[aussiestatman]

hi all
just jumping on the bandwagon before it rides away without me
been a student of the game for 20 years, but never REALLY had a fave team
i do now, goooo portland

i've been an oden fan for a few seasons, i think he will be one day recognised as a top 20 all time nba player. i believe he IS that good.

i live in brisbane, queensland, australia
i am a young grandfather, have played and coached bball at a local level
i once wanted to be a sports journalist and wrote a full page article on the nba for an australian bball newspaper. instead i studied to be a minister of religion and am heavily involved in my local baptist church. i also follow rugby league, the worlds's toughest football code, and soccer, which i have played and managed. my son is 17 and is a very talented left footed defensive midfielder. we are both 6-4 tall.

hope to get to know you all soon

thanks

Russell

[barfo]

Welcome aboard!

barfo

[Xericx]

hmmmmm...did you get the application?

[aussiestatman]

Originally Posted by Xericx

hmmmmm...did you get the application?

no, and is there a sign on fee?

[Zybot]

Originally Posted by aussiestatman

no, and is there a sign on fee?

Yes. Use the Zybot referral code "XHVA89130" so that I can get my free toaster.

[e_blazer1]

You play basketball in Australia? Hunh, I'd have thought it would be hard to get the ball to go through the hoop, what with you being upside down down there.

Welcome aboard, Russell.

[Talkhard]

Originally Posted by aussiestatman

hi all
just jumping on the bandwagon before it rides away without me
been a student of the game for 20 years, but never REALLY had a fave team
i do now, goooo portland

i've been an oden fan for a few seasons, i think he will be one day recognised as a top 20 all time nba player. i believe he IS that good.

i live in brisbane, queensland, australia
i am a young grandfather, have played and coached bball at a local level
i once wanted to be a sports journalist and wrote a full page article on the nba for an australian bball newspaper. instead i studied to be a minister of religion and am heavily involved in my local baptist church. i also follow rugby league, the worlds's toughest football code, and soccer, which i have played and managed. my son is 17 and is a very talented left footed defensive midfielder. we are both 6-4 tall.

hope to get to know you all soon

thanks

Russell

Welcome!! Look forward to chatting with you about the Blazers this season.

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Nice to have you. I think you'll have a very nice time.

[Rob Allen]

Welcome aboard! I'm cyber-acquainted with a fellow who works at a comic book shop in Brisbane. It sounds like a terrific city to live in - kind of like Portland.

[Baracuda]

Is it true that New South Walians call Queenslanders "Bannana Benders"? Better than Seppo.

Welcome mate!

Our local soccer team Portland Timbers is one of the best supported sides in North America and will likely go MLS in 2-3 years, you might consider that band wagon too You may like the colors:

Our manager (Gavin Wilkinson) is a Kiwi though. The Timbers really could use a D-Mid!
The Mathildas played a match in our stadium when the Women's World Cup had a few matches in Portland.
When I visited Australia in 2002 I saw 2 AFL matches, 1 Rubgy League, a match between Australia and France rugby national teams, and I saw South Melbourne FC beat Brizzy in an NSL Playoff match.
I met a bus driver who's son played baseball for SA's state team.
Aussies are sports mad!

Go Blazers!

[aussiestatman]

thanks everyone

i'm really feeling the love in the room

just for a basic trail blazer education, what do you think the opening night line-up will look like?

projected starters + key reserves
and what is the timeline the next few months of the off season
is it a trade period, then what before summer league and pre-season

[Entity]

Probable Opening Night Starters:

PG Steve Blake
SG Brandon Roy
SF Martell Webster
PF LaMarcus Aldridge
C Greg Oden

Probable Reserves:

PG Jarryd Bayless (Uncertain how long he'll be coming off the bench. Could be a year, could be less.)
SG Rudy Fernandez
SF Travis Outlaw (Could start)
PF Channing Frye
C Joel Przybilla

Free Agency starts July 1st, though I'm thinking our activity there will be minimal (except when we sign Rudy Fernandez. The Jerryd Bayless deal will probably be completed then as well).

Las Vegas Summer League will go from July 11-20th.

Portland will start training camp in the beginning of October, though they may show up early to start practicing. Preseason will also occur around that time.

The regular season should begin at the end of October.

Trades should be viable from now through February 2009.

[aussiestatman]

thanks again entity

i'm almost up to speed now

what is the stadium like?

[Entity]

Originally Posted by aussiestatman

thanks again entity

i'm almost up to speed now

what is the stadium like?

Capacity is listed at just under 20,000. But when the stadium is sold out, they usually list the crowd at up to 20,500. The Rose Garden Arena was built in 1995. They just switched managing companies, and word is they're much better than the last one. The Portland Trail Blazers hold the American Sports (possibly world-wide, tough to know) consecutive sellout record at 814 games from 1977-1995, and have recently sold out the last 32 I think. It's extremely loud in there when Portland is doing well, and twice as loud when the LA Lakers are in town (we hate them passionately). We tend to worship our players and executives more than they probably deserve, as long as they aren't embarassing the city.