My oldest daughter turned thirteen years old yesterday and it got me to thinking about all her interests versus my interests at the same age. At thirteen, she is interested in IPODS, her cell phone, MySpace, PETA, boys, make-up, clothes from Abercrombie & Fitch or Hollister, Juicy Couture perfume & lotions. She loves attending High School Football games (not to watch the sport- but to talk to her girlfriends and bat their eyes at cute boys). She likes to dance. She loves acting (although she doesn’t fit the normal thespian/drama kid mold). She is completely engrossed in the social network and gossips sparingly via text messaging. She talks about working out- but seldom does. Lastly, she thinks Tim Tebow is hot.
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 #### 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 talent level of the Portland Trailblazers is exciting to Portland. But Rip City is equally excited about the culture being built by Kevin Pritchard that represents our city. We not only have talent- but good, humble, respectful young men who take pride in their responsibilities to the community. Our role models are blossoming while doing it with their personalities. Here are a few reasons why Portland loves it's team.
1. Brandon Roy: 4 years in college. Rookie of the Year. Humble. All-Star in year two. Stood up to the last remaining thugs of Jailblazer land. Undisputed Team Captain. Clean cut.
2. Steve Blake: 4 years in college. Won National Championship. Proclaims both he and wife LOVE Portland and never wanted to leave for short stints in Buck-Land and Denver. Role Player. Clean cut.
3. Joel Pryzbilla: turned down larger money to stay in Portland. Likes team chemistry. Hard worker. Also states he/wife love Portland. Rebounds. Clean cut.
4. Martel Webster: homeboy from Seattle. Improves every year. Humble. Waves at kids across the street at Club Sport from practice facility. Competitive. Explosive. Clean cut.
5. Travis Outlaw: Improves every year. Freakish athleticism. Defender. Quiet and humble but killer instinct. Takes criticism well. Has a do what's right for team attitude (moving from PF to SF). Likes to fish. Clean cut.
6. LaMarcus Aldridge: Humble and hard worker. Comedian- expresses personality. Dedicated. Consummate teammate. Competitive. Improves every year. HUGE in body and presence as a cornerstone of team for years to come. Representing USA select team. Clean cut.
7. Greg Oden: Open to public. Comedian. Went back to school. Worked hard despite set back. Proclaims love of Portland. Cares what fans think. Makes statements and stands by them. Talked politics gracefully. #1 Draft Pick. Will be cornerstone for years to come. Part II of twin towers Jr. Clean cut.
8. Rudy Fernandez: Spaniard with shooting touch. Takes less money to join Blazers. Eager to prove he belongs. Representing country in Olympics. Wants to compete. Clean cut.
9. Jerryd Bayless: Plays with chip on his shoulder. Has young Kobe/CP3 killer competitive attitude. Is willing to fill role of point guard/combo (in that order). Already defers to proven players on team. Interviews well. Excited about being in Portland. MVP of summer league. Fearless. Game face. Hates losing. Member of USA Select Team. Clean cut.
10. Channing Frye: understands & supports culture and team chemistry. Never bad mouthed Knicks even though he could have. Plays role well. competitive. Happy to be in Portland. Clean cut.
11. Nicholas Batum: lanky young potential. Humble. Fundamentally sound and coachable. Great long term project. Clean cut.
12. Ike Diogu: role player ready to prove himself. Good locker room guy. Wants to make most of opportunity. Clean cut.
13. Sergio Rodriguez: Perseveres through tough transition. Plays behind starters. Listens and learns. Talked positively about Blazers to Rudy Fernandez- said, "You'll be treated fairly and given a chance to play..." Clean cut.
14. Coach Nate: Long time fixture in Pacific Northwest. Understands people and basketball. Considered a teacher, mentor, coach who cares about the outcome. Focused on rebuilding quickly. Turned down extension saying, "We haven't done anything yet." Good with media. Personable. Family man. Clean cut.
15. Kevin Pritchard: creator of the Pritch-Slap. Wheeler and Dealer. Culture and talent a must. Doesn't sacrifice by taking good players with character issues. Great B-Ball mind. Not afraid to make tough decisions. Clean cut.
16. Paul Allen: richest owner in the NBA.
Clean cut team with good chemistry and a passion for their jobs and communities. Always improving without sacrificing integrity. Good decision makers. David Stern must just love this team and what our management is doing. The people of Portland do. The rest of the NBA knows that the Blazers are building "Special". We will continue to be patient and love our team as long as they continue down the path of ownership and responsibility. Love the game- let it show. Enjoy the ride and each other. Respect your community. Stay humble. Maintain that killer instinct of Roy and Bayless on the court- while smiling off of it. Hate losing. Don't ever accept a locker room killer. Do this... and remember you will reap the riches of a long, happy, profitable career- no matter how big the market. We want you to be successful the right way. We live this way in Portland and will not settle for anything less.
I am a graduate of Northern Arizona University and Florida Institute of Technology. I am a veteran (3/3 SFGA). I prayed once to be surrounded by beautiful women and was blessed with a wife and three daughters (13 and 7 year old twins). My wife is a Oregon State Beaver Alum and we are Blazer-Maniac s.
