Evolution of a Fan

I invite you to take a moment and reflect on when you were seven.

You were probably in the second grade, if that helps ignite your memory.

Now try and remember what you were interested in. What hobbies did you have? What were you excited about?

In the early 1990s the Blazers were two-time Western Conference champs and NBA champion contenders.

The Rose City was infected with Blazer fever – red head bands encircled foreheads, and Busta Bucket blared from radio speakers. I was seven.

During the 1990 playoff game I donned a charcoal grey t-shirt featuring caricatures of Clyde the Glyde pitted against the rockstar for the Pistons, Isaiah Thomas.

I recall being so appreciative when my dad had agreed to purchase the game on cable. I sat on our orange and brown striped sofa wearing this shirt, with my eyes glued to the screen.

My Blazer memorabilia also included trading cards.

A maroon three ringed binder protected my close to complete set of NBA cards of the teams from the early 90s.

From the Atlanta Hawks to the Utah Jazz, the plastic holders were organized alphabetically by team, with a section in the back for the coaches. As a second grader, I had the entire binder memorized.

If you flipped open a page I could name the player or coach (and I know the cards feature the names, but this was a skill done solely by viewing a player’s face). It was my photographic memory in action and probably a unique skill for a seven-year-old girl.

But today I could only tell you two players on the Blazers' team – that is, if you count the injured, 2007 number one draft pick guy who doesn’t play.

Today, I get ticked when Blazers games push their way into the primetime line-up and shows I enjoy are pre-empted.

Flashback to 17 years ago, I used to stage internal protests against the cable company for monopolizing and blacking out the games.

Yet today I struggle to muster up the same passion for the NBA and the Blazers that I had when I was younger.

My adult perspective on the game wonders why some of the players seem to lack a passion for the sport. Perhaps it’s because as an adult I recognize that their daily drive gets muddied with how much they’re getting paid to play the game.

In more recent years, the Blazers have also had some off-the-court fouls that have made it difficult for me to stand by them as a fan.

When I was seven, all I wanted to do was be a part of the team and the experience. I was excited about the Blazers.

Deep down I’ve earmarked a small piece of me to always be a Blazers Believer. But today, when it comes to sports, I’ve been more excited about football. Maybe that’s just because my dad, my sports role model, is now more of a pigskin fan.