The details are a bit hazy, but the running commentary was unforgettable.
Somewhere among the 41 wins in Portland last season, I rolled up on Travis Outlaw just after a Blazers home victory in the locker room and after he finished his customary weight room session (the guy plays 26 minutes, and then heads into ride a stationary bike and lift weights. Some say it’s his shy way of avoiding the media. Travis maintains it’s a habit).
I remember he had a good outing – which became a calling card last year for Outlaw with him playing his best basketball as a pro – and one particular response he made.
It was classic Outlaw.
Travis and I chatted about the game, about what it was like from his first days in Portland back in 2003 to what the team is building upon now – or then in this flashback case. With his typical aw-shucks country-boy response, Outlaw said how crazy it was and that he liked the cheers more than the boos he used to hear at the Rose Garden.
That was it….
That is until I hung around a bit afterwards to talk to Travis after the postgame interview.
Right then, I explained to Travis in no great detail that I have this friend who thinks Outlaw is a “thug”.
In all actuality, my buddy (can’t recall who, proving the details are still hazy) brought it up in passing one night when we talked about the maturation of the Blazers and how far they have come character wise in the last few years.
Apparently my buddy didn’t think Travis was the “good dude” type. I had to shut him down on that one instantly. I looked at him like he had a third eyeball. And as I began telling Travis about my friend’s “thug” opinion of him, all Travis could do was cock his head, and ask with his Starksville twang:
“Why he say that?”
If you know Travis at all, you can hear him now.
“Why he say that?”
I told Travis I wasn’t sure. Told him I set my friend straight. Let him know Travis was one of the nicest guys around.
“Is it the way I walk,” Travis jokingly asked as he grabbed my arm.
We both started laughing. Had to tell him I wasn’t sure. Didn’t get a detailed answer on the matter.
“Why he say that?”
That’s why there is no one like Travis, and even more reason to keep him around as long as possible.
He’s an amazing talent on the court, but even better of a guy off the floor when it comes to just shooting the bull with one and all. He could have easily went about his business. Hit the shower. Not said anything. Avoid the conversation. I’m sure after a long night at work, all Travis probably wanted to do was just go home and eat and play video games. But instead, he ribbed with me. Allowed me to see him for who he is once again– a real good guy.
You’d be surprised. Having covered the league for five years, that doesn’t happen everyday. Believe me. But it happens more often than not in Portland – a team full of easy going, real people – and Travis is one of those guys.
That’s why I’d hate to see him go…..if the rumors floating around are even somewhat true….and I hope they are not. I read about Outlaw being rumored to head to Memphis this morning, wrote about it this afternoon after getting a quick “no comment” from Kevin Pritchard, but still am trying to convince myself this rumor is merely blog fodder coming out of Memphis.
In this case, I know what Travis will say when and if he reads the winds blowing the rumor mill round and round with his name in the middle.
“Why he say that?”
