Sportsland, Oregon: New Episode

In this week's episode, Mike Donovan returns, and the ensuing celebration gets so big the gang has to split it up into two parts. In Part 1, the gang wraps up the World Cup with their favorite moments and analysis of the Final. They also catch up on some much needed Timbers talk.

In Part 2 of this extended podcast, Los, Cliff, and Mike talk a little Home Run Derby, and then get into their thoughts on the LeBron James signing. They also talk about the Blazers offseason, other free agent signings, What they Wannna Watch, and give you your weekly Oregon Sports History Lesson. Check it out using the nifty player on the right or at blogtalkradio.com/oregonsportsradio.

This Week in Oregon Sports History: 7/14/1915

In 1915, during the time of the War to End All Wars, baseball had many things going for it. A guy named Babe hit his first of many career home runs. Notorious racist Ty Cobb led the majors with a .369 batting average. Teams had names like the Robins, the Tip-Tops, and the Buffeds.

More importantly (for the purposes of this blog), young prospect Ken Williams of Grants Pass, Oregon debuted in the outfield for the Cincinnati Reds on July 14. Williams would go on to become one of the greatest hitters ever, finishing with 1,552 hits, a .319 batting average, and 196 home runs in 14 seasons with the Reds, St. Louis Browns, and Boston Red Sox. Williams managed to break up Babe Ruth's streak of 12 consecutive seasons leading the AL in homers. Williams also went on to become the inaugural member of the 30/30 club, hitting 39 homes and stealing 37 bases in 1922. This feat would go unmatched for 44 years, until the great Willie Mays came along. Ken Williams would not live much beyond then, passing away in Grants pass in 1959, at the age of 68.

Did Something Happen Last Night?

Apparently, the music scene, beer scene, and strip clubs were not enough to bring LeBron James to Portland. Although I guess South Beach has a lot of those also. Ultimately, whether or not this is the right decision will not be clear for another 5 years, at least. For now, it looks to be the right choice out of only a few intriguing options. You could write a book on the unnecessary drama this summer, and how legacies have been tarnished, and who has embarrassed themselves (Dan Gilbert, LeBron) and who (teams, players, and images) has come out on top. In basketball terms, the Miami Heat afford LeBron James the best opportunity to win championship rings with his friends.

Regardless of what word you would choose to describe the free agent situation this summer (Horrendous, fiasco, debacle, and circus all come to mind), LeBron made the choice that benefits him the most. If you were 25, and had a chance to move to a cool city with your best friends and live it up, wouldn't you do it? Maybe not. Maybe loyalty and career aspirations and a level head would get in the way. What if your best friends were two of the most talented in your desired field, whether it be anything from rocket science to hair styling? Now you're all in the same city, having fun, and bringing out the best in each other and giving each other a crutch whenever needed. One friend fills in the right variables you don't see in the giant math equation on the chalkboard. The other friend evens out the bangs on the sassy girl's hair you've just finished cutting. LeBron gains something he has never had before: good teammates. Not just good, but great. Wade and Bosh can help clean up math equations and hair cuts.

As far as basketball goes, this is the smartest option for him if he only cares about rings. Cleveland may have been better from a family/loyalty point of view. In Chicago, the obvious MJ comparisons would have been a daily reminder of the standard he would have to uphold. The Bulls were a nice second option, but Wade/Bosh > Rose/Boozer. For those that worry about chemistry being an issue, there really should be nothing to worry about (I feel ethically obligated to inform you at this point that I think the 03-04 Lakers and 2004 US Men's Basketball teams should have won their respective championships. Flukes, poor coaching, and once in a lifetime ego discrepancies brought those dreams crumbling down). Bosh knows he's number 3 on this team. Wade and LeBron have both proven in the past they know when to defer (Olympics, 2006 Heat). All three possess an incredible ability to pass. As far as crunch time concerns go, there should be no question about who takes the last shot of a game on this team: Whoever is open. But they should look for Wade first.

Then there are questions about the supporting cast. Right now, the only other player on South Beach is Mario Chalmers. They also have a few competent second round draft picks in Da'Sean Butler, Dexter Pittman, and Jarvis Varnado who will gladly play for the rookie minimum to be a part of this All Star team. It really shouldn't be that hard to find willing role players to join this march to basketball immortality. Guys like Mike Miller will be happy to be key components to a championship contender. Guys like Juwan Howard will be happy to get a chance at a ring so late in their careers. There are plenty of players around the league willing to be a part of this historical situation.

Make no doubt about it, this is indeed a historical situation. Never before, in any sport (not even the Yankees), have there been players this talented in the primes of their careers playing on the same team. Wade and James are two of the top three in the league, and Bosh is in the top 10. Anytime you've seen more than two future Hall of Famers on the same team, they've all been at different stages of their career (97 Rockets, 04 Lakers, 69 Lakers, 77 Sixers, etc). Maybe the Celtics in the 80's were at the same stages in their career, but McHale and Parish were not top 3 guys, let alone top 10. This will be intriguing to watch from a basketball standpoint just to see how they play together, and how teams adjust to playing them.

