It’s tough to beat a good Shaquille O’Neal story. It really is. Even having covered the guy a number of times before, I’ve learned if Shaq is going to talk, then you better be around to listen.
After Portland put the hurt on Phoenix last night at the Rose Garden and on TNT, Shaq held court with [...]
Archive for March, 2009
Shaq Speaks, I Listen
Posted in basketball, home game, writing, tagged Greg Oden, Shaq on March 27, 2009 | 5 Comments »
Life After A Newspaper
Posted in basketball, writing, tagged Chris Tomasson, Denver Nuggets on March 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Chris Tomasson was busy covering another Denver Nuggets practice when he got the call: the newspaper was closing. Now after weeks of uncertainties, Tomasson and others from the defunct Rocky Mountain News are finding life after the newspaper.
A couple weeks back, Tomasson – along with fellow beat writer Aaron Lopez – was kind enough to [...]
Welcome To Playoff Basketball….
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Nate McMillan on March 24, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
I should be 10 dollars richer by now. “5 bucks the Blazers drop this one,” my text flashed to two other Portland media row writers about three minutes into the Blazers versus the Philadelphia 76ers game.
No takers.
We all agreed Portland had plenty of chances to win though. Even after the overtime results, no one could [...]
Feedback Time
Posted in writing, tagged Kevin Duckworth, Martell Webster, Mo Williams on March 23, 2009 | 9 Comments »
When I first started this blog last June, I wasn’t sure how long it would last. But nearly a year and several posts later, the blog has taken on a life of its own thanks to those of you who frequent Beyond The Beat. So now I need your help.
BTB is in the early stages [...]
What’s The Rush?
Posted in basketball, writing, tagged Martell Webster on March 19, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Rudy Fernandez probably didn’t understand the joke lobbed his way, but Martell Webster tossed the zinger nonetheless. It was last week. Right before Portland faced Dallas. Maybe now Webster will heed his own comedic advice.
Fernandez was wrapping up his brief pregame media session outside the Blazers locker room, fielding questions about his sore right chest [...]
Meanwhile….In The E.R.
Posted in basketball, writing, tagged Greg Oden, Nicolas Batum, Rudy Fernandez on March 18, 2009 | 8 Comments »
The last place I thought I’d find myself on St. Patrick’s Day morning was the emergency room. Guess that’s what I get for not wearing green – or drinking enough liquids before and during working out at the gym: a little dehydration.
So after some dizzy spells, nausea, a little vomiting, almost passing out, a quick [...]
Best In The Northwest?
Posted in away game, basketball, home game, writing, tagged Blazers, Jazz, Nuggets on March 13, 2009 | 4 Comments »
Knowing where Portland has come from the past few seasons, I can’t believe the Blazers winning the Northwest Division remains a possibility. Figured they’d make the postseason. Just didn’t imagine they could beat out Utah and Denver in the process.
So late last about midnight – after spending about a good five hours painting the master [...]
Fired Up Versus Fight….
Posted in basketball, home game, writing, tagged Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Rudy Fernandez, Travis Outlaw, Trevor Ariza on March 10, 2009 | 7 Comments »
It was one of those love-hate moments. For the past few months, I’ve been barking about the Portland Trail Blazers being devoid of physical emotion and toughness. The Blazers were forced to bark back on Monday night.
I loved seeing Portland take a stand against the Los Angeles Lakers – a series that is constantly chippy. [...]
Getting Defensive….
Posted in away game, basketball, writing on March 6, 2009 | 4 Comments »
Nate McMillan talks about this a lot. His players are too offensive minded. Defense comes last. McMillan on the other hand believes defense should trigger your offense. So when the Blazers came out flat against the Denver Nuggets it didn’t come as a shock.
We’ve seen this charade before.
The defense wasn’t there – again. And when [...]
The End Of A Rocky Road
Posted in basketball, writing, tagged Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, George Karl on March 2, 2009 | 4 Comments »
When I heard the Rocky Mountain News in Denver was running their final edition last Friday, the first thing I thought was: what about the guys on the Nuggets beat?
Where do they go from here? Chris Tomasson and Aaron Lopez are wondering the same thing.
Tomasson and Lopez, who started covering the team about a year [...]
