Schedule Out Wednesday
posted: 8/05/2008 at 11:17 PM
Long time no blog. My apologies. About a month ago we toyed with the idea of buying a new home, and the next thing we knew we were closing on it. Never really saw it coming, and woefully underestimated all that moving entails. Holy cow.
This morning I got a line hooked up to the new home, and late tonight dug the computer out of a box. So, I've been gone, but I didn't go far. Isn't it kind of sick how dependant we are on computers and having that connection at the home? Now it's back, and I'm back. No, I'm no where near through unpacking boxes.
We've all got moving stories I'm sure, and my most-often used line of the last four days has been "how in the world did I acquire all of this crap?" I had movers, but did a lot of it myself. My tip to one of the movers was a game-worn Voshon Lenard jersey. That just brought a long stare and a ding on my staircase a short time later. Hey man, it's all I could come up with on short notice. I wasn't about to part with my game-worn Viktor Khryapa jersey.
And yes, I know that Greg Oden got everyone buzzing on Monday with his workout at the Blazers practice facility in Tualatin. Earlier today, when the garbage man was delivering my new trash bin, he shouted "how did Oden look?" I was amazed he recognized me from 30 yards away, given I had two days worth of stubble growth and a baseball cap on. About an hour later, while in line to get a hot dog at Costco (best deal in America, by the way), another guy approached and wanted info on the Oden workout. I know that we're all hungry, and for more than hot dogs.
The Oden workout did make waves outside of Portland as well, and several national publications took note. As I've mentioned many times, I still think most NBA fans, outside this market, have kind of forgotten about Greg.
Here's a link to an article written by someone who obviously hasn't.
It's still just early August, but the temperature is starting to rise. I'm starting to get that bounce back in my step (impressive considering I just moved 3,000 boxes of crap), and I find myself lying awake at night thinking about the season, and what could be. I've used this before, but the one thing greater than the memory, and even greater than experiencing the actual event, is simply anticipation. That's what we've got right now.
Wednesday morning the NBA schedule will be released. I've seen it, and was even pouring over it with Kevin Pritchard last week. One word describes the first six weeks of the season- brutal. I don't mean kind of difficult, I mean brutal. You'll understand what I mean when you see it, and I'm sure you'll agree. If this team comes through the first 24 games with a record anywhere near .500 it will be remarkable. You think I'm overstating that. Again, you'll see.
I guess a babtism by fire isn't necessarily a horrible thing. For this team's sake, let's hope not.
We'll talk again when I can be more specific. That'll be tomorrow. Now, if I can just find a change of clothes in a box somewhere.
RSS FEED
Glad you're alive and well Mike. I feel for you, moving sucks!
Congrats on the new house, hope the unpacking goes well. I am excited to see the new schedule..and all I have to say...is bring it on. The NBA won't know what hit em with the new blazers lineup. Thanks for your dedication to the team.
Glad to see you're still alive, MB! Congrats on the move! I'm excited to see the schedules come out (even if brutal).
Welcome back, MB. Brutal beginnings of a schedule, huh? Baptism by fire is right.
Welcome back Mike;
That link was great. Sasquatch sounds like a good nickname for Oden the beast.
If we meet the toughest opponents the first 16 games, win or lose we will come out better. LMA and Jerryd could tell you that. Some times it is not about winning but growing and what better way of growing than against the best.
I can't wait for the schedule to come out.
I found moving is essential because it gets rid of things that you thought you couldn't live without years ago and you haven't seen for years.
hg
Welcome back Mike;
that link was great. Sasquatch sounds like a good nickname for Oden the beast.
If we meet the toughest opponents the first 16 games, win or lose we will come out better. LMA and Jerryd could tell you that. Some times it is not about winning but growing and what better way of growing than against the best.
I can't wait for the schedule to come out.
I found moving is essential because it gets rid of things that you thought you couldn't live without years ago and you haven't seen for years.
hg
Great to have you back MB-- let us know if you get completely unpacked within 2 years, or if the stack in the corner of the garage just kinda sits there...!
ahh moving.. I am currently stuck between leases (11 whole days!) and crashing at a friends house that is vacant for the summer. This means I get to move TWICE in 10 days! YIPPPEE!!!! car load after car load.. but the anticipation of this season keeps me eager and alert. I spend the first hour of every morning thirsting and searching for new articles and news... ANYTHING! And thank god for Jason Quick lately. That guy is my hero!
I know how the whole moving thing goes. We just did it 3 weeks ago ourselves. It is amazing how dependent on the computers we are. It seemed like that was one of the first things I set up too. My parents commented on me and my wife having 27 years of stuff, but we acquired it in about 10 years. That comment came from us moving them 10 years ago and all the stuff we had to move of theirs.
