From the Proud Mighty Columbia RiverI Journeyed to Kansas City...Back the Old Oregon Trail!

Still Gitmo Questions Abound

2008-01-21T06:28:00.000-08:00

What happens if you are left alone in the dark in solitary confinement for days on end? The result is called sensory deprivation and the human mind struggles to cope with it.

Six volunteers who agreed to be shut inside a cell in a nuclear bunker, all alone and in the dark. Within half an hour of lock up, at the start of the experiment, all of the subjects lie down and go to sleep. But the real mind games begin when they wake up and find they have no idea what time it is.
As the hours pass, seeing and hearing nothing, they become increasingly disoriented, subjects have been encouraged to describe how they are feeling after 24 hours, but know that while their words may be heard, no one will respond.

"This behaviour of pacing up and down is something we see in animals as well as people when they are kept in confinement," says Prof Ian Robbins, a clinical psychologist at St George's Hospital who is supervising the experiment. "It could be just seen as something you can do without thinking about it, it may be in part attempting to exercise, but I think it is reaction to the lack of input and you provide the input physically."

Subject Brian Keenan is all too familiar with some of what they are experiencing: "The nothingness, that was extremely hard. Because the question in your head is how am I going to get through the next 10 minutes? Or months later, how am I going to get through the next day? Is there enough left in my head?"adding, "I remember one occasion waking up and having to squeeze my face and my chest and thinking to myself 'Am I still alive?'

Subject Adam Bloom, experienced, after just 30 hours, he is in trouble. "I'm hallucinating! I thought I could see a pile of oyster shells, five thousand oyster shells, empty, to represent all the nice food I could have eaten while I was inside here."

Prof Ian Robbins an insight into "what can happen to people kept in solitary confinement over possibly many months and even years". "Evidence that has accumulated in those places must be considered very unreliable because people will after a while start to take on board the views of their interrogators," he says. "Our volunteers were in a sensory deprivation environment for 48 hours and being treated humanely."

After just 48 hours, Adam wanted to kiss the man who opened the door to let him out. "I was let outside and saw the sun and the sky, for the first time in 48 hours. My senses were overwhelmed totally and utterly by the sights, sounds and smells.

Let me know what you think leave me a comment:

St. Helens is Disturbing the Locals Again

2008-01-19T14:30:00.000-08:00

MOUNT ST. HELENS NATIONAL MONUMENT, Wash. - Mount St. Helens blew another cloud of steam skyward Thursday shortly after scientists said its crater floor had risen 50 to 100 feet since Tuesday, indicating that molten magma was moving upward without encountering much resistance.

A news helicopter hovering over the crater captured the latest venting, which sent gray and white clouds of steam billowing upward beginning about noon (3 p.m. ET).

I lived in the area when she first blew, it was dramatic!

Let me know what you think leave me a comment:

Frigid Conditions take toll Despite American Allies Presence in the Country.

2008-01-18T04:04:00.001-08:00

The number of people who have died due a cold snap in Afghanistan has risen to 200, government officials say. Four large provinces in the western part of the country have been especially badly hit. Tens of thousands of livestock have also perished.

Local people are saying the winter conditions have been the most severe in decades. The cold spell is also affecting neighboring countries despite the presence of the American presence in the area.People seem to have been unprepared for the heavy snow and low temperatures.

Most of the 200 dead are herdsmen - but women and children have also died.

Let me know what you think leave me a comment:

Looks like the Whalers and the Protesters have Mutually Stood Down

2008-01-17T12:43:00.000-08:00

The pair, from the radical Sea Shepherd group, boarded the vessel on Tuesday. The ICR then branded the activists as terrorists, while Sea Shepherd accused the ICR of illegal hunting. Earlier, Australian PM Kevin Rudd had urged both sides to exercise restraint.

"It became very clear yesterday that Sea Shepherd had no intention of retrieving their two intruders, who boarded the Yushin Maru with backpacks carrying a change of clothes, toiletries and other sundry items.

"The Australian government accepted Japan's request to assist and remove the men from our research vessel to allow us to continue our work."

Let me know what you think leave me a comment:

Intervention Asea offered by the Aussies

2008-01-17T04:52:00.000-08:00

Australia says it will send a ship to collect two activists from a Japanese whaling vessel, in a bid to end a two-day Antarctic stand-off. Her Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said a ship monitoring the whalers would retrieve the men as soon as possible. Mr Smith said that the patrol boat, the Oceanic Viking, would retrieve the men from the Yushin Maru 2 and transfer them to Sea Shepherd's Steve Irwin vessel.

The whalers say the men tried to damage their propeller and threw acid before illegally boarding. They offered to return them if Sea Shepherd agreed not to confront the whaling vessel during the handover. Sea Shepherd said the men were roughed up when they boarded the vessel and ruled out any kind of conditional handover.

Let me know what you think leave me a comment:

2008-01-16T06:06:00.000-08:00

this is very strange shutting down the new accounts without the new post transferred. Let me know what you think leave me a comment:

2007-02-26T12:46:00.000-08:00

The Blazers are speculating that Rookie Center LaMarcus Aldridge may be getting extra minutes in the second half of the Season 07'.
Things are looking up with the addition of another local hero Freddie Jones the once fiery from the University of Oregon fighting Ducks!!

Now!!

He is going to be looking to come off the bench early and often to be teamed with the Sergio overdrive game! It seems that Jones is quite the finisher, he has won an NBA Slam Dunk Championship and may just be the finisher that the Blazers have been struggling to find.

