I am getting sick and tired of getting bounced in the first round and having to listen to Barkley and the gang rip on us for our injuries and our style of play.  Right when things start getting interesting in the post season we are done and gone.  We end up having to pick a team to root for that probably won't win it and live vicariously through them.  I'm not a baseball fan and I like soccer but have a hard time following the MLS, this is pretty much all I have for entertainment (maybe a stretch).  I don't like dancing with the stars, American Idol, The Apprentice or any of those shows.  I enjoy rooting for the Blazers and having something in common with pretty much everyone in Portland.  I like waking up on game day knowing we are still in the hunt, and that I am not the only one who is totally psyched for the game.  I like seeing other people wearing Blazers gear and not even saying a word but having a mutual under standing.  I basically like everything about this team.

It has been increasingly harder to take getting bounced in the first round.  We as Blazers fans have had the good fortune of having the longest playoff streak in the NBA.  We witnessed some deep playoff runs and some definite success.  It was a given that we would make the playoffs during the 21 stretch and I rarely felt we had little chance in the first round.  I enjoyed having players you could count on in the playoffs, that knew how to get it done down the stretch and in crunch time.  

Yes, we Blazers fans are truly lucky to have such a fun and entertaining franchise that relates to it's community and fan base.  This is why the early exits have started getting more frustrating.  When we were in our rebuilding years the lack of success was understandable.  We progressively made advancements in our record and team building.  All of this was totally acceptable and entertaining, we were able to watch the growth of our players which was fun and new.  Then we started making the playoffs.  The bounce in the first year was tough but we found ourselves saying things like "good experience", "can't win it all in the first year back", "next year".  Here we are years later saying some of the same things.  For me personally I am having a hard time drinking this coolaid.  I'm that fan from 21.  I am the fan that expects big things from his franchise.  I am the fan that expects to be there.  This is why I have been struggling recently.  We are an educated fan base and we have a high sense of entitlement, "yeah that's how we roll".   Thanks Wheels.

"This series isn't over by a daymn sight, you hear me Mavs.  We about to get medieval on you".  I know there is plenty of series left to be played and my intentions were never to call this series over before it has finished.  I just want to try and bring back that Rip City Swagger.  I want to bring back that deservedly cocky arrogance we have rolled with for so many years.  I want some positivity and some braggadocious fanmanship.  We need to get the positivity and the good karma going for us again.  We need to get out of the flippin first round.  Positivity breeds success and success brings swagger.  We don't want to turn into the team that is constantly looking over their shoulder, wondering when the roof is going to cave in on us.  You start getting labeled like that and it spills over into other aspects of your game and mentality.  It's time to get that monkey off our backs and we better make it quick.  Franchises have paid the price for being labeled one and donesters.  We don't want this, even for a minute.

Lets get the positivity going Blazer Ballers.  We are going to need some good karma and support from our fanbase if we are to get out of the first round of the playoffs this year.  I love this team too much to take another first year exit.  Early offseasons are like people with too much time on their hands, we tend to get very little done and end up arguing with each other out of boredom.  As a Blazers fan I'm not sure what else I can do other than spread the positivity and hope it comes back on us full circle.  Peace, good luck, good will and positivity yall.  Lets get out of the first round and as always, GO BLAZERS!!!!!  BRING BACK THAT RIP CITY SWAGG!!!