It's pretty clear to me that this thing has run its' course.  This team has gotten as far as it's going to go with the personnel on the roster.  We don't want to have another episode like the 80's where we're in the playoffs every year with no shot to win anything.  Blow it up.

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I have long found it amusing watching people that have paid anywhere from 20 to 300+ dollars fight for a 10 dollar shirt like starved alligators over a scrap of steak.  Today, I find it even more amusing. 

It was the middle of the 4th quarter when the stunt team came out with all their fancy shirt-chucking equipment.  My daughter and I were sitting in section 323.  Were I by myself I wouldn't even bother standing for the thing, but my daughter was with me so I had her stand up with her sign and we joined together in our version of the 'chuck it here' dance.  As the 3 guys with the super sling-shot set up to bloody some poor sap's nose with a t-shirt I thought, "They're gonna shoot that right at us."   Then they released it.  At first I thought that it was going slightly to my right, but as it soared over the 200 level seats it started to curve back around my direction and right at my face.

I have long had a minor phobia that I would be at a sporting event with an item coming right for me and I would choke.  I would fumble it away, or run down a small child, or maybe just let it leave an imprint on my face.  It felt like it was in the air for about a minute and a half, but when it reached my hands, I held onto it like Jerry Rice in the endzone (you know... without the defense, or it really being all that hard as it turned out).  I turned to my daughter to try to hand it to her; she had a big smile on her face, but wasn't ready to take it as she was still fumbling with her sign.  I held onto it and started to dig in to see what kind of merch it really was.

I have no illusions about where these t-shirts come from.  I know that they are sent out to give advertisers a reason to give the Blazers money.  I just always thought that there would be some Blazer related item on the free stuff.

Nope.

via i342.photobucket.com

Just a Subway t-shirt.  As my buddy at the game said, "Just goes to show you, no matter how low your expectations are, you can still be disappointed."

Still, I got an amusing story out of the deal, so you can't beat that. :)

I was at the PTB/GSW game last night and I swear that I saw Sergio take down Corey Maggette in the first half.  I think I have a vague recollection of Sergio taking down someone else in the past.  There was no replay so I wasn't able to verify that I saw it right.  Anyone else recall this occurance?  Is Sergio a tough guy?  A dirty player?  Or did I simply misinterpret the whole exchange?

Please enlighten me.

So, last nights win was about the ugliest thing since since Medusa.  Not to mention that we have had many lousy performances against bad teams.  I mean really bad performances that make you wonder if the Blazers might get themselves back into the lottery.

But it was a win, and we're 9-6.

And LaMarcus has been shooting like a one armed rifleman for the better part of the season.  He looks like a kid in a Toys'r'us that just realized that he's lost his parents with the ball in his hands lately.  Is he a bust now?

His D is still solid, and we're still 9-6.

Plus GO has shown flashes of Shaq, Robinson, Mark Eaton, and Manute Bol- sometimes all in the same game.  I mean I've never seen a guy look so dominant and lost at the same time.  I don't know if he is ever going to get it together.

But somehow the team keeps scrapping out wins, and we're 9-6.

I'm really uncomfortable with the inconsistency in our offense and our reliance on guys that aren't always able to produce.  I'm sure that there is somebody in the league we can get RIGHT NOW that can ease our reliance on these guys.  Rudy's been shooting terribly lately.  Outlaw, ohmygoodnessdon'tgetmestartedonOutlaw.  Even the aforementioned Aldridge is struggling in ways we've never seen before. 

Yeah but we have 3 Rookies getting serious time, none of whom have played more than about 3 games a week at any given time, an injured starting small forward, and a team that - for the first time - is getting a good effort from every team on almost every night.  We also have played 9 of 15 games on the road, all of our losses have come on the road against good teams (except Golden State) and we've stolen some from good teams on the road.

And we're still 9-6.  With all that room for improvement.  I think we're OK.

So, chill and enjoy the ride.  I know I will.

Rebuilding GM:  BRING OUT YER DEAD!  BRING OUT YER DEAD!

KP: Here's one.

GM: That'll be 9 pents.

Raef LaFrentz: I'm not dead!

GM: What's that?

KP: Nothing, here's your 9 pents.

RL: I'M NOT DEAD!!

GM: Hey, he says he's not dead.

KP: Yes, he is.

RL: NO, I'M NOT!!

GM: He isn't!

KP: Well he will be soon, his contracts almost up.

RL: I'M GETTING BETTER!

KP(To Raef) : No your not, your game'll be stone dead in a moment.

GM: I can't take 'im like that, it's against regulations.

RL: I DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE REBUILDING TEAM!!

KP: Oh, don't be such a baby.

GM: I can't take him.

RL: I feel fine.

KP (To GM): Well, do us a favor.

GM: I can't.

KP: Well, can you hang around a minute, he won't be long.

GM: Nah, I've got to swing by the Pacers, they've lost 9 today.

KP: Well when's your next run?

GM: Thursday.

RL: I THINK I'LL GO POST UP!!

KP (To Raef): Your not fooling anyone you know.  (To GM) Look, isn't there something you can do?

RL: I FEEL HAPPY, I FEEL HAPPY, I FEEL HAPPY.........

(THWAP!!!)

KP: Thanks a lot.

GM: That's my job, see you Thursday then.

KP: Right, right.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grbSQ6O6kbs

Unfortunately, this probably would have been more appropriate to post during the Daruis saga, but the timing of how I use other peoples humor has never been as good as I'd like.

In case you weren't watching, the Buckeyes won't be the #1 team in the nation next week, which means the Ducks ought to move right on up to two.  (fingers crossed) National championship path cleared. Now take care of business boys!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's a story!

http://cbs.sportsline.com/nba/story/10406427

"Kevin Pritchard should be the league's top executive this season, even though the odds are now probably good that he won't be. Top draft pick Greg Oden won't play this season, and, because Danny Ainge secured his job by landing Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, he'll probably get the award for reviving the Celtics. That being said, the job Pritchard has done attempting to turn the Portland Trail Blazers around has been remarkable."

Mejia goes on to explain what all of us already know.  What was really bad, now is really good.

Oden posted on his blog again that he has a new dog and the name is Charles Barkley McLovin.  Sweet.

http://www.yardbarker.com/gregoden

If I were to pose a 300 minimum limit question I suppose it would be about what is the coolest, or dumbest thing you have bought that had Blazers all over it.  Mine is that I am thinking of commissioning a bass guitar in the shape of the Blazers logo.