Page 6...The Portland Observer...January 15, 1992 Everybody Has A Blazer Story BY BILL BARBER It seems like everybody you talk to has a story about the time they met one of the Portland Trail Blazers. Maybe it was in a restaurant, at the movies or at a talk they were giving ata local school. The wonderful thing about a city the size of Portland, is that sooner or later you are bound to see everybody who is anybody. The mayor, the governor, the TV pitchman, but especially the play ers on the hometown NBA team. The Blazer players all seem to be anxious to tell the sports writers that they’re nor mal, “just folks” kinds of people. They live well, but none of them have a house full of servants. They go to the grocery and the dry cleaners just like everyone else. They go to restaurants, night clubs, and church like a lot of people; so it is not unlikely that some day you will have your own Trail Blazer story to tell. If you’re like most people, it will come when you least expect i t Just for fun let’s pretend you saw one of the Trail Blazers in a restaurant. He is having one of those rare dine-out opportunities with his family between road trips. What would you do? You have seen him on TV. He seems as if he would be a pretty likeable guy. Being this close to what might be a long-time hero can be pretty exciting. What would you do? You have too much class to embarrass yourself and him by stand ing on your chair and yelling “ Yo, come on over here to my table and let me talk to you.” However, the tempta tion to get him to just say “ Hi” is hard for any fan to resist The best way to handle the situ ation might be to mentally trade shoes with him before you make your next move. If you charge across the room with a napkin (you don’t usually carry an autograph pad, an NBA action photo or a trading card with you) you ’ll proba bly catch him just as he takes a bit of food. Besides, when everyone else in the restaurant sees you have disturbed the man who was try ing to eat, they will flood the table. That is probably not how you want to be remembered. A good thing might be to wait until he finishes the meal. Better yet you might be able to catch him as he is headed out of the place. If you have the opportu nity to talk to any of the Blazers when there are not a lot of people around, the odds of striking up a conversation are really on your side. Not that it will turn out to be a long-winded discussion on world events or the state of the nation. What do you say, now that you finally have the chance. When you first meet him, introduce yourself. Why? Re member everyone knows him and it is likely that he would like to know who he is talking to. Kevin Duckworth was once asked what was the worst mistake a fan can make when he meets a player? “ Calling him by the wrong name” was his reply. The easiest thing to do is just say what comes naturally ...If you are a big fan, just say so. Everyone likes to have people tell them that they are doing a nice job where they work. On the other hand, most of us do not usually start a conversation by saying, “ Let’s talk about my job. “ Most of the players will admit that a large number of fans in Portland have a better handle on the Blazers stats than they do. Like most people, what Blazer players do for a living is only a part of what makes them inter esting to talk to. Many Trail Blazer fans know where each of the players went to college. Some long-time fans even know about some of the things the hoopsters do off the court. Duckworth would rather talk to you about fishing poles than All- Star Polls. Did you know Duck is also a master woodworker? Maybe you have seen Terry Porter or Jerome Kersey speakattheBoysandGirlsClub. Clyde Drexler may have spoken to one of your children at school as part of the Blazer/ Avia BASIC program. Speaking of children, the reason your kids might be wearing their safety belts in the car lately, is that they heard Mark Bryant talking about it at one of his “ Buckle- up” seminars. It is Bryant’s personal way of honoring his good friend Ramon Ramos. Ramos was injured in a career halting car accident last season. You don ’t always hear about Danny Ainge’ s work with the Children’s Miracle Net work at the Dombecker Hospital, but it means a lot to him. Danny is always the best one to ask : “ What is the hottest Blazer T-shirt? Buck Williams is al ways glad to talk about his work with March of Dimes. Maybe you know someone who benefited by the * ‘Toy & Joy” project that Wayne Cooper works with. Ask Rick Adelman about Project Graduation. What about autographs? Most of the players interviewed mirrored the sentiments of Alaa Abdelnaby and Kevin Duckworth who said, “ If I had my choice I ’d rather talk to a person for a few minutes and get to know a little about them, than have them run up to me with a pen and a piece of paper and run right away.” Danny Ainge spoke for many others on the team when he offered, “ I hope the fans understand if we don’t sign before the game. Like them (fans) it’s time to start our work day.” “ We have to focus on our game (during the pre-game practice). We want to do our best. We are there to enter tain, and make it an enjoyable night for all the fans.” said Alaa Abdelnaby The Portland Observer's secret tip for the best place and time to meet a Blazer: After Practice (1:00 p.m.) out side the Lewis & Clark College Ath letic Building. Shhhh...It will be our secret. Good Luck. 0%, 3% & 