Rudy Meets Portland
posted: 9/22/2008 at 9:42 PM
You can do your best to explain what Blazermania is to someone who has never been to Portland. But, the experience, of course, is usually a bit different.
Right after the regular season ended in April, Portland GM Kevin Pritchard and his staff flew to Spain to visit with Rudy Fernandez. Their goal was to try and convince Europe's biggest star to leave his family, friends, and culture. They asked him to pass up more money (he could have made possibly seven times as much playing overseas), come to the northwest corner of the United States, and to come off the bench for a team that didn't qualify for the NBA playoffs last season.
It was the ultimate recruiting trip for Pritchard and company. They had to sell a city, a franchise, a league, and a dream. On Monday, Fernandez was in Portland, and after being welcomed by over 200 Blazer fans at the airport, remarked, "it was like a dream.
"I couldn't believe it," Rudy said of the welcoming. "I am tired after all the travel, but after seeing the fans I just felt like heading straight to the gym to begin practicing."
Pritchard said that Monday capped off a five-year process for him. He had been in Europe scouting other players, but couldn't take his eyes off Fernandez. When the opportunity presented itself, during the 2007 NBA Draft, to finally land the rights to Fernandez, Pritchard and the Blazers pounced. Then came the challenge- get Rudy to come over to the states.
Even though Fernandez gave the Blazers a verbal committment following the meeting in April, he officially signed in July. Monday he arrived, and later this week will strap on Trail Blazers practice gear and hit the floor with his new teammates.
A little before 2pm on Monday, before meeting the Blazers staff at the team's offices, Rudy was given a quick tour of the Rose Garden. It just so happened that a Rose Garden crew was doing some work on the shot clocks, and had basket standards set up, and a small strip of the court was in place from end line to end line. Fernandez let his eyes circle the upper reaches of the arena, and then walked out to the three point line, looked at the rim, smiled and nodded his head.
Some interpreted this as sizing up the three-point line, checking out the sight lines of the building, or feeling the court under his feet. To me, it seemed like a "yeah, I finally made it," kind of moment. Afterall, he has said so many times in the past that his ultimate dream is to play in the NBA. That dream got a lot closer to reality on Monday, and Fernandez took it all in.
It didn't take the fans long to start dreaming of Fernandez on the court with the Blazers, perhaps filling the lane on a fast break, hitting a big three, lobbing a pass to Greg Oden, or receiving a lob from Brandon Roy- all amid the roar of the loudest building in the NBA. Rudy admitted he's spent plenty of nights dreaming of these scenarios. And, dreaming of Blazermania. He received a small dose of it on Monday, and the best is certainly yet to come.
The long off-season of anticipation continues, but the clock is ticking, and another major hurdle has been cleared, getting Rudy to Portland.
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It doesn't get much sweeter being a Blazer fan right now. Of all the sports franchises in all the sports, through all the ups and downs a team can go through, I don't think there is a greater high ever felt by sports fans. The time is now and it seems like everything has all been built up for this moment. I can't wait until the start of pre season. I love this team. Welcome Rudy, this is your home now.
Welcome to The Blazers Rudy. You are here to give to us and in return we will give to you the best loyalty a fan can be. Spain has nothing on us when it comes to cheering our players.
hg
Regards from Spain!
We've been enjoying Rudy's game for years and now he's realized his dream to play in the best basketball league in the world. As a spanish citizen I must say we're proud of him and we'll continue to support him everywhere he goes. Go Rudy!
Bye bye Rudy...here in Spain we will miss u a lot. But welcome to the best league in the world where amazing happens...We are proud of you, you have made us dream to see you doing big shots there. Please be patient, i would say to your fans, because no body doubts that you have to play in the NBA, because you deserve it, the way you work, improve and play deserve it.
Portland is going to see what happens when Sergio&Rudy play together..welcome to this flight, spanish airlines appreciate your confidence in us...
Mike,
You obviously are known for writing one of the better blogs out there but this post was extra fantastic. You really captured something here. I really get a sense of something really special and I just want to let you know that you have been doing a fantastic job in all your TV/Radio/Web efforts and I've never been this excited for anything in sports period. I think this right here really captures the essence of a revitalized Rip City and we as fans could not of hit any bigger of a jackpot than what we are about to witness for the next handful of years. Thanks a lot to you and the rest of the broadcast crew for really going the extra mile during and after the "hard times" to make this team feel special again.
