Smiles all around, Janessa and RoLo, Janessa and Nico, Player Palooza, Feb. 2, 2015

Any doubt in your mind that Janessa had just as much fun as I did at Player Palooza's early-admittance-hour? Check out those starry eyes, y'all. When I said, "RoLo!" and took off walking, she was right there with me, joyfully anticipating getting her photo taken with her favorite Blazer, Robin Lopez. She had her phone with her, so she's got her own photo, plus this one that I took. Yea for Janessa! Yea for RoLo!



Vigilance while taking photos paid off for us because I saw Nicolas Batum being walked with a handler to his appointed station just beyond where we were with Robin, so I quickly directed us there right after I took the photo of Janessa smiling so blissfully, that close to her favorite! We were second and third in line, which saved us an enormous amount of time for the last Blazer I got to have my photo taken with, Wesley Matthews, Ironman! Look back to the blog on March 18 for Wesley and me, on March 19 for Nicolas and me, and on March 20 for Robin and me. Here is the first photo that I took of Janessa with Nico, enjoying a laugh together while someone took a photo for her on her phone.



Here's the photo showing how pleasantly they posed a second later. Sweet, totally sweet! Oh, and how's this for sweetness? While we waited in the long line for Wesley, we talked with two ladies behind us who, as time ticked away, revealed that they had not managed to get a photo with anyone. When it became obvious that time would run out even for them to get a photo with Wesley, Janessa let them ahead of her in the line. She's the real deal, that Janessa!

Portland Trail Blazers' Nicolas Batum, Player Palooza, Feb. 2, 2015

When this young Frenchman is on, it's like you're in the presence of the most-grin-producing-enjoyable-out-the-wazoo-basketball you've ever witnessed! Y'all, from fingertip to fingertip, Nic's reach is 7'4" and he's so quick and can jump so high! He blocks shots, he steals the ball, he runs the court, he passes, he get rebounds, he makes two-point and three-point baskets. When he's not on, I'm one sad, sad Portland Trail Blazers' fan, let me tell you. Standing there and talking with him for a short time, having my photo taken with him, what a treat for this ol' lady who wishes nothing for him but to be on every time he takes the court. About that 7'4"--it's not hard to believe it when you see his folded arm there on the counter. Oh, and he's 6'8" tall and clearly understands the game. And we lucked out with a short line for Nico because we got inside the Moda Center at 4 p.m. since I had renewed by season ticket for next year early enough to qualify for that extra hour--yea!

I'm missing my Blazers' basketball, No. 1

Robin Lopez took the pass from Nicolas Batum and scored! I took these photos on May 12 during the only game the Trail Blazers won in best-of-seven Round 2 of the NBA playoffs. I cannot tell you how exciting it was to me for those guys to play like they did that night, to take away the sweep from the Spurs. Seeing such determination in the last home game of the season meant a whole lot to me as a season ticket holder.



Every time Batum passed to Robin for a basket, the Jumbotron flashed this graphic. Love it!

We Are Rip City.

We Are Rip City, spelled out in a sea of red rally towels by the artfully arranged white rally towels. Even the font is correct! Go, Blazers!

Portland Trail Blazer fan Jeff. I had noticed him outside the arena while we waited for the doors to open. After I got my Killer Burger, fries and Coca Cola, I saw him sitting at a table on the 100 level, splendidly decorated. I was tickled when he said it was OK for me to take his picture and put it on my blog! Same thing happened later on when I walked around the 300 level like I always do before the game starts and saw the young woman's Batman-shaped Batum face paint! Batum is the last name of our No. 88, Nicolas Batum, a Frenchman who is a Trail Blazer. After I made over how great the face paint was, she twisted so that I could see her other cheek, saying, "Robin's over here!" Robin Lopez is our No. 42, a comic-book lover! All of us Portland Trail Blazer fans are proud to have this dynamic duo as part of our team!

Fans chanted, "Beat LA!" Blazers played ball. Blazers beat LA, 116-106!

I'm so glad to find that referee's wrist and hand signaling a three-pointer at the bottom of this photo!
 

Because for me, this three-pointer by Nicolas Batum says it all about last night's game. The vaunted Lakers could only stand and watch as our Portland Trail Blazers kept comin' at them, fulfilling the prediction projected on the outside of the Rose Garden Arena.
 

I can think of no better way to open the basketball season!

Look where I got to go on St. Patrick's Day! Third Quarter

Pre-second-quarter torture. That's six-foot-eleven-inch Marcus Camby continuing to be the human pretzel.


LaMarcus dunks!


These white things make a lot more noise than you'd think they would. I wonder if they really distract the guy at the free throw line?


Gerald blocks the ball.


Nic goes around the Cavalier. He passed the ball a second later.


Six-foot-five-ince Wesley Matthews drives. Did he pass it to the ever-ready-and-waiting Andre Miller, there on the baseline? Or did he shoot? He shot, but that photo's too blurry. It didn't go in and stay in, drat it.


Gerald takes the charge for the Blazers. See him there on the far left?


Gerald went to the floor. How they do this and jump right up and keep on playing, I'll never understand.


Time out in the third quarter. Time for on-court entertainment! Break dancing, if I remember right.

Score at the end of the third quarter, Blazers 89, Cavaliers 45.

Look where I got to go on St. Patrick's Day! Second Quarter

A bit blurry, but here's what's happening. Six-foot-two-inch Cleveland Cavalier Daniel Gibson puts his hand in the face of six-foot-inch Portland Trail Blazer Patrick "Patty" Mills. Patty's the one who originated the the three goggles nickname. He's also He is one of the first Indigenous Australians to play basketball in the NBA. We love him here in Portland!


Patty's the three goggles!


Time out. Blazer Dancer. Can't remember the song.






Blaze comes into the crowd.


LaMarcus scores! I know because in the next shot caught the net moving just after the ball fell through it!


Rudy steals the ball! Rudy steals the ball!


Rudy gets away from the Cleveland guy!


Rudy's almost there!


Rudy goes up for his shot!


Made basket! Rudy's on the way back to play defense. Yea, Blazers!


Stunt Team.




Everyone landed safely!


Hilarious shot of one of the Blazers TV guys, Mike Rice! Believe it or not, the other guy is Mike Barrett. Mike 'n' Mike!


The dreaded in ...


... and out shot. Drat! Better luck next time, six-foot-eight Nicolas Batum.


Six-foot-seven inch Gerald Wallace flies! He's our newest Blazer!


Gerald and the ball land on the floor at about the same second, it looks like. There we have another example of those blooming shorts.

The score at half time--Blazers 64, Cavaliers 34.

Come back tomorrow for the third quarter.