Blazers Beat Warriors In Overtime

Deb and I went to a Portland Trail Blazer game for the third year in a row.

We were not disappointed as Damian Lillard scored 61 points to lead the team to a 129-124 victory over the Golden State Warriors.  The Warriors at one point led by 12 points and seemed to have the game in hand.  It was finally settled in a single overtime period.
Lillard's 61 points set a franchise record. There will be no tears by the previous record holder, since it was Lillard himself.

Blazers Will Replace Radio Announcer Wheeler

The Portland Trail Blazers have announced that Brian Wheeler, the NBA team's radio voice for 21 years will not return for the 2019-20 season.  Wheeler, formerly a radio host on Seattle Sports Radio 95 KJR, had missed a good portion of this past seasons with health concerns.

Congrats To The Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers topped the Denver Nuggets in games 7 of the NBA Playoffs. They now will face Golden State in the conference finals.
  I can remember when the Blazers and the Seattle Super Sonics were the only major league teams in the Pacific Northwest.
Since I lived in Walla Walla just north of the Oregon border, I could have rooted for either team, but preferred the Sonics.
For the last couple years, Deb and I have made a winter trip to Portland to watch the Blazers.

Portland Trail Blazer Basketball

For the second year in a row, we went to watch the NBA in Portland.  This year, the Blazers won again, beating the Atlanta Hawks.

Ex Sonic Announcer Calabro Gets Portland Gig

The Puget Sound Radio blog reports that the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers have tapped former Seattle Super Sonic voice Kevin Calabro to be the team's TV voice.  Calabro was with the Seattle NBA team for 21 years.  Recognized as one of the NBA's best voices, Calabro further endeared himself to Seattle sports fans by not following the team when it relocated to Oklahoma City.
While this keeps Calabro in the Northwest, this can be seen as a sign that the NBA's return to Seattle does not look imminent.

Sports Radio 950 Carries Blazers

Sports Radio KJR 950, who for almost 2 decades has bashed the Portland Trail Blazers as part of a rivalry with the former Seattle Super Sonics, has started carrying some of their games.  It is a move that can make sense, since our area has been without NBA basketall since the Sonics departure.  Since almost all NBA games are at night, it is a  low risk move. 
The Portland Trail Blazers are owned by Mercer Island's Paul Allen, who also owns the Seattle Seahawks.

Portland Star Found Dead

Jerome Kersey, who together with Clyde "The Glide" Drexler, provided a one-two punch for the Portland Trail Blazers has been found dead, he was 52.  Kersey, whose name is similar to Seahawk wide receiver Jermaine Kerse,  was a small forward drafted by the Blazers in 1984.  He spent his first 11 seasons with the Blazers, playing in the NBA final in 1990 and 1992.  He would later play for 5 other NBA teams including the Seattle Super Sonics.  He won a ring with the San Antontio Spurs in 1999. He retired in 2001.
Kearsey had appeared at Madison High School with ex Blazers Brian Grant and Terry Porter last Tuesday to celebrate African American History Month.

Advertising Blimp Goes Limp At Blazer Game

A remote control blimp in the shape of an Ford SUV crashed into a crowd at a Portland Trail Blazer game last week, causing no reported injuries.  The mishap was reported on The Today Show, sparking giggles from the hosts.  By coincidence, my Father-In-Law had traveled to Portland to watch that game, but was not affected by the mishap.

Blazers Come From Behind

Only days before, the story was that his career was over, however Brandon Roy turned in the performance of a lifetime in the second half helping the Portland Trail Blazer overcome a 23 point deficit and defeat the Dallas Mavericks. After hitting a three pointer to close out the third period, Roy scored 18 of the teams 35 points in the fourth. The opening best of seven series is now tied between the two teams at 2 games apiece.