Page 8
July 15, 2015
S ports
Blazers guard Damian Lillard (center) says’ Portland is where his heart is.’ The NBA all-star joined
team General Manager Neil Olshey (left) and Coach Terry Stotts to announce his five-year contract
extension worth more than $120 million. (AP photo)
All-star Lillard Signs
as Franchise Player
Inks contract extension worth $120 million
Fellowship
Baptist
Church
Pastor Johnny Pack
28th Appreciation
Fellowship
Baptist Church,
4009 N. Missouri
Ave, Portland
July 18th 2015 • 12:00pm – 3:00pm
First Lady: Angela Pack Banquet
Guest Speaker: Pastor Kimberly Black
of Greater Saint Stephen
July 19th 2015 • 3:00pm – Until
Guest Speaker: Pastor J Walter Hill II
of New Hope Baptist Church
Please Come and Celebrate With Us
Everyone is Welcome
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(AP) — Damian Lillard be-
lieves he’s ready to lead the Port-
land Trail Blazers through a re-
building project, and the franchise
is hoping he can help speed up the
process.
Lillard and the Blazers on
Thursday completed the five-year
contract extension worth more
than $120 million.
“I don’t really see it as pressure.
I know that I have confidence in
being the leader of a team, but if
people want to point the finger
at me if it doesn’t go right right
away, I can deal with that,” Lillard
told reporters. “I’ve experienced
much worse things than people
blaming me for losing games.”
Lillard grew up in Oakland and
played in college at often-over-
shadowed Weber State but still
managed to climb to the sixth
overall pick in the 2012 draft. He
is a two-time All-Star and a rookie
of the year and has cemented him-
self as one of the best point guards
in a league full of very good ones.
The extension keeps Lillard un-
der contract with Portland through
the 2020-21 season and makes him
the unquestioned franchise pillar
after LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley
Matthews and Robin Lopez left in
free agency and the team traded
Nicolas Batum to Charlotte. There
are no opt-out clauses for either
side in the deal, which is exactly
how Lillard wanted it.
“I’m not going to be one foot
in, one foot out. You sign the deal
and you commit to the team be-
cause that’s what you’re commit-
ted to,” Lillard said. “I know that
in my heart this is where I want to
be. I didn’t see the reason to have
an option. We have a young team
now. It might not be great to begin
with or it could be better than what
people think. I’m willing to deal
with that. I like the challenge.”
Blazers general manager Neil
Olshey said that Lillard’s exten-
sion is a “hell of a place to start” a
new era. He said everybody from
Blazers owner Paul Allen on down
is committed to long-term suc-
cess, even if that means a short-
term step back.
“You’ve got to know when it’s
time to move forward and take
another path. And this is the path
we’re choosing,” Olshey said.
‘You Matter’ Basketball Clinic
Portland’s Self Enhancement,
Inc., recently hosted and spon-
sored the “You Matter” basketball
clinic presented by Playmakers
4.0, a basketball program founded
by Portland natives Aaron Miles
and Michael Lee that uses sports
to encourage “positive plays in
life and on the court”.
More than ever there is a need
for positive youth development in
our society. Increasing drug use,
gang and youth violence, and a
lack of parental involvement are
but some of the obstacles faced by
today’s youth.
The “You Matter” clinic was
designed to emphasize positive
police interaction and gang and
gun violence prevention. Fifty
males entering grades 7-9 were
able to participate in basketball
skill development, listen and in-
teract with Portland police offi-
cers, complete goal setting forms,
photo by M ark W ashington /T he P ortland O bserver
A recent basketball clinic organized by Aaron Miles and Michael
Lee, two former Jefferson High School students who went on to
accomplish careers in professional basketball, draws dozens of
local youth.
and hear from Val Polk on gang
and gun violence prevention over
a four hour period. The partic-
ipants also received free camp
t-shirts, pizza, Gatorade, and swag
bags from the Portland Police.
Playmakers 4.0 would also like
to acknowledge Safeway, the many
community volunteers, and the
behind the scenes work from SEI
staff in making the first ‘You Mat-
ter” basketball clinic a success!