TRADE?

2007-02-18T09:39:00.000-08:00

The Tacoma News-Tribune ran this today as part of a larger piece on possible Sonics Trades:

Two sources confirmed that the Portland Trail Blazers called the Sonics in an attempt to obtain Robert Swift.

Sund told the Blazers that Swift, out for the season with a knee injury, was not available, according to the sources.

It is unclear who the Blazers offered, though they have been attempting to trade Jamaal Magloire all season. In that case, another player like Danny Fortson would have to be included to meet the NBA’s salary requirements. Magloire makes $8.3 million while Swift makes $1.9 million.

Let me know what you think leave me a comment:

Zach Comes to Life... in an Ugly... WIN!

2007-01-28T05:44:00.000-08:00

The 135 points were a season high for a game, for the Trail Blazers, as were their 27 assists.

Randolph shot only 16-of-40 from the field but scored 13 points in two overtime to help the Trailblazers rally from their 16-point deficit in the second half. He even shot a 3-pointer with 38 seconds left to clinch Portland's third win in the last four games. Zach Randolph scored dude, he had a career-high 42 points on the night, and he grabbed 12 rebounds. The Trailblazers rallied to beat those woeful Memphis Grizzlies 135-132 in a double overtime game on Saturday night.

The opposition even complimented their work ethic after the game. "They did a good job of pounding the ball inside," Memphis coach Tony Barone said. "They caught the ball in the paint 31 times and that led to 34 points, whether it was field goals or free throws. The one stat the killed us tonight was second-chance points. ... You can't give up that many second-chance points in any game."

The Trailblazers outscored Memphis 72-52 in the paint, showing evidence of their inside dominance. Portland had 16 offensive rebounds! That is how they built a 23-8 advantage, by getting second chance points! A sweet victory on the road!

It wasnt weasy, it took an explosion in the Blazers' locker room at halftime with coach Nate stomping and swearing, to challenge his team. The Blazers had just been traumatized 59-47 by the Grizzlies, heck, they own the worst record in the NBA! Nate called the defense lethargic.

Then Zach took over. He got the message. He kept shooting and shooting and shooting, kinda like the energizer bunny out there. Randolph shot 40 times, he set a new franchise record for attempts, breaking the record of 37 set by Geoff Petrie, way back, in 1973. Everyone was impressed. The Blazers won again, imagine, three of the last Four!

OregonLive forum has this reaction:

323687.1.1. by next year

by JETBlack06, 1/28/07 1:42 ET
Re: Sergio 7 more assists by JETBlack06, 1/28/07 he should be our man at the point playing 30 plus minutes dishing out 10 dimes a game

323687. Sergio 7 more assists

by JETBlack06, 1/28/07 1:32 ET

and no turnovers. His A/T ratio has got to be out of this world by now.

323681. Zach's 3 pointer. Check this out

by iverigma, 1/28/07 1:00 ET

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMyndHtj_Qs
323682. Zachy franchise by timr1088, 1/28/07 1:07 ET

They came out and gave the ball to Zach Randolph, and he did what all franchise players do in this league. He delivered," Memphis guard Chucky Atkins said. "He made big plays. He got big rebounds for them and putbacks, and he did everything he needed to for his team to win.

Good stuff! If you have anything to add, lemme know!

Undefeated! At Least, in the Second Half the Year!

2007-01-25T10:21:00.000-08:00

Two in a row!!

Zach Randolph struggled, scored just two points by halftime- but finished strong with 22 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as the Portland Trail Blazers edged the Mighty Kevin Garnett and his Minnesota Timberwolves, 101-98, in overtime.

It was another game showcasing the rookie trio that the Blazers picked on draft day 2006!

Sergio Rodriguez even scored 18 points, he was hoisting his shot at the direction of Coach Nate, who said that this prevented the T'wolves from sagging off & have them defend the "Spanish Chocolate"- and his incredible passes.

Brandon Roy too has recently been given that green light to handle the offense. He has not let the team down, you can hear the pride in his voice while he talks of having his own number called in recent vital scoring situations. He rewarded the team for that confidence in him, he did this while contributing 13 points. He has been really coming through recently, in closing seconds. It has been said that Brandon Roy knows when he needs take over, so he’s not afraid to do it. The results- the Blazers have won back to back games for the first time this season!

LaMarcus Aldridge too is getting his minutes, in this contest he struggled with his shooting, throwing up a lot of misses. But in the closing minutes he came through like a veteran. He shot 2/2 at the free throw line keeping the Blazers in dominance, (read about them below!) while gathering 2 more blocks at the defensive end, saying to the T'wolves, 'No, not here, not tonight.

From Oregonlive.com and the Blazer forum

322922. Roy

by timr1088, 1/25/07 13:08 ET

Is there any doubt who the leader is on this team. This kid is going to be a star. Love the fact that he wouldn't go out of the game even with back spasms. I get them at least twice a year and I can barely move, of course a little vicadin (sp?) always helps but it's still pretty stiff and hard to do daily activities, can't even imagine trying to play an NBA game with them. We have the player we can build around. Amazing that the player we go to in the clutch has really only played 25 NBA games.......

Re: Aldridge
322832.1. he WON the game for us, bro by ZBo, 1/25/07 1:15 ET
Re: Aldridge has got to by JETBlack06, 1/25/07

his free throws LITERALLY won the game for us.

