I recently moved and one of my prized possessions is a print showing Walton going up over Dr. J for a basket during the 76-77 championship series. The print is from Leroy Neiman who used to capture special moments in sports. And this was a very special moment for Blazer fans. The print isn't signed but has a little value. It goes up to crazy numbers when the Blazers sniff a title (we all know how rarely than happens) and then falls back to earth. For me, it's value isn't in monetary terms so much as that it captured an amazing time in my life and in the history of the Blazers.

As I've been thrilled by and suffered through decades of Blazer fandom I just stopped to wonder if living through that championship year might have been a really bad thing after all. The Blazers winning that year was like being on crack. Nothing can get me as a Blazer fan as high again short of another ring. Nothing. That explains why when I hear fans clamoring just to get into the playoffs even though the virtually inevitable one and done will ensue I'm not patient with them. I don't really enjoy basketball unless it's winning basketball. That actually is true whether I'm cheering on the Blazers or one of my other favorite teams. It also explains why I'm so impatient with players like Batum. I suspect the Blazers who were on that magical 76-77 team would be impatient with him, as well. Everybody on that team played their rear ends off that playoff series. They had to because they didn't have the talent that the Sixers had. That Blazer team had a bunch of lunch bucket guys and Walton (and maybe you'd call Mo Lucas more than lunch bucket).

So kids, maybe you shouldn't go near that championship ring because you might never see the Blazers in the same light again. As for me, I'm still waiting for that next incredible high...