She knows EVERYthing

So the family is driving in the mini-van and somehow the topic of job interviews comes up with our 7-year old. She asks what an interview is - we tell her it's when a boss asks you questions to see if you will be good at the job. She gets a funny look on her face and says:

"Why? They don't need to ask me questions. I already know everything. If they ask me questions I will just tell them I already know everything, so they don't need to ask me anything. I already know it."

SEVEN YEARS OLD.

Book: Red Hot and Rollin

I recently finished a book entitled “Red Hot and Rollin’: A Retrospection of the Portland Trail Blazers’ 1976-77 Championship Season.” The book featured contributions by some of Oregon’s finest writers and included a mind-blowing documentary DVD about the ’77 Blazers called “Fast Break.” I highly recommend the book to any Blazer fan. However, the views of the author regarding the current team are, shall we say, unfair. Read the book yourself and in the last few pages you’ll wee what I mean. Furthermore, the author published an article in the Portland Tribune this week that reinforced my thoughts. The opinion article is titled “It sure isn’t ‘77 anymore - SOAPBOX • Blazers’ championship days feel long gone”

Book author Matt Love’s opinion article can be found here:
http://www.portlandtribune.com/opinion/story.php?story_id=119843182830620500

Blazers are streaking

Wow. We’re now 11 wins into this unlikely win streak. I predict it continues at least until 13 before Monday’s New Year’s Eve game at Utah gives the team fits. They certainly can win, but if this thing ends before the next game I attend (Jan 5th v. Utah – which would be win #17 if the streak continues), that’s the game to be most concerned about. Anything can happen in this league, but man, this streak sure has been fun. I was at last Friday night’s game against Denver and man was the Rose Garden a giant party that night. I was there with family members (blazermania runs in the blood) who made the trip from the Seattle area to hit the game. Who wouldn't for Seriog bobblehead night? (that's what we're all holding in the pic above).

Here's a little video I shot - 21 seconds of Rose Garden bliss: http://www.youtube.com/v/Q6VyRQindD0

I have one image from that memorable game that I just can’t get out of my head.

Blazers are up one, a few seconds left in the game and Carmello Anthony has the ball – bullying and backing down Brandon Roy. I was thinking about Mello’s size advantage against Roy and all I could think was “uh, oh – mismatch…mismatch!” Mello turns around and puts up his best shot attempt.



Roy is right there with him and blocks the game winning shot. Crowd goes wild! Man, what a moment that was. What a moment.

Thumpalicious Dunks

I almost titled this entry “jukin’ & pukin’” – but this is a family show. No need for shock in the title, right? Well, Brandon Roy put on a show last night while he had the flu and played his guts out anyway (literally and figuratively). I took our 5-year old (a.k.a. MoMo) to the game sportin’ her new #12 LaMarcus Aldridge jersey. We had a great time. Most impressive moment? It’s a toss-up. First, I witnessed the greatest dunk I’ve ever seen live. A LaMarcus Aldridge back door pass to Martell Webster for the emphatic flush. Man, that was fun to see. I have a soft spot in my heart for athletic, acrobatic basketball. But possibly more impressive was the play of B-Roy – who had to leave the game during the 3rd quarter to throw-up. Yikes. Still, he came back and played sensational down the stretch. His slice and slash down the lane then up with the right hand, only to switch to the left - was amazing. Wow. When I saw that, I about hacked up the lemonade I was downing. Fun stuff, man. It was a move that McMillan compared to Michael Jordan's layup in the 1991 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers - a shot that became Jordan's signature highlight.

"It was a pretty lucky shot," Roy said. "Playing in a park, I've made that shot before. But not in front of this many people."

The great part about the 9-game win streak they are currently experiencing is that it’s not just one thing they’re doing right. Defense is excellent. Coaching (tactics,etc) is great. Players are being unselfish. Guys aren’t getting down on themselves or others when things aren't going right. Lots of things. It’s amazing how a few wins really change the perspective on ‘how’ things are going. Lots of analogies for life here. Good and bad.

Said Roy after the game (in reference to his recent back-to-back player of the week honors):
"At first I didn't want to jinx it," Roy said. "And then I thought, 'This isn't a jinx. I think I really am this good.' "

BLAZERS: Jazz and Jack

PORTLAND BEATS UTAH IN SALT LAKE CITY. Finally. Got that 6-game SLC-losing-streak monkey off our back. Have I told you my reasons for disliking the Jazz so much? Suffice to say, I have legitimate reasons and the Blazers/Jazz matchup is now my favorite rivalry...even if it is just in my own head. Last night they did it without injured LaMarcus Aldridge. So what did it? Defense, defense, defense. The zone worked...and they worked the zone. Now if they could perform like this consistently. But I'm liking the 4-game winning streak right now.

My favorite part of the win? Jarrett Jack's dunk, baby! I didn't know he had it in him. But I did some digging, and the picture you see here is actually from Jarrett's high school days - seen here playing at the 2002 Capital Classic. Apparently the guy has had some hops for years now and he's been holding out on us. What else you got, Jarrett?

Vancouver BC

I visited Vancouver, British Columbia this past weekend. I hadn't been in Vancouver BC in over a decade and was reminded what a cool place it is. I hope to visit there more often.

We were there for the memorial service of my father's uncle, a beloved family member. Some time ago, his son asked him what he would like on his tombstone. His reply: “How ‘bout this:

‘See, I told you I was sick!’”

He also decided to have the last word himself, so he recorded an audio tape to be played at his funeral. His son said he was worried his dad would poke fun at the situation and say something like “You all may believe I died of natural causes. I did not. And the murderer is probably in this room!” (That's not what he actually said on the tape).

What a fun-loving family. They are great and so much fun to hang out with. It was a wonderful opportunity to get together to honor a loved family member and celebrate life at the same time.

I uploaded a short video clip of his 5 sons performing a tribute song they wrote for their father's memorial here: http://www.youtube.com/v/g50XJLvXtCY