Not sure what inspired me to do this, but I wrote this last night. See if you can find 17 names (first, last or both) of current Blazers hidden in this passage. Try not to show the answers yet. Freshly off an underwhelming and frustrating trade deadline, Damian Lillard sits across a restaurant table from his GM, Joe Cronin. “How much energy are we supposed to bring now? You gutted our damn team!” Dame soured as his brow never ceased from furrowing and he stared into the general manager’s eyes. “One watt for damn sure” said Joe. “You’re everything we’ve got now.” “I’ve put my sweat and tears into this organization. Bled so much it hurts!” Dame exclaimed. Joe leaned back, hues of color washing from his face, and unconvincingly tried to reassure him, “We will always play with plenty of heart, but for us to have a brighter future, we need to keep our wins low. Look, you have been here a long time and we’ve done a lot for you. Bank’s full of money. Fame. You have built your own brand. On top of that, your legacy in this town will last for generations. I’m not sure what we can do to please you.” Dame, feeling defeated, stared at the bill, upset he had offered to take his GM out to dinner. Getting up from the table, Dame jingles the keys freshly pulled from his pocket, signaling that the conversation is over. Jay Allen sits awkwardly next to Joe not knowing what to say. All that is left on his plate is a lone slice of pickle. Gin diluting in a cup of ice. “See, Jay? I’ll be going home now. You suffer a little setback and everything goes to ruin” Dame grumbles. Sitting inside his car, Paul Simon’s “Fifty Way to Leave Your Lover” softly plays and the man who lifted a franchise out of the doldrums contemplates his future in the city he loves. Memories of buzzer beating daggers acting as the codeine to his sorrows.