322829. LMA freethrows

by BrailleTaser, 1/25/07 1:11 ET

did LMA call Ricky Davis a bi.tch after draining that second FT? As he backed away, I thought I saw him say bi.tch in RD's direction, since Davis had been trying to psych him.

Let me know what you think leave me a comment:

Well it Wasnt a Breakout Game, but it was a Fine Win!

2007-01-22T04:36:00.000-08:00

Well the New Exciting Portland Trailblazers opened up the second half of the season last night. As expected they made a statement. ESPN noticed, FOXsports did too. Brandon Roy continued uploading his application process for the NBA Rookie of the Year, with a marked vengeance.

Our own, Brandon Roy was the leading scorer against the struggling Milwaukee ballclub. He contributed a healthy 39 minutes, shooting 10-15 from the field, added 9 rebounds, 2assists and made 2 steals. Roy incidentally made a devestating, heart ripping three in the final minutes to stop any run that the Bucks could have made.

Coach Nate was impressed... again. He witnessed the Buck heart becoming disemboweled in the final minutes. "When they came back on us, he (Roy) made play after play and was able to stop their streak by scoring himself on the other end," McMillan said. "He makes something happen."

The Trailblazers NBA All-star also offered an insight that few talked about. "We would have lost this last year," said Portland's Zach Randolph, who added 19 points and 12 rebounds for his 24th double-double of the young season. "This year we fought back and won."

Yes this team is willing and able to make a statement for the foes who would walk into the Rose Garden looking for that "easy win". Up next. Kevin Garnett and the Minnesota Timberwolves visit Portland and Ime Udoka will be take on the Midwest's number one scorer. Lets see if Garnett winds up getting his hands cuffed for the next 4 quarters.

From the OregonLive.com Blazer forum.
321765. Play Sergio More

by NoCal, 1/22/07 0:08 ET

Sergio had 6 assists in only 13 minutes. He came in the game when the Blazers were up 5 and when he came out they were up 20. Jack played the rest of the game and the lead evaporated and they nearly blew the game.

Jack had only 3 assists in 38 minutes and the offense was stagnant with him in there. He is not bad, but the team plays better with Sergio. I would like to see them split time at PG over the next month to see how they fare with equal playing time.

321765.2. Sergio only got 13 minutes because he

by Smoothy07, 1/22/07 0:11 ET
Re: Play Sergio More by NoCal, 1/22/07 can't guard a rock placed in cement

321765.3.2. Does that translate to 'I like Jack"?

by Marazul, 1/22/07 0:30 ET
Re: Play Sergio More by NoCal, 1/22/07

321765.4. Jack

by salesteacher, 1/22/07 0:29 ET
Re: Play Sergio More by NoCal, 1/22/07

Not as sharp as the Spaniard but the future is bright with both of them on our team.

Well opinions are like nosebleeds, everybody has had at least one! Let me know what you think leave me a comment:

The Second Half of the Season Starts Tonight!

2007-01-21T07:36:00.000-08:00

After playing their hearts out against Phoenix the other night, in a game in which they battled to pull within three on three different occasions during the final two minutes, the Blazers are hopeful. Their new young squad has proven time and time again in recent weeks that despite their inability to prove themselves consistent, they are demonstrating teamwork and patience against some of the teams toughest opponents.

Coach Nate is applauding the secondary line up. He is putting the town on notice that perhaps this team may run the ball much more often in the second part of the season. That second part starts tonight! The damaged Milwaukee Bucks are coming to town hobbling, without two of their top scorers and now showcasing Rueben Patterson an ex Blazer and one fellow named Andrew Bogut, whoever that is! In other words, we should have a young team on the floor and all over this Buck ballclub. They lost in Seattle 99-72. We had better blow this team up sooner and by a bigger margin, otherwise the Sonics will not let us forget it come time for our next face to face.

Coach Nate has had this to say this week. "When you are talking about building the team for the future, I think that conversation definitely has to come up,"(about an up tempo game) adding, "This was something we had to make a decision on last year, w/ Sebastian (Telfair), because he and Zach didn't work. Sebastian wanted to be in the open floor and play with the ball, and Zach is more of a halfcourt player, so you have to slow things down and play off him.", he concluded that "... I still think you need a low-post presence in this league in order to win"

From the Oregonian this Sunday, January 21, 2007

JASON QUICK

Meanwhile, Aldridge, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2006 draft, has become one of those rare commodities in the NBA: a big man who has feathery touch from the outside, polished moves inside and the wherewithal to block shots. He has also established himself as one of the top disciples of strength and conditioning coach Bobby Medina, who predicts Aldridge can sculpt his body quicker and better than former Blazers prodigy Jermaine O'Neal.

Yes! This team is prepared for a breakout game, a statement game tonight, a game that will open the second half of the season showing the league what every team they face will be in for, coming to Portland, the latter half of this season will mean.

Wow, What a Game!

2007-01-18T08:42:00.000-08:00

LaMarcus Aldridge had 14 points off the bench, and Sergio Rodriguez added nine assists. The Trail Blazers rolled to a 94-76 victory over the road-weary Cleveland Cavaliers.

On the win: "When he's making his jump shots, he's almost unbeatable," said Roy, speaking of the Cavaliers All-star LeBron James, who had 19 points and 10 rebounds in the Blazers' 94-76 victory over the road-weary Cavaliers on Wednesday night. "Tonight he wasn't making those shots," Roy added.James scored 23 points for Cleveland, which is 2-3 on its seven-game road trip. The Cavaliers were coming off a 101-96 loss in Seattle.

