StumpTownSports

My buddy Jeff was good enough to take me to the Blazers/Sonics preseason game last night, so I thought I would leave a brief report and then hopefully comment on a few other sports related items. Jeff has fantastic seats which always adds to the experience and in general, I just find the Rose Garden a nice venue. Last night was great. Greg Oden finally hit his stride after struggling some in the preseason. It is obvious that on this team, GO doesn’t have to score much, but last night it all came together in a 22 point, 14 rebound 5 block performance that had the Rose Garden buzzing with anticipation for what this team will do when he is in his prime with Roy and Aldridge. Almost all of his points came off vicious lob dunks and put back and he so dominated the paint on the defensive end that Ridnour actually started to cringe when he entered the paint in anticipation of another volleyball spike block. On the other side of the ball, Durant was slightly less spectacular as it is clea...

Since I had the privilege of attending the season’s first Blazer game last night (preseason home opener against the Clippers, I thought I would share my scouting report of the team and the event. The Blazers won 111-102 after an impressive run at the end of the third and beginning of the fourth led primarily by 22 second half points from Webster who couldn’t miss. The Rose Garden • MAX is really the only way to go when going to a game. No parking cost or hassle and the train is full of Blazer fans which helps get you in the right mood for the game. It’s not like tailgating at a college football game, but it still has a small, but beneficial fraction of the same affect. • There is a giant Oden jersey hanging from the outside of the arena. My son and I just stood for a moment and stared at it in subdued sadness. Then my Son said, poignantly and profoundly, “I think that jersey is too big for him.” • My son was disappointed that our favorite Blazer dancer (his former Sunday school te...

Some quick (I hope) sports thoughts on each of my favorite sports teams: NFL – San Francisco 49ers – Ugh. I could just stop there and pretty much capture it. After years of being awful, they have finally made some major steps in the right direction. They brought in a classy head coach with a good mind for defense and team discipline. Plus he likes to wear suits (even if they are made by Rebok) during games, so how can you not like this guy? They have drafted rather brilliantly (though I’m having my doubts about Smith and Davis), but still they seem to be rebuilding this team in the right way through good draft picks (I love you Patrick Willis) and well chosen free agents. For the first time in years, I allowed myself to get excited. I genuinely thought the Niners were a playoff team this year. They had the NFC’s best RB, an unguardable tightend, a QB just coming into his own after a semi-breakthrough year last year, new WRs, great FAs on the defensive side and a weak division. ...