Sprite Slam Dunk Showdown is Tomorrow! UPDATED Event Time!

Back on May 7th, we wrote about the Sprite Slam Dunk Showdown that would be stopping through Portland and guess what, the event has finally arrived!

***UPDATES***

It'll take place place tomorrow at 1:00 PM during Rose Festival festivities. 

The official word now is that the registration for dunkers begins at 1:30 PM with the open call starting at 2:30 PM.   The "final showdown" will then be at 4:00 PM.

Review on what I just typed:

• 1:30 PM - Registration for Dunkers
• 2:30 PM - Open Call
• 4:00 PM - Final Showdown

And if you'd like to meet Sir Darryl Dawkins, there will be a meet and greet sometime around 3:30 PM.

The address given on their website is:

1020 SW Naito Parkway
Portland, OR

I'm guessing that is somewhere near that crappy fair with the 80 year old rides?  Maybe they'll block off the whole corner at 10th and Naito?  I'm also hoping that the 1:00 PM time slot is Pacific Standard or we'll all be screwed.

I should be in attendance along with JB from Deceptively Quick plus some of the Team Flight Brothers.  Should be the best Rose Festival event of the week if you ask me.
______________________________________________________________________
Make sure to follow us on Twitter and subscribe to Blaze of Love for instant updates!

______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to follow us on Twitter and subscribe to Blaze of Love for instant updates!

LaMarcus Aldridge Meets President Barack Obama

Getting to meet the President of the United States in the off-season?  Not a bad way to start off a much deserved break for LaMarcus Aldridge.

"My agency told me about it," said Aldridge. "They said I'd have a chance to spend a few moments and get a picture with him, hear him speak for about 15 or twenty minutes. When they told me about it, I really wanted to do it. So they did what they had to do to get me in."

And at no small expense. Reports had tickets to the gala costing anywhere from $1,000 to $15,000, but the price wasn't enough to keep Aldridge from the opportunity of meeting one of the most powerful and influential people in the world.

"He came out and talked for about 15 minutes," said Aldridge. "He’s a very powerful speaker; a great guy. He talked about how he had made mistakes, but that he was trying to learn something from those mistakes. Kind of the same things we talk about."

Thanks to Casey over at the Center Court blog for posting this article.  Head over there to read the rest.

______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to follow us on Twitter and subscribe to Blaze of Love for instant updates!

A Slew of Athletes Plus Jay-Z Attend Cavaliers-Magic Game 5

We had an A-Rod sighting last night!  Not sure if that's a good thing or not actually...

Aside from the "A-Bombs" dropping, a ton of other athletes found their way into Quicken Loans Arena last night.  Obviously the Yankees were in town to battle the Indians, but were they also paying tribute to LeBron for showing so much support to them over the years?  Robinson Cano even sported some Cavs gear.

 

  

  

 

Even big Ben Roethlisberger and his new found mullet managed a ticket. 

And of course, Jay-Z was there doing his best Stevie Wonder or Bill Cosby impression.

 

 

Oh, and HI JOE THOMAS and Patrick McEnroe look-a-like guy!

______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to follow us on Twitter and subscribe to Blaze of Love for instant updates!

Win an Autographed Basketball Signed by Entire Blazers Team

Just wanted to let everyone know about a raffle going on through the Adopt A Class Foundation and Learning.com which has come together and put up a basketball signed by the entire Trail Blazers Playoff squad.  Yep, the ENTIRE TEAM.  That means Brandon Roy, Greg Oden and LaMarcus Aldridge have all signed this puppy, people.  (Minus Ruffin and includes Diogu.)

To enter, all you need to do is check out this site and donate $5 via PayPal or in person at the Learning.com downtown office.

100% of the raffle proceeds will go to the foundation, which has a goal of making school a positive experience for all students.

Who doesn't want a signed team ball?  $5 is nothing!

(Oh, and that picture is of the actual ball.)
______________________________________________________________________
Make sure to follow us on Twitter and subscribe to Blaze of Love for instant updates!

______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to follow us on Twitter and subscribe to Blaze of Love for instant updates!

Blaze of Glory - 5/28/2009

The Blaze of Glory is your almost-daily link list of Blazer blog ridiculousness and other random Blazers info. If you ever want your Blazer blog featured, make sure to drop us a line unless your name is Dwight Jaynes. (Kidding!)

• Looks like Steve Blake will have surgery on that troublesome shoulder.  [USA Today]
• Bill Schonely named Starlight Parade Grand Marshall!  [Blazers.com]
  
• Is Bayless still the Blazers PG of the future?  [Bleacher Report]
• Say goodbye to Violet Palmer. Woo!  [Bust a Bucket]
• Other people are finding the 365 days of Oden on Flickr.  [Ball Don't Lie]
• Blazers Edge officially moderated.  [Blazers Edge]
• And their weekly podcast.  [Blazers Edge]
• Drinking Liberally is happening tonight at Madison's Grill.  [Loaded Orygun]
  

______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to follow us on Twitter and subscribe to Blaze of Love for instant updates!

