How my team enters our court for every single game. Seen at Player Palooza, Feb. 2, 2015

Totally exciting and satisfying to be able to walk through this tunnel between the team's locker room and the basketball court at the Moda Center, the name of the Portland Trail Blazers' arena. I believe that this is our house and that I'm an essential part of that plural possessive pronoun.

My Name at Player Palooza, Feb. 2, 2015

All of the active season ticket holder accounts got their names put on the floor was it redone prior to this season! Can you find my name? Can you tell by the blurriness of this photo that I got very excited when I saw it and clicked the photo? There I am! Olga Hanson! Sweet sight for this ol' lady who loves basketball and in particular, the Portland Trail Blazers of Rip City, Oregon!

Mike and Mike at center court, Player Palooza, Feb. 2, 2015

Portland Trail Blazers' television broadcasters, Mike Rice and Mike Barrett, greet a fan at center court. Notice it's another boy wearing Wesley Matthews' number! At other Player Paloozas, Mike and Mike been set up in the in-arena-broadcast-room, which was a lot of fun to get to visit. This year, I didn't go to Center Court because I was more interested in finding my name on the court, see the post from March 3.

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.

Trail Blazer Chris Kamen at Player Palooza

This guy has been a great player for us this year, most all of the time he's been able to get on the court. You can see the energy he put into passing this young girl her cotton candy which he'd just finished making in that huge machine. He's like that on the court, too.

Trail Blazer Meyers Leonard at Player Palooza

Meyers Leonard has been a Trail Blazer for three seasons now. The amount of work he's put in each season and each off-season started to pay off this season. The improvement, while it remains somewhat inconsistent, amazes every single Trail Blazer fan, plus the media who regularly cover the team.



It's delightful and exciting to watch Meyers play when he's got it going on. I'm so proud for him and for all who've believed in him and worked with him diligently. He certainly enjoyed playing foosball at Player Palooza!

Trail Blazer Will Barton at Player Palooza

One of my favorite Trail Blazers for this season and the last two, Will Barton, Will the Thrill, the People's Champ. It broke my heart that he got traded to Denver on February 19. I wish him success in his NBA career and his life. I got this close to getting to play air hockey with him when Player Palooza got too close to being over and the players had to report to the court. Drat it.



Yep, I'm missing this smile, this man, his joy for life and his determination about and love for basketball. Bye, bye, Will, honey.

Trail Blazer Steve Blake at Player Palooza

I'll bet lots of fans took turns riding the mechanical bull, with various Trail Blazers at the controls. I just happened to walk by when Steve Blake tried his hand at it.



Steve concentrates just like this when he's on the basketball court. Since I moved to Portland in 2006, this is Steve's second time as a member of the team. When I heard last summer that he'd been signed again, I was thrilled because I always liked his skills and determination.

I needed no help to straighten myself to standing upright.

A brand new perk of being a season ticket holder, having one's name included in the font that spells out Rip City, Oregon, alongside the court! Here I am, in all my rather large old lady glory, pointing out my name! First time I've been able to get to the floor and see it! I'm proud of my team and to be "on the court" with them! Thanks again for taking the photo, Janessa! And thanks, Blazers, for Player Palooza when I had the opportunity to see my name!

Found on the Web, from the Portland Trail Blazers' organization about our names being included in the brand new court's design: “Just as our team is not complete without you, neither is our court. In honor of you, the fans who have always stood beside us, we would like to include your Season Ticket Holder account name on the newly designed playing surface. Your name will be integrated into the fresh design and unveiled on opening night! Now, every home game this season will feature the entire Trail Blazers team, including you.” Once again, be still my basketball, Portland Trail Blazers' lovin' heart!

I'm back in the game, y'all.

Making a shot at the Portland Trail Blazers' Player Palooza, an RSVP season ticket holder event; I had renewed my ticket for next season and received the perk the of an hour's early entry to the event at the arena. During that extra hour, I managed to get photos and autographs with three starters, be still my basketball, Portland Trail Blazers' lovin' heart! I then joined the throngs and dined on a fine buffet and got photos of Blazers and fans and staff interacting at all sorts of events. The only one with a short enough line for me to get the chance to participate--shared here. My buddy Janessa Wagner accompanied me at my invitation and took these photos for me! Thanks, Janessa--we had a blast, didn't we?


When it was my turn, I had no idea how much time I had in the session. I just picked up a ball and started shooting!



When time was called, I asked how long it had been. Turned out it was 60 seconds. I made 20 shots. I'm not sure which shocked me more, the time or the count. Concentrating on grabbing the balls that bounced back at me and shooting quickly, well--it felt quickly--I thought it had to have been more than one minute! And the fact that I got 20 to go through the basket--that was a pleasant surprise!

Cracked and torn, almost graffitied. Aging. City Daily Photo Theme Day

Click here to see Theme Day posts from around the world.

Here's something I never thought would show age--a plastic container top. This particular blue one must have disappointed its owner since it has been shoved into the crack in this power pole on my street.