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' Robin Lopez, Player Palooza, Feb. 2, 2015

The first photo of the night, thanks to my quick sighting of RoLo sitting at this counter. I saw him just as we started to walk through the area where some signs hung over other stations which had no Blazer on sight yet. Since RoLo is Janessa's favorite, I sped up instantly, saying, "RoLo!" and pointed towards him. We took off like a couple of scalded cats--sorry for the vividness of that metaphor, but it's one I've heard used for years. Hmmm. How about I just stop using it after this time because I don't want to think about those poor cats. Well, I digress. To get to talk with this great big man for a moment of two and get my photo taken with him--an absolute treat! For someone who plays under the basket and/or very near the basket with a determined ferociousness, his voice is surprisingly soft. Some folks don't care for Robin's hairstyle or his facial hair. I for one adore his look just as much as I enjoy his style of on-court play.

Trail Blazer Robin Lopez at Player Palooza

Cropped photo of Robin having his photo taken on someone's cell phone. I had to add fill light and highlights because he was in such a shadow when I quickly took this photo.



He's getting ready to shoot that Nerf-looking arrow at a screen. I'll bet it's connected to a computer or a game console or something like that.



The boy wearing Wesley Matthews' jersey is playing, too.



Looks like they're just about ready, doesn't it? I have no idea the outcome because I moved on, looking for other Trail Blazers with a short line. I wonder if that boy has taken archery lessons--look how high up he has his elbow.

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!