Lilli, Eloise, & Avery get together for some last second works of encouragement and team building before the big sparkler show (Scaredy Cat Lanie is no where to be found:)
Fireworks 101: How to hold a sparkler
Lilli holds shop on the correct technique: look at the focus! Portland 7/4/09
A future green thumb?
Lanie trying her best to overcome her fear of getting dirty, Portland 7/4/09.
4th of July in Portland
The cousins celebrating a successful breakfast outing: (from left) cousin Eloise, Lanie, Lilli, and Avery.
While I'm having a hard time tracking down the folder with the majority of my game pictures, here is a quick glimpse into what I've experienced thus far as a season ticket holder for the newest professional team in Seattle. Outside of the $7 I spent in 7th grade to order the "Sky Jump" workout regimen from a Sporting News advertisement (And no, those programs don't actually increase your vertical by 12 inches in 12 weeks), it's the best sporting investment I've ever made.
Game #1 vs. Red Bulls - The standard setter for what has come since...SCARVES UP!!!
The ECS - With apologies to Toronto, the BEST supporter group throughout MLS.
March to the Match prior to the Chelsea game. This happens in Pioneer Square 90 minutes prior to kickoff for each game, but this was the first time I attended. Put a band & fans that have spent the past few hours at the pub together, and you get plenty of interesting songs and chants. A good time for sure.
March to the Match - ECS en route to Qwest.
Qwest filling up prior to the Chelsea game. The atmosphere was absolutely electric. While the hometown crew didn't put out the dub, they created numerous scoring chances and more than held their own for 90 minutes. Some big league and US Open Cup matches are coming up, so if you can GET a ticket, come experience the void that been filled and then some by the Sonics' departure. Surely a team and organization to get behind and support.
- USA 102, China 70. The "Redeem Team" (which is a played out nickname already) handled business. D-Wade is back from his run on the beach with Apollo Creed, thus he smacked the Chinese around like Clubber Lang with a fearlessness I hadn't seen him play with in years. Bron is the prototype, 'nuff said. As for his European running mate...I appreciate the unselfishness, but right about now Kobe needs more Mamba ("I Left My Jumper in El Segundo?"). If the Americans can bury some jumpers & play consistently aggressive defense, they should be aight.
- Mad pollution and oppressive politics...Welcome to Beijing. Oh yeah, this stuff still happens with the world watching.
- Nice that you made the Opening Ceremonies, but seriously Gee-Dub, I think you may have more pressing issues. At least it's funny when your president does this.
- I set the alarm for 4am, got up, fought off heavy eyelids, and got rewarded with a big pile of crap, courtesy of the Oranje.
I'll try to post more later this week, but you know how that goes...
Wow, don't think I've ever hurt this much as a sports fan. I'm not gonna waste my energy laying blame or fault as to why the team formally known as the Seattle Supersonics are now the Oklahoma City Whatevers, because plenty of individuals are doing such in a much more poignant, well thought-out manner. And like others, I know I've lost the first team I truly loved. Come November 1st, I won't have a team to root for like I have for the better part of my 30 years of existence. I've lost my Sonics.
I remember falling in love with my team in 1st grade. During the first trip to the Whittier Elementary School library, we were given a look around and the opportunity to check out our first book. When the librarian asked my what I wanted, I told her I wanted something about basketball, and she said she had the perfect one for me. I came away from the library with the 1978-79 Seattle Sonics World Championship Almanac. From the moment I opened the cover, I became completely enthralled with each player, & their journey to beating the Washington Bullets for the Championship. I read about players like Gus Williams, Dennis Johnson, John Johnson, "Downtown" Freddie Brown, pre-perm Jack Sikma, Lonnie Shelton, Paul Silas, and Tom LaGarde. I read about Lenny Wilkens, and how he coached in the All-Star game that season. I read about how they knocked Kareem's Lakers out of the playoffs, and how they avenged the prior season's loss to Wes Unseld and the Bullets. I admired the photos from the Championship parade, and began to mirror the joy and happiness the fans in the pictures expressed. I basically owned that book until 5th grade I checked it out so much. From those early moments, I bled green & gold. From there, the passion grew. I remember seeing in person Xavier McDaniel getting ejected during his rookie season for knocking out some poor sap from the Hawks. I remember the 1986-87 team shocking Akeem & the Rockets in a game 6 double OT thriller to knock the