1.  Barry Sanders.  When you score a touchdown, act like you've been there before.  Retired on his terms and never looked back.

2.  Peyton Manning.  The dude stayed four years of college because he was having fun.  He also prepares like a Super Bowl MVP.  He totally rocked on SNL.  His commercials are so stupid they are good.  He handles himself with class at all times- even when saying something like "idiot kicker" and he wins. 

3.  Shane Battier.  Mr. Role player.  I'd welcome him to my "clean cut Blazers" anyday.

4.  Andre Agassi.  Hair is gone but flair is still there.  Big community guy.

5.  Dana White (UFC).  The guy has resurrected MMA with business savvy- while still droppin' "F" bombs.  By the way- he's the only guy I will ever say that is cool about.

6.  Aaron Rogers.  This is a stretch- but you have to admit that he's handled himself with class.

7.  Darrell Green.  Stayed with his team and wife for 20+ years- entered HOF.

8.  Sidney Crosby.  Kills and looks like Stormin' Orman 20 years ago.

9.  Kevin Pritchard.  Man of year in Portland.  Rid the city of jail blazers.  Brought in Brandon, LaMarcus, Rudy, Blake, Bayless.  Saved the Vanilla Gorilla Pryzbilla from going elsewhere and got lucky with #1 Pick- Greg Oden. 

10.  Tiger Woods.  Dude...

11.  David Beckham.  The dude barely made made an impact on MLS by earning the league over 70 million in endorsements his first year.  He's worth $250 mil over 5 years and I would never say that.

12.  Ken Griffey, Jr.  No roid controversy.  The guy has been injured and healed "naturally" and is a fist ballot HOF.

13.  Jim Rome.  Guy spits the truth.

14.  Warrick Dunn.  The guy pays for a down payment for a new home for single mothers in Atlanta area each year he's been in the league.

15.  Anyone bustin' on Notre Dame Football.

Who else is just cool and why...

There has been a lot of talk about how Europe is paying well and NBA players- even premier players may be defecting.  I don't really take stock in any of this because it just doesn't seem to be a draw for the elite.  In an odd twist of fate- the new collective bargaining agreement is scheduled for review in (I think) 2010.  If it plays out- we may have some sort of luxury tax similar to MLB.  Some owners may be able to pay players crazy money to come.  Now, why would Stormin' Orman begin to feel very excited about all this?  Uncle Paul (Allen) has the deepest pockets in professional sports.  Portland is the next door neighbor to Beaverton- home of Nike and Orman loves the Blazers.

Imagine Paul Allen becoming the George Steinbrenner of the NBA.  That would make for some very interesting happenings in the free agent market.  LeBron James to Portland for $30 million a year over 10 years (guaranteed).  Many will say that he's a lock to be in New York/Brooklyn with his boy Jay Z.  I give the kid more credit.  He wants to be Warren Buffet and one of the best ways to learn how to be a billionaire is to work for/with one. 

If the salary cap restrictions change- hop on the Blazer Bandwagon.  We have room and don't discriminate.  We also have the richest owner in sports.  <evil laugh>...

When I was thirteen, sports ruled the world. Georgetown beat Houston in the NCAA National Championship. The Boston Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers for the NBA Title in seven games. Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and Charles Barkely were drafted into the NBA. Larry Bird was the MVP. The Olympic Games were held in Los Angeles and the US Team brought home more medals than any other country (174 total). Carl Lewis and Mary Lou Retton became America's most famous Olympic Champions. The LA Raiders beat the Washington Redskins in the Super Bowl. Wayne Gretzsky dominated the NHL. Doug Flutie won the Heisman Trophy. John McEnroe beat Jimmy Connors at Wimbledon and Martina Navratilova was the first openly gay professional athlete (that I can remember).

Our commonalities and interests are not that far removed. I was interested in sports in large part because pretty girls who wore nice smelling perfume and dressed trendy would come to the sporting events. I was into social networking- although back then it was going to a dance so that I might be able to slow groove with a member of the opposite sex. I liked the competition and the thrill of winning and the tragedy of defeat. Sports were my outlet and metaphorical to just about anything life could throw at me. Lastly, I have a man-crush on Tim Tebow too.

What does all this have to do with a Sports Post- well, it's my opportunity to make predictions for 2008/09 like I did when I was a kid.

1. NBA: The Los Angeles Lakers will win the NBA Championship but only after being taken to seven games by the up and coming Trail Blazers in the first round of the play-offs. The Eastern Conference opponent (insert favorite team here) is merely a road bump and loses in five games.

2. NBA Rookie of the Year Award: Three Trail Blazers finish in the top 5 voting- splitting votes and allowing Kevin Love to walk away with Rookie of the Year honors by averaging 15/12.  OJ Mayo gets busted for something.

