Portland, OR

Before I write anything else, let me say two things.

First, I am a Detroit Pistons fan. Can’t help it, born there, they are a great team to have as your home town team, so not really shopping for a new fav.

Second, I don’t really like basketball all that much. Other than being a Pistons supporter, I don’t watch a lot of basketball. For instance, skipped it during the Olympics. I just don’t dig it. I also don’t like baseball. I find both sports rather boring, in different ways. Baseball is not active enough, and basketball is too active. When I refer to “active,” I really mean how much both sports score. Baseball doesn’t score enough, and basketball the exact opposite.

Ok, so that said, I watched the Blazers’ opener tonight against the Lakers. I went to a sports bar to watch to the game. Figured I would see how this town watches it’s own.

Not that trailblazer…

I brought up the Pistons not only to excuse myself from being a Trailblazers fan, but also to give you an indication as to what I am accustomed when watching a game. The Pistons have been a strong team for quite a while now (since I have been alive anyway, with a few years off during the late 90’s and into 2001, so I am just not used to watching a young team figure themselves out. I was too young during the Thomas-Dumas years, and just busy during the last few “building” seasons.

And watching the Trailblazers tonight, well, it was new to me. They looked really sloppy in the first half, but you could also see that they were trying too hard. Ah, youth and nerves. The Blazers couldn’t sink a basket to save their lives. I moved on to something else at the half, checking in from time to time, but giving up on the ‘blazers.

I did see some hustle out there though, so I am hoping that the Blazers may be a good adopted team for me. I do tend to cheer on the teams of my respective “home towns” at the time in which I live at the time. By the way, have I mentioned that Portland is my favorite “home town,” thus far.

I was heartened that the bar totally filled up for the game. Mostly, dudes, but a girl or too. And everyone was definitely there for the Blazers. I was a little worried upon moving here, as I noticed that Portland has only one major league team. Did that mean that Portland is simply not a “sports town”?

Portland definitely has a sports side. You can see it most obviously during anything Beaver or Duck related. I am not a college football person, so I don’t get it myself, but let me tell you, this state has a huge Oregon State versus Oregon feel about it. Being from Michigan (and graduated from Michigan), I see a lot of similarity between my home state and my adopted state.

So an answer to the question as to whether Portland will support a franchise, so far, I would say yes. This town seems almost desperate to cling to a community-centered team. People here are rather outdoorsy, so they understand and appreciate sports for sure. And true, maybe that person will go out hiking on a Sunday rather than attend a game in an arena, but that same person will be more than happy to come see a game at least a few times a year.

Sure, it’s not a New York or a Chicago when it comes to rabid sports fans, but Portland likes sports, and even more, Portland likes teams and likes to support each other.

Trailblazers, Portland, sports, sportstown, sports town, Detroit, New York, Chicago, Pistons, franchise, major league, basketball, community