The win was number 16 on the young season for these Portland Trailblazers. The season is about halfway over marked by the game on this Friday. At any rate, the Blazers are assured of finishing their first half with a better record than last season, when they were 15-26.

A crowd of 19,228 at Portland's Rose Garden saw what could be a promising future, as the Blazers' three rookies, Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and Sergio Rodriguez stood out last night. They again came in and picked up the game when the starters stagnated.

It was the largest winning margin for a home victory in the latest, "McMillan era". It also tied the largest victory of the season, earlier in New Jersey.

The Blazers had an ides. The key was the Blazer defenders keeping the Caveliers, especially James and Hughes in front of them. Ime Udoka, the Blazer forward guards every opponent's top scorer each and every game. Udoka, spent his entire game, frustrating James by constantly touching him.

"I would just make sure I kept a hand on him, and I don't think he liked that," Udoka said. "There was some pushing, and I got in his face, because I wanted to make him shoot contested shots. It didn't seem like he ever got into his groove until late in the game." These guys think they can beat people. When Brandon Roy took his turn defending LeBron, he too admitted he had shared the attitude, "I wanted to measure up to him," Roy said of James. "And the biggest thing for me was to treat him as an equal, not as a superstar."

Friday night the Blazers close the first half of the year against the Phoenix Suns. Can they catch
the Suns napping while taking this new game on the road? We will just have to see.

They are hungry again.

Let me know what you think leave me a comment:

Who is this Sergio guy from Europe?

2007-01-16T11:18:00.000-08:00

Sergio Rodriguez is twenty years old. The youngest PortlandTrailblazer. He is he third pick of those Blazers, in this years in the NBA draft. He struggles to find playing time, as a rookie. Sergio has been a professional basketball player in Spain, since he was 14yrs old. His team there played regularly against teams from all over Europe.

He has always had his heroes of the game. He constantly attempts to model his game after several familiar names, NBA stars Gary Payton and Jason Kidd, Steve Nash and yes, “The Pistol,” he says, Pete Maravich.

He has acquired his own nickname since his playing days back in Europe, “Spanish Chocolate” he says is a takeoff on another player he has great respect for Miami Heat guard Jason Williams.

The team is noticing, the fans are noticing, and yes, after his performance the other night Allen Iverson had this to say, “He played great,” said the new Denver superstar, “If you can judge him off of tonight’s game, I mean, wow. It’s a long, grueling season, but if he stays with it, the sky’s the limit for him. This one will do a lot for his confidence. It’s a game that can make him feel good about himself and know that he can play and be successful in this league.” Thats is a high praise from the man who lives off praise.

Denver Coach George Karl was impressed too. Speaking of Sergio, he said that for twelve minutes in the second quarter, “He was a dominating player,” that, “He controlled their offense and our defense in the second quarter. He looks like he’s going to be a player", adding ,“We wanted him to go to the rim more than shoot a jump shot, but he’s clever. He finds guys open. A big part of NBA basketball is the pick-and-roll, and he seems to have a knack for it already, which for a young player is unusual.”

This is big, to be a rookie, struggling for minutes this is big. Lastly, former Blazer Steve Blake told reporters, “I was impressed with his court vision,” regards Sergio and his game. “He obviously understands the game, and he was knocking down shots, which made it easier for him to find open teammates. If he can consistently do that, he’ll be a very good player in this league.”

Sergio has found a philosophy that has worked for him, He says, “I know I must shoot, to keep the defense honest,” then “But I prefer an assist to a score. The most important thing is to play with my teammates, and that my teammates are happy with me. They have to have confidence in me. When you find this, other things fall into place.” It sounds like it is paying off incredibly well.

Teammates on the Blazers are often amazed at his unique ability. “He gets people the ball in the right places,” Joel Przybilla, the struggling center, says. “The first time I played with him in a pickup game, I called a couple of buddies and said, ‘He’s gonna be a player, man.’ He’s so unselfish. He’s so under control already. His future in this league is just unbelievable.”

Coach Nate has a dilemma, more and more fans in the city of Roses are being convinced that his style is suited for the game of ball movement. They pause and consider all the young legs that are being restricted by the half court offense, rigid, under discipline. The offense that value utmost the time of possession as most important, with an emphasis on defense.

Sergio is not quite ready for Nate. Sergio needs to work on his defense. Sergio will wait.

Can the fans wait?

Let me know what you think leave me a comment:

"That was Beautiful Basketball, Man."

2007-01-15T07:07:00.000-08:00

Juan Dixon was shaking his head. His teammate, the new hero in town, had just returned his gun to the holster. Sergio Rodriquez, the amazing third draft pick of this young and explosive season turned in the finest game of his short NBA career.
Sergio last night, came off the bench to make his statement against the Denver Nuggets. Juan Dixon was still in awe, "We haven't played like that all year, any year,". The Blazers had just lost their 10th game in the last 12 events. Heads however, were NOT bowed, anything but. Rookie Sergio Rodriguez scored a career-high 23 points shooting the ball 11-14, and had 10 assists for Portland. Rodriguez had at one point, hit a pull-up jumper and then a layup to help to give the Blazers a 51-43 lead. Then Portland did actually outscore the Nuggets 37-18 in the second quarter, with the help of Sergio, and led 56-49 at the half!

