A cute story about my mom, a blazers quilt, and Jerryd Bayless
by dario argento on Feb 18, 2010 2:35 PM PST
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PrintAmidst all the hoopla about the trade deadline, playoff aspirations, our new center, former players and sad goodbyes I thought it might be a good time to tell a cool story about my mom and just how lucky we are to have such good guys we can be proud of.
I have a half season ticket package that I've had for the last few years, with my girlfriend, family, and friends taking turns in my other seat ( in section 301 baby!!! ). The games against good teams always get the most inquiry, with of course the 1 Lakers game I get a year in the highest demand. Last year, my friend who reserved the Lakers game backed out the morning of the game, and for the life of me I could not find anyone to go with me. My mom had been to one game before, but wasn't really a fan of the game or the Blazers, so she was not the ideal person to take to a Lakers game, where every fan needs to be extra loud and intense. Still, I invited her and she wanted to go. I told her she may come but that this was no ordinary game, it was the Lakers. This was serious business. She had to be loud and boisterous. She agreed.
So we went to the game and lo and behold, she had a blast. The Blazers won, she screamed loud, and made me proud. Bayless had a great game that night, with several drives and layups and FT's. She kept asking me about him, talking about how much fun he was to watch, and how he "had a swagger." She slowly started becoming much more of a fan, listening to the games on the radio, and asking me about trade possibilites and all the like. I felt proud I had recruited a new member to Rip City.
This year her fandom took on a whole new course. She has become obsessed. Texting me whenever we have an awesome win, always asking about games she can go to. And her crush on Bayless has reached astronomical heights, always talking about him whenever the Blazers were brought up, and always checking his stats. Anyway, my mom is quite the quilter. She loves to make quilts for people as gifts. She does a specific type of quilt that uses images to create a theme ( I think it's called block quilting ). She broke the news to me that she was going to make Jerryd a quilt, and give it to him. I laughed and laughed, thinking it awesome, cute, and kind of creepy all at the same time. She worked on it for a little over a month, and 2 weekends ago delivered the quilt to the Blazers front office, after speaking with some member of the Blazers office who assured her she would deliver it personally to Jerryd. She said it felt weird when she dropped it off. That the guy who took it gave her a "Are you kidding me?" look, and that she didn't think Jerryd would actually get the quilt.
A few days go by and one morning I see I have like 5 missed calls from mom. I called her back thinking there was an emergency and she was practically in tears she was so excited. Jerryd called her personally and thanked her for the quilt. He tracked her number down from the Blazers PR lady my Mom spoke with. He said he put it on his bed and slept with it for a few nights, then hung it up on his wall, and that this was the nicest thing a fan had ever done for him. He said he couldn't stop looking at it when he got it. They talked a few minutes, and said he would always remember her for her quilt. My mom was beaming the next few days, so proud of her accomplishment. Anyway, not much of a story, I know, but cute. Here's the quilt below.
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awesome story
our team is full of class acts…except for andre. lol. he seemed like a jerk at the fan party.
I'm going on a Dave boycott until AK1984 is brought back.
"Did they really expect me to bow down to Jesus?!?" ~Sophia
"At first glance, I saw a fairly unremarkable penis." ~Sophia on Greg Oden
by Philthyanimal on Feb 18, 2010 2:44 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
I don't know if "jerk" is the right word
He’s kind of a bit of a recluse though. Likes to keep to himself, which I’m not gonna knock the guy on.
I'm not saying, I'm just saying.
i dunno
still seemed like a jerk…i recall some people trying to high 5 him and he left them hanging…whereas next door juwan was like bowing down repeatedly to guys who were getting strikes or something.
I'm going on a Dave boycott until AK1984 is brought back.
"Did they really expect me to bow down to Jesus?!?" ~Sophia
"At first glance, I saw a fairly unremarkable penis." ~Sophia on Greg Oden
by Philthyanimal on Feb 18, 2010 3:04 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah, I see your point.
He’s just not very social, but if you’re going to show up to an event like that you should at least pretend that you have some interest. I saw him once and in all honesty he didn’t see like the most approachable guy, but he had his son with him so I wasn’t gonna say nothing to him.
I'm not saying, I'm just saying.
You would let someone being nice to your dad
outweigh the opinion of TiH?
Give Blake the MLE in 2010!
Farewell to #2 and #25, good luck to you!
#7 #10 #52 -- #5 & #88 are back!
So many jokes to make, so little courage to make them...
"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal
Sometimes it's so hard to know
whether to rec a comment, or flag it.
Give Blake the MLE in 2010!
Farewell to #2 and #25, good luck to you!
#7 #10 #52 -- #5 & #88 are back!
come on
we have all done the meiers briggs test at one point or another, Andre seems to ba an extreme introvert, a relatively unusual trait in professional player granted, but not the end of the universe.
He has been pretty straight forward about it in interviews, he prefers to be quite and does not like the attantion. It is not like he is mocking the fans or anything it is just not in his nature….
