A time to stand together

Portlanders and fans of the Trail Blazers:

I want you to close your eyes for a moment.

Imagine your team, the Trail Blazers. Think of everything you’ve ever experienced with them, the highs, the lows, everything. Think about the Blazers’ history with the city, think about the Blazers’ history with yourself. Think about how you have stuck by the team, through thick and thin, simply because they are your team – your hometown Portland Trail Blazers.

I can see those smiles starting to emerge. Good, let that love for your team show.

But don’t open your eyes just yet. Now imagine this: Imagine that all of the sudden, Paul Allen decides that the Rose Garden, being built in 1995, is too out-of-date and has too many deficiencies to house the Blazers. Imagine that he wants to build a new stadium, but instead of shelling out some of his Microsoft money, he wants the taxpayers of Portland to pick up the bill for him. Imagine cash-strapped Portland’s rejection of that absurd idea, prompting Allen to proclaim that Portland no longer supports an NBA basketball team. Imagine Allen decided to move the Blazers away from Portland to his hometown. Imagine the cries of Blazer fans, shouting the history and impact of the franchise, falling on the deaf ears of NBA Comissioner David Stern, who not only is complicit in the move, but who also says that no other team will ever return to the city of roses.

Harry Glickman … Bill Schonely … Bill Walton … Clyde Drexler … Brandon Roy …it would all be gone in the blink of an eye.

There! Let that anger and sadness flow through you. Imagine the heartache, the sorrow, the pain that you would feel as your favorite team was heartlessly ripped away from you, all thanks to rich people wanting to get richer.

Now, open your eyes. What do you see?

The Seattle SuperSonics.

All that pain you might have felt just imagining such a scenario is a terrible reality for Sonics fans, a reality where a greedy, carpetbagging owner and a corrupt NBA Commissioner are selfishly tearing the Sonics away from the city that they have supported for 41 years. Because of these two, the Sonics are on the verge of being shipped off to Oklahoma City.

But right now, it is time for all of us to do something about it. Right now it is time for Portland to stand up for Seattle and help prevent the Sonics from being taken away.

What Clay Bennett is doing is wrong. David Stern, in his failure to act, is just as responsible. But for the rest of the NBA community, from teams to owners to fans in other cities, their unwillingness to speak out against this travesty is only helping Seattle lose their team.

It’s time to make up for our past silence.

There is an unspoken connection between the Trail Blazers and the Sonics. They were both founded within three years of each other. They both won their only championships within two years of the other. They both had near misses in the 90s, followed by trying years of rebuilding. And to cap it all off, they’re the only two NBA teams in the Northwest, forever connecting them through their location, one that, to the rest of the country, must seem like the edge of the world.

Sure, there is rivalry between the two cities, but it is more of a rivalry between siblings. We grew up together, fought with each other, and saw each others’ successes. Be honest, how many of you in Portland were secretly smiling when the Sonics squared off against the Bulls in the 1996 NBA Finals? How many of you pull for Seattle when they face off against other NBA powerhouses? Face it, these two franchises are more connected than anyone knows, and deep down, we know it and cherish that fact.

Therefore, as the brothers to Seattle, we cannot sit back and allow this to happen. We can’t let Clay Bennett and his greed rip this team away from a fanbase so similar to ours. Standing as one, Portland needs to fight it.

Geographical differences be damned, it’s the right thing to do.

This is a fight that Seattle cannot make alone. By themselves, they cannot stand up to the voracity and evil that Bennett and his accomplice Stern have levied upon them. But with Seattle and Portland working together, we can make a difference. Together, we can show that this is about more than just an arena, or a franchise, or a petty business. Together, we can show that the Sonics mean something, not just to the city of Seattle, but to the Northwest. The Northwest needs the Sonics, Seattle needs the Sonics, and quite frankly, Portland needs the Sonics. No amount of small sibling rivalry is worth standing by and letting our brother be torn away.

If the Sonics were stolen away, the Northwest would certainly be a lonely place without them.

The time to act, the time to come together, is now. The longer that we remain silent, we condemn the Sonics more and more.

Portland must show its support for a team that must remain as the Seattle SuperSonics. Speak out against this proposed theft. Write letters to Bennett, to Stern, to the media, to anyone that will listen. If it comes down to it, we will have people in Shawn Kemp and Clyde Drexler jerseys link arms and stand in front of those moving trucks.

This isn’t just Seattle’s problem anymore.

Portland, imagine if this happened to us, wouldn’t you want to fight for it? If it all seemed lost, and it seemed like you were helpless to stop it, wouldn’t you want someone, anyone, to speak up and stand beside you? If the commissioner of the NBA won’t to anything to stop this tragedy from occurring, then let’s have two cities stand together. There, in one voice, we can stand strong and say:

“Save our Sonics.”