Oh Yeah. Denver won the game when the starters came back in and the excitement waned. It was Denver 109-93. The Blazers' starters were just so obviously ineffective in the game, they en masse, contributed a total of just 20 points.

Herer are some good quotes from my friends in the OregonLive Blazer forum:

319959. Sergio is quick
by NachoLibre, 1/15/07 0:39 ET
as all get up. I dig how he just rips apart a D & get them all flustered... & before you can blink he throws some incredible pass!!! CRAZY

319959.1. Sergo = Steal
by pepsikat, 1/15/07 0:55 ET
Re: Sergio is quick by NachoLibre, 1/15/07
of the draft. Roy and Alderage may be better overall players (time will tell on that one) BUT given their draft positions Sergio was the steal. Booyah. Go Blazers.

More:

319960. Aldridge
by blazerfan11, 1/15/07 0:40 ET
I think the sky is the limit with him. He's very athletic, good range for a big, and has that incredible wing span. He's our future 5....but I think the future should be now. Quit giving his minutes to Maglore.

319960.1. Amen to
by NachoLibre, 1/15/07 0:43 ET
Re: Aldridge by blazerfan11, 1/15/07
that!!! Magloire... I fell (at times) as if I'm watching the play unfold in SLOW-MO!!!! It shocks me that more of his shots are not blocked into the 3rd level.

It is clear this team is struggling at times in the Slo-mo half court game. The bench is making its value more and more apparent to the coach and yes coaches and NBA foes. Many in the forum were asking that the second team be given a chance to start the next contest. Those blogging fans actually are asking coach Nate to consider bringing the veteran players off the bench to score more easily, while the opponents second team struggles to score!

It is food for thought.
Somehow though,
I dont think coach Nate will keep it down,
so to speak!!

Let me know what you think leave me a comment:

Yes...The Pryz and the Blazers start Anew with the Evening Tide

2007-01-13T05:17:00.000-08:00

The Pryz picked up his game and Zach Randolph paved the way for the win Friday night at the Rose Garden. The Sacramento Kings rolled into town optimistic, after hearing the news that Jarret Jack, Portland's starting guard, suffered a concussion after an automobile accident in the Blazers parking lot early in the afternoon. The rest of the team picked up the pace, Dan Dickau scored from the bench shooting 4-8 from the field including a coupla threes, contributing 23 minutes.

Yes, Im sure you all want to know if Pryz was able to snap his dreadful streak mentioned forever in the last post. He was 100% from the field last night, shooting 1-1 and adding a free throw shot for 3pts in the game. He spiced up his "nightline" adding a steal and 2 blocks. Now that is progress. Slow, but hopefully sure.

LMA (Aldridge) collected measurable minutes,23 to be exact. He was a contributor for sure,but posted moderate numbers. He shot 2-6 with two free throws. He added 4 rebounds 2 assists and also had 2 blocks defensively.

Charley Rosen from the Fox sports page
had this to say about the Blazer Rookie's game last night:
LaMarcus Aldridge has good hands, quick feet, and excellent defensive instincts. Can he pass? Put the ball on the floor? Shoot? Have a go-to move? No. No. So-so. Perhaps a jump hook.

The single most impressive play in Aldridge's performance occurred in the 4th quarter. That's when Ron Artest decided to shoot first and ask no questions, thereby rendering both Bibby and Martin useless, and singlehandedly losing the game for Sacramento. Anyway, as Artest squared up with the ball along the left baseline and prepared to take the rookie to school, Aldridge got wide and low, made several quick sideways crab-steps, and forced Artest out-of-bounds.

With some off-season body work, along with spending long hours in a gym expanding his offensive capabilities, the young man could eventually become a dynamic man in the middle.

Portland improved to 8-11 at home on the season. The Blazers had an impressive 10 steals, holding the Kings to only four. Portland made only 13-of-23 (56.5 percent) of its free throws, or it could have been much worse for them.

The Denver Nuggets are up next tonight at the Rose Garden, can the Blazers offer the Denver squad their third loss in three games? The Nuggets are already on a skid of their own. Can Portland make a statement here?
Will the Trailblazers defend this new winning streak against that team that looms just ahead of them in the standings?
Afterall, this Marcus Camby dude has been cleaning the glass for his team from the Rockies, wow, he had a career high 24 rebounds last night! Then there is the ex-blazer Steve Blake, last night he compiled an impressive 29 minutes off the bench last night and totaled 13pts including three 3's and six assists.
Be ready Blazers, be very ready.

Let me know what you think leave me a comment:

This Guy Prz... Needs to Get Back to Business Tonight

2007-01-12T04:05:00.000-08:00

Portland is matched up again with the Sacramento Kings tonight. The story in Portland is the "funk" that Joe Pryzbilla, that defensive gem... known as Pryz, says he has found himself in recent games. This guy is 7'1 and he is averaging exactly 0 points per game in his last three contests. Honest, he has shot 0-2 in total, for those three games. Can you imagine, he's taken only two shots in three games, and he missed them both!

This Pryz guy's mental "distractions" are getting downright ominous. He gets paid millions of Blazer bucks... this guy needs to shake his anxiety and quit looking over his shoulder, at the bench! Instead, Pryz needs to concentrate on finishing a play, or making the pass reception necessary for a simple layup. He also needs to do it, more than once or twice a game. I dont see why he cannot dominate the young 6'9 center Shareef Abdur-Rahim. Pry should be not only blocking this kids shot, heck, from behind if he has to- but also he needs to stuff that leather ball in the hoop on offense and bounce it off the boys head!

