Portland has the best fans in the NBA.......

by RipCityRoyCity on Dec 8, 2009 10:37 AM PST

So this is the thought that I had come to after the recent events that have transpired. I believe that we as Trail Blazers fans have the unique opportunity to prove that we really ARE the best fans, not only in the NBA but in all of sports.

Previously when the Trail Blazers have struggled our attendance has sagged, mainly due to the whole metro area being fed up with the "jailblazers". This is different however, This team we can really get behind and I think that is exactly what they need. Call this a rallying cry but I do believe that fans can affect the outcome of a game. Even if we start to dip below that .500 mark we need to spread the word and spread that Blazer love and show up to every game with that same fever pitch level that we have seen over the past year. I don't want us to be one of those teams whose attendance fluxuates with our win/loss record.

I believe that we have the chance to show the nation how much we really care for our team. For better or for worse they are our team, and the only team we have. Lets cheer them on at every game like it is Game 7 of the NBA finals. This goes for all of you displaced Blazers fans as well. Lets continue to show up in mass support on the road as well. I really feel that if we prove the NBA that we are the most loyal fanbase other players will start to notice and we can land those free agents that have eluded us in the past. Lets make Portland the place to be in the NBA regardless of how well our team is doing.

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#52

by DrivetheLane on Dec 8, 2009 10:48 AM PST reply actions

This is a great post

and the guys on this team deseve it. Show some love Bridge City!

Always supporting Greg Oden.

by blazeraddict on Dec 8, 2009 11:33 AM PST reply actions

Rec

Great call. If you’re not behind this team now, when the team needs you as a fan, you have no right to be behind the team when the banners come…

by TCuts on Dec 8, 2009 11:37 AM PST reply actions

I'm doing my best not to think of

“Market-rate pricing” on single game tickets, Comcast Sportsnet, shameless profiteering on the 40 year anniversary, $20 parking, $8 beer

Think of the team, think of the team, think of the team, think of the team…..

ah… all better. I love you, GO!

Two points scored by GO’ = "thunderdunk"

by T$ 225 on Dec 8, 2009 12:56 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

parking is $13, and you will have enough out of your twenty to buy a domestic for $6

Rip City. can't be stopped. twenty-ten.

by BlazinTrails on Dec 8, 2009 11:36 PM PST up reply actions

I asked my friend after we went to the Saturday game

Would you still buy tickets with me next year no matter what?

He said, of course.

"Good evening Blazer fans, wherever you may be!"-Bill Schonely

by skywaker9 on Dec 8, 2009 1:11 PM PST reply actions

I still love my team.

It’s hard to be too terribly PO’d if they don’t make the playoffs…Missing two starters and now two significant role players for significant stretches. This season just wasn’t meant to be.

"Ain't nothin' in this world for free."

by Arby on Dec 8, 2009 1:29 PM PST reply actions

always a blazer

the down times will make the promised land that much sweeter

by goblazers503 on Dec 8, 2009 2:11 PM PST reply actions

True, if we don't support them now

Our contention that our hand was once forced by bad behavior in eras past won’t ring true. We’ll be no different than any other fan base whose support is commensurate with win percentage.

That said, I pledge my support. Blazers, for your part, please come together. Show your grit, your determination, your perseverence, your will. Do that, and Rip City will have your back, win percentage be damned.

by Dunemonkey on Dec 8, 2009 2:14 PM PST reply actions

There is no reason not to still like this team. Watching them lose will be hard

but that’s part of sport.

Sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes the bear eats you.

by raoulduke on Dec 8, 2009 2:20 PM PST reply actions

I like your style, dude.

by Dunemonkey on Dec 8, 2009 2:24 PM PST up reply actions

If the team plays hard, I'll get back on the badnwagon. If they mail it in like they did last night in NY, forget it

There’s a fine line between loyal and naive

Blazer Fan

by leeroyjenkins on Dec 8, 2009 3:19 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

Agreed

Effort leads to fan interest

Lack of effort leads to fans reaching for the remote

If the players don’t play like they care, the fans will quickly take notice. And the coach won’t be around much longer. Sure, it’s a long season and it’s hard or players to be “up” for every game, but everyone should be able hustle for 10 minute stretches. Especially when they’re being well-compensated

I’ve been watching Portland since 1970, so I’m not going anywhere. But I’m also not going to observe a young team that’s “going through the motions” and cheer like the players are busting their tails. Rooting hard for a lack of effort won’t lead to necessary changes, it only serves to “enable” more of the same

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Dec 8, 2009 10:48 PM PST up reply actions

true

Last year they were very fun to watch but this year watching games is boring, not only because a lot of great players are not playing but there’s no movement in offense. Not being American probably helps not being too concerned.

