in for. I had never been so enamored by the way a team played. The emotion on the players faces, and the energy of the crowd in the RG that night was just undeinable. It was there at that moment that I realized that blazer fans are something special and unlike any other NBA fan. The blazers dicate our entire well being as people, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
After the meltdown in the 4th quarter (after Smitty’s layup to put em up 16 of course) of game 7, I felt personally responsible because of my childhood betrayal. From that moment on I have been dedicated to this team and haven’t looked back since (no matter how ugly it got ).
I want to cry (and usually do) with every loss. I’m ecstatic with every win. I scream and pump my fist with every basket whether I’m 5th row at the RG or in the back room at work hearing Wheels make the call. Honestly. If I were a millionaire, I would follow the team on every road trip and go to all 82 games. I would go to the draft. I would go to summer league for gods sake. Being a blazer fan would be my job that I paid money to do. This is best damn basketball team in the world and I am their biggest fan. period.
Rip City. can't be stopped. twenty-ten.
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