Honest to God. If this guy cant handle a simple pick and roll pass, and finish it, then he SHOULD be planting his million dollar butt on the fence! He should be freely willing give up his minutes, then give the ball to the next guy who isnt wearing concrete shoes. There is always, the next one- who can jump and possibly shoot the ball!

Portland (14-23) will be coming into Friday's game having lost nine of its last 11, bouncing off the Wednesday 99-74 rout at Dallas. The Sacramento Kings (14-18) are ranked 11th of the 15 teams in the West 12.5 games back. Portland is at number 12, but 15 games back. At any rate, we need to put a game together.

Hey Coach! When in doubt we all say, go to LMA!

Aldridge has his Time to Shine, Despite Losses

2007-01-11T05:07:00.000-08:00

The Trail Blazers never cut into Dallas' double-digit lead after halftime. Jarrett Jacks' star shined briefly when he made consecutive layups. That momentum was brief when he hepled make the score 77-59 early in the fourth quarter, but the Mavericks led by as many as 26 points on the way to the 25-point win in Dallas.

The Trailblazers are standing 11 games back in the Northwest Division. To make it worse the mavericks had just creamed them for the 12th time time in 12 games. Its getting a little ugly and little angry in the Blazer locker room and with the fan base. Coach Nate is ever being asked "why the rotation?". Finally his answer has become those three little words, I'm the coach...

In the End though, we in the midwest are still increasingly interested in the play of rookie, LaMarcus Adridge:

Wednesday night in Dallas w/ 35 family and friends scattered in the arena, rookie LaMarcus Aldridge had 14 points and six rebounds, he shot 7-14, had a assist 2 blocked shots in an astonishing 34 minutes, a career high. He was even selected to start the second half at center in place of Joel Przybilla, who played only 8 minutes total.

LaMarcus Aldridge also had a breakout offensive game the night before onTuesday, but that wasn't enough to stop the San Antonio Spurs' spanking of his Blazers. The Blazers No. 2 pick hit 6-of-8 shots on his way to a season-high 17 points and added six rebounds in 23 minutes, but San Antonio won its seventh straight and 14th in 15 tries against Portland, 98-84

Last weekend, they played the Miami Heat at home. Sunday, LaMarcus Aldridge, got substantial minutes. playing in the absence of the injured Travis Outlaw, and the resurgent Martell Webster. Aldridge had 10 of his career-high 14 points in the second quarter, and Webster had 10 points in his first nine-minute shift of the game.

Let me know what you think leave me a comment:

2007-01-07T04:06:00.000-08:00

What a woeful game that was... Has Trent retired yet?

Let me know what you think leave me a comment:

2007-01-06T04:52:00.001-08:00

Today is the big day. Around 7pm tonight on the Prairie we will know just what kind of a new year we will have. The Chiefs will have boarded a flight home, either the first winner of 2007... or just another loser.

Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson has been open to talk karma! “It’s been 37 years since the Chiefs went to the Super Bowl,” said Dawson, “That’s a long time. And they’ve had times when they thought it would be their year. The breaks haven’t gone their way. Maybe this year it’ll be different. Who knows?”

Bottom line is it's a hard business in a sometimes spiteful world. Win a Super Bowl and you will be immortalized. Fail and you just might be vilified. Payton Manning doesnt just want to be remembered as just a 92-52 as a starter in the regular season. Big deal, his critics already say. He's 3-6 in the playoffs. His own high regular season achievement is already obscured by playoff failure. Manning and Dungy can't win the big one. They are saying it already.

Trent Green has had his success too. He hasnt made the playoffs as often as his adversary Payton Manning. He may be ready to have a break out game. It may be karma. Here’s how it works: All the good things you’ve done or had done to you, and all the bad things you’ve done and or had done to you, the universe takes stock of them and then looks to balance them all out.

BILL REITER and The Kansas City Star cited here:

Some fellar named Steve MacDonald believes. Heck, he can sense it. He can feel the fact you Chiefs guys are due, and ya know... he’s read Arsenio Hall’s palm on national television! He toured the Chiefs Stadium the other day just... feeling! We got his impressions here! Yep, Yehaw, we got us some quotable quotes:

Impression #1"I think Lamar (Hunt)’s looking over the team,” MacDonald said. “This was his pet project. His energy is very much around."

Impression #2
"Trent Green — “His karma is pretty darn good, he’s done a lot of good stuff for the world.”

Impression #3
"Larry Johnson — “He’s a very powerful person who can spark energy in the crowd. That’s big for karma.”

Impression #4
As he turned and looked at the huge empty parking lot, the place that so many boisterous happy fans fill on game days. “There,” he said, “that is the energy. That energy doesn’t disappear into the universe. It’s here.” saying again, “Their energy is still here, even now.”

Back to me:
Karma or not. This team has the talent to pull this off. They have the stars aligned to get this reward. They just need to line up take the field and put in the effort. "The only game that matters is the last one." So they need the mindset, the determination and the where with all to do it, accept it and relish in the consequences. The Pittsburgh Steelers did it. Will we?
Are we ready to march that road to the next game on this our fabulous adventure!

