Anyone who has watched the PTB the past couple seasons has become familiar with arguably the most impactful commercial ever bestowed upon us. (A huge thank you to Condemnor for the link, and a pat on the back to TominGuatemala for his IT help.)  

Some of you may have noticed my Obsessive-Compulsive disorder flaring up about this advertisement since its first appearance. All good things must come to an end and with this fan-post I hope to extinguish any "ember" still "blasing" between the neurons and dendrites of our collective consciousness.

With this poll, I intend to bring this topic to the ceremonius halt it deserves, unless of course PTB fans clamor otherwise. Its out of my hands now:

Ive been a huge Outlaw fan since he got drafted. It wasnt so much his freaky level of athleticism, or his rubber band like defensive skills, or his ability to leap over tall buildings. I just like Travis. Sometimes statistics dont tell the entire tale of a players ability or value. Isnt what makes Travis special is that he is so down to earth and good natured that in a world of seamy and selfishness, Travis emerges above it all?  Any trade involving Travis would never recompense the loss of such genuineship.  If that's debatable, not by anyone who grew up with the PTB philosophy of character and talent over talent alone. 

Im willing to go so far as to wager against anyone who thinks Travis Outlaw is going to be included in any trade.  Travis will not be traded. Anyone who takes the bet can say I told you so, but not unless you take the bet and explain why.

Fair enough?

Seems Portland Trail Blazer fans, in light of our eventual dynasty, have been somewhat exhuberant during the off-season about creating scenarios involving trades, acquisitions and similiar albeit fatiguing dialogue, 

Personally adjunct to al the speculation is my wonder behind what motivates PTB fans to clamor for making trades in the first place.  Certainly Paul Allen when giving the reigns to Kevin Pritchard concluded the team would be re-built through youth. All of our stud players, and yet signed Rudy Fernandez meet the bill.  So why would KP at this point partake in dismantleship via trade?  Isnt the course of the PTB going to continue to be to develop our young deep core, including if need be Jarrett "sour grapes" Jack, while having unloaded Darius Miles and sitting on Raef's contract for max value?

Am I making any sense? Please elaborate.

Something peculiarly normal happened to me  today such as to want me to post off topic during what we all know is going to be a long summer.  Im not sure why this had such an impact on me but it did, and I felt like sharing it.

So.. a friend of mine currently vacationing  asked me to mow his lawn,  in doing so I blew up his mower then damaged mine, before repairing mine with extreme frustration and then finishing somehow. Needless to say Ive been happier and less vernacularly innapropriate without respect to any neighbors. .

I was about to close the tailgate when I heard a buzz from the mower and wondered what that could be. In searching for the sound I discovered a plump bumblebee wedged inside a crevace around the mower carriage. 

I hate to admit this but for a nano-second, I didnt care. I reached to close the tailgate but stopped and wondered what I was doing. It stunned me to think I was not going to do the right thing.  I got a tiny twig and extricated the poor critter into my palm (knowing bumblebees dont sting) then carried him, still buzzing- trying to fly but unable, to the biggest Rhody bloom I could find.  He took his sweet time doing circles in my hand before I nudged him into the bloom.  I saw him begin to round the perimeter of the flower figuring what else can I do, so I turned to walk away, but in doing so was able to catch the bumblebee take flight into the wind, and drift away in an slow wavy motion. I'll miss him for sure. 

So, it made me feel pretty good and want to ask each of you what you have done today or tomorrow that makes you truly feel good inside.  We are all fortunate to be Portland Trail Blazer fans, and I love the Bedge, but it would be interesting to know how other fans find contentment in selflessness.

Apparently according to our Constitution ....pffftt.... attempts to legally ban any and all suggestions or thought of trading Travis violate individual freedoms.... therefore, without engaging in worthless or protracted diatribe,

 But since the Diary must be at least seventy five words, I'll guess my entire entry is based on my thinking that why would anybody even want to consider trading Travis Outlaw? My other thought about Travis, in order to make this seventy five words long, is that he has great character, and perfectly fits in with the future design of the team. Travis never takes a bad shot, the shot clock is always working against him,

I find it hard to believe, after all the SuperSonics tradition, its to be no more. I have so many memories of this rivalry, and hoped to elicit a couple of your favorite PTB/Sonics moments, and players.

If its proper, I'll start. TP somehow throwing down the 3 on the botched pass from ainge that tied the game and sent it to an OT Blazer victory. Arguably in my book, unbeatable.

As to a player, its so hard to choose... but Sikma did have that unblockable turnaround, oh no... had to be "Downtown" Freddie Brown, because when he made the outside shot, the announcer would elongate his name and the fans went crazy, and so did I.

Thanks for the memories