defending Western Conference champs out of the playoffs. I remember Derrick McKey. I remember chanting "BEAT LA! BEAT LA!" as Dale Ellis rained in 3 after 3 against Magic & company during a regular season victory. I remember hurting when Tom Chambers went to the Suns. I remember Shawn's double pump reverse at MSG during his rookie year, and Calabro bugging out about it. I remember Dana Barros. I remember GP rocking #2 during his rookie campaign. I remember the Kemp dunk on Alton Lister. I remember being at that same game, and watching Gary throw a 3/4 court lob to the Reign Man to ice a series-clinching playoff game against Run-TMC and Golden State. I remember Detlef. I remember listening to Sam Perkins' hip-hop show on KUBE 93 ever Sunday night. I remember Ricky Pierce. I remember the '93 Western Conference Finals, and how Dan Majerle couldn't miss an effing 3. I remember Dikembe. I remember Nick Van Exel owning the Sonics in '94-95. I remember 64 wins, and driving around with high school teammates honking when we beat the Jazz to advance to the Finals. I remember Nate McMillan. I remember being pissed at Bob Costas pregame of 1996 finals when he said Sonics beating the Bulls would be "the biggest upset in NBA history". I remember Kemp swinging his nuts in Rodman's face after he banged on him Game 5. I remember Jim McIlvane, Rich King, Benoit Benjamin, Ervin Johnson, Robert Swift, Johan Petro, Mo Sene, and every other stiff we've had at the 5 since Sikma left. I remember crying when Shawn and George Karl bounced. I remember Vin Baker being good for about 7 games. I remember Rashard sobbing when he got drafted in the 2nd round. I remember the self proclaimed "Kobe Stopper" Ruben "The Babysitter" Patterson. I remember Billy Owens & Don MacLean. I remember the Paul Westphal era. I remember wondering why Vlade Radmonovic could never string two good games together. I remember Bones Barry. I remember the Ray for GP trade, and how it was the only good thing Wally Walker ever did as GM. I remember Howard Schultz on the day he bought the team saying he guaranteed a championship in 5 years, and thinking he was a bit naive.
I could go on and on, because this is just quickly thinking of stuff that meant a lot. I'm really hoping that the future provides an opportunity for us to land another team, but I really don't know if I want that if it means making another fan from a different fan base feel like I do now. I just know I'm gonna miss my Sonics.
With Brazil coming to Seattle this Saturday for a friendly against Canada, I'm getting a little geeked. While Ronaldinho, Kaka, and Adriano won't be in the fold, at least myself and other future Seattle Sounder FC supporters will get a glimpse at Robinho, Anderson, and other top-flight members of the "Selacao". The Canadians will make this a game, too, if Dwyane De Rosario has his way. Qwest Field should be full, and if the atmosphere it anything close to what the Mexico-China game was a few weeks back, it should be a treat. Also, don't sleep on the USA-England friendly tomorrow from Wembley (10:45 pst, ESPN Classic)...
Watching ESPN's broadcast of the McDonald's All-American Game last night, I witnessed what you'd expect from a high school all star contest: not a lot of "D", a ton of lobs and ridiculous bangs, and one-on-one battles that make these games more of the glorified pick-up variety. But a cultural phenomenon occurs last night far greater than anything you'll find in the box score or game summary: it was the official return of the box fade! Arizona recruit & super PG Brandon Jennings broke it out last night like he was Marcus Liberty, Kendall Gill, or 'Nique. I really thought it was 1988 all over again; he even repped a rock solid part on the left side! Please let this be become the official death of cornrows as we know it, and the rebirth of something special. Brandon, if you can break this style out by the fall, you will quickly become my favorite player on the planet (btw, his game is equally on par with his cut-up, thus don't be surprised if Jerrod Bayless' impending departure could be quickly forgotten in the desert).
With NBA commish David Stern and his cronies getting shown the red carpet by Clay Bennett & Oklahoma City's finest, things are getting worse for the Sonics longevity in Seattle. Not only does it look like a foregone conclusion that the owners will back Bennett's relocation plan, Stern also makes a point that if the NBA is to come back to the Emerald City, a refurbished Key Arena is not gonna cut it. Funny, because two years ago it seemed like a feasible solution to the NBA's czar...has the landscape changed that much, or is he now full of Clay's poo-poo?
Anyhow, just thought it would be as good a time as any to share the shirts I and the rest of the fans got during the pre-season and the regular season opener at the Key. Pretty sure the Marketing/PR team won't be recycling these for the '08-'09 opener...
