I Love Portland

     Why Would Any NBA player not run to Portland?
     When I think of all the places ive been to, I personally rank Portland as the best city in the USA. Why do I say this? Well Ive been to alot of American cities and none seem to compare to Portland. Not only are its citizens happy, healthy and safe, they live in the greenest city in the country as well.

      Ive been to both coasts; New York, New York, Trenton and Newark, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Baltimore, Maryland plus many others throughout that whole area. Ive been as far south as Tijuana (LOL), Ive seen most major cities in California and Oregon. Ive been as far as Las Vegas, Nevada and as Far north as Tacoma Washington. My mom and sister live in the dirty south of Alabama, although Ive never been there, it doesnt sound like some place I personally want to go to any time soon. Although, New Orleans would be cool to see.  I have alot of friends that live in Oregon from places like Kansas City and Denver Colorado, and what can I say, they moved to Oregon!

     It hurts to think that someone would rather play anywhere but here. That we are so back woods, nothing but hippies and rednecks. Cell Phone? Whats a cell phone? That it rains to much or the weather sucks. Or that we have no beaches full of thongs and silicone. That we dont tan we rust. Or that our city is to small and that this market here is smaller than other cities. I get sick of all of that kinda stuff. For me, it makes no sense.

     To me, Portland has way more to offer than any other city Ive ever been to in my life. Lets see, where to start? How about music? Every night in PTown is a music extravaganza! On any given night, its hard to decide what show or concert to go to! How about food? Portland offers some of the best cuisine in the world. Being that its a major PORT, it has some of the best seafood in the country! How about biking- Portland and its surrounding areas are ranked in the top ten in the world for biking destinations! Portland is ranked the top green city in our country! Oh do you like beer? Well PTown is the microbrewing capitol of the world! And even though I got it from some wierd McDonalds quote, Portland was ranked Top 5 "Happiest Cities for Families" in America!(LOL). We have everything to offer and more. Oregon is the only state in the Union to have a 2 year budget. While most of our states are in financial crisis or are filing for federal debt relief. There is no sales tax in Oregon, so when you go out and drop 100 G's on a new Escalade and another 10G's on that rock in your ear and another 25 G's on that necklace or a couple million on a house--- you pay not a cent in extra in sales tax! And not only that, speaking about cash, in these finacially unsteady times, if you had a chance to work for the worlds 5th richest man, wouldnt you? Talk about monetary security--Paul Allen signs your checks! I mean, your boss is the 5th richest man on the entire planet, meaning only 4 others have more than him, how do you pass on that? Oh and another most likely bonus -FREE IPODS! With Paul allens loot we have some of the best practice and training facilities in the entire league. Oh you want to go to a contender well good thing we are a playoff contending team again. So you want Endorsements?- dude Nike HQ is a few miles away and dont tell me playing in NY will get you more endorsements. If you are good enough the endorsements come to you! Im pretty sure Nike called Wade not the other way around.

     Okay, calm down.

     So im biased.

     Im from a beautiful small town in Southern Oregon just ten miles from California. Its quiet and peaceful and Its full of rivers, and wildlife. At night, all you can hear is the wind in the trees, no traffic or construction or road work. I actually detest big cities in general because they are dirty, polluting our air, mass consuming our resources and proliferating a corporate lifestyle. But thats not going down in PTown.

     Ive personally been to Portland many times.  And maybe thats why I hold it above all others. First, I have alot of good friends that live there. My future wife took me to my first real concert I ever went to at the Rose Garden and Ive seen so many other favorite music artists in Portland as well. I actually had my honeymoon in Portland--sounds cheesy but we had the best time ever! I went to my first NBA game ever  here at the Rose Garden. We lost. I went to my first NBA playoff game this year-we won!

     Portland holds so many good memories for me and my family. It has some of the nicest strangers Ive ever met. Most of the people I see walking around the city are young college hipsters who always have a quick smile for you. Im impressed everytime I go with its culture and its artistic flair. Every suv I see is either a hybrid or a flexfuel or a biodiesel.  People here CARE. They are NICE.

     In the end, I wonder why a player would think Portland cant offer what they want. Why it cant satisfy some craving they might have. Why its not the place they want to make a go of it at.

     I wonder, with everything Portland has to offer why not play here?

     Oh well, I guess as long as people think Oregon sucks, maybe those people wont come here and we can keep this little secret a while longer. And I only want a player on my team that wants to be here and fits this culture.

CJ Blazer

http://www.sustainlane.com/us-city-rankings/cities/portland

http://ownaportlandhome.blogspot.com/2009/06/portland-worlds-best-biking-city.html

http://ownaportlandhome.blogspot.com/2009/06/portland-worlds-best-biking-city.html

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/02/green_transit.html

http://wikitravel.org/en/Portland_(Oregon)