3. NBA MVP: Kobe Bryant wins again and never utters a word about Paul Pierce.

4. NFL: The Dallas Cowboys will lose in the 2nd round of the playoffs. Carolina will meet Seattle in the NFC Championship game. Jonathon Stewart will rush for 160 yards but it won't be enough. Seattle will lose to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl due to poor officiating (again).

5. Adrian Peterson will be the NFL's MVP and then get injured in the Pro-Bowl.

6. Darren McFadden will prove to be a bust because everyone knows football is played tougher on the west coast than in the SEC.

7. Baseball: the Chicago Cubs finally win the World Series.

8. Oklahoma will win the National Championship- but only because USC simply cannot make it through a tough PAC10 schedule.

9. Tim Tebow will win the Heisman Trophy and immediately declare he is staying for another year.

10. LSU beats Appalachian State during the season by 63 points- only to prove that the SEC is better than the Big 12.

11. Oregon State will make it back to the College World Series and beat the North Carolina Tarheels (again).

12. UCLA will win the NCAA Basketball title (finally- and again). Coach Ben Howland (former Head Coach at Northern Arizona University, my alma mater) wins Coach of the Year.

13. Kasey Keller returns from Europe to play in the MLS for Portland's new professional team.

Dreams and Predictions, wins and losses- to a thirteen year old, it's still hoping the hottie will share a slow dance before the end of the night.  To a dad of a thirteen year old- it's just hoping it won't happen...

The Portland Trail Blazers LaMarcus Aldridge matches up well with Pau Gasol of the Lakers.  Throw in the Greg Oden and Andrew Bynum comparison on top of this and the debate will last for the next 10 years.  I predict that LaMarcus will have a much bigger 2008/09 than Pau will due to his youth and instant help from Greg Oden, Rudy Fernandez and Jerryd Bayless.  I'm not even going to cross the Kobe line in comparison to Brandon Roy (you all know where I stand).  you don't?  Ok... Kobe is the best player on the planet.  Brandon is an all-star.  Match em' up.  Give your opinion.  I believe that LaMarcus will become a premier F this season.  PREMIER!

LaMarcus Aldridge Portland Trail Blazers Position:  F-C Height:  6-11 Weight:  245 College: Texas Player file | Team stats 2007-08 Statistics PPG 17.8 RPG 7.6 APG 1.6 SPG 0.7 BPG 1.2 FG% 0.484 FT% 0.762 3P% 0.143 MPG 34.9

Pau Gasol Los Angeles Lakers Position:  F-C Height:  7-0 Weight:  250 From: Spain Player file | Team stats 2007-08 Statistics PPG 18.9 RPG 8.4 APG 3.2 SPG 0.4 BPG 1.5 FG% 0.534 FT% 0.807 3P% 0.250 MPG 35.6

The best way for the Portland Trail Blazers to live up to the hype is for Greg Oden to start strong.  This doesn't mean 38 minutes a game strong.  Heck- that might not mean 25 minutes a game during the 1st half of the season.  Oden needs to be the aggressive, agile, energetic, charismatic guy the moment he enters every game.  The Big Guy needs to strike fear in opposing teams.  Imagine a slightly toned down, non-swearing version of Kevin Garnett with an actual physique.  Imagine a "not in my house" look after each block.  Picture him looking mad as heck one second and then laughing like a kid after a ferocious put-back the next.  Every member of the NBA must fear being Odenized.

If you watched the summer league games, you saw our newest pick (Jerryd Bayless) play with an arrogance that just screamed, "I'm the best guy out here!"  The fans know it is summer league and not to read too much into that... BUT... Jerryd's ability to get to the hole and demeanor is what got Portland excited about him.  Greg is carrying the weight of being selected #1.  He is carrying the weight of a city that has embraced him- despite not playing a game yet.  He needs to step out and play like a guy in his second year.  We all know he has the talent.  We want that demeanor to come out that this is his job, his city and his statement that Portland is a force.  We want the big guy to match Jerryd's intensity or surpass it. 

We have Brandon (thank the Lord!).  LaMarcus is going to be huge (more thanks).  We are stacked from top to bottom.  Greg- we want you to be YOU!  Come hard- even if it's for 10 minutes a game.  We know the knee isn't 100%.  But when you enter- make it known.  Make the Laker Girls scared!  Let em' know that Lil Boy Bynum just doesn't match up (LaMarcus will take care of Pau).  Tear the rim down- laugh like a kid.  Be respectful and humble.  Grimace and snarl...  BE YOU!

Bring it Greg...  We are right behind you.