Anyways, the team isn’t done yet and let’s hope the team clics when players come back in february.

by chuky on Dec 9, 2009 7:07 PM PST up reply actions

I got on to post this exact same sentiment

It seriously brings a tear to my eye that it’s the first comment I see. It’s easy being a bandwagon fan when the team is full of youth and potential. But supporting them through struggles is the role of a true fan.

I think Portland has a high percentage of true believers, who cheer and hope with all their hearts, and not just for show. We share in their pain so that we might one day share in their glory.

Don't over think it.
Give Roy the ball.

by mjm6783 on Dec 8, 2009 3:44 PM PST reply actions

Love this post

Blazer morale is down right now, when they come back from this road trip we need to show the guys we’re still in it with them!

by BlazerNationBlog on Dec 8, 2009 4:39 PM PST reply actions

Love it

I have been voting for our Blazers to be at the All Star game since day one guy, including our big Oden. And I will be doing that. Love them forever.

by mymen1 on Dec 8, 2009 5:29 PM PST reply actions

WRECK FOR YOU SIR!!!!

My thoughts exactly.

Oden fan for life

by dario argento on Dec 8, 2009 7:14 PM PST reply actions

We can start by buying tickets for the kids at BE night

And your message is right on – separates the bandwagon folks from the hard core fans a bit to go through adversity.

Remember when we had 1500+ people at the terminal to welcome the team home from a road trip? I cannot travel to do so but there are plenty of able bodies that can express support to the team. I hope it begins to happen again.

"Either way we have two phenomenal units. I'm excited to play with either one." - Martell Webster

by lee3022 on Dec 8, 2009 7:19 PM PST reply actions

The Crowd On Saturday Was Louder Than The Playoffs

I’ve had 100 level 1/4 season tickets the past two years. During the regular season, the folks near me do not cheer or yell “Defense” too loudly. Some, I think, find me annoying for doing so. On Saturday, however, it was very different. After Oden went down, the Garden was pretty silent until the second half. In the middle of the third quarter or so, the crowd started to get into the game. I suspect that everyone knew that Oden was probably gone, the team had lost 3 in a row, and that there was probably going to be very little to cheer about for the rest of the season. Still, the crowd grew louder and louder on each defensive possession, and the Blazers crept back into the game.

It was as though there were no expectations on the team anymore. No one was looking for what was wrong with the team. They were doing what fans should do — cheer the home team to win. No one was looking at how this game fit into the season, how we had to keep pace with the league leaders. All anyone was thinking was “if we ever need to win a game, with all that’s happened to this team it’s tonight!”

By the last minutes of the fourth quarter, the crowd was insanely loud. Those in the 100 and 300 level were desperately trying to win this game for the players on the floor in the only way we could — by volume and steadfast support. When Scola (I think) made the shot that put Houston up with about 9 seconds (I think) left, the air left the building. The other folks in the 100 level were sulking, sad, and more emotional than I had ever seen in my time in Portland. This, however, was not the end of the story.

Brandon Roy made a shot that I still cannot believe. He was falling away from the basket and out of bounds. He was completely out of balance and very low to the ground and bent over. He scooped the ball for a layup that he was too far away from the basket to make, yet he willed it in.

Deliriously, 20,000 fans sprang up in reckless, wanton joy. There was still time on the clock. This last play may be the closest we get to the Championships this year. Rising to stay in the game against a tough opponent may be our playoffs. A 1 point lead in the closing seconds against Houston after the latest and perhaps harshest event in a soul crushing series of misfortunes may be the high point of this season. Everyone in the stands said so be it, but we want more.

Prior to the Houston in bounding the ball, EVERYONE in the Garden — and I mean EVERYONE — was shouting at the top of their lungs. The typically silent rows around me, were filled with standing fanatics, making a crazed and ungodly racket as loudly as their souls could muster up. This might be this season’s defining moment, and the fans were going to be a part of it.

After Brooks’s shot missed, the crowd even roared louder, with the sheer lunacy of devoted fandom. The season might be done, but the love of this team by it’s fans is undimmed.

While it might sound odd since it might be remembered as the night that Greg Oden went down, I was glad I was at the game, because I saw fans united in their love and affection for this team, and that was a tremendous event to witness and one I will not forget for some time.

by Anim8rguy on Dec 8, 2009 8:35 PM PST reply actions

all true, but

I think you have to agree that the largest cheer of the night was when Ahmad Rashad made the O sign with his hands. The place exploded.

