Dear Seattle,

I really do feel bad for out neighboring fans up north for having the PooperSonics oops I mean SuperSonics stolen from you. So I am going to take it upon myself to introduce you to your NEW Northwest franchise "The Portland Trail Blazers". Now don't worry these guys are easy to love. But I do have a few things you need to be prepared for before you come over to the scarlet and black side. To start things off comfortably I want to remind you of a few familiar faces you should all know of. (These guys really are great not only have they lived in your beloved city, but they also saw the light was a lot brighter when you drive south down I-5/I-205.)

Paul Allen- Owner/Multi-Billionaire.

Paul is one of the best owners in the league. He attends over half of the games during the season and once he sees a contender window opening he is not afraid to open up that pocket book. He loves athleticism and up tempo basketball.

Nate McMillan-Head Coach/Mr. Sonic

As you all know Nate is one of the best coaches in the league. A former Sonic himself which also had his number 10 retired in the rafters. Now don't think that we can just retire #10 now that your Sonics are extinct. Besides thats Joel "Tha Thrilla" Przybilla's number. But if we can get a title or two maybe we can do something for him.

Maurice Lucas-Ass.Coach/Frmr Sonic

"The Enforcer" is better known as a Trail Blazer. But I do want to recognize that he wore a Sonic uniform to. Luc plays an important role in developing the bigs.

Brandon Roy-SG/All Star/UW Husky

Here is a Seattle born boy you all will be proud of. I don't need to speak much of him because you all should already know. But in our eyes he is our next "Clyde the Glyde". In a few years we should see "The Natural" on the Olympic team and maybe a Wheaties box.

Martell Webster-SF/SeattlePrep

Another Seattle product. Martell is a great young talent. A fan favorite, and he has the smoothest jump shot this side of the State of Massachusetts. Hard to believe he is only 21. Huge future for this cat. Although you will still need to be patient with him. He has improved his game both offensively and defensively every season. I live near the practice facility and I see his slick silver Chrysler 300 with the big shiny wheels all of the time which means he is a hard worker.

So OK, how about that. We have a few Seattle natives in our organization. I hope I made you feel a little more welcome. Now before I introduce you to the rest of the guys we do have a few catchy phrases you will need to know. So next I will list a few of our broadcasters new and old along with where they came from etc....

Rip City!- Very popular phrase around town. Bill Schonley our legendary broadcaster of 30 years coined that phrase in the 70's. It can be used in many different ways. For example, if Greg Oden is doubled down low then kicks it outside to Martell Webster who then drains a three. You can scream out an emphatic RIP CITY!. Or if you want to sound a little more like "The Schonz" you can then follow up the "Rip City" with a "Yes Sir". OK now say it with me, "Rrrrip City,Yes Sir". Very nice. You may also use this any time the Blazers make a great play.

Other Famous Bill Shonley phrases...

Holy Backboard

Lickedy brindle up the middle

He took a hop, skip and a jump.

Good evening basketball fans where ever you may be.

Just so you don't get confused our current radio commentator is Brian Wheeler. Most of the new school fans only recognize the man known as "Wheels". He's a great radio personality and also has a few coined phrases of his own. (I will list them below.) He has been on board with the Blazers for about I believe 7 plus seasons. He probably will not reach the legendary status of Bill Shonley (Especially if every contract year we hear rumors of him talking with the Lakers.) but we are very lucky to have such a knowledgeable and dedicated broadcaster. He also has his own afternoon radio show on 95.5 The Game (www.955thegame.com) called Wheels After Work. You get little insider local trail blazer info and he always has great guests year round. I would recomend tuning in ASAP just so you can get familier with him. So like I mentioned before here are Wheels coined phrases you will need to get familiar with....

Wheels Phrases,

Boom Shaka Laka!

OOOOH That was nasty!

Sloan looks Mystified, mortified, etc... Their are more but you will have to listen this season on 95.5 or online @ www.955thegame.com to get the full experience.

We play all of our home games at the Rose Garden, I have linked Map quest directions for you from Seattle right here. (http://www.mapquest.com/mq/4-2gwxg5d8) It seems to be a three hour drive. But remember at the Rose Garden you need to plan to be early and stay late!

