Happy Thanksgiving OSL fans. Here’s what we are thankful for this year.
Whitman I’m thankful for…MMA’s continuously growing popularity
I’m not going to lie. There was a time not so long ago that I felt a little ashamed to be an MMA fan. After all, no civilized or educated person should want to watch two men grapple and strike and bleed within the confines of an octagonal cage, right? Wrong. Fighting is a sport like any other, and I finally realized that I had absolutely no reason to turn away and pretend to cough when asked what the hell I was watching. MMA has arrived. Case in point, the other day at work, I was discussing the results of UFC 106 to a coworker when a customer overheard and injected with a question:
“You talking about that WEC? The boxing…wrestling stuff, right?”
Oh boy. Get ready for the snort and the headshake. Middle-aged guys LOVE the snort and the headshake. Well, actually, sir, yes. I was just talking about mixed martial arts to my friend. See, it’s not quite as bad as you think it is, bec–
“It’s pretty cool, isn’t it? How one little mistake can turn the momentum of the whole thing?”
Um…Excuse me? I mean, yeah. Yeah, that is pretty cool. Uh…you have yourself a nice day, there, sir.
MMA fans, give thanks. Hold your heads up high. And take off those stupid Affliction long-sleeve T-shirts.
Portland being an NBA city - This one came to me while reading Bill Simmons’ most recent mailbag. Two things that caught my eye:
And the best way to describe the crowd’s support for Oden: It’s like watching 15,000 parents rooting for their kid, only all 15,000 parents fathered the same kid. If he ever explodes for 30 points, 20 rebounds and eight blocks in a game, you’ll have to carry each deliriously passed-out Portland fan out of the Rose Garden individually like they were victims of smoke inhalation in a burning house. (The funny thing is, everyone in Portland is nodding right now…)
Truth. No argument here. Second:
During a second-quarter timeout, my buddy House and I ran into the concourse to grab beers and noticed there was NOBODY else in line for anything. We felt like Will Smith in “I Am Legend.” There was no sign of human life other than the workers. Everyone else stays in their seats. At halftime, those same people pour into the concourse like it’s halftime of a football game. I’ve never seen anything like it. I don’t know whether the Blazers have the most loyal, passionate, dutiful fans in the NBA, but at the very least, we can say nobody else tops them.
Couldn’t agree more. Be proud, Portland, and give thanks for your fellow Maniacs.
Food Stamps - They make it so that I can survive. And if I survive, that means I can write in this space. Thank you, government.
Mike Rice - This one requires no explanation. I’ll just leave you guys with a Thanksgiving quote from the Ricer:
MB: So, Mike, doing anything special for Thanksgiving?
Ricey: Ohhhh, you know, just a turk. Gotta have a turk.
Yes you do, Mike. Yes you do.
May everyone enjoy their turks. Happy Thanksgiving, y’all.
Holdren I’m thankful for… The development of Greg Oden
Blazers fans have waited a long time to see the Greg Oden who we thought we had drafted, but we’ve had to settle for glimpses here and there between injuries, foul trouble and what seemed to be a steep learning curve. Oden is turning into a real game-changer for the Blazers on both ends of the floor. On defense, when he isn’t sending ill-advised shots packing, he’s warding off those who would otherwise dare take the ball to the paint. On offense, he’s yet to find any sort of groove, but he draws double teams, is a solid offensive rebounder, and is getting better at not turning the ball over. I’m also thankful for the amount of stank he lays down on those two-handed leg-rocking monster dunks we see every game.
A Ducks team we can cheer for - The LeGarrette Blount fiasco to start the season was easily the most embarrassing moment Ducks fans have endured in recent memory. Chip Kelly and the Ducks made the best out of a bad situation, and rallied around making this team into a classy contender. I’ve loved how they’ve fought through injuries and adversity and haven’t missed a beat. They’ve played with heart on both sides of the ball and put themselves into Rose Bowl contention. The Ducks have majorly surpassed my expectations for this season, so I’m thankful for that!
Depth of the Blazers - Where would we be right now without our highly touted depth? The injuries to Nicolas Batum and Travis Outlaw seriously put a wrench in how the Blazers like to operate, but luckily, all it really meant was more opportunities for those who were wondering where their deserved minutes were coming from. Thanks to Martell Webster, Rudy Fernandez, and even guys like Dante Cunningham and Juwan Howard to ensure that the Blazers don’t miss a beat!
HD Television - This is my first year with HD. Seriously, how have we ever lived without this? I know that is probably grossly overpriced, but I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the Blazers, Beavers and Ducks all in the crisp beauty that is HD television. It is one of those things that once you’ve had it, it’s difficult to go back. Not to sound snooty, but I cringe when i flip over to standard def during these games. It’s nice to be able to see names, numbers, and even facial expressions that would otherwise be lost in the ethers with standard def. Sports fans – if you can – get HD. The sports nodule in your brain will thank you.