Seattle, Portland stands with you.

Wrigley name worth more than money

I had a dream the other night, a nightmare actually. I was in Chicago, about to see a Cubs game for the first time. After years of following them from afar, I was finally about to see them in person, and where better to experience your first baseball game than in the bleachers of historic Wrigley Field?

But upon approaching the entrance at 1060 West Addison, I was stopped dead in my tracks. Gone was the familiar red sign welcoming fans to the ballpark. Gone was the mystique of entering these hallowed grounds. Gone was Wrigley.

In its place hung a plain white banner, with the words "FedEx Field."

Terrified out of my wits, I immediately woke up. Once I gathered my thoughts and realized it was only a dream, I quickly settled back to sleep. What a crazy dream, I thought. Thank God they would never rename something so historic.

You could imagine, then, my reaction the next morning when I learned that Cubs' management is planning to sell the naming rights of the stadium that has housed the Cubs since 1914.

Regardless how I felt about my sudden gift of clairvoyance, that would have to wait. My main focus was now on the unfathomable idea that this celebrated ballpark is about to have its soul mortgaged in the name of a few bucks.

Because that is exactly what Sam Zell is doing right now. The boss of the Tribune Co., which owns the Cubs, is currently planning to sell the naming rights to Wrigley Field. Zell is doing it knowing full well that baseball purists are against it, saying that when he bought the Tribune Co., he didn't get a discount on the naming rights of Wrigley Field.

When it comes down to it, Zell is throwing a financial hissy fit, taking the game ball home and ruining it for the rest of the kids. If he - God forbid - had to pay full price for the name of Wrigley Field, then he's going to make sure that no one else can use it again. Ever.

Admit it, Zell, you were the kid that was always picked last at baseball, weren't you?

This is exactly what happened when people who never liked sports end up owning sports teams. To them, it is strictly a business venture. These teams are simply a way to make more money. What makes sports so special to those who follow it means nothing to these owners whose eyes are blinded by the prospect of more money. While fans may be spending their Sundays praying to Touchdown Jesus, these types of owners are attending service at the Church of Divine Profit.

For these owners, our sports teams are simply a means to grab that cash with both hands and make a stash.

But to the fans, sports means so much more than that. Teams and their histories represent something larger to the fans. To many, they represent the soul of a franchise, a city and a fanbase. As a result, the home of that team becomes a sacred place. This is where it happened, fans tell their children. This is the home of our team. The stadium is special to them, because no other one is like it.

But a soulless arena leaves nothing for those fans to remember or to take pride in. A kid will always treasure the memory of his first visit to Fenway Park, but no one looks back fondly on a visit to EnergySolutions Arena. There are seven different American Airlines Centers, but there is only one Yankee Stadium.

And there is only one Wrigley Field.

It is a cliché to say that there are some things that transcend sports, but one that proves to be true in this case. Wrigley Field is more than just a name on the side of a building. It is an idea. It is an institution. It is the heart of a town, and a sport. By selling the name of Wrigley Field, Zell would be doing more than just changing a red sign on the front of the stadium, he would be forever condemning those who love baseball to a lifetime of bad dreams.

If they don't win it's a shame

It certainly was a season to remember last year. The Bulldogs finally came home to Gonzaga, thanks to a beautiful new ballpark, and enjoyed a nice season in front of their fans after a long stay at Avista Stadium.

There were ups and downs, but the overall record paled in comparison to what being home meant to the program. In the end, they just missed out on an NCAA tournament bid, but that was no matter, as their small measure of success was just icing on the cake with all the emotion of their homecoming.

But now the honeymoon is over. It's time to get down to business.

All eyes are on this Bulldogs team and its ability to build on last year's surprise success. Honestly, it would have helped to have a worse record last year, because then all the focus would have been on their new stadium without a second thought to what the team can do on the field. But the Zags' talent was too big to ignore, and as a result of their achievements, the question for this season isn't whether the Bulldogs will be successful, but just how successful they will be.

Based on their performance last season, we know this team has what it takes. This was a Bulldogs team that beat Oregon State in a year in which the Beavers would go on to win their second of back-to-back national championships. This was a Bulldogs team that went on a 12-3 stretch to break open their season in March. This was a Bulldogs team that finished a surprising second in the WCC. In short flashes of brilliance, we saw a team that could compete with the big boys.

With those key wins, they exposed themselves as the winners they are, and now the fans want even more.