Just so you are prepared Portland is a very knowledgeable basketball town. You may be able to get away with wearing a Seattle shirt for one season and we will be forgiving. But year two you better have saved the cash to purchase the scarlet and black. Keeping that in mind we don't want some fairwheater fan either. Seeing as we are going to be hanging some banners shortley you better educate yourself and be a loyal fan.

How about now I introduce you to the rest of the guys. I really think we will have this roster together for a while so I think it will be safe for you to open yourself up to these guys.

C) Greg Oden

We don't know much about Greg yet. But from what we have scene is they don't make 7 footers like him. He will be a fast defensive minded shot blocking, rebounding machine. His offense should improve as he gets more experience. Having him ready this season is going to be fun to watch.

PF) Lamarcus Aldridge

LA or Stretch is a Texan with game similar to Rasheed Wallace and maybe a little Tim Duncan. He is not to their level yet. But last year in his first full season he averaged 18 and 7. He will be a great compliment to Oden on the defensive end next season. (Welcome to the block party.) He is also a great charicter guy. On another note it would be good to see him bulk up, just a tiny bit. And get a little more nastiness to his game.

SF) Travis Outlaw

T-Law or TrOut is a long freak of an athlete. This country boy from Mississippi can touch the top of the backboard. Not quite a Shawn Kemp. But he has improved his game every season in the league since he came out of high school. He has an improving jumper that extends out to the three. Very good fourth quarter producer with the ball in his hands. Defensively he is not that great one on one but off the ball he wreaks havoc. Still improving.

SG) Rudy Fernendez

"The Spanish Fly" is going to be a rookie this season. He has won many olympic medals and MVP awards overseas. He appears to have a nice step back jumper and can get to the rim. He is very thin so we will have to see how he holds up through the entire season.

PG) Steve Blake

Won an NCAA championship at the U of Maryland. Blake is just a solid point. Probably better suited as a backup. But he shoots a good percent, makes good desitions and is an underrated defender.

C) Joel Przybilla

Tha Thrilla is a great rebounder/shotblocker. Offensively you will hold your breat unless he dunks it. He is a great team player and can probably kick Shaq's butt. (His hobbies include Kickboxing) Has had a handful of 5 plus block games. Also 15 plus rebound games. Will be the best backup in the league once Oden is ready.

PF) Channing Frye

Channing is Mr. Happy Go Lucky. He is happy to be here. But will also be happy play more somewhere else. He is a very nice piece off our bench with his range, but could be one of the expendable guys also. He is a great interview if you ever get to hear him.

PG) Sergio Rodriguez

Spanish Chocolate was a spark plug his rookie year, but fell off the map last year. He easily could become your favorite with his Nash style, but he has shown he shoots terrible and cannot play D. Serg has a lot of improving to do to get into the rotation. He also has become a mental head case with a few comments he has made this offseason.

PF) Ike Diagu

Don't know much yet. We just got him from the Pacers. From what I do know is he is an undersized 4 that was an exceptional scorer/rebounder in college. Ike was a lottery pick, but has had injury troubles the past season.

PG) Jerryd Bayless

He is our prized rookie from Arizona. Slotted as a top 5 pick he fell to us at 11. He has a lot of developing to do but should prove to be a above average point in two seasons. Shoots well and can get to the rim, but needs to work on playmaking passing skills.

Trade Bait, I mean PF/C) Raef LaFrentz

I am not gonna waste time with his skill set because I don't know. He has not played hardely since he has been here. His huge 12 million dollar expiring contract will be dangled untill the deadline. But only if we need a certain peice.

Well, thats the group. I do have some homework for you. The blazers have a handful of Euros overseas. Please research them and then you can post an anilazation of their games on yardbarker.

Lets see have I missed anything... Oh yeah you must follow these simple 5 rules below.

#1) Hate the Lakers

#2) Any time Kobe touches the ball you must boo.

