Beauty's only skin deep (Jack Bog's Blog)

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This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on July 18, 2011 4:41 PM. The previous post in this blog was Portland arresting more out-of-towners for graffiti. The next post in this blog is Turnover at switch of Reed nuke reactor. Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.

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Monday, July 18, 2011

Beauty's only skin deep

Here's a survey that ranks the Portland Trail Blazers as the fifth-hardest-to-root-for team in the NBA.

Posted at 4:41 PM | Permalink

Comments (14)

That's not really a survey; just one arbitrary formula based on two factors-- both of which are winning/ record related.

Sort of weak, honestly.

Posted by Dan Barton | July 18, 2011 4:47 PM

I always cheer for the winningest team. Or the underdog.

Posted by Harry | July 18, 2011 5:03 PM

Maybe they should have called it the fifth most frustrating team. But it's definitely a statistical survey.

Posted by Jack Bog | July 18, 2011 7:39 PM

I just want the Blazers to get to the second round again in my lifetime.

Posted by Bill McDonald | July 18, 2011 8:03 PM

Well, I guess the point of these things is to get people arguing about the results. Still, I find it hard to take seriously given that my team, Golden State, is not ranked among the top two or three in rooting-for difficulty. From what I can tell, quarterfinals appearances are weighted way too heavily, and that one magical run in 2006-07 has skewed the Warriors' ranking. But can we be real? We're talking about a team with exactly TWO winning seasons in the past 17 -- during which the Blazers have had 13 winning seasons. Fifty-win seasons in that span? Since you asked: Zero for the Warriors, five for the Blazers. And get this: In that 17-year period, the Warriors have more often than not -- nine times -- won 30 or fewer games. Blazers have done that just twice.

What a stupid survey.

Posted by Pete | July 18, 2011 8:27 PM

Any survey that praises the Lakers has already crossed over to the forces of evil.

Posted by Bill McDonald | July 18, 2011 8:34 PM

Evidently it's not too hard to root for the Blazers, given the sell-out streak dating back to '07-'08. We gripe and moan about our luck, but on the whole, we've had more success than most teams. How many not named the Lakers/Spurs/Pistons/Celtics/Bulls/Heat have gotten over the hump in recent memory? The Mavs, and... er... um....

Posted by TKrueg | July 18, 2011 8:41 PM

If there's something hard to root for it's David Stern's tenure as commish. He sacrificed league parity for profitability, which he was quick to mention until the recent collective bargaining negotiations. The form of prosperity he sought created a handful of dynasties to promote on network TV, while the rest toil in Washington Generals-like mediocrity. How can he expect a robust league if most fans feel deep down they'll never sniff a title?

Posted by TKrueg | July 18, 2011 8:58 PM

I find the Blazers harder to root for than Golden State. The Warriors occasionally make something out of nothing. The Blazers invariably make nothing out of something. There's really no reason for hope.

Posted by Jack Bog | July 18, 2011 10:30 PM

Stephon Curry rocks. He's got the good-guy decency factor like Nicolas Batum.

Posted by Bill McDonald | July 18, 2011 10:46 PM

I love to root for the players. But not so much the management.

Posted by Michelle | July 19, 2011 8:31 AM

Rupert Murdoch is one of the owners of the Los Angeles Lakers, so of course he maintains he has a large company and that neither he nor his son had any idea that the Lakers play basketball. Oh, and he has never personally heard of Kobe Bryant.

Posted by Bill McDonald | July 19, 2011 10:02 AM

OK, I will grant that in following Golden State, one is never foolish enough to expect anything, and from time to time fun emerges. Still, when 60-loss seasons are more common than .500 seasons, it's hardly a garden of delights.

Posted by Pete | July 19, 2011 2:22 PM

These silly surveys really don't matter much to us at all. We're still Blazer fans even though we live far away in Reno. We especially love going to games in Sacramento and taunting a few Kings fans about who will be winning at the final buzzer! Plus it gets us on Blazer TV!