Liveblog at LoadedOrygun, tonight vs Miami!!

by torridjoe on Dec 9, 2009 10:39 PM PST up reply actions

That moment

Was about the loudest I have ever heard it, except maybe right after Roy hit that ridiculous GW three against them last year.

"Good evening Blazer fans, wherever you may be!"-Bill Schonely

by skywaker9 on Dec 10, 2009 12:54 PM PST up reply actions

When I heard the news about Greg....

I bought tickets to the Orlando game in January. I live in Seattle. I want to support the Blazers no matter what the outlook, or the win-loss record.

Also: I can’t get down about it for too long, because I feel lucky to be able to drive 4 hours to see an NBA team play. I love seeing them play. And I love that the Rose Garden is the loudest arena in the league, and other teams are intimidated to play there. I want to be a part of that!

"whoever scores the most points is probably gonna win the game"

by kobestopper on Dec 8, 2009 9:29 PM PST reply actions

That's Nice...

Nice post. But I’m afraid it’s a little idealistic. The Blazers have a great fanbase. As evidenced by sites like this very one. But the difference between sell-outs and packed houses is often made up of those marginal fans.

I plan of course to continue my support, as I would guess most Blazersedge supporters would, and I think support will continue. But it comes down to basic psychology, and the truth is if you allow yourself to identify with a sports team, you feel the pain when bad things happen and you enjoy the good times, but basicly for the marginal or bandwagon fans? It’s more fun to watch a team win, then watch a team lose.

Our home record was becoming suspect before we lost Oden. I hope you are right and that support will be maintained because I agree that this team deserves that support. But I’m pessimistic that if we really, really struggle a lot of those marginal, bandwagon fans will he gone quicker than you can say Patella.

"Mother Nature started this fight, I think it's about time we ended it!"

by Krang on Dec 9, 2009 6:23 AM PST reply actions

This team will be cut some slack

After a couple of injuries, no one was willing to cut this team slack. At this point, however, anyone who even slightly follows this team knows that what has happened to the players is outside of the player’s control.

While there was the hope that this team would right itself during the NBA season, it isn’t going to happen when 1/2 the rotation is rehabbing injuries. We are at a point very different than last year, when fans cheered on the team’s development as they made strides forward. This year, I think, fans will be content to their team play hard and see what kind of pride and character is left in their tanks.

We are not ready to concede anything, but I think we are realistic about this team settling in for a long year. Still, our rookies will be getting a great deal of playing time — accelerating their development far greater than would have happened had this team been healthy. I am also looking forward towards the season to see what our core is made of in terms of spirit.

If we get everyone back healthy next year and they can stay reasonably healthy, they will be very hungry after going through this very long series of obstacles. If this year’s team can somehow find a way to get something going this year to hang their hat on. Not a conference championship or top seed in the playoffs anymore, but perhaps something as simple as somehow getting to the playoffs, or even finding a way — through all of this adversity — to finish with a winning record.

We like our teams for winning, but we love them when they lose. If not, you cannot be a fan.

by Anim8rguy on Dec 9, 2009 1:58 PM PST up reply actions

Bah, humbug.

I can’t logically disagree with any of your points, Krang. But given all the bad news lately, is an injection of positivity and idealism a bad thing? And isn’t that the point of this particular post?

To add perspective: At least the Blazers aren’t wearing blue and gold and playing in Oklahoma right now.

"whoever scores the most points is probably gonna win the game"

by kobestopper on Dec 9, 2009 10:08 AM PST reply actions

I'm totally there.

This post is awesome, and I agree that we all need to cheer loudly at every game.

by thesituation on Dec 9, 2009 12:22 PM PST reply actions

This Blazer season reminds me of Tolkien's quote

“… and together through the ages of the world we have fought the long defeat.” Galadriel, “The Mirror of Galadriel.” The Fellowship of the Ring

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Dec 9, 2009 10:54 PM PST reply actions

I am not optimistic

You’re going to see a huge fall in attendance because there’s a fundamental truth: we’re not as good as we say we are as fans. Sure, the people on this blog will be unequivocal, but that only accounts for about 1% of the Rose Garden’s attendance. People didn’t support the Jail Blazers because they lost, not because they were bad people. They were happy to support them in that Dallas series. Talking crap about their character was just a way to justify being a fairweather fan.

by robrun2 on Dec 10, 2009 8:46 AM PST reply actions