Hang in there. Once you're settled it will be awesome.
Why does the term "brutal" freak me out. Let's hope that it can be used as a learning experience for our young guys, because you know as they improve, they will have to face some huge challenges.
Looking forward to the season.
Thanks for the post.
Go Blazers!!!
I have to agree on the Costco hot dog deal. Best deal in America! Throw in one of those chocolate dipped ice cream bars for dessert and wow!
I loves me a Costco hot dog! And the pizza isn't a bad deal, either.
Thanks for the update Mike, it's always a pleasure to read what you have to say!
Geez Mike, its ridiculous how much I missed your blog posts. Good to have it back.
Glad to haveyou back Mike. The costco hot dog is'nt bad, but that Polish dog that they have, that's worth the costco membership alone.
I'll be looking out for you next time im at costco lol.
Goodness gracious. 15 of our first 22 games on the road? Against mostly good teams?
We could play good ball and be 0 and 5.
If we are at 11 and 11 after the Jan 7th Toronto game, that would be amazing. Even 9 and 13 would be pretty good.
Yeah, the first 6 weeks are brutal - that is a lot of road games. Thank god for the 2 games apiece vs. sacremento and minnesota.
MB,
Congratulations on the new house!
Can you enlighten me a little bit on how the NBA actually compiles their schedule? I seriously doubt they are trying to actually throw certain teams to the wolves. Is it all random (computer generated, for the most part) or do they generally try to avoid heavily weighted schedules?
Wow, nothing like starting the season off strong. We are going to be tested FAST. On a good note have a lot of nationally televised games which is awesome!
any word on the comcast debacle?
I'm a bit annoyed that we don't get a home game against the Lakers until March, and the games are so spaced out. I want Greg Oden to dominate Bynum so Laker fans will stop talking about Bynum's HOF worthy 13/10 half season. I don't know why the schedule looks so hard but it does. Every team in the west has to play each team about the same number of times but you can see order really matters.
Hey Mike!
Finally posting a comment on one of your blogs. Was just going to comment that last weekend I was at the Redbull flugtag just strolling around and ran into Channing Frye. Obviously in town already for the much awaited Greg Oden workout, but he was also one of the judges at flugtag. Must say, was very entertaining and its good for him to get out in Portland and have a good time with the people in Portland. But... He still looks skinny, so Greg better have beasted on him in the workouts!!
Congrats on the house Mike. Must be a relief to be settling instead of moving.
Not afraid of the tough start--what doesn't kill us, only makes us Western Conference Champions!
OK I'm over-hyping (what else is new?) but I say the sky is the limit for this crew.
Peace out
Beaverboy19
I don't think your hyping the team. I love what Brandon recently said about how he thinks the team is ready now. I've been looking around feeling like the only one who isn't say, "Eh, maybe 2-3 years down the road". People over look that fact that just the improvement of Roy and Aldridge could be enough. to make a playoff push. Now adding Oden to anchor the defense I think this team is going to shock people. Also does Brandon Roy even play like a guy that needs to wait 2-3 years before he is ready to lead a team through the playoffs? I don't think so.
Only problem with all the TNT and ESPN games is we don't get to hear the Mike&Mike show. Any way the radio guys could put a delay on so their audio syncs up with the TV video so I don't have to listen to the national morons? I like my homers!!!
man, i would love to have ANY worn jersey by anybody (practice jersey, or any other, even if its a hated player like lamar odom). ive a small collection of jerseys, so i could say, "what a gift!" Sasquatch? i dont know. when i think of that, i think of a big hairy smelly brown enigmatic thing that lives is the woods, probably terrorizing our women..... lol. Please dont apply that one. on the funnier side, i saw a bumper sticker the other day, it read... "got greg oden?" On a serious side.. this team reminds me of the early 2000 teams (without the payroll, high profile names and head cases...) All this talent. WOW! watching rudy against china, watching jarryd in the summer.. knowing greg is there, do you think kp should maybe STOP adding talent? Next years draft scares me because i think the potential of draft day deals could eventually screw things up. dont get me wrong, please. kp is THE MAN! Ooooh, I cant wait to spend my money on several games next year... FUN FUN FUN!!!!
Mike,
Just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to keep all of us Blazer fans informed. I love your blog because it gives us a little window into the inner workings of our organization. Stuff that you will never read on ESPN. You are by far my favorite blog on the internet, keep up the amazing work!
PS - Thanks for the interview with Blazers Edge too!
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