"Oh Yeah!" ~ Kool Aid Man
It's a nice post
Why hijack it with Dre stories?
by Corvid on Feb 19, 2010 10:19 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I think he might have been feeling sick
saw him sitting down for a while.
Travis Outlaw fan from the beginning.
andre
Andre happily signed an autograph for me at the fan party…..
Portland Trail Blazers - where injuries and people come together"
coolio
Heartbroken..... Our goats have escaped.
by Starvin' Marvin on Feb 18, 2010 2:46 PM PST reply actions
I disagree with you when you say that this isn't much of a story
It’s an awesome story. I bet Jerryd never thought a fan would make him a personalized quilt when he joined the NBA, never in a million years.
I agree
This is one of the best stories I’ve read on BE. Thanks for sharing.
by Blaze of Glory on Feb 18, 2010 3:45 PM PST up reply actions
greg odens red bracelet
is the best
this is up there though
Heartbroken..... Our goats have escaped.
by Starvin' Marvin on Feb 19, 2010 5:35 PM PST up reply actions
Oh, and Dario, tell your mom that I liked her fun fabric choices
The print with the roses, all the round “basketball” shapes, etc.
I'll make sure she reads this post soon and sees your compliement!
"What people need to know is that those pictures were taken a year and a half ago, and I've grown since then." - Greg Oden
by dario argento on Feb 18, 2010 11:57 PM PST up reply actions
Brilliant!
Does your mom post here under the moniker “upper left corner”? :)
Give Blake the MLE in 2010!
Farewell to #2 and #25, good luck to you!
#7 #10 #52 -- #5 & #88 are back!
by jscot on Feb 18, 2010 3:01 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
rec
that would explain much
(I think Ben will want one of those #4 quilts, too)
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
by two4larue on Feb 18, 2010 3:32 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
I have my suspicions.
"What people need to know is that those pictures were taken a year and a half ago, and I've grown since then." - Greg Oden
by dario argento on Feb 18, 2010 11:47 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Hi guys.
I guess I had that coming.
Great story. Glad to hear that Jerryd’s mom and dad raised him right. The fact that he reached back is a sign that he isn’t all just uber competitive and intense. He was obviously touched and wanted to let Dario’s mom know how he felt.
Quilts FTW!
by upper left corner on Feb 19, 2010 7:35 AM PST up reply actions
Yeah, it's a great story
and says a lot about him, though it really just confirms other stuff we’ve heard.
Thanks for taking my wisecrack in good humor. :) I’m not sure you “had that coming”, but you ARE an easy target!
Give Blake the MLE in 2010!
Farewell to #2 and #25, good luck to you!
#7 #10 #52 -- #5 & #88 are back!
Wonderful!
What a fan….and what a response.
Great stuff Dario….
"I'm a man, but I can change.....if I have to......I guess." - Red Green
I think Nate needs a quilt
now that Blakey is gone
j/k
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
by two4larue on Feb 18, 2010 3:12 PM PST reply actions 7 recs
That's what it means to be a Blazer all you Free Agents!
Rip City is the best!!
TY for sharing :-)
My favorite teams are the Blazers and any team that is playing the Lakers.
yeah, those warm-weather big markets have nothing on Portland
we have fans that hand out personalized quilts…does Jay Jensen know about this? He could’ve had one all ready to give to Hedo last July!
we kid because we care. FWIW, I already rec’ed the original post
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
good thing we didnt give hedo a quilt last july
Awesomeness (ô'səm-nes)
1. n. Something that inspires awe
2. n. Nicolas Batum
by thomasikehara on Feb 18, 2010 3:49 PM PST up reply actions
No kidding. I would have vetoed a Hedo quilt.
"What people need to know is that those pictures were taken a year and a half ago, and I've grown since then." - Greg Oden
by dario argento on Feb 18, 2010 11:49 PM PST up reply actions
:(
Why do you hate me so much BRP?
"What people need to know is that those pictures were taken a year and a half ago, and I've grown since then." - Greg Oden
by dario argento on Feb 18, 2010 11:49 PM PST up reply actions
"Not Much of a Story"???
I think not..this is a wonderful story! Your Mom Rocks! Thanks for sharing.
wake me in 2011
Love it!
Class act that J-Bay… thanks for sharing this great story.
Great story.
Something about Bayless and Moms.
My mom loves him too. SHe actually yells at the tv/Nate to let him play.
:why don’t they put him in" He deserves to play too.
Like what you like, enjoy what you enjoy,
don't be afraid to make slurping sounds,
and don't take crap from anybody
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae-5q8MaSSU
My Mom is a quilter so I have a clue how much effort
Some thing like that takes,I am really impressed and I hope your Mom reads this
by southern oregon on Feb 18, 2010 5:46 PM PST reply actions
Yeah she really puts some of herself into every quilt she makes. It's pretty sweet. She didn't discover her creative side until late in life.
"What people need to know is that those pictures were taken a year and a half ago, and I've grown since then." - Greg Oden
by dario argento on Feb 18, 2010 11:43 PM PST up reply actions
Very impressive
I have made a few quilts too, but nothing so personalized – she put a lot of thought into that.
