Para Mi

Just Do It, Greg.

Today the world's largest 'get well' card made its way back into the Wieden lobby after its tour of high school football games, the Nike campus, Pioneer Square and an elementary school.

Portlanders have left many well wishes on the 8 foot high card (with a few 'you sucks' lamely sprinkled in. Talk about kicking a man while he's down) I added my name in one of the remaining white spaces.

It looks like a couple of new panels arrived today to be hinged onto the card. I wonder how far we can stretch this thing out? It is already starting to take on the appearance of some kind of war memorial.

OK, so Greg Oden, out for the season... My reaction was obviously one of sadness, but not of total loss. I think the kid has the right attitude and work ethic to get himself back into the swing of things. He already made a few lighthearted remarks on his video blog, so I know his head is on straight and he is gonna make this happen.

As for the fate of the Blazers for this season, I think they are going to be competitive. Maybe not a playoff team at this point, but I think they will be in the hunt. LaMarcus Aldridge is going to have a great season, and add that to what we can expect from B-Roy in his sophomore campaign... I like it a lot. There are plenty of compelling storylines to pull us Blazermaniacs into the Rose Garden.

Can't wait for camp to open!

2003 Air Force Ones Announce Retirement

Oyl Miller's 2003 white-on-white mid Nike Air Force Ones will no longer be worn, a spokesman for Miller announced today.

The shoes had a glorious run that dated back to the days of Rasheed Wallace routinely taking the Portland Trailblazers to the NBA Playoffs. The shoes were actually marred from their classic white-on-white perfection in the name of Blazer super-fandom, when Miller decided to decorate the swoosh in crimson sharpie to show his team pride. The shoes were worn to Game 6 of the first round series against the Dallas Mavericks in 2003. A game in which the Blazers routed their opponents, and thereby forced a decisive seventh game in Dallas, after initially being down 0-3.

That game in May of 2003 was the last playoff game played in Portland.

'The Blazers are on the comeback trail,' Miller said in a video conference earlier today. 'I refused to move on from the 'Sheed era until I really had something to bank on. By officially retiring these shoes, I am acknowledging that a new era of Rip City has arrived. The next shoes I take a sharpie to, will be in the name of Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge.'

Miller then coughed in an awkward manner that sounded a lot like 'Oden.'

'I remember when I first got them,' Miller said nostalgically, 'I was listening to Nelly a lot at the time, and was trying to heed his warning about scuffing your Force Ones prematurely. The guy is a sneaker pro. Ain't nothing compares to a fresh crispy white pair.'

Miller eventually loosened his standards for when it was appropriate to wear his Force Ones. Initially they were worn exclusively on Sunday afternoons from 1pm to 3pm. The first scuff came when an impromptu pick-up game arose. He was more mindful of keeping his feet and shoes out of harm's way than in playing defense.

'Eventually I realized, I was letting down Rasheed Wallace himself by treating his signature sneaker as a dress shoe exclusively,' Miller said.

'They were good shoes. I played hard in them.'

A replacement shoe has yet to be named. Although Miller indicated he was ready to start entertaining sponsorship offers from Nike.