Now The Colts are 0-3 during the postseason under coach Tony Dungy when they are minus in giveaway to takeaway differential. Now get this: the first eight games, Colts were plus-10 in giveaway to takeaway differential and went 8-0. Recently over the past eight games, they have gone minus-3 and 4-4. Advantage Kansas City.
Same thing expressed a different way: The Colts rank fourth in the NFL with just 19 giveaways on offense but are tied for 21st in the league for takeaways with only 26. If our defense can force that offense to turn it over twice, it could mean the difference. if Trent Green fires another interception it could kill us, replace him when neccessary!

My prediction:
Kansas City 27- Indy 24!

Let me know what you think leave me a comment:

Saturday, it Could be the Day Larry has Been Waiting All His Life For

2007-01-05T03:55:00.000-08:00

What do YOU think?
Omigod, Have you read the stats on the Indianapolis Colts? This 2006 Colts team allowed an absolutely amazining 2,768 rushing yards in 16 games. They havent given up so much real estate to NFL foes in 20 years. This years struggling defense allowed 5.3 yards per carry, (listening Larry?) the second-highest total since 1978 and the very worthless 1996 New Orleans Saints allowed 6.1 yards per. Heck the Colts allowed 375 yards rushing during one game against Jacksonville.

Lots of people are asking the big question, Can we just line up and run for 5.3 every time and never toss the ball? It is the big debate in every bar and outside a lot of churches too. I heard two women discussing it over the tomatoes on the produce aisle at Price Chopper!

Chiefs Analyst and Hall of Fame quarterback, Len Dawson, was asked if it could happen.“I don’t think you could run it every down,” Dawson says he knows about this firsthand. His old team back in 1968, configured a scheme. Hank Stram was struggling to protect his inury plagued receivers going into an always nasty game against the hated Oakland Raiders. Coach Hank came up with the two tight ends, he also lined up three running backs behind Dawson to run the ball, incessantly. He said in that game the Raiders Defense was too prideful to change make the adjustments. They refused to load up the line of scrimmage.

Oh yeah, the Chiefs won the game 24-10, but no, in the end they couldnt run every down. Len Dawson, after a good warm up, threw the ball three times. Ponder that. Can we beat that record? I myself have to wonder, the way Trent was tossing up the picks last week and tripped over the ball, offering up three turnovers himself! It would be such a tempting record to break, think, on Indianapolis artificial home turf, wouldnt it be particularly sweet. They would talk about it for decades... if we won. Larry would enjoy the ink!

Hey, maybe its not THE plan for Saturday, they might have some play action to toss in the mix. But Herm, remember, ya gotta make them stop the run first... right? LOL!

Let me know what you think leave me a comment:

Seattle's got Company Coming... in the Cellar!

2007-01-04T04:15:00.000-08:00

Eddy Curry dunked right past the Trail Blazers.

Yep, the Eastern Conference found another hero last night. They stopped by Portland Oregon for a little pick me up, but it wasnt at Starbucks. Eddy Curry, the Knicks latest leading scorer, found he had 27 points coming to him, against the Blazers. He had even more success, including six dunks, 10 more career rebounds and oh yeah, 2 blocked shots came his way too. As youve guessed by now, the New York Knicks snapped a three-game losing streak on their West Coast swing with a dominant 99-81 victory over Portland on Wednesday night.

Curry wasnt real finesse about it in his post game remarks. "I'm so used to having a couple of guys on me and trying to put something in the air and get it to go in," then adding, "I'm not used to having such open lanes to the basket,''
Well.
At least he didnt say WIDE open! (right Pryz?)

Oh yeah too,
The team is in disarray, "Our offense looks bad, our defense looks bad, our body language looks bad right now," Blazers guard Brandon Roy said. "We're having too many moments when we're not scoring, not defending. They had like 20 dunks on us tonight,'' adding, We were just embarrassed tonight," Roy said. "We can't seem to find our effort.

"Oh yeah excuse me again, Hey Brandon, didnt you play against the Knicks Jamal Crawford the Seattle Wa native? Didnt he outscore you? Brandon struggled to get 14 pts shooting just 4-11. The Knicks meanwhile got 25 points from Jamal- when the game was over, Jamal had definitely outplayed his old friend Brandon Roy!

Puzzled?
Coach Nate thought maybe his tough practice the other day would create in his team, a little resentment, it did, but not towards the other team. The result?
This Blazer coach was so baffled after their pitiful game, he started his post-game team meeting with questions. "I asked them, 'What's wrong? What's going on?" he said. He was telling THEM to give him the answer.
Point guard Jarrett Jack stood up. "I spoke up, told them, 'Everybody's not playing," Jack said
He has a pretty savvy squad.

At least they were three weeks ago!

Let me know what you think leave me a comment:

One More Game! (actually about Four, If we Get Good!)

2007-01-03T04:59:00.000-08:00

So.... What do ya'll think?

Head to Head, it looks like we will give Indy a battle on Saturday. If God wills it, we will come out of Indiana feeling a whole lot better about ourselves. Do you think the Lord is smiling, after welcoming Lamar Hunt to heaven...?

by
~cgfelker

Think he said something like, "I got a little gift for you, my brother, after all your hard work!"
We'll have to see.

Trent you can make it happen. Maybe if you pray with me before the game. Your arm can straighten out, and the ball will be sticky after falling on the turf! You are in my prayers.
Trent has an opportunity to go out on top. Make a statement, here, now. You gotta know he is asking himself questions, he is evaluating what it means to be home and offer your children a quality of life that includes having a father who is there, emotionally, physically, and mentally.