I’m a mom/grandmom but Bayless is not one of my faves so count me out of the “something about Bayless & Moms” part :-) That said, I am impressed that he made the effort to contact her personally. Not only is he going to remember her, he also cemented her fandom. Nice going, Jerryd! Kudos to both of them.
"Most of the people reading and commenting here are smart, thoughtful, reasoned, and both capable of and interested in good conversation." - Dave, about Blazersedge, 07/29
Nice story, but remember
Quilters never win, and winners never quilt!
by torridjoe on Feb 18, 2010 8:27 PM PST reply actions 7 recs
Rec
kind of a stretch, but still funny
by Blaze of Glory on Feb 18, 2010 10:19 PM PST up reply actions
LOL!
"What people need to know is that those pictures were taken a year and a half ago, and I've grown since then." - Greg Oden
by dario argento on Feb 18, 2010 11:44 PM PST up reply actions
Great Story
I love it when basketball players make an effort to show that they were raised correctly, saying thank you for gifts and generally showing that money and fame doesn’t have to make you a lesser person.
If you ever hear of someone punching out a girl scout and stealing her Samoas, it was me
- Mortimer
by Clevelander among roses on Feb 18, 2010 8:53 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
and a rec for a great story. great pictures too.
by Ben Golliver on Feb 18, 2010 9:27 PM PST up reply actions
How bout beach scenes with Bayless in them? Now that would be something to behold.
"What people need to know is that those pictures were taken a year and a half ago, and I've grown since then." - Greg Oden
by dario argento on Feb 18, 2010 11:45 PM PST up reply actions
Jerryd doesn't have time for the beach
it’s go to the gym, eat, sleep, play ping pong, rinse, repeat
his plate is pretty full
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Now you know what you should want for your birthday. Or as a wedding gift. Your quilt would be the envy of the press room on cold nights. (Maybe wait until we extend Jerryd.)
A great story well appreciated
My wife is a quilter too. The thing about making a quilt for her is to visualize the person who is getting it and then design and build the quilt thinking with love about the recipient throughout the process. Her quilts take months to complete so I can appreciate the love your mom put into the quilt for Jerryd and major props to Jerryd to track her down and return the love.
This is a great story now but can you visualize Jerryd invoking the memory of that quilt as his inspiration every day during his HOF acceptance speech?
"The one thing we said about this team right away is they mirror what their coach's personality is and that's to be hard-nosed and play extremely hard and play with intensity." - Alvin Gentry
You're modest, wonderful story
And the quilt is very impressive, the intricate details must have taken quite sometime to do.
Garden Variety Internet Denizen. Play Jerryd Bayless.
WORD UP.STAY.FRESCO
wow that's so awesome!
great quilt!
& that’s even sweeter that not only did bayless call your mom & thank her for it, that he also slept with the quilt before hanging it! ahhh! that makes me appreciate him a lot more!
now i gotta think about making rudy something & get him to holler at me! bahhaha kidding..kinda.
loveisrespect
by portlandgiirl91 on Feb 19, 2010 12:58 AM PST reply actions
I too have a crazy Blazermaniac quilting Mom....
Maybe it is a whole subculture we are only now becoming aware of….
Thanks for telling this story. I dig your Mom and Jerryd Bayless.
RoadBlazer
AWESOME
That is an great story. That is why we love this team. Jerryd and they rest of them are CLASS ACTS!!!!
This is so awesome.
I think I am going to make LaMarcus a quilt and hope for a personal phone call as well.
#52
Rudy gets 500+ quilts delivered to him next week from "young ladies"
has to happen
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
I know you are tempted
but do not sew yourself into the quilt
Roybot: "Then he said "My girlfriend is from LA." to which I replied "Well then you need to find a new girlfriend."’
by 92wastheyear on Feb 20, 2010 11:20 AM PST up reply actions
What other teams do this type of stuff?
We are so lucky to have these group of guys represent our city. Amazing.
Great Great Great Story
Could not have been better.
You're saying that they look like they're giving it their all. And you know why they look that way? Because they're bad, and it literally takes them the maximum physical effort to accomplish basic baseball tasks like throwing the ball from short to first. When David Eckstein throws the ball to first base, he has to wind up like a shot-putter, spin around forty-three times, and launch it at an angle 89 degrees from the horizontal. Afterwards, he undergoes an IV drip for a fortnight and he's so out of breath that he requires several months of acupuncture to regain the power of speech. For this we laud him. -Junior of Deadspin on 'scrappy' players
Great story and quilt...
but I’m left wondering why she used a picture from his Arizona days instead of in a Blazers uniform?
WWKPD??
Love this story!
This is a really cool gesture as a fan. My mom has sewn clothing most of her life and she’s done some quilts too, but she’s always said the kind of quilt your mom did is too time consuming and complicated for her tastes. That’s a ton of work and I’m not at all surprised that Jerryd would want to call and thank her for that great gift and all the work that went into it.
Thanks for sharing this!
"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."
Love love love this post!
Your mom is an awesome quilter and now it appears she’s JB’s biggest fan. Excellent post!
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