For 17 years, I have hated the Portland Trailblazers, and with a valid reason too. Up until a few months ago, I bled the green and gold of the Seattle SuperSonics. Well, with my Supes not being in existence anymore and all, I'm doing the unthinkable- I'll be rooting for the Blazers come November.
For those of you back east who don't know or care about the great Northwest, I wouldn't hesitate to say that the I-5 rivalry was every bit as intense as the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. In both late '70s, '80s, and '90s, the Blazers and Sonics were often in the playoffs, and though it was a fun rivalry, us Seattleites hated Blazers fans.
Well, I know I'm contradicting what I would've done a few months ago if I still had my Sonics; but I don't care. When a city's team gets ripped out from under them by a gang of Southwest carpet-baggers, I think it gives me the right to pick any team I want to switch my loyalty to.
Portland is the logical choice. They have tons of Seattle roots: Nate McMillan is known as "Mr. Sonic" and his No. 10 hung in the rafters in Key Arena. Brandon Roy grew up in Seattle and went to UW, and Martell Webster was a star at Seattle Prep. Then, of course, their owner, Paul Allen, owns the Seattle Seahawks.
Plus, I would consider the Blazers as the hot team in the L right now. If you're going to jump on any team in the NBA for this year, Portland is the squad. Their roster is full of talented, young guys. Oden, Roy, Aldridge, Bayless, Rudy Fernandez (who blew up in the Gold Medal game for Spain), and Webster. I like their chances, even in the tough Western Conference.
Seattle sports had a pretty pathetic year. The Mariners lost 101 games, college football has been bleak at best (a combined one win between WSU and UW, and it came against Portland State), and the Seahawks are struggling, too. So maybe the Northwest can share the Blazers and shed some light on the Emerald City, which so badly needs something to go right in the sports world.
So, on my recent trip to Portland, I made a stop to get a Blazers shirt, and proudly wear it, and tell everyone that I'm not giving up on the NBA. Even though David Stern neglected Seattle and treated us like scum, I can't give this game up.
I can only hope that Blazers fans in Portland accept the Sonics fans and forget about the rivalry we shared for 40 years and have the Blazers represent a region, rather than a city.
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3 months ago
Pete, we're glad to have you aboard. You sound like a great fan. You may freely turn your former disdain for Blazer fans a little further south now to La La Land.
3 months ago
can't do it man, can't do it. sonics fans need to go to portland just to boo the thunder AND the blazers. clippers anyone?
3 months ago
Welcome aboard. Personally, I always loved the Blazers and the Sonics. I know - a bit odd. I also am a Duck, Beaver and a Huskie nad Cougar fan. I'm a regional guy - a bit odd. But I love the NW and want everyone to do well up here. Now that Stern & co have absolutely robbed Seattle, I hope all of you can rally around the Blazers, just like I do for the Mariners (ouch) or the Seahawks.
from 3 months ago
Yeah, we really need some success up here though. I think the Blazers can be the team to do it.
3 months ago
i agree with don, I feel I am a regional guy, too. I want all NW teams to play well. I don't care about NW inner NW rivalries. I root for all NW teams, and in the NW rivalry games I root for the team that is getting more attention around the world or simply put the better team.
3 months ago
The great Sonic Bob Love sparked my interest in pro basketball and have been an NBA fan since. Moved to Portland the year the Blazers were born and loved the exploits of Geoff Petrie. Both teams enjoyed great success and won the Championship and a lively and mostly fun rivalry was born. I don't agree with the comment about the Boston vs. NY bitter hatred. Most sports fans in Portland cheer for the Mariners and Seahawks and therefore are regional fans - not hatred for the city of Seattle. Yeah, the Duck and Husky fans tend to be way over the top but that is college stuff.
We Blazer fans welcome and understand the pain of the Sonic fans. We had some terrible years with the jerks that Whitsitt brought in and we deserted our team for several years. The good guys are back and much of that is due to the Seattle contingent of Nate, Brandon and Webster. Thank god we got a GM in Kevin Prichard that led Paul Allen to make some great changes. We are now on a roll and will be THE TEAM for some time. Welcome aboard!
from 3 months ago
Thanks for the insight Walt. Now I can say I am more of a regional guy, because I really didn't like the Blazers when the Supes were still up here. When I was growing up in the 90's, both teams were pretty good and it was fun to go to those games. I can only hope other people in Seattle accept the Blazers as the Northwest's team, and hopefully they show a few games up here.
3 months ago
welcome, Sonics fans.Your stay, we hope, is temporary. hopefully you will have the sonics (at least in name) in the next few years. sooner the better, so the rivalry can be rekindled with our sister city, you.
i was reflecting on how the rivalry was. didn't matter which was an elite or bottom-dweller. the games were almost always GREAT.
As a Blazer fan, there are a few rules to abide by.
1. Blazers are your favorite team. good or bad, win or lose. no band wagon jumpers.
2. your second favorite team? anyone who plays against the Lakers.
3. everyone bleeds red blood. ours has black in it. you must bleed black and red.
4. make noise at the games, AND at home! Yell at the television. it doesn't mind. Its a blazer fan, too.
5. convert non b-ball people and family into fans of the game, then slowly clamp their eyes to set on the blazers. Convert them, then if they like choose to like the lakers, kill them...
and, finally, special for our seattle friends, number....
6. when you do get your team back, remember us, your portland brothers, as the ones who supported you in these trying times of no hoops in your beautiful city and please clean your mess before you leave....
p.s. when you do get a team, feel free to root for us when we play anyone, like the lakers, other than you.
Enjoy your stay... its a little drier here too.....
from 3 months ago
I don't see the NBA returning to Seattle any time soon. I'd be surprised to see the Key Arena get renovated, and according to King Stern, that's the only way that the NBA will return. I would almost rather support the Blazers than to let the NBA have a city that did so much for them, then they throw us out like garbage.
3 months ago
Welcome south, man! Every Blazers fan I know - hell, every SPORTS fan I know - has commiserated with your plight. You won't find any animosity when you're rooting for the Black, Red, and Silver. It's fair to say the Sonic supporters are far from bandwagoners, and, thus, the more the merrier.
3 months ago
Yeah, it seems as if the Blazers are the team that could bring glory back to the Northwest. With the Sonics gone, and the Seahawks and M's both playing poorly, I think the Blazers can unite this region and put us back on the map.
3 months ago
As a blazer fan since I was but a wee child, all I can suggest is that we welcome these poor displaced souls into our fold with love and compassion. Once they are 'settled', we turn on them, slitting their throats to watch the green blood flow. Auschwitz may not exist anymore, either, but we don't let the guards off so easy.
3 months ago
I'm not sure I follow this Erik... If the Blazers were the ones that had moved to OKC, what team would you root for?
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