20 Ways for David Stern to Fix a Cavaliers Comeback

Cuzzy of Cuzoogle fame and I, bantered back and forth via Blackberry Messenger last night over the different ways David Stern could possibly rig the Eastern Conference Finals to allow LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers to advance to face off with Kobe Bryant in the NBA Finals.  Here is what we came up with...

1.  Tim Donaghy shows up as game 5, 6 and 7 lead official.
2.  Three point line is removed from the Magic.
3.  Dwight Howard's technical gets re-reversed.
4.  Jeff Van Gundy replaces Stan Van Gundy.
5.  Cavaliers awarded 2 points every time Varejao flops.

6.  Nick Anderson is forced to un-retire and shoot all Magic free throws.
7.  Dwight Howard fails drug test for random women's supplement. 
8.  Kobe mysteriously shows up in a Cavs jersey.
9.  Hedo Turkoglu gets deported.
10.  Magic's Dunking Dancers are only Orlando personnel allowed to dunk.

11.  Courtney Lee's mask arrives with no eye holes.
12.  Actual game is replaced with NBA Live simulation...on beginner.
13.  League ignores new 6 man rule, and Cavs take advantage.

14.  All remaining games moved to St. Vincent St. Mary's high school.
15.  Dirk Nowitzki's girlfriend is allowed into the Orlando locker room.

16.  Stern books a WWE event overtop of Game 5.
17.  Steve Kerr is appointed GM of the Magic.
18.  Cavs show up in Nate Robinson-inspired krypto-nate uniforms.
19.  Mike Brown wiretaps Orlando timeouts.
20.  Cavs advance through pardon from Obama.

Anything else you can think of?  

And don't forget to check Cuzoogle for more NBA Playoff coverage.

______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to follow us on Twitter and subscribe to Blaze of Love for instant updates!

Blaze of Glory - 5/27/2009

The Blaze of Glory is your almost-daily link list of Blazer blog ridiculousness and other random Blazers info. If you ever want your Blazer blog featured, make sure to drop us a line unless your name is Dwight Jaynes. (Kidding!)

• Brian Wheeler's announcing days started younger than you may know.  [Daily Vanguard]
  
• You be the GM is over and rewinding.  [OL Blazers Blog]
  
• Kevin Pritchard, the off-season blood sucking machine?  [Bleacher Report]
• How would Turkoglu look in a Blazers jersey?  [Rip City Project]
• Brian Grant speaks to the Blazers and to the media.  [Center Court]
• The Brandon Roy Nike Trainer 1 is official.  [My Air Shoes]
  

______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to follow us on Twitter and subscribe to Blaze of Love for instant updates!

8 Reasons the Denver Nuggets are the Most Entertaining Team in Sports

I'm seriously starting to consider the Denver Nuggets as the most entertaining team in sports.  Sure, the team might live up its "Thuggets" nickname on a nightly basis and look like complete tattooed freaks, but that's still entertaining is it not?  The list below are almost all events or images from game 4 which is pretty ridiculous.  What other franchise can come up with this much amazing entertaining garbage in one night?

8.  Because the Birdman has his own Mascot.

The TV cameras can't get enough of the Birdman-esque hairstyles all over the crowd, but we can't get enough of the Nuggets Birdman inspired mascot complete with tatts, hair and a white stain under his nose.  (Are those Nuggets Dancers in the background...)

7.  Because JR Smith's Thuglife GIF's are amazing.

During Game 4, you'd have thought that JR Smith was an NBA All-Star who was in the midst of scoring 50+ after seeing gang signs, chest pounds, dancing and an elite level of foul bitching.

6.  Because Carmelo Anthony standing perfectly in front of Pau Gasol is awesome.

No explanation needed as to the awesome-ness of this.

5.  Because they still have the Nuggets Dancers.

Everytime I see the Nuggets Dancers, my jaw drops.  We've seen the videos and photos and website and...we just can't get enough.

4.  Because head coach George Karl got that scar from a rottweiler attack as a child and survived.

The announcers last night decided to share the story of George Karl's fantastic looking scar.  It sounds like he was some sort of man-child and managed to escape the jaws of a rottweiler at a very young age.  Gangster.

3.  Because their family members get involved in the fun.

I think we all are sick of the much publicized feud between Kenyon Martin and his Mom with Mark Cuban, but we can't forget about Carmelo's wife Lala Vasquez.



2.  Because Birdman GIFs are even better than JR Smith's Thuglife GIFs.

Was it Basketbawful that coined the "Duncan Face"?  Well someone needs to officially coin the "Andersen Face."  Think he's suffering from a case of lockjaw this morning?

