Sports Upadate!

A bit about what's going on in my non-Timbers sports world...

--Blazers: Brandon Roy was named as a reserve to the NBA All-Star team. I'm really happy for Roy, he has shown again and again this season that he is a rising star. Twice the conference player of the month, leading numerous amazing comebacks. Plus he's really humble. He said "It's extremely humbling," Roy said. "To be an All-Star in my second season; I still haven't found the words to explain how I feel right now. I'm nervous about being around all those guys on the same team. Just sitting there with Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan and Dirk; these are guys that I've watched playing the NBA Finals, and guys I've cheered for. And now I'm going to be sitting in the same locker room as a teammate for a day. It's humbling. I'm nervous. . . . I might not speak." (link) It is very refreshing to see a star that is so down to earth and humble.

--Red Sox: The Red Sox did not land the biggest prize of the off-season trade market in Johan Santana, as the Mets reached a deal with the Twins for the left-hander. As wonderful as it would have been to have a starting rotation of Beckett, Santana, Matsuzaka, and Schilling in 2008, and then Beckett, Santana, Matsuzaka, Buchholz, in years to come, I think it would have cost too much in terms of both prospects, and future salary. The word it Santana is going to cost over $20 million a year, and even for a team with as large a payroll as the Red Sox that could still limit flexibility in a few years. Plus, because he's from Oregon I didn't want the Red Sox to trade away Jacoby Ellsburry, I think he's going to really surprise some people this year.

--Patriots: the Patriots are in the Super Bowl again. I fully admit to being somewhat of a fair-weather Pats fan (but they are the only NFL team I'll ever root for), but the weather has been pretty darn fair lately. The Patriots put perfection on the line on Sunday, and aim to be the only team to go 19-0 in a season.

January Timbers Army Gathering!

For the past several season the Timbers Army has met once a month (on the first Thursday of the month) to hang out, catch up and have fun. For the past two years we have done the vast majority of these gatherings at the Bullpen Tavern (1730 SW Taylor St) just 1/2 a block from PGE park, home of the Mighty Portland Timbers. These are a casual affair just a bunch of frined getting together to hang out.

These gatherings have become an important part of my life as a Timbers Fan. I see several of my fellow TA during the off season when I go bowling, and play indoor soccer, but there are a number of great people that I almost never see outside of these gatherings, and it is alwasy fun catching up with them.

The TrailBlazer game was also on, and most of the crowd was very into the game, it's really amazing (and hard to put into words) how muc this team has improved in the past 2 years, they have a legit shot at the playoffs, and this without theri number 1 pick in the raft last year, one Greg Oden.

I'll update this post tomorrow with more about the gathering, including links to other people's pictures...