I just got home after watching the Trail Blazers dispatch the former Sonics, now the Oklahoma City Thunder. Liv and I moved out to North East Portland last Saturday, and we are in the slow process of unpacking all the stuff that we have. One of the things that is different about living out here is taking the bus. I rode the bus downtown yesterday for class, and to the Rose Garden tonight for the basketball game. Both times there were no problems, I only had to wait for a few minutes both times. Tonight when I got out of the game I had to wait for a half hour to catch the bus. The bus we have to catch is a frequent service during the day, meaning it comes once every fifteen minutes, at night frequent service means that it still runs after ten o'clock. There really is no back-up plan if I miss the bus or it isn't running some night after a game. I guess its sleeping at the Rose Garden. Either that or I'm walking twenty some odd blocks to get home. One of the nicest things about the new place is that it is right down the street from one of Portland's beautiful city parks. Matt and I went out there this afternoon and shot some hoops. I really like playing basketball outside. Living downtown made it very hard for me to do that. Now I will really have a chance.
Today after the game I asked Joel Przybilla a few questions. Przybilla is the Blazers back-up center and he is seven feet tall. While I was talking to him he was getting dressed. At one point he stood up, and I have never felt so short in my entire life. I am going to be writing a feature article for the website at some point. I was supposed to go out to the practice facility this morning for the team's shoot around, but it got cancelled so I didn't go. Casey, the guy I intern for, is going to the All-Star game, and when he gets back I will have a chance to do some interviewing for the piece. I spent a few hours yesterday reading old articles about Brandon Roy and Nate McMillan. I must say that the Seattle PI and the Times have a pretty well put together archive. I think I looked at every piece that was written about either of them.
Here are some pictures that I have taken at Blazer games.
This is Rudy Fernandez. He is a rookie from Spain, and he is pretty awesome. Tonight he jumped over the TV announcer's table after a loose ball. Watch for him in the slam dunk contest All-Star weekend.
This is Greg Oden, soon to be All-World center. Straight up BEAST!
Matt Harpring and Memet Ukur of the Utah Jazz. Add in Kyle Korver, and Utah has one of the whitest lineups in the NBA, makes sense because its Utah.
Adam Morrison. Went to Gonzaga. Was a Bobcat when this was taken, now he's a Laker. One of the top guys in his draft class, same class as Brandon Roy who ended up being the top guy in his draft class. SI has a great little article about how he and JJ Reddick, the other "top" college player of 2006, are now terrible in the NBA. Did I mention that he sucks and I hate him?
Brandon Roy and Nate Robinson. Two of Seattle's best. Roy went to Garfield and Robinson went to Rainier Beach, they went together to the UW, and now are two of he best young players in the NBA. I think Seattle is definitely the basketball capitol of the West Coast. If you disagree I will punch you.