6% Home Improvement Loans Join Other Portland Homeowners With Neighborhood Pride! Home improvement loans are available at 0%, 3% or 6°6 interest, depending on your income — probably the best rates in town. ) ou may qualify to borrow up to S 12,500 from the Portland Development Commission (PDC) and show your neighborhood pride by making your home and neighborhood an even better place to live. Olympics Force Change In Trail Blazers Television Schedule BBS’s coverage of the 1992 Win ter Olympics has necessitated a change in the Trail Blazers television sched ule. Blazer Broadcasting will now air Portland’s game at Dallas on Thursday, February 6, in place of Portland at Phoenix on Wednesday, February 12. The game will be carried live on the Trail Blazer Television Network be ginning at 5:30 p.m. Portland time. These changes do not affect the Trail Blazer Satellite Radio Network. 1992 Spring Training Schedule Begins March 5 The 1992 exhibition season begins Thursday, March 5 with three games scheduled for Florida, Major League Baseball announced January 7. To begin the spring schedule, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves will face off at West Palm Beach, the Pittsburgh Pirates will travel to Sara sota to meet the Chicago White Sox and the Kansas City Royals play host to Central Florida University. The sched ule goes into full swing the following day. The Baltimore Orioles will train at Twin Lakes Park in Sarasota and play their home games at A1 Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg. Blazer guard Clyde Drexler is averaging about 25 points per game this season and is one of the leading vote getters in this years balloting for the NBA All-Star game held in February. The Blazers will host the Charlotte Hornets Friday at the Memorial Coliseum KPTV 12 Launches Yearlong’Celebrate America’ Campaign 1992 promises to be a year of ex traordinary rejoicing and rededication. It is a year that not only carries the excitement of both the summer and winter Olympics, but also showcases the drama of the democratic process as a candidate is elected to office of Presi dent of The United States. With this in mind, KPTV has proudly announced the most compre hensive station promotion in their his tory, CELEBRATE AMERICA. This multi-faceted campaign is based upon thecelebrationoflifc in this great coun try, its history, its achievements and its potential. KPTV will conduct the year long campaign in the tradition of their two previously successful community service campaigns, FOR KIDS’ SAKE (1986-87) and TIME TO CARE (1988- 90). KPTV will CELEBRATE AMER ICA with five prime time specials; daily spots promoting patriotism through sports, democracy and the American people; a unique school program that involves teachers and students in the cammpaign; special community proj ects; news features; a family vacation sweepstakes and more. Watch for announcements in 1992 as KPTV keeps you informed of the CELEBRATE AMERICA projects both on the air and in our community. PO R TLAN D O BSERVER ’ The Eyes and Ears of the Community O ffic e : (503)288 -0 033 F a x # : (503)288 -0 015 For one week only, laugh all the way to the bank. And all the way home, too. Your chances of qualifying for one of these City loans are good if: I You own the home you are now living in I Your home needs city-approved repairs or improvements I Your household's annual income falls below a certain level You 11 see “Neighborhood Pride" signs in neighborhoods where the loans are available: Piedmont, Woodlawn, Concordia, Sabin, Eliot, Boise, Humboldt, King and Vernon. L e t ’s face it. Until now, going to the hank for a loan hasn’t exactly been a laughing matter. Rut we’re changing all that. Because we’re offering the best loan deal in the state? Say you’re interested in buying a car, boat or RV. ..................................< Just have your loan payments automatically deducted n U fy u C from a Security Pacific checking account, and you’ll receive 8.79% APR when you qualify. You can also get 9.36% APR when you get a home equity loan with automatic deductions from your checking account. Before and after photos of a successful home repair loan project— one morefarnilv showing neighborhood pride. And to top it off, you’ll pay absolutely no loan fees or closing costs.** Just a $50 initial application fee ••G reat Program! A golden opportunity for those of us who qualify. So don't miss out. This deal is good from January I could not have afforded the work without your help. Thanks! * * 11th through January 18th only. Just stop by any branch. —A N.E. Homeowner To find out if von qualify for one of these loans or if you’d like a Neighborhood Pride sign, please call PDCs Eastside Neigliborhtxxl Housing Preservation Office at 823-3400 Monday through Friday, S a m to5:00p.m. We ’ll answer yourquestions. Remember, City funds are limited for this program, so call today to begin enjoying the benefits of your home repairs. In Portland call 222-FAST or 1-800-551 -FAST. PDC PORTLAND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION However you do it, do it by the 18th. Because he who laughs first, laughs last. PDC is the City 's agencyJirr urban renewal, housing and economic development. The home repair loan program is hauled through a,fi-deral Community'Development Block Grant administered by the Bureau o f Com m unity Development. 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