Larry Johnson, he will take care of himself... he is wanting a national audience that people will be talking about for weeks... until he can get back to SD and share that stage again to show how HIS O-line can play together with a mission. He wants to have another chance to outshine LT, his probably bitter rival. Not just LJ's mission. No. Also...that "Lamar Hunt Mission". If it is the will of God.

Coach will get an opportunity to share with his peers his significant growth as a head coach. He will have a chance to steal some love from all those Herm Haters in the Big Green Rotten Apple. New York City. He has another opportunity to transform this team into his own likeness, while everyone in this city is seeing, hoping, all these personal "missions" are part of a puzzle that will be contributing to the final picture, the Lamar Hunt Vision.

Let me know what you think leave me a comment:

Blame it on the Damn Leather Ball! (No, ...Afraid that one won't ((even)) Work!)

2007-01-02T04:47:00.000-08:00

Everyone musta stayed up way too long watching the Dick Clark's Rockin' Eve Holiday New Year Special. Heck, just sayin' the title took long enough! But anyhow, the Blazers pulled of another "exciteless NoShow" performance at home last night. Honest to God, this team gets so many people hyped for them, so pumped... then... they fail to put "together" any effort.!

Even the record low crowd for the season reflected the "failure to show" attitude of most fans in the city. Coach well he had few words to say. He offered no excuses, explained nothing, He said only "Come to Tuesday's practice ready to work, or don't bother showing up at all." The Sarge has returned and is ready to work. Pay Attention boys.

Yep, the Blazers have lost three straight, and three of the last four at home in the Rose Garden. Pitiful, just pitiful. Hell, they at least work hard on the road!

OK!Here's the joke of the week!
See if you can crack a smile at this one-
latenight chat from the OregonLive.com "Trailblazer Forum".

316526. Magloire is TERRIBLE!

by PrtlandSport, 1/2/07 3:21 ET

316526.1. He is sooo fun to watch.

by noscat, 1/2/07 3:24 ET

316526.2. Magloire is the BEST Blazer!!!!

by dubzC, 1/2/07 3:33 ET
He was an Allstar right? ahaha.. I really don't see how he was an Allstar. Even if he is getting old or whatever, he still should be playing better than he is now! He can be a good rebounder, but that's about it.. Pretty clumsy big guy!

316526.2.1. ok...

by blazer30, 1/2/07 4:06 ET
if u call a good rebounder stealing the boards from his own teamate jus to make his stats look a lil better than crap on a stick

Great line, Blazer30!

Back to the Grim Details:
I guess it was close I guess until about one minute to go 83-79 Boston. After that nothing! The Blazers offered 2pts, went what, 1 for 4 shooting and added 4 personal fouls, and one turnover! Oh yeah, they gave up 6pts in that final minute to give the game away, after eating one dunk shot- the Celtics made 4 straight free throws...
Oh Well. Who's up next? NY Knicks... hmm... maybe we CAN snap this streak!

Oh Yeah. About LaMarcus Aldridge... he Did Not Play again, Coaches Decision.

OTHER NOTABLE QUOTES:
Coach Nate McMillan- "We are not playing hard," adding "If you don't compete hard enough in this league, you're not going to beat anybody."
All Star Zach Randolph- "We had no energy" adding "We had blank looks on our faces."
Coach Nate McMillan-"If you don't play hard and compete, you won't even be able to beat a ... college team"
Martell Webster-"I can't explain it..." then "But we need to get back to where we were at the beginning of the season."
the last notable is from Sabastian Telfair the former Blazer, now Celtic "I miss playing in this building," Telfair said. "I loved playing here."
Evidently things haven't changed much.
I think He still must.

I dunno...
Let me know what you think leave me a comment:

Without a Doubt! The Biggest Win of the Year!

2007-01-01T05:26:00.000-08:00

There were miracles AFTER miracles happening for the almost forgotten 2006 Kansas City Chiefs! The teams final game with the Jacksonville Jaguars turned out to be the nastiest, toughest, smash mouth game on the schedule.

Larry Johnson got his yards, (138 in 33 atts) and his records... most carries in an NFL season and most yards by Chief in a Season. It was special teams player Bernard Pollard's blocked punt returned for a touchdown, in the first quarter, that helped to set the tone for this truly memorable struggle. Trent Green turned in his best performance in weeks, if you dont count his three turnovers that almost cost the team the season. He was 14 of 21 passing with a TD and 2 INTs (and a fumble).

Jacksonville battled, again and again, literally as well as figuratively. The Kansas City defense though rose to the occasion to put down the hammer when it counted. Oh yeah, can we hear it now for that "makeshift" O-line? This ragtag bunch of thrown together "also rans", these were the guys who struggled weekly against all pro defenses and bad press, and gave their all to MAKE SURE that LJ was a star- again THIS season? They deserve some credit... right Larry?

After this, if Larry decides to take some more money and run... I say "Good Riddance".

Coach line up, you deserve some credit for doing the impossible, I hope your New Year celebration goes on for weeks! Thank You Sir!

I have to say thank you too -to Bill Cowher for a great career at Pittsburgh. Also the New England Patriots for doing what they had to do. But, finally the mixed emotions regarding the Denver Broncos... God, SF did well, didnt they? Smile.
This last game though was bitter sweet,. Yes, New Years held its sad news, Broncos CB Derrent Williams who just finished his 2nd NFL season, was shot- in a drive by... and killed- while leaving a night club last night, new years eve. My heart and prayers go out to his Family and to everyone associated with the Denver Broncos

More to come.
Let me know what you think leave me a comment: