O Boy...

We all wonder. We all think. We all hope.

The forbidden fruit must be tasted, again. Somebody had to say it, right? Don't act like these statements are anything new to you by now. I mean I, along with everyone else, have had all of these thoughts in my head going into the Portland Trailblazers' upcoming '10-'11 season. It's time we put it all out on the table, and call this upcoming season what it really is: Greg Oden's "make or break" year.

For those of you who were lucky enough to watch Greg before he came here, and before he was even being talked about in Portland, there's an even bigger reason for you to grind your teeth this year. The man is unbelievably talented. I got to be one of those people who watched him at Ohio State, and I'll never forget the first time I watched him. I didn't even know who this big kid was when I turned the game on, but as it progressed I kept seeing his name running down the court after every play. Dunks, blocks, aggressive, hooks, free throws, athleticism...in other words, he was the whole damn show. From that point on, I started seeing his name pop up everywhere in sports. I started thinking, what if he came to Portland?!?! Later that year the Trailblazers earned the rights to the 2007 #1 draft pick with a 5.3% chance. I was giggly. After a long and "hard" thought process deciding between Oden and Texas' Kevin Durant, Greg was drafted to Portland on June 28th, 2007. All eyes were on Portland, and the stage was set. Greg was going to be our last ingredient to becoming a championship contender. But as life would have it, that's not exactly what happened.

It was determined that Greg needed microfracture surgery on his right knee. The surgery put him out of work for his entire first season in the NBA. He returned for the '08-'09 season, only to sit back out again a couple games into the season from a foot injury. After returning 2 weeks later, Greg started looking like the Oden of old. Averaging a double-double, people started talking again. But a month later, he collided knees with Corey Maggette and he his kneecap was chipped, taking him out for another three weeks. Relentlessly returning again, He came back even stronger. Points in the twenties on a regular basis, and even setting a career-high of 20 rebounds in a game. On December 5th of '09, the axe came down again. Going up for a block, Greg's patella tendon in his left knee split in half. Again, he was forced to have season-ending surgery. As you can tell, injuries follow Mr. Oden like a shadow.

After reading that, you understand that any logical person would unload Oden right now. In fact, most logical people would have probably done it awhile ago. It's no secret that a lot of people around the country, in the NBA, and even in Portland, have given up on Greg Oden. By now, everyone who lives in Portland has heard "should of picked Durant!" or "should of seen that one coming!". But no we really shouldn't of. Nor should we continue to.

The Trailblazers' '10-'11 season begins on October 26. Going into this season, when you look at the current roster, you'll see that there is a 7'-0'', 285 pound center who is itching to prove all doubters wrong. I can guarantee you right now, that while you're reading this, Oden is in the gym drenched in his own sweat, thriving in pain, making his body and his knees even stronger than yours. In this last offseason, we all waited for the Blazer's front office to make one more blockbuster move. Everyday a new name was being thrown around, but always seemed to fade in a day or so. In an interview with Blazer great Clyde Drexler, he said that the Trailblazers were "one move away" from being an NBA title contender. I agree. But maybe we've been looking in all of the wrong places.

...Maybe all we need to do is peak our head into the gym.

The Voodoozela

I believe the saying goes "a picture is worth a thousand words". As I'm sure we can all agree that this picture is no different, we can also agree that it's also worth a thousand sounds. You haven't forgotten have you? Did you need another sound bite to refresh your memory? Yeah, didn't think so...but in case you did, I believe it went something like this:

"BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!! BZZZZZZ!!!!!!! BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!! BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!! BZZZZZZZZZ!!!!! BZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!! BZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!! BZZZZ!!!!!!! BZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!! BZZZ!!!! BZZZ!!!!! BZZZZZ!!!!!!!!!! BZZZ!!!! BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!! BZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!! BZZZZZ!!!!"

You get the idea. I'm sure you really haven't forgotten, because quite frankly it's impossible to forget. The sound of this now infamous vuvuzela is forever engrained into the eardrums of anyone who watched 2010 World Cup this year. But for those of you who have been longtime soccer supporters, this sound is as normal as your heartbeat at this point. Could it even be considered "The Heartbeat of the Game"?!?! ...mmkay maybe not. But we'd all be naive not to acnowledge the value of the vuvuzela in soccer, or even in sports as a whole. The only problem is that it was never really acnowledged from the beginning.

From the moment the first game of the 2010 World Cup began this year, viewers, broadcasters,and produces were immediately red in the face by the annoyance created by the bellowing vuvuzela. Viewers were irritated from having to hear the sound through each game. Broadcasters were fired up because their commentary couldn't be heard through the sound. And producers were upset because their viewers started changing the channel because of, well you know. I mean obviously it's easy to get pissed off at anything that distracts you from a game, or potentially costs you money from loss of ratings, right? If I was one of those viewers that had to sit there all game and listen to thousands upon thousands of those things the whole time, I'd probably be changing the channel too. But you know what? I was one of those viewers. I did sit and watch those games. And like everyone else, I also had to listen to that swarm of horns the whole time. But you know what else? I watched soccer, and so did you. Whether you want to admit it or not, everything you heard and saw was soccer.

Like all other sports, soccer is a culture. As perhaps the most culturally-rich sport in the world, it's quite impossible to ignore. Whether it's a chant, a flag, a jersey, or even a vuvuzela, this is soccer my friends. We have to remember this. Specifically for the United States, being the newest integration into FIFA, we need to understand soccer to appreciate soccer. Especially if we're going to call it soccer!! The worst thing you can do is ask for something you didn't make, and once you get it, try to change it. The vuvuzela is specific to the culure of South African soccer. It's their staple in the games. The world was completely taken aback when this meter-long horn was seen on the big stage at the Confederations Cup last year. Players, above all else, have been torn in their opinions of the instrument. Some think it's a cultural icon , and most say it irritates their play. Luckily for the dignity of the sport, the President of FIFA, Sepp Blatter, has stood by the vuvuzela every step of the way. While others have denied it, he insisted of this last World Cup "we should not attempt to europeanize the African tournament". He's absolutely right.

One of the most miraculous things about soccer is it's ability to act as an international safety net. No matter what else is going on in the world between countries, we can always depend on soccer to clarify things for us. It's a pretty basic message: Embrace diversity. Don't shy away from what's different from you. Annoying and irritating or not, we must walk towards and with diversity. While that's a pretty general statement, it's essential that we do this with our sports for if we don't, then the point of sports is lost. Whether it's with soccer, basketball, baseball, tennis, or whatever else, we can't ever forget how they got here. Because at some point throughout time, each sport was created by a different mind with thoughts and ideas. From that, their idea spread to the entire world, creating thousands of interpretations of these sports. From the style of play in the athletes, all way to the style of support in the fans.

The funniest thing about the vuvuzela is that while it's a huge thorn in everyone's ears, it's also a huge reminder in everyone's ears as well. Appreciating and respecting diversity is a lesson that falls by the wayside far to often in this world, and sometimes it even takes an obnoxious horn to teach it...

Stern Notice

So this guy walks into a really nice restaurant, right? He gets a warm welcome walking in, great service, and an incredible meal. He's awestruck. When he's done eating he sees that he owes the bill, and roughly $15 for tip. He loved it so much that he was feeling generous enough to leave $20. After leaving the $20 on the table and walking toward the door, he stops in his tracks. He remembers that his kids actually need lunch money for school tomorrow. He walks back to the table, picks his $20 up, and leaves $8 and some change. As he turns around to leave, the waitress can't help but stare in disbelief. Getting more flustered by the second, the man finally utters "umm...forgot I needed this...". He quickly leaves the restaurant.


...You get it? I mean obviously it's a rude thing to do anytime you under-tip great service, but for God's sake the man needed the money to get his kids fed at school the next day. If you had kids in school who needed money for things like lunch and for other supplies, etc., isn't this what you would do? As appauled as that waitress was, if you actually explained the purpose of what you were doin, she'd be heartless not to understand. However, I wish we were talking about a restaurant. I wish we were talking about a regular waitress. And I really wish we were talking about a forgetful dad, who simply needed tip money for his children's lunch. Unfortunately, as the "The Nosebleed" would have it, we're not. Instead, it's actually an issue a lot like this, only with more people, more power, and more money.