Seeing Rudy actually in Portland was great. Even greater was seeing how excited KP and Nate are. They were effusive in their praise..Barely able to hold back thier glee! And the Pundits on the radio...Canzano, Wheeler, Gavin D. and the mountain of callers! Really exciting! Blazermania is revved up, The whole scene is ready to be Red Hot and Rolling...and the resurrection of "Rip City" is right around the bend. Welcome to Portland, Rudy. I get goose bumps thinking about the season...C'mon October!!
Haha, poor guy -- he had to be completely freaking out inside when he got off the plane and saw all those insane maniac's waiting for him at the airport..that's how you know our fanbase is special, how many other city's would that of happened in?
I am definitely one of those dreaming and running scenario's through my head; This is the least excited I've ever been for football season, becuase I can't stop thinking about the Blazers. This was all really worth the bad times..can't wait to watch it all unfold!
Welcome Rudy!
Let Rudy and Sergio play together and you will have a great showtime in Portland!
Thanks Mr. Barrett. I am glad Rudy is on the team. He seems like a swell guy and a good player.
I hope Rudy can play the same way he did in Europe. He's a really good player, hard and spectacular.
Good luck, Rudy!
You are so lucky in Portland to have Rudy in your team. Take good care of him and enjoy his game.
Rudy, Rudy ! (beat L.A.)
Mike,
Wow! What a reception for Rudy! So glad that I witnessed it. Rudy is a class act and he will do well in Portland. Such a good player and very gracious with the fans. Thank you for keeping us up to date. Your reporting is top notch! Go Blazers!
Good post, MB.
Rudy saying he wanted to go practice, and kick nba players @$$.
Priceless.
Thank you again KP.
Shaun who ??
Let's go Blazers !!!
I am a season ticket holder that happens to live in Rancho Cucamonga, CA! Sunday I am wandering around the LA County Fair wearing my new Rudy Fernandez #5 T-shirt and I am confronted by a Laker fan wearing a near identical shirt but his is white and say's Lakers on the front. After some jibing I ask him "who the heck wears #5 for the Lakers" and he turns to reveal the Farmar on the back. With a big smile I say "my number 5 is gonna kick your #5's @$$!!!" With some discomfort, this Laker fan concedes that this should be a good year for both teams.
This will be a GREAT year for Portland!
Welcome Rudy!
We are amazed here in Spain by the incredible wellcome to our Rudy.I assure you that he will be a big impact in the league,and for sure the best european in the NBA(Nowitzki included).His style resembes to Rex Chapman and in next All Star game would be able to attend to 3-point shots and Slam Dunk contests
Welome Rudy
I believe everything happens for a reason. You prayed for an American city that would love you for you and your style of play,and we will!
Sergio has already made honorary Spainards out of some of us, the two of you will make honarary Spainards out of all of us. OLE! OLE!!!!!
I would love as all of us would.To be ONE OF YOUR FAVE FIVE 5!!!!!
Bless you for your arrival you just made this great city even greater. 71BLAZER
As a diehard Blazers fan from the Philippines, I can't wait to get back to the Rose Garden and watch a game! KP, hats off to you for making everything happen! PLAYOFFS HERE WE COME!
We are going to freak out the teams we play in the pre-season with the noise because we are so geeked up for the regular season.
Congratulations Blazers and Rudy!
I'm a Joventut's fan (the catalan basketball team where Rudy comes from) and I can tell you that you've achived one of the best catalan players we've ever had, a part from the well-known Pau Gasol! I've seen him from his beginnings here in Badalona, in Joventut (also called La Penya)and it was amazing, every year playing better! Congratulations Rudy, we hope your dreams come true!
Et trobarem a falta a Badalona...
(english traslation from catalan sentence: we'll miss you here in Badalona).
Yes, Verd-i-negre, we, SPANISH PEOPLE, are proud of having another SPANISH player in the NBA.
First, Fernando Martin; Then, Sergio Rodriguez; now, Rudy Fernandez; is Portland a second home for us, Spanish people?
Hope someday i could visit the Rose Garden! Now i have another reason to do it!
Go Blazers!
MB, You spoiled us with Oden videos last year this time. This year we are even more excited! We can't wait for pre-season we need some videos now, please. It would be awesome to see Rudy's first pick up game with the guys. BTW, great Blog. I love the part where Rudy sizes up the 3. He was probably thinking "Oh yeah, I'll be hitting from here all day"
I am so stoked about Fernandez's arrival! The intensity that he'll bring is going to make us so freaking good! Exclamation, Exclamation, EXCLAMATION! The Rose Garden is gonna be so loud. Rip City is back! The Blazers will be the most exciting team in the NBA to watch!
Go Blazers!!!!!
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