As this year's version of the Portland Trail Blazers embarks on one of its most promising seasons in recent history, thoughts naturally turn to one of the most remarkable oddities in all of sport—Blazermania.
As the name implies, Blazermania is a mental condition whereby the patient is almost completely absorbed, obsessed, driven and stimulated by anything directly or remotely related to the Portland Trail Blazers.
The initial outbreak of Blazermania occurred in the mid-seventies and spanned three decades. It reached epidemic proportions in 1977 and again in the early nineties. It subsided slowly through the nineties and was almost completely wiped out after the 2000 season.
The phenomenon of Blazermania, while itself succumbing to a period of dormancy, spawned two of professional basketball's most enduring and untouchable records.
During the period from 1977 through 1995, the Trail Blazers and their fans conspired to amass an incredible 814 consecutive sellouts! Granted, 809 of those sellouts occurred in tiny (12,666) Memorial Coliseum.
Still, this does not diminish the magnitude of that record. The next closest total is hundreds behind. In addition, Portland was, and still is, one of the smallest markets in the NBA.
This record is probably one of the safest in all of sport. For one, the arenas of today are much larger. Also, with the fluidity of the modern game, management teams and rosters are forever in flux—and careers are getting shorter. To maintain continuity at the highest level, for that span of time, today is nearly impossible.
Another record established by Portland during the "mania" years was the most consecutive playoff appearances—21. From 1983 to 2003, the Trail Blazers never failed to make the playoffs. The recent down years have been a sad reminder of just how incredible and difficult that achievement is. That's over 20 years of high-caliber play. Only the Utah Jazz are close in that standard of excellence.
Again, in the modern era, it's hard to imagine a franchise accomplishing a string of such longevity. The highs and lows of today's organizations seem to cycle more frequently these days.
Unlike the stars of the past, today's elite players will often spread their loyalty among several cities. And with the emerging trend of players pursuing the attractive Eurodollar, the NBA talent pool may become diluted.
If ever there was a franchise built for the long haul, which might have a chance at eclipsing Portland's amazing records, it might be these very Trail Blazers themselves.
So far, it would appear that GM Kevin Pritchard has such a vision in mind. While the immediate goal this year is unquestionably the first playoff appearance in five years, the process of putting this team together has far-reaching implications.
There clearly is a long-range plan. With owner Paul Allen's recent commitment to the Rose Garden and willingness to finance Pritchard's drafting and trading genius, the die has been cast well past the near future.
The present team is one of the deepest, talented and most versatile in the league. Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Fernandez are already stars on the rise. And Greg Oden? Well, let's just say he's the stew in the kettle. It may take a little longer, but it only gets better.
And with pro basketball essentially the only game in town, it would seem the infectious malady known as Blazermania is about to rear it's head again.
In addition, rumors out of the Center for Disease Control are beginning to circulate around the league. It seems a new, reverse strain of Blazermania is getting a foothold.
It's called Blazerphobia.