"According to the NBA Commissioner David Stern, the NBA lost about $370 million in the 2009-2010 NBA season. This reported loss was good news to the NBA's ears seeing that they expected to lose more money this season. Stern was expecting to lose $400 million this year, and has stated that the NBA has lost at least $200 million a year for the four previous years."
-David Nelson
(Seattle City Brights)

You get it now? No? Good, 'cause you're not really supposed to. I trust that it didn't take you long to realize that what you just read isn't actually a good thing. In fact it's quite the opposite. But I also trust that many of you read that, and had no idea why it had to do with anything; and that's precisely why it's so important. As many of you know, 2011 is a dark cloud over the NBA universe right now. This is the year that the NBA will likely see yet another player lockout. For those of you who dont know, we also know this simply as a boycott. A boycott of all basketball games. But as I said, this is yet another NBA lockout. As in this has happened before in the '98-'99 NBA season, in which the standoff between owners and players caused an 82 game season to be cut down to 50 (191 days). It's widely understood that that lockout was simply the result of player and owner greed. Niether party would take less money, pretty cut 'n dry situation. Today's issue with the potential 2011 lockout is significantly different, even if it may not seem like it.

Although it's been said that NBA Commissioner David Stern's numbers are somewhat exaggurated, the issue is not in the numbers. The issue, rather, is in the tactical (or lack thereof) use of the numbers. Fan or not, we're all fully aware that when you enter the NBA you're almost guaranteed to be a millionaire, correct? How many of us have spited NBA players for whining about a missed call or a petty injury? Basically all of us. And our biggest argument is usually that they have no right to be upset with anything if they're making the kinds of money they do. While that would seem like the most logical target to aim at, it's not the correct one. Do you know why the league lost hundreds of millions of dollars last year? Because the league has allowed teams to spend money that goes way beyond their salary cap. In fact, to cover the excess money owed to players, the NBA has had to take out loans just to make good on their contract obligations. To be specific, the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is what is currently allowing team GM's to sign blank checks to whichever player they want. The ultimate downfall has been the large contracts signed to average players for more than enough seasons. This is a problem for several reasons. These max contracts hold about 10-10.5% interest rate per season, which won't exactly make things any easier on the wallet. But mainly because the players that are getting these contracts typically don't show any promise, so when you go to get another star to come help, you can't because you simply can't afford it with your dead-beat still on the team. It's predicted that the league will drop it's salary cap by up to $3 million next season to help decrease the league's careless spending. They actually plan to drop it even more the following season as well. Now while that's all fine and good, I can't buy it. How else do you think their going to cut careless spending? You guessed it, by forcing the majority of players to take a hefty paycut. While that doesn't sound like a huge deal considering the money we all know they make, it's actually a very big deal.

Remember that guy who walked into the restaurant earlier? There was another problem other than the obvious one. Once he gave that fancy $20 tip to the waitress, he gave her the impression that he could afford to do so and that it was hers to take. While the money he went back for was understandably for his kids, he had already neglected his obligation to them in the first place. He forgot about what was important. The Commissioner of the NBA is allowing very generous tips to be given to these players. While we may hate the players for making so much, understand that they very rarely ask for such contracts. For example, Wesley Matthews who was recently aquired from the Utah Jazz to the Portland Trailblazers is in his second year in the NBA, and was given a $34 million contract for 5 years. He is what we would consider an average player. This is my point people. When asked if he thought he was overpaid, he said "I might be, you never know. But I'll be in gym" .These players don't even know if they deserve this kind of money, but it's given to them anyway.

Because of this kind of spending, Mr. Stern is now having to go back to the table and take his tip back, so to speak. That's the worst thing you can do as the Commissioner of any billion dollar organization. When you tell players that they can have a certain amount of money, they put a level of confidence in you and the league that you can support that, as well as fullfilling all other obligations at the same time. Oddly enough, players have willingly showed up at negotiation meeting with owners and other league officials to sort out this financial mess.

I don't know about you, but personally I would feel pretty dumb if the waitress I tipped was openly coming to me to find a way for everyone to benefit.

...isn't that the commissioner's job?

Sending the Beavers Downstream

If you ever have the chance to make it down to a local river bank, you might be lucky enough to spot a beaver chomping away at an old pine tree. It's quite interesting actually, because you'll notice two things: They are absolutely relentless, and they always finish the job. Not too far from there, you might even be lucky enough to see one of those beavers taking their wood down to build their dam. Absolutely fascinating to watch. And as hard as it may be to imagine, you've actually been watching this happen for several years now. The only difference is that the ones you've been watching are your very own Portland Beavers...and that these beavers haven't exactly been chomping their trees down.

