Hello, Blazer Fans.
A few weeks ago, I was so excited because Blazer season was starting back up and that meant it was time for me to put my sports writer hat back on. I really enjoyed writing my Blazer posts last year, especially considering that I have no idea what I’m talking about. The internet is an amazing place where silly things like knowledge and experience need not stand in your way. I called myself a sports writer and in doing so — I became a sports writer.
(It also helps to have a boyfriend who is VERY knowledgeable about the Blazers and has purchased a half-season ticket package for you to enjoy together.)
On the MAX ride to our first pre-season game, I was sketching out my first story in my head. It was going to be about the experience of riding the MAX to and from the games. There was this family sitting next to me on the MAX; a grandfather, father, and two little boys. The boys were wearing Blazer jerseys decorated with Halloween stickers. I was going to write about wonder and optimism. I was going to write about how these boys might remember this night for the rest of their lives. It was going to be poetry.
Two days later, as I was sitting in the salon chair pondering my new do, I felt a tickle in my throat. The next morning I called in sick and spent the weekend in bed with a bad cold. I retraced my steps. Where did I pick up this cold? I don’t know anyone who is sick. Could it be that one of the 20,000 fans at the Blazer game gave this to me? Possibly. I never wrote my post.
I rallied in time to make it to the Blazer season opener. This game was not in our season package and we ended up sitting on the other side of the arena, directly opposite from where we normally sit. Everything about this game was a complete 180 from the last time we played Houston. For example, the Blazers ended up winning this game. I had another blog post in mind about how this game was like watching the Bizarro Blazers. Oden was kicking ass and fan favorite Rudy looked like a scared little boy. Martell Webster was back, but with a different number on his jersey.
I ended up doing the opposite of what I had promised my OurPDX editor. I never wrote that post. I took a nap instead because I was still tired from my head cold.
I was back in the Rose Garden two nights later for another game, this time against Denver. I figured I could just combine all my observations into one big post where I talked about the three games I had been to so far. I was going to write about how I wasn’t really used to the new Blazer roster and it looked like the Blazers were also not used to their new roster. The play so far has been disorganized and uneven, actually that isn’t so new — but the Blazers seem to have lost their ability to rally in the 4th quarter and pull out a win. I think it’s because the team doesn’t have the same sense of camaraderie.
That post never got written either, because the following evening I went to bed feeling exhausted and curiously warm. I woke up with a fever of 102. I diagnosed myself with H1N1 and stayed away from the general public for the next five days.
I cannot say conclusively that I caught a cold and H1N1 from my fellow Blazer fans at the Rose Garden. The culprit could have been a Nuggets fan because we all know that Nuggets fans are dirty. Either way, there appears to be an established pattern: go to a game and get sick a couple of days later. Blazer Fever.
I’m taking my chances again tonight as the Blazers take on the Timberwolves. I have contemplated wearing a surgical mask, but my boyfriend will not sit next to me if I do. He also won’t sit next to me if I break out my red foam #1 finger glove thing. Although I bet if I wore a red foam #1 finger glove thing on each hand I would be pretty much protected from touching my face, which is how most germs get transmitted.
I guess my only option is the very liberal application of hand sanitizer during key intervals of the game. I had stranger Blazer rituals during last year’s play offs so I doubt anyone will notice. They may even ask for a squirt or two themselves.
Here’s to your health and Let’s Go Blazers!
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