1. Because they get spoofed on WWE Monday Night Raw.

Vince McMahon probably needs to be knocked the hell out, but you've still got to give the guy credit as a promotional magician.  He turned this whole Nuggets vs. WWE scheduling conflict into the biggest event of the WWE for well, one week.  Make sure to click on through for the rest of the antics.

(Via Hot Clicks) who also has the rest.

______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to follow us on Twitter and subscribe to Blaze of Love for instant updates!

Blaze of Glory - 5/22/2009

The Blaze of Glory is your almost-daily link list of Blazer blog ridiculousness and other random Blazers info. If you ever want your Blazer blog featured, make sure to drop us a line unless your name is Dwight Jaynes. (Kidding!)

• Eggers, thank you for saying this.  Hopefully KP listens to you.  [Portland Tribune]
• Portland is still waiting for the official Team USA invites.  [Center Court]
• Dave touches on performance enhancing drugs in the NBA.  [Blazers Edge]
• Bill Simmons seriously called the Blazers overrated.  Tool.  [Rip City Project]
• Who knew that Blazers were big in the movie industry?  [Bust a Bucket]
• You be the GM looks at Mr. Kevin Pritchard.  [OL Blazers Blog]
• Oden inspiring album covers now.  [Sports Hernia]
  

______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to follow us on Twitter and subscribe to Blaze of Love for instant updates!

Send Your Kids to Basketball Camp in Hawaii with Channing and Blake

The Punahou Summer Basketball Camp for boys and girls is set to take place from June 9th through 11th and will feature two of the most popular Trail Blazers, Steve Blake and Channing Frye.

Coach Mike Taylor said a contact in Portland contacted him about the possibility of holding a camp in Hawai'i featuring pro players.

"Bottom line, they (campers) get to meet and take pictures with two NBA players and listen to their success stories," Taylor said. "(We're) lucky to have these two come in. They wanna give back."

I know absolutely zero about this camp but thought it was at least worth sharing for those parents out there looking for an out-of-state basketball camp for their kids.  Growing up in Montana pretty much left me jealous of all the kids that had the opportunity to attend basketball camps featuring NBA players.  Take advantage of these!

By the way, that photo at the top is the photo they used on their announcement...fantastic.
______________________________________________________________________
Make sure to follow us on Twitter and subscribe to Blaze of Love for instant updates!

______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to follow us on Twitter and subscribe to Blaze of Love for instant updates!

Filling the Blazers Void

My Portland Trail Blazers void filler has obviously been the rest of the NBA Playoffs and I must admit that it’s working pretty well.  From that final buzzer of the 4th quarter during game 6 of the first round match-up with the Rockets, I felt as though a huge weight had lifted off of my shoulders.  Not that this blog puts some enormous amount of pressure on me, but I do feel responsible enough to at least bring the readers interesting, entertaining or news-worthy material on a regular basis.  I genuinely love doing this and hope to continue to do so for years to come.

So I’m filling my Blazers void with the rest of the NBA basketball world in sort of the same way I used to on a former NBA basketball blog of mine.  For me, the off-season Blazers speculation stuff is a complete snooze fest, so I apologize if you’re seeing a lack of coverage on lottery or front office business.  I’ll be there during the draft when KP drops a few more “slaps” to the league.  I’ll be there when summer league breaks and Bayless goes off for 50+ in a couple of games.  And I’ll definitely be there when the opening tip to the regular season is on the brink.

Soon enough the sun will shine daily here in Portland and I can’t wait to participate in the beer-filled activities that will follow.  It should make these next few months fly on by and before you know it, the 2009-10 season will be upon us.  But until then, we’ll keep on truckin’ with one of our favorite past-times, NBA gossip.

What are you doing now to fill your Blazers void?

______________________________________________________________________
Make sure to follow us on Twitter and subscribe to Blaze of Love for instant updates!

______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to follow us on Twitter and subscribe to Blaze of Love for instant updates!

Celebrity Appearances at Game 2 - Nuggets vs. Lakers

As expected, the celebrities showed up in drones to game 2 of the Western Conference Finals.  Sometimes I wonder how they all magically rotate their courtside seats and only show up for the biggest games of the year.  Does the Staples Center hold specific seats that go to the biggest celebrity at the time?  And is that Stephen Curry hanging with Tom Cruise? (kidding of course)

The fact that the WWE guys all showed up to rub their situation a little bit more in the face of the Nuggets was not really newsworthy, but still hilarious.  There was even a Ron Artest sighting plus whatever is left of Val Kilmer after all these years.

 

  

  

  

  

______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to follow us on Twitter and subscribe to Blaze of Love for instant updates!