For many of you, the time you started hearing the most about the Portland Beavers , has likely been in these past two years. Why? Because it hasn't been until quite recently that Portlanders have actually had any reason to know about them, nor has the press had any reason to report on them. Sure we all knew they existed; but at this point, 9/10 people probably can't tell you the name of any player on their team. It's gotten that bad. Today, the only reason you hear their name so often now, is due to notion of them not just leaving the city, but the state. Now before you sigh and start thinking "FINALLY!!", know that moving this team doesn't come without a price. Believe it or not, the Portland Beavers have a very rich history with the city of Portland. As a team originally established in 1903, they've sustained countless new owners, eight name changes, and all kinds of switches to their league and class-level. For years and years they rebranded and recreated their image so they'd be able to continuously fill Portland's nitche for baseball. Wow!! Hold up!! We have a nitche for baseball in Portland?!?! It's a small one, but we actually do. Hard to believe now though isn't it? With all the excitement surrounding Portland's NBA basketball team and soon-to-be MLS soccer team in The Trailblazers and The Timbers, it's difficult to consider that people in Portland are actually thinking about baseball. It's not as common to hear about now as it was in the late 90's and early 2000's when it was actually a growing campaign to bring MLB baseball here to Portland. You have to remember the logo they used; you know the one where they used the official MLB logo, only they made the hitter's bat into an umbrella? Well as it turns out, bringing an MLB team here is quite a pretty penny and Portland was honestly not as hyped about MLB baseball like we all thought. So how did the city answer those calls? We continued on with our own Portland Beavers to take care of the job. Obviously, they haven't been fullfilling their purpose as planned.

More than three years after purchasing the team, own Merritt Paulson has thrown his hands up with what to do with this failing team. You might be thinking "wait, he's seriously giving up on this team after only three years?". But I can tell you with no doubt, that those three years have been quite painful for Paulson. The man has literally tried everything to keep this team here, with an understanding that you don't have a team since 1903 for no reason. He even pushed so hard as to get the 2009 AAA All-Star game awarded to Portland; not an easy task mind you. When the idea of moving this team first came up, he never wanted it to leave Oregon. He hasn't forgotten why he loves The Portland Beavers, which is why he constantly attempted to take the burger AND the bun. He's tried countless locations from The Memorial Coliseum, to Lents Park, to Delta Park, to The Portland Expo Center, to Portland Meadows, all the way down to just random locations in Beaverton and Clackamas. So if you're ever going to criticise Paulson for giving up on baseball in Oregon, you should know that you're dead wrong. He's an avid sports fan, with an undeniable passion for sports. To say that he just gave up, would be a disservice to his love for what he does. For these rough three years, he has been The Beavers biggest advocate, and loyalist fan. But at the same time, there's a very big difference between being loyal and being foolish.

PGE park can seat 19,566 people. At one time The Portland Beavers attracted average audiences of over 5,000. However, they've also attracted audiences as low as 250 people. There's no way they can be profitable right? Well oddly enough they still remain profitable due to the attraction of The Portland Timbers, their PGE roommate. However, even though they stay afloat, it's only by one breath. The Portland Timbers are coming into their first year as an official MLS team this next 2011 season, so there will be little room for such an unnecessary commodity anymore.

After trying and trying again, it has finally been announced that there is no location in Portland or Oregon that will be acceptable to host the Portland Beavers. Bitter of a pill as it was to swallow, Merritt announced last month that the team was up for sale and relocation. As it stands right now, there are three locations in San Diego that look to be the front-runners. Owner of the San Diego Padre's, Jeff Moorad, has now formed a group of investors to make the move possible.

Listening to it now, it actually sounds really sad to be honest. Doesn't matter whether you watched The Portland Beavers or not, it's bittersweet to know that your baseball team of over 100 years is now leaving for good. But as I briefly mentioned earlier, these beavers haven't exactly been chomping their trees down. Do you know why? Because throughout their entire existence in Portland, they've tried to please the itch for baseball with this team, and many times it worked. But truth be told, these beavers chomped away and chomped away at their tree for over 100 years, and it still hasn't fallen. And when you can't chomp your tree down, you certainly can't make a dam...