The road will be a little harder this season. With Clayton Mortensen on the verge of joining the St. Louis Cardinals roster, and with Darin Holcomb taking his power-hitting to the Colorado Rockies farm system, the Bulldogs look weaker than last year on paper, and have been picked by WCC coaches to finish fifth in the conference. But again, the events of last season only fuel the optimism for this season - the Zags were picked to finish fifth last year, too.

However, the team needs to want to thrive, and success needs to be demanded and expected by those involved in the program. Sure, it was nice playing on campus again rather than the remote, isolated locale of Avista Stadium, but it's time to let go of that frame of mind and focus on what this team can accomplish now.

The temptation for many would be to stick with low expectations - then there would be no risk of disappointment. Effortlessly we could sit there and not let the record of the team affect us; then regardless of whether the team wins or loses or whether they can overcome the loss of a few key players, we could just, as they say, take in a nice game of baseball.

But wouldn't it be more fun to expect this team to win?

Wouldn't that experience of being at a Gonzaga baseball game be so much better if we were emotionally invested in this talented team? Living and dying in every at-bat, hoping and expecting their success to continue - this team has the talent and ability to make these things happen.

This is an exciting year for Bulldogs baseball. With what this team is capable of doing on the field, success seems within its grasp, and now there will be plenty of real reasons for fans to "root, root, root for the home team."

Nothing junior about Sasquatch basketball

Excitement. Talent. Top-notch entertainment. Community college basketball.

Doesn't really add up, does it?

felt the same way. When I was first assigned to cover the Community Colleges of Spokane basketball team, I reacted with as much enthusiasm as someone forced to watch a children's junior-league team: Yeah, it's basketball, but what's the point?

Nevertheless, I headed out to the campus at Spokane Community College, undoubtedly doing a job my boss promised as a favor to someone at the school. Upon finding myself at a gym whose exterior can only be described as looking like a giant air conditioner, I longed for the comforts and amenities of the McCarthey Athletic Center.

What am I doing here? Couldn't there possibly be something more important to cover? I can't believe I was roped into doing something as menial as ... as ...

Whoa.

These guys can ball.

For the next 40 minutes, I was glued to the action on the court as the Sasquatch put on a dominating performance for their home crowd. There was sharpshooting from the perimeter, crisp passing, lock-down defense and alley-oops. There was smart play, team basketball and enthusiastic fans. In all, there was a 100-57 win, and some of the best basketball I've seen in a long time.

Of course, it's not like this performance came out of nowhere. The Sasquatch (not "Sasquatches," I made that mistake in my first five seconds there) are currently at the top of the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges at 23-1, and are a perfect 10-0 in their division. The last time these guys lost was Dec. 7, and in all, only one of their wins came by fewer than 10 points.

They are a junior college team, yet they are playing to packed houses. This isn't just a passing fad; there is genuine love for this team.

And man, do the fans love it. Keep in mind, the team actually represents two schools: SCC and Spokane Falls Community College, which means that they have double the fan base. The fans show up in droves for Sasquatch games, getting free "We Will Stomp You" T-shirts and even heckling the opposing team. If success breeds support, these fans are living proof.

It helps to have a good coach at the helm. Mike Burns, in his first season with the Sasquatch, learned the ropes under coaches Ray Giacoletti and Dick Bennett while an assistant at Eastern Washington University and Washington State University. After a stint as head coach of EWU for three years, he brought his Division I mentality to the junior college level. No difference there, though, as his players bought into his system and continue to excel no matter how hard he pushes.

It's too easy to look at this community college basketball team and think of all the reasons why it shouldn't matter. You could see Burns' job as a huge demotion from D-I. You could see a league relatively unknown in its own region. You could see teams composed of 18-year-olds and not care. You could see that tiny, cramped gym and dismiss this team altogether.

Or you could choose to see a coach who is relishing his new role as a leader. You could see the intensity and passion with which the Sasquatch play. You could see young men wanting to be worked like Divison-I players in order to dominate their opponents. You could see players and fans truly taking pride in their team. A team doesn't have to be D-I to matter to themselves and their fans, they just need to have a true love for the game of basketball. The Sasquatch matter.

They may just be a junior college, but their devotion to the game can equal even the biggest schools. The talent may be smaller, but their heart is unmatched.

Keeping his eyes fixed on the NFL

Big Brother is watching.

Shrouded in secrecy in the Capitol, The Party watches via television surveillance, waiting for any misstep, any false move, any reason that would compel them to become involved in the affairs of others. Everything is controlled through strict rules they implement, and activities once thought to be under the jurisdiction of individuals now are controlled by this overreaching regime.

An Orwellian vision straight out of "1984," yet all too real for Roger Goodell and the NFL.