#3) *Practice "In KP We Trust"*

#4) Be a confident Blazer fan, not cocky

#5) Thank Paul Allen for KP

*Definition for #3*

In KP we trust, means no matter how many trades or if it seems like a roster move does not make any sence at all. Always remember who turned Ratliff/Telfair/Khryapa and some draft pick swapping into BRoy and LA. The man who ridded Portland of the wanna be thugs, and drug addicts. The man who changed the Jail Blazers back into the Trail Blazers. We have to trust the man with the given name Kevin Pritchard. And always remeber to thank Paul Allen for finaly buying in to him as well.

From,

Your New Fellow Trail Blazer Fans!

Please purchase your merchandise here http://www.nba.com/blazers/index_main.html

We are signing this petition to voice our concern over the issue that most Oregonians cannot view our Portland TrailBlazer games. We wish that Comcast and the Satellite dealers would please settle whatever differences they have so us Oregonians could view our beloved team play.

Please click the link and sign the petition. www.petitiononline/blazer22/

Thanks,

Jerryd is ready to put that chip on his shoulder and let those other ten teams that passed up on him have it.

If you have not scene Jerryd yet, here is a great highlight video from youtube.

Found a great Travis Outlaw highlight reel, check it out!

These are great, I found them on a Blazers Forum, enjoy>>>

Greg Oden sold his soul to the devil for his rugged good looks and unparalleled basketball ability. Shortly after the transaction was finalized, Greg power slammed a basketball in the devil's face and took his soul back. The devil, who appreciates irony, couldn't stay mad and admitted he should have seen it coming. They now play poker every second Wednesday of the month.

Greg Oden once shot a German plane down with his finger, by yelling, "Bang!"

Greg Oden can make a woman climax by simply pointing at her and saying "Booya".

Greg Oden can divide by zero.

When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night he checks his closet for Greg Oden.

Greg Oden is not hung like a horse... horses are hung like Greg Oden.

Greg Oden once ended a basketball game with a 3-point slam-dunk.

God created the universe in six days. Greg Oden could've done it in two.

The sun doesn't actually rise or set. Greg Oden simply claps twice.

Greg Oden never wears a condom for two reasons. One, they don't fit, and two, "Nobody tells Greg Oden what to do!"

Greg Oden doesn't need birth control. His sperm destroys the egg.

There is no theory of evolution, just a list of creatures that Greg Oden allows to live.

Greg Oden once tried to market his own line of toilet paper but it wouldn't take crap from anyone.

Aliens do exist. They're just waiting for Greg Oden to die before they attack.

Each individual hair in Greg Oden's beard has a beard of its own.

Greg Oden can make two wrongs equal a right.

Greg Oden does not teabag the ladies; He potato-sacks them.

Greg Oden does not use a restroom. He blesses it.

Greg Oden kicked in the closet door and beat the crap out of R. Kelly.

Greg Oden doesn't get smarter. He flexes ignorance out of his brain.

Greg Oden can set ants on fire with a magnifying glass. At night!

Greg Oden always laughs whenever he watches Cialis commercials because his erections always last at least four days.

Greg Oden is the reason why Waldo is hiding.

When God said, "let there be light", Greg Oden said, "Say 'please'."

Greg Oden can slam a revolving door.

#1) The Bears need an established veteran to groom the rookie Matt Forte for one season and possibly splitting time in year two.

#2) He is the high character guy that the Bears need right now that will not be a distraction.

#3) He spent the first season of his career behind Ricky Watters. Alexander has been quoted many times crediting Watters for taking him under is wing and preparing him to be a professional athlete along with an everyday back in the NFL along with wanting to be able to do the same for another young back.

#4) He may be 30 years old but his production has still not been as bad as Benson's the past season and a half.

#5) Alexander is fully healthy for the first time in two seasons.

#6) After being cut, Shaun is motivated to prove that Seattle made a mistake. (See career stats VS. Arizona; They promised to draft him and didn't)

#7) He has been to the big show, and will know how to prepare his teamates for it.

#8) Shaun knows Seattle's West Coast Offense inside and out. Can help prepare for the Bears NFC rival during a playoff meeting

Ten years ago who'd a though that college players would be asked to approach former bad boy Rod Strickland,for advice. In his second year as director of student-athlete development at the University of Memphis that is exactly what they have been asked to do.