Posted by Dave A. | July 19, 2011 7:03 PM

In Vino Veritas

Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2009
Mauro Molino, Barbera d'Alba 2009
Garda Chiaretto Rose
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Vineyard 10 White
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley 2009
L'Hortus, Rose de Saignee 2010
Maculan, Pino & Toi 2008
McKinley Springs, Bombing Range Red 2008
Trader Joe's Pinot Gris 2009
Montes Alpha, Cabernet 2007
Gran Sasso, Sangiovese, Terre di Chieti 2009
Garda, Classico Chiaretto Rose
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1999
Picos del Montgo, Tempranillo 2008
Chateau de Montmirail, Vacqueyras 2008
La Granja 360, Syrah 2009
Montgras, Carmenere Reserva 2009
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet 2008
Kirkland, Pinot Grigio 2010
Trader Joe's Coastal Syrah 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Merlot 2008
Trader Joe's Coastal Chardonnay 2009
Vieux Papes Red
Domaine de l'Aujardiere, Chardonnay 2009
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Medalla Real 2007
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2008
Guild, Red, Lot #02 2008
Dievole, Dievolino Sangiovese 2008
Laforet, Burgogne Chardonnay 2009
Columbia Winery, Merlot 2007
Bonterra, Cabernet 2008
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2009
Maquis Lien 2006
Scott Paul, Pinot Noir, Le Paulee 2007
Cameron, Chardonnay
B.R. Cohn, Cabernet, Silver Label 2006
Graffigna, Cabernet 2005
Palo Alto, Reserve Red 2008
Menguante, Garnacha 2008
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Felsina Berardenga, Vin Santo 1997
Anne Amie, Pinot Gris 2009
McKinley Springs, Bombing Ramge Red 2007
Vieux Papes Red
Dionysius Chardonnay 2009
Haden Fig, Pinot Noir 2009
Vega Montan, Mencia 2008
Chateau la Vernede, Coteaux du Languedoc 2007
Mount Defiance, Hellfire (White) 2008
Root: 1, Cabernet 2008
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Pinot Grigio 2009
Columbia Crest, Two Vines, Vineyard 10 White, 2008
Columbia Crest, Two Vines, Vineyard 10 Rose, 2007
Abacela, Grenache Rose 2009
Avia Cabernet 2004
Lemelson Pinot Noir, Thea's Selection 2007
Chateau de la Roulerie, Rose d'Anjou 2009
Casal Garcia, Vinho Verde Rose
La Ferme Julien, Rose 2008
Cana's Feast, Bricco Red, 2006
Hogue, Genesis Merlot, 2008
Owen Roe, Sharecropper's Cabernet, 2008
Kim Crawford, Unoaked Chardonnay 2008
J. Scott, Pinot Noir 2008
Edmunds St. John, White, Heart of Gold 2008
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2006
Stevenot, Cabernet, Sierra Foothills, "Stanford" 2000
Portuga, Vinho Rose 2009
Taylor Fladgate, First Estate Reserve Porto
Franciscan, Cabernet, Napa 2006
Chaparral de Vega Sindoa, Garnacha 2008
Quinta da Aveleda, Vinho Verde 2008
St. Francis, Chardonnay Sonoma 2008
E. Guigal, Cotes du Rhone Blanc, 2007
Edmunds St. John, Bone-Jolly, Gamay Noir 2008
St. Innocent, Pinot Noir 2006
Jigsaw, Pinot Noir 2007
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Merlot, Indian Wells 2007
Charles Shaw, Chardonnay 2008
Edmunds St. John, Bone-Jolly, Gamay Rosé 2009
Cameron, Willamette Valley Chardonnay
Il Valore, Sangiovese, Giovane, Puglia 2008
Duck Pond, Chardonnay, Wahluke Slope 2007
Kim Crawford, Marlborough Pinot Noir 2008
Domaine du Pesquier, Cotes du Rhone 2005
Cantina Zaccagnini, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2006
Domaine Matrot, Chardonnay, Bourgogne 2007
David Hill, Oregon Sparkling Wine, Brut
Chandler Reach, Monte Regalo 2006
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2008
Kirkland, Columbia Valley Merlot 2008
D'Aragon, Old Vine Garnacha 2008
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2005
Pavin & Riley, Merlot 2006
David Hill, Estate Pinot Noir, Barrel Select 2006
Castle Rock, Paso Robles Cabernet 2006
Magnificent, Cabernet, Steak House 2008
Conundrum 2008
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1998
Saint Cosme, Cotes-du-Rhone 2007
La Granja, Tempranillo 360, 2008
Santa Rita, Mendalla Real Cabernet 2006
Columbia Crest, Grand Estates Merlot 2006
Andezon, Cotes-du-Rhone 2007
Collegiata, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Troon, Druid's Fluid 2008
La Granja, Tempranillo 2008
Monte Antico