Just when you thought that the scandal surrounding the New England Patriots' illegal use of video surveillance was over, a crankier, less terrifying version of Big Brother brought it back to life. It was a cold day in February, and the clocks were striking 00:00 on the Super Bowl, but Arlen Specter, R-Pa., and his Senate Judiciary Committee decided that we weren't done with the Patriots just yet.

Specter awoke from his hibernation, found the story of Spygate that had flown under his radar since it was resolved in September and promptly had The Party interfere. He commanded to speak with NFL Commissioner Goodell regarding the destruction of the illegal tapes seized from the Patriots and threatening the league's antitrust exemption. In so many words, he implied that it was all part of a conspiracy to help New England.

"I became interested in this when I read about the tapes being taken," Specter told ESPN. "And I wondered if they applied to the Eagles' Super Bowl game in 2005. I'm concerned for the integrity of the game."

Pure Doublespeak. He talks of trying to clean up Spygate's mess and maintaining the game's integrity, while also creating more controversy with false implications and unwarranted investigations.

The Pats are on the fix! The NFL is helping them! My hometown Eagles (umm ... possibly) were cheated!

And here's the funny part about it all. Senator, how did Spygate come to your attention in the first place? ... what's that? You said the NFL already brought these infractions to light and punished the Patriots for it? Then there really isn't any need to rehash this mess. Unless Goodell is an evil mastermind of the highest order - or at least of James Bond proportions - it doesn't make sense for him to rat out the partner in a conspiracy while still trying to hide the rest.

In a football season chock-full of stories being blown out of proportion, from Jessica Simpson's relationship with Tony Romo, to Tom Brady's ankle, to Archie Manning's vicariously living through his sons, this clearly tops them all as the most overblown. It's one thing when TMZ runs out of normal Jessica Simpson stories and starts reporting on Tony Romo, or vice versa with ESPN, but when the U.S. Senate, the country's highest legislative body and a pillar of government, decides that one of our nation's top priorities is wiping the smirk off Bill Belichick, then it appears Specter and his Thought Police have gone a step too far.

I agree that when corruption and cheating become exceedingly rampant, sometimes the government needs to step in and clean house. Major League Baseball has already seen that throughout the investigations of the steroid era. When the MLB and the players' union refused to act, the Senate intervened and is forcing, albeit slowly, the league to implement changes to the system. The Senate saw a flawed system and widespread steroid use - something that had been affecting the game of baseball for God knows how many years - and decided to help the game before it was beyond saving.

This situation with the NFL, however, stinks of selfish motives and unnecessary involvement. The NFL already handled it. Don't attempt to be false knights in shining armor coming to save the NFL from the corruption that doesn't exist, simply to look heroic to an impressionable public.

In "1984," the masses loved Big Brother, too.

SportsCamp - February 5

- As lucky the Blazers were during their monumental last month-and-a-half, it seems as if they have been getting unlucky breaks in their last 12 games or so. The team is still playing hard, as evidenced by their forcing of multiple overtimes and - for stretches - playing at top tier level, but then someone makes a stupid mistake (see: missed free throws, turnovers), or they suffer a defensive lapse (see: Linus Kleiza layups), or a star opponent gets hot and takes the wind out of the Blazers' sails (see: LeBron James).

It would be tempting for many, including Blazer fans, to write off the team as finally hitting their wall. But I say unto thee: don't feel any dissappointment yet. This is a Blazer team that was predicted to be just as bad, or possibly worse, than they were last season. With Zach Randolph traded away, Greg Oden being injured, and an extremely young roster, no one thought much of the Blazers' chances this season.

Then, Travis Outlaw started hitting game-winners.

Then, Martell Webster scored 24 points in a quarter.

Then, James Jones became the second coming of Steve Kerr.

And of course, Brandon Roy became a superstar before our very eyes.

Don't dismiss a season of success based on a short stretch of less-than-perfect play. Winning may have spoiled Blazer fans, but rather than seeing a dropoff as a dissappointment, see the fact that there was something to drop off from as a reason to smile.


- Kevin O'Brien has all your NBA links.


- The Gonzaga Bulldogs lost to Saint Mary's last night. Kudos to the Gaels for absolutely shooting the lights out and outplaying the Zags for the entire 40 minutes.

In my mind, this begs the question: if the Gaels end up winning the WCC tournament (don't doubt it, there's a storong possibility), will the Zags still make it to the NCAA tournament?

If the Zags run the table for the rest of conference play (and assuming they beat Saint Mary's again) that will give them one win against ranked opponents. Their notable wins would be against UConn, Georgia, and Utah. Is this enough to make the tournament?

Probably. Although I'd like to hear from you, my readers. Email me your thoughts and the bets ones will be put in next week's SportsCamp.