I feel like Mike Tokito should write more. Candace Buckner was legit (Columbian), and she got a job to cover the Pacers. But for the most part, they all have some glaring flaws. We're really lacking in terms of quality media coverage in PDX. Edit: In terms of nationally, I hate how Bill Simmons is becoming mainstream now, but at least he watches bball and knows wtf he's talking about. Zach Lowe and the rest of the guys on grantland are the best out there. The Starters (always TBJ) are good but too quirky.
Calls like 3:27 below are what make Wheels the sentimental choice. Homer? All day long, but something about listening to him call games when he wants it just as bad as I do . . . he takes the losses hard too (see his Twitter page) I love that. [video]http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2YneamUqN1w[/video]
Same for me. I don't even care that we lost the series. The way the '10/11 Season was supposed to go = Oden finally healthy, 3-time All Star B-Roy healthy & with w/addition of Wes, more effective (not having to play so many minutes). This was the season we might put it all together, flirt with 60 wins, make a playoff run. Instead, 10 games into the season Roy looked like he went from 26 to 40 - lost all of his athleticism. Nobody knew what to do. Sit him for 5 games? That didn't help. Arthroscopic? Nope. Then the news became official - there was no surgery or treatment for his condition. His Meniscus were shot, and we would never see the version of B-Roy that we knew & loved again . . . in the first season of his Max contract. Wait, what? If that wasn't enough, in the midst of all this Oden needs another MF surgery. Just surreal. Some good things happened (adding Wallace & Camby) later in the season, but the injustice of the injuries left a hole in our hearts. In addition to feeling bad for ourselves as fans, who didn't feel bad for Brandon? He deserved better. Almost any other injury at his age could be overcome with time & therapy. But coming to terms with being 26, and you're career is effectively over right as it was getting started? We buried those emotions temporarily. B-Roy was coming off the bench as the season ended. It was awkward & he did/said some stupid things during this time, and became a distraction. Given the situation, it's hard to blame him. He was the alpha, now he's coming off the bench and playing 8 minutes in a playoff loss? That all came to a boil in Game 4 of the Dallas series. Down 23, probably knowing more than we did this might be his last playoff run, Roy flipped a switch. He got a great bounce on that 3 at the end of the 3rd. But the 4th quarter was vintage B-Roy. Jumpers, finishing with the left at the rim, posting up Kidd. Even Brandon himself didn't know he had that in the tank. If you were a Blazer/Roy fan to the core, this was more than just a great comeback led by our 3 time All Star. The emotions of where we had been throughout the season flooded back to the surface. We thought we'd never get to see that version of Brandon again. But we did, & it was in a MUST WIN playoff game when we were down 23! For 1 quarter he was "that guy" again. Nothing captures that moment better than listening to Brian Wheeler give the call 1) When Roy tied the game. "Roy, had it it poked away, got it back from Nowitzki, now against Marion, NOW he pulls up with a 3 . . . AND IS FOULED!!! YEAH!!!" 2) In the final seconds as the Blazers try to hold on "Rebound Kidd 3 seconds, throws ahead to Terry. Get on him Brandon! A 3 for the win . . . MISSED IT GAME OVER!!" After that call, Wheels is silent for 15 SECONDS! Completely overwhelmed by what just happened. For that reason he's criticized and labeled a "homer" & "unprofessional". I love it. I don't need objectivity from the guy calling the games for my team. I'd rather listen to someone who rides the emotional roller coaster that wins/losses bring like I do.