Anderson Varejao Admits the Obvious

No words needed to express just exactly what happened to the Cleveland Cavaliers last night against the Orlando Magic.  In fact, Anderson Varejao found a great way to illustrate the performance...

______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to follow us on Twitter and subscribe to Blaze of Love for instant updates!

ESPN.com - Oops on Itself

This post is basically me just being a prick and finding it funny that major sites like ESPN.com even make mistakes from time to time.

(Click image for big boy version.)

I just thought it was funny that one of their main titles is "Oops, My Bad" with an error sitting just to the right of it.  (OK, poor sense of humor....give me a little break as it is Thursday.)

______________________________________________________________________
Make sure to follow us on Twitter and subscribe to Blaze of Love for instant updates!

______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to follow us on Twitter and subscribe to Blaze of Love for instant updates!

A Trip Around the NBA - 5/21/09

Every now and then instead of focusing completely on our beloved Blazers, we like to spread some love to our friends around the world covering the greatest game on Earth.

• In case you missed it, Dwight Howard rips down shot clocks.  [Hoop Doctors]
• Should the TWolves really be considering Bill Simmons?  [TWolves Blog]
• Another Kobe/LeBron muppet commercial that's not funny.  [Basketball Fiend]
• Stan Van Gundy joins the "how-the-hell-to-stop-LeBron" club.  [Larry Brown Sports]
• More sad news in the life of Latrell Sprewell.  [Beyond the Beat]
• Mo Williams goes deep from 200 feet.  [Talk Hoops]
• Skip Bayless vs. Craig Sager.  [Pacman Jonesin]
• And NBA mock draft worth reading.  [Recliner GM]
• The Grizzlies should take Hansbrough?  [Moondog Sports]
  
• Don't forget to check Hot Clicks everyday.  [SI:  Hot Clicks]
  

______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to follow us on Twitter and subscribe to Blaze of Love for instant updates!

Pregnancy Rumors True for Dirk Nowitzki's Jailbird Girlfriend

Poor Dirk Nowitzki...

Cristal Taylor finally came out to the media that she is in fact pregnant and that her and Dirk were at one point engaged to be married.  (Like I've said about 10 times this week, I love the NBA.)  She also informed the media that she is alone and has no money since Dirk was her only source of income.  (Seriously Dirk...)

I'm just glad that this baby will one day grow up and be able to tell her friends that her mom found out she was pregnant with her while doing a urine and TB test in jail.

"They give you a urine test when you walk in and they give you a T.B. test," she said. "And the lady was like, 'Oh, so when are you due?' I was like, 'I don't know when the court date is due.' She was like, 'Uh, no, you're pregnant.'

"That was at intake. When I went upstairs, she said, 'I'm going to start you on these prenatal vitamins.' I was like, 'If you could just test me one more time, I just want to make sure.'"

She also decided to refute the rumors that she was a stripper at anytime in her life.

"I was a waitress at The Plantation," she said of a Beaumont gentleman's club. "I was never, ever a stripper in all my life."

She even claims to have called Dirk from prison but figures he had changed his phone numbers. (Maybe to 888 betting we're all laughing at you?) 

"Not only that, but they [the Mavericks] pretty much told him, after [the media] put out all that crap on me, to just wash his hands of me -- and I think he pretty much did," she said, according to the newspaper.

Now I'm not a betting man, but "Wash his hands of me" will never happen and we all know that.  Especially not with baby Dirk on the way!

______________________________________________________________________
Make sure to follow us on Twitter and subscribe to Blaze of Love for instant updates!

______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to follow us on Twitter and subscribe to Blaze of Love for instant updates!

Channing Frye Shoot with Sweet Leaf Tea

Stumbled onto this random article about one of Channing Frye's newest sponsors, Sweet Leaf Tea.  It sounds like SLT is quite the hit here in Portland (which I wouldn't know because I stick to the diet soda-popskie) and they figured Channing would be the perfect fit seeing as he represents what most of us love about this city.

The article is worth a read because it's author came into Portland for the first time which also happened to be during the Blazers Playoff rally downtown. 

On the walk back toward the hotel, we stopped at “The Rip City Uprise,” a rally celebrating the Blazers making the playoffs. It was pretty cool to see a whole city come out to support their team. I’ve known some sports fanatics, but this was a zoo in a public square smack in the middle of downtown. It was an insane mix of yuppies, angry hobos, high school kids from the ‘burbs, and townies. We caught a glimpse of Channing and the team through the voracious crowd and left to get ready for the shoot.

 Worth a read for sure.  Still wondering if this company realizes that Channing Frye may not be in Portland next year...
______________________________________________________________________
Make sure to follow us on Twitter and subscribe to Blaze of Love for instant updates!

______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to follow us on Twitter and subscribe to Blaze of Love for instant updates!