My Story: How the Blazers have helped me to cope

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I became a Blazer fan in 1970. However there was a small impediment for me to see that first season. There was really terrible TV reception in the jungles of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Thailand, next door was not much better. I returned to Portland in 1973 and immediately began attending games with continuous season tickets until 2000. In tose early years we were guilty of attending to watch other team's stars. Then Walton was drafted and it seemed like the playoffs were possible. TMY attendance string stopped because I became medically (from war) unable to live in the metro area (1997) and medically unable to travel back from Sisters to Portland by 2000.

Fortunately the Blazer games were aired eventually by Bendbroadband here and I have been a subscriber since that day. The games are tense for me because I take a personal approach with each player and have a strong desire for each one to succeed in every game. Of course this is not possible and I endure the disappointment with continued wishes for the next game. You might notice I do not use the word ‘hope' towards the Blazers as what I hope for is my personal relationship with my God. But wishing for success has helped me to cope with my pain. I read the stories every day on Blazers Edge. I used to read every day on Oregon Live and have largely come to depend on BE for all my Blazer news.

I do read national publications daily including CBSSPorts.com (shout out to Ben, who joined there this year, for excellent input), Hoopshype.com, Hoopsworld.com, and NBA.com. In addition there are many national blogs that have interesting product but rarely anything not covered in depth in the aforementioned sites. Reading in restful for me as I am able to use the keyboard suspended from one side and the screen suspended from the other side with mostly mouse direction. It soothes me to digest what is happening. Incidentally, in case you are not a CBSSports,com regular, the blogs have the most information and the best articles. You have to hunt on the main page for the NBA (or the other main pages) for the link to the related blog. The national perspective is there while the local Blazer perspective is so completely covered here on BE that there is no need to search much more locally.

Nicolas Batum is my current favorite player. He is gaining and becoming more diverse and productive each year. His play on the French National team has really opened up his offense. I am rooting for France in the current EuroBasket Olympic qualifier and European Championship. I am also a big fan of Joel Przybilla and hope he can return when the lockout ends. I am an optimist and see the positive far more readily than the negative. I am appreciative that the Blazers are owned by a man who is determined to win and now is also determined to maintain good character among team and management members. I am analytical by former profession and approach many questions by referring to the best site for historical statistics - Basketball-reference.com. This site is a gold mine for such work.

As for all-time Blazers, Jerome Kersey is my favorite. Although not the best player we have had his hustle and amazing athletic ability were captivating. I was able to attend the Blazer training camp when Jerome was a rookie and my eyes seemed to follow him throughout the drills and scrimmages. In those days there was no security and bleachers in the gym were set up for viewing. It was a great week+ to watch and gauge.

The message I have for anyone who wants it is to take sports as a distraction from some of life's harder tasks and events but not to ever put it before people, as fellow humans, no matter what they may say. I feel neither need to defend or attack but only appreciate the many who come here and read and post and make it possible for us all to experience this amazing site (BE).