Photo 119 - Blazer Game

We watched as the Blazers rebounded the ball and dribbled it down the court, passing and dribbling, taking time off the clock. Everyone was on their feet chanting "Cha-lu-pa! Cha-lu-pa!" The shot went up, bounced off the backboard, and a player from Orlando Magic went up to rebound, missing and knocking it out of bounds instead.

11 seconds were left on the game clock, 1 second on the shot clock, and the ball had been knocked out of bounds by the opposing team. The score for the Blazers was 99 points. I don't remember what the other team, Orlando Magic, had. I remember we were winning by an enormous amount, despite only having 8 players and missing Brandon Roy, so I wasn't worried about whether we were going to win or lose. At least not in the game sense. But, there was something on the line. A free Chalupa from Taco something-or-other.

I didn't know what a Chalupa was, but I didn't care. I cared that I had told Short Person, as a means to keep her interested in the game through the last quarter, that if the Blazers scored over 100 points, we'd all get a prize and I really wanted to be able to say "Yay, we all won a prize!" at the end.

But it wasn't looking good. One second on the shot clock and needing to inbound the ball is not ideal circumstances for getting more points before the game ends-- in 11 seconds. Did I say that already?

EVERYONE was on their feet, tense, watching. A hushed excitement and hopeful anticipation electrifying the air as we waited for them to position. And then, it happened. The Blazers inbounded the ball, kicking it to the far corner and into the hands of Steve Blake, who effortlessly pushed it up for a sweet, nothing but net, 3-point basket... just like he'd been doing all night.

And the crowd went wild. Blazers 102, Magic a memory.



We had arrived early, literally 60 seconds before the doors unlocked an hour before the game began. We took the escalator up to the second level, where only a few people milled around, took the kids to the restroom, got dinner, and were told by a lady that they were doing free airbrushing. Short Person got a rose on one cheek and the Blazer's logo on the other.

This was the first time she "got" what she should be cheering for; and, the first night that she understood "Defense" and "Offense". The first time she actually watched the game. Chanting "Go, go, go" as the Blazers took the ball down the court and then clapping and yelling when they made a basket. We were both horse by the end of the game.

What a night!