It would be easy to say the Heat will be the favorites to win the NBA Championship for the next 5 years running. However, there are other teams out there. The Bulls are young and improving. As are the Thunder. The Celtics are old and looking to prove doubters wrong again. The Magic are talented. As are the Nuggets. The Blazers are young and hopefully healthy. And of course, the Lakers are the defending champs. And talented. And have Kobe. Whether or not going to Miami was the right choice, it looks like it gave LeBron (and Bosh and Wade, for that matter) the most potential to win the most championships for the next few years. Their most difficult year will be this year, getting through the potential chemistry issues and if they make the finals, a hungry LA team looking for a threepeat. However, even if they don't get one this year, it is safe to say you can pencil them in for 2-3 in the next five years. And that's the point. With this many young and outstandingly talented guys on one team, in their primes, it would have been stupid to go anywhere else.

Another Reason LeBron Should Sign With Portland

The moment has finally arrived. After two years of speculation, anticipation, and, more than anything, hype, the world will know where LeBron James will play the next few years in a few measly hours. There will be a television special. There will be an announcement. There will be hats on a table, or logos on a dartboard, or some assortment of a bull, a fire, a boat, a colonial dutchman, and a man on a horse in order to visually aid The Decision. I have no idea which one he will choose, but I know which one he should choose, and it's none of the above.

In a last second effort to get LeBron to join the Blazers (Salary caps and complications be damned!), Portland should play up one of its most interesting industries: Strip Clubs. Union Jack's, The Viewpoint, The Landing Strip, and The Acropolis. There's a myriad (actually, closer to 50) more where that came from. Portland has more strip clubs per capita than everywhere except Springfield, OR. Luckily, Springfield does not have a professional basketball franchise.

When you combine the reasons we've already covered with this tantalizing tidbit, it becomes a no-brainer. Sure, New York and Miami have beautiful women, but are they all as scantily clad as the gals of Portland? Doubtful. Ok, maybe Miami. And Chicago? Contrary to popular belief, Joakhim Noah is a guy, so don't play that card. Cleveland? Too much family and friends around, it might get awkward were he to run into someone he knows. That's why the best locale for LeBron to announce tonight, from both a social and a basketball standpoint, would be here in Portland.

What's better than having a cold one with the guys after a long day at the arena? Following it up with nudity.

Sportsland, Oregon: New Episode

In case you haven't heard, it's free agent season in the NBA. After discussing an insignificant event like the World Cup semis, Los and Cliff talk free agent landing spots and predictions. The guys also try and figure out who the best candidate available is for the open GM position in Portland: Ferry, Pfund, Vandeweghe, or James. Check out the episode in the nifty player to the right or at blogtalkradio.com/oregonsportsradio

Another Reason LeBron Should Sign With Portland

Time is winding down for LeBron James and his advisors to realize the Portland Trailblazers are the ideal situation for him to join. On the podcast, we've covered 4 other reasons why he should come here. In no particular order, they are as follows:

1 - The weather.

2 - The music scene.

3 - Nate McMillan.

4 - The open GM position.

After all the cities have made their presentations with everything from Family Guy animations to a blank slate roster, it's time for Portland to get down to brass tacks. What does the city of Portland do best? Aside from coffee, hikes, and being green, the Portland has another rep to protect: "Beervana." With 28 breweries within city limits, and many others in the surrounding region, Portland is a great place for a young superstar to come enjoy a delicious culture. From Widmer Brothers to the Lucky Lab breweries, King James can choose whichever beer he fancies.

What goes hand in hand with kicking back with Brandon Roy, Marcus Camby, and a nice cold one after a long, hard day at the Garden? Check back tomorrow for one last ditch effort to convince LeBron.

This Week in Oregon Sports History: 7/11/1892

For this week's Oregon sports history lesson, we have to go back to the go-go 19th century. The year was 1892. Ellis Island had recently begun accommodating immigrants to the New World, a young gym teacher by the name of Dr. James Naismith first published the rules to his new game, "Basket-Ball," Lizzie Borden was about to take a hatchet to her father and stepmother, and Grover Cleveland was well on his way to to being elected president for a second, non-consecutive term.

More importantly (for the purposes of this blog), Walter Edward "Jiggs" Parrott, a young upstart infielder from Portland, gained the distinction of becoming the first Oregonian called up to the Big Leagues. On July 11, 1892, Jiggs debuted for the Chicago Cubs. He would go on to play four years for the long-suffering franchise (which back then was just a franchise), hitting for a career-high .294 in 1894. Jiggs unfortunately passed away from tuberculosis at the young age of 26.