Now at the age of 41 Strickland is one man who defiantly been through it all during his NBA career. From arrests, fights with teammates to all star snubs and coming oh so close to reaching the NBA Finals. In a backwards way now a more mature Strickland is using his miscues to educate and help the young student athletes to not follow the path he followed.

Strickland's willingness to discuss any topic with the Memphis players has made him one of the most popular members of John Calipari's coaching staff.

Rod Strickland had an affect on the game that few other NYC point guards had. Mainly he was a true point guard. At 6'3", Strickland was big enough to take guards into the post, but also fast enough to blow by anyone respecting his jumper.

In 1988, David Stern called his name, and sent him on his way to his hometown New York Knicks. For any kid from the Bronx, playing for the Knicks would be a dream come true, problem is, if the guy ahead of you on the depth chart is an All-Star (Mark Jackson), you won't get any PT. After playing only 1 and a half seasons for his home team, Rod was shipped to San Antonio for Mo Cheeks.

He flourished under Larry Brown. He spent the next 2 and a half seasons in San Antonio nearly helping them reach the NBA Finals in 1991. Over his final season in S.A. the injury bug, a key turnover ending the Spurs season and reoccurring issues with coach Larry Brown, prompted Strick to opt for free-agency.

The Trail Blazers came running with their wallet open and pretty soon, Strickland was playing All-Star caliber ball, averaging 17 points and 8.5 assists per game for four seasons in Portland. But he never was invited to play in the All Star game. After another tough season beefing with Coach PJ Carlisimo; at the peak of his career, he was shipped to the Washington Bullets and would become part of a team that returned Washington to playoff contention after a 7 year-hiatus. What people don't know is that Rod lead the league in assists his first year as a Washington Wizard, averaging almost 11 dimes per game. Strickland was indeed a major talent, but you all know what comes next!

Along with pioneering the "New York" point guard role, Rod also pioneered the "JailBlazer" moniker, as he was the guy to start the trend of Portland having a prison basketball team. Rod never really got along with the caoching staff, got caught up in the area's marijuana scene and had the obligatory run-ins with local law officials. When he came to D.C., he played his ass off, but that didn't come without missing practices, showing up 20 minutes before game time and other crazy stunts. Strickland wasn't exactly the best teammate either for example Tracy Murray once sported one of the worst black eyes in the NBA since Rudy had his face broke. The Wizards tried to run Strickland alongside Mitch Richmond (from the Webber trade) in the supposed "best backcourt in the East" and the team went back to its playoff-missing ways.

After promising to be an angel in his brief stay in Minnesota, Rod got charged with smashing someone's parked car, and then peeling out, getting in trouble with law enforcement up there. His rap sheet included swinging on police officers, DUIs galore and other police blotter material. Getting up in age, Strickland tried the typical league tour (signing here and there to teams needing PG help) before finally chilling out for good in 2005 after 16 games with T-Mac and Yao, and a 3 month stint with a Lithuanian team.

Strickland, who is currently taking classes at Memphis toward completing his bachelor's degree, says his goal is to someday become a head coach. But for now, he's content counseling the Tigers.

"They knew from Day 1 that I am here for them," said Strickland, who played 17 seasons in the NBA before retiring after the 2004-05 season. "My career's over. I enjoyed it, but I'm here for them. I've had a lot of experiences, and I try to share that with them. I will talk to them about the good, the bad, the pitfalls, whatever."

Throughout the most important playoff game of the NBA season Lebron James showed everyone in the world why he will be compared more to the like of Dominique and not the like of Magic and Michael this off season.

As the game went on and on we all saw was King James not only hit big shots but down the stretch act more as Paul Pierce' BFF and not show the fire and passion that we would see His Airness prevail with over and over again.

Either Lebron realizes that the fire that burns inside needs to come out or he will wake up and be 32 years old and just be that great player that puts up unreal numbers year in and year out.

Did you see Ben Wallace? What happened to Big Ben? The fiery shot blocking beast has become a soft complainer. Reason number one is not age, it is leader of his team is not getting him off. As the leader he is not utilizing his teams strengths. Lebron needs to lose the nice guy image he has with his peers around the league and just let it loose.