During the season we at BE benefitted from the video/editing skills of several community members. Max did some great ones; the young guy has a great future in this area and I wish him the best of luck. And as the summer wanes on, I go back and watch them again and again to re-live the fun, get ready for summer league (I'll be there in all my sweaty glory in the 100+ degree weather), and get pumped up for the upcoming season. I know a lot of folks watched these because they always got high Rec counts. So, in order to pass some time away this weekend, I'm including some links below to some of his excellent Blazer highlight vids and then a poll to see which one you all like best. I'll be honest, there are three of them that I have a hard time choosing a favorite between. It's a dead heat tie for me. That's actually a good problem. :-)

Enjoy the play back memories.  I plan to do another post/poll of DMKPDX's videos in a day or two; you know you watched them also! I certainly did.

• Blazes/Celtics
• Blazers/Suns
• Blazers/Grizzlies
• Blazers/Knicks
• Blazers/Rockets
• Rip City Revival

I've been watching the Blazers for many years. Season ticket holder I am (Yoda speak). Before this season started I thought it would be cool to set a goal / mission to watch EVERY Blazer game this year, in person or on TV.  I've never done that before, even being a hard core fan.

There were times when it became difficult, especially weekend games on the East Coast for some reason when I had to wake up from my nice afternoon nap to watch the last three quarters. However, I accomplished the goal!! I watched all 82 games this year.

Before the playoffs I decided to expand the goal - "let's watch every playoff game, regardless of which teams are playing". And so far I have done so. I have all the channels on TV, so I was covered. And of course the Internet feeds... I can say with 100% accuracy that I have now watched every Blazer game and every NBA playoff game this year.  The finish line is coming, and I won't miss a game. Of course my wife thinks I'm nuts, however....  I even bought a new LCD flat screen for my "man cave" in April to further my goal.  It's personal now, and I won't fail.

I'm wondering if there are any other hard cores out there like me?  Poll below.

Where Amazing and Pizza happens....

Update, 5-23:
I failed. Call it Karma, or whatever - I should have never posted this. Today, under a great sun and in good weather, I took my puppy to the doggy park. It was fabulous, we ran, we played, we grunted, we pottied, we had tons of fun. We then proceeded home, ate some snacks, and got ready for the LAL/DEN tip off. 45 minutes to go, I'm in my man cave, laying there in front of the big screen, snacking with my favorite beverage and friend (dog). Soon the mind says: "Dude, a 15-30 minute nap here would be perfect, the temperature is perfect, it's quiet, it's all perfect" and my puppy is already snoring at my side. I fall for it, damned temptation, my pastor warned me about it.

3.5 hours later I awoke to an infomercial on TV and a sleeping puppy butt in my face. No, no, no - this can't be real - No, I missed the game. I run out to the main room and yell at the wife and kids for not waking me up, and get blank looks from them (The "Oh, Dad is freaking out look"). I'm told to be quiet as they are watching that Mall Cop movie on DVD. "Don't you understand what just happened?" I state. Nobody cares. Mall Cop is on you know.

No no no. I just posted this on BEdge and this happens, this, in one day? I feel like the announcer who talks about how good a player is shooting free throws when he is at the line and then he misses.

Epic Fail.  There is always next year.

Update: Yikes, it is Mothers Day, thanks for the reminder. I love you Mom!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey ye Bedgers. What kind of dog do you have? I have a Pug and love him immensely - he is 4.5 months old and goofy.  I'd paste a pic of my pup here, but I don't know how to do that. Any hints?

What kind of dog do you have, or want?  And what do you like about him/her?

Good NBA games coming up today; will Houston do it? It's a do or die game for sure.

It's an old saying, but what is a Right Hand Man? I offer you Wikipedia's definition:

Unlike yes man, the term right hand man has positive connotations. Some[who?] assert that the term is based on the fact that most people are right-handed. Understood this way, the term refers to one who has the responsibility, knowledge and understanding, authority and ability to implement a plan articulated by one in a position of authority.

The term right hand man may also be based on the idea of a king having his adviser sit at his right side. Understood this way, the term refers to one who informs and advises a person in a position of authority, instead of one who implements the plans of authority.

In Ancient Greece, soldiers typically fought in a formation called a phalanx, where co-operation between soldiers was vital. Each soldier carried his shield on his left side, while his right side was protected by the man standing to his right. Understood this way, the term refers to one who is indisposable; a protector.

A biblical explanation also exists; in the King James Version of the Bible, Jesus is said to be "at the right hand of the Father (God). see Mark 16:19. Luke 22:69. Acts 2:33. Acts 5:31. Acts 7:55. Acts 7:56. This reference, in light of the whole of the biblical narrative, casts Jesus as either or both an implementor of a plan and/or one who is indisposable.

 

I like the battle version, and I think that the warfield leaders stood to the right of their commanders while he scratched out battle plans on some writing device; being that close visually, seeing that the commander was probably right handed, offered you the best view of the scratching ("from the commander's eye view") - and if you were real bold you could grab his wrist and change his planning.

With all that said, now watch every Blazer huddle during time outs, etc. and notice that Steve Blake is almost always standing immediately to the right of Coach Nate, seriously. I think there is something to this. We've heard that Coach and Blake "click well", and we already know how poorly we play without Blake, I think he is a little more valuable than we all give him credit for.  Anyway, watch those huddles and see if anyone tries to take Blake's spot as the right hand man.  Maybe it's just a point guard thing....

However, I coached baseball for many years and noticed my player-leader would often come to the huddles and stand to my right while I talked. And, I've also noticed the Right Hand Man scenario in corporate staff meetings.