chris_in_pdx
OLD MAN
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2008
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I can't believe I did it again. They made me do it again. They sucked me in, they made me believe. I can't believe that an Oregon sports team suckered me in and made me believe... REALLY believe... that national ultimate victory and recognition was possible. That transcendent talent could overcome what we know in our hearts but will never admit except in moments like this: that podunk backwater holes like Oregon could ever, EVER taste the sweet nectar of big-league victory.
Don't talk to me about the Oregon State Beaver baseball team, or the Oregon track and field team. Don't talk to me about women's professional soccer, or junior hockey. Don't even. We are talking about things that common people pay attention to. Common people, not even sports fans, know college football. They know NBA basketball. They even somewhat know MLS soccer. And in every one of those, every one that hick Ory-gone has a infinitesimal stake in.. we are a joke. A laughingstock. A stepping stone for teams, programs, and individuals from parts of the country that matter.
Oh sure, every once in a while, an Oregon team lucks into talent that almost overcomes all that: Clyde Drexler, Dennis Dixon, Rasheed Wallace, Marcus Mariota. But let's be honest with ourselves: 4 and 5 star recruits don't want to come here. I don't care what uniforms are thrown at them, what facilities are built, how "cool" you make it all seem. Teams like the Ducks have to rely on 2nd-tier talent and hope to catch lightning in a bottle to truly compete with the blue bloods. Teams like Alabama, Ohio State.. ones that stockpile 4 and 5 star recruits because they can. Because kids know that, take away the fluff, they are where elite athletes go. They are where elite coaches go. And Oregon isn't. Phil Knight could give 5 billion dollars to the football program, and it wouldn't make a difference. Oh, it'll get them close... it has twice... but teams with REAL tradition, REAL coaching, and REAL athletes and talent, will ultimately win everytime. And you know, those 4 and 5 star recruits will keep going there, because it's a cycle.
Damian Lillard might break that mold. I don't know. Brandon Roy looked like he had a small chance, but injuries robbed that. Injuries robbed Dennis Dixon of that. Injuries robbed Bill Walton of being more than just a footnote asterisk "year after the NBA/ABA merger where talent was diluted" championship winner for an Oregon sports team.
Unlike 2011 (and the 2000 Blazers), though, where at least there was controversy, there was a small sliver of letting think an Oregon sports team might have been good enough, this year, there was no doubt. Oregon just wasn't good enough. A Heisman winner wasn't enough. And shame on all of us for letting us believe that it might be.
It's going to be a long time, if ever, until I let a team from this state suck me into 100% buyin. I'm always going to be fearing going 0-15 in the fourth quarter and blowing a 15 point lead in Game 7. I'm always going to fear going 50-10 and watching your superstar center, the best player in the game, go down to injury and sabotaging a dynasty. I'm always going to fear an opposing superstar wanting victory more and shrugging on national TV as he unveils a three-point range that he never had before and destroys his closest competitor's will. I am always going to fear a QB going down to a knee injury and destroying that team's title hopes.
It's so bad that I had to celebrate a regional team's championship that I only root for out of proximity. There was no "12th Man" parades in Portland. There was no real ownership for an Oregon sports fan. Just a coattail ride for someone who desperately wants to taste any sort of victory. And it was shallow. Hollow. No true emotional connection, just... "that's nice".
God I'm tired of this.
Don't talk to me about the Oregon State Beaver baseball team, or the Oregon track and field team. Don't talk to me about women's professional soccer, or junior hockey. Don't even. We are talking about things that common people pay attention to. Common people, not even sports fans, know college football. They know NBA basketball. They even somewhat know MLS soccer. And in every one of those, every one that hick Ory-gone has a infinitesimal stake in.. we are a joke. A laughingstock. A stepping stone for teams, programs, and individuals from parts of the country that matter.
Oh sure, every once in a while, an Oregon team lucks into talent that almost overcomes all that: Clyde Drexler, Dennis Dixon, Rasheed Wallace, Marcus Mariota. But let's be honest with ourselves: 4 and 5 star recruits don't want to come here. I don't care what uniforms are thrown at them, what facilities are built, how "cool" you make it all seem. Teams like the Ducks have to rely on 2nd-tier talent and hope to catch lightning in a bottle to truly compete with the blue bloods. Teams like Alabama, Ohio State.. ones that stockpile 4 and 5 star recruits because they can. Because kids know that, take away the fluff, they are where elite athletes go. They are where elite coaches go. And Oregon isn't. Phil Knight could give 5 billion dollars to the football program, and it wouldn't make a difference. Oh, it'll get them close... it has twice... but teams with REAL tradition, REAL coaching, and REAL athletes and talent, will ultimately win everytime. And you know, those 4 and 5 star recruits will keep going there, because it's a cycle.
Damian Lillard might break that mold. I don't know. Brandon Roy looked like he had a small chance, but injuries robbed that. Injuries robbed Dennis Dixon of that. Injuries robbed Bill Walton of being more than just a footnote asterisk "year after the NBA/ABA merger where talent was diluted" championship winner for an Oregon sports team.
Unlike 2011 (and the 2000 Blazers), though, where at least there was controversy, there was a small sliver of letting think an Oregon sports team might have been good enough, this year, there was no doubt. Oregon just wasn't good enough. A Heisman winner wasn't enough. And shame on all of us for letting us believe that it might be.
It's going to be a long time, if ever, until I let a team from this state suck me into 100% buyin. I'm always going to be fearing going 0-15 in the fourth quarter and blowing a 15 point lead in Game 7. I'm always going to fear going 50-10 and watching your superstar center, the best player in the game, go down to injury and sabotaging a dynasty. I'm always going to fear an opposing superstar wanting victory more and shrugging on national TV as he unveils a three-point range that he never had before and destroys his closest competitor's will. I am always going to fear a QB going down to a knee injury and destroying that team's title hopes.
It's so bad that I had to celebrate a regional team's championship that I only root for out of proximity. There was no "12th Man" parades in Portland. There was no real ownership for an Oregon sports fan. Just a coattail ride for someone who desperately wants to taste any sort of victory. And it was shallow. Hollow. No true emotional connection, just... "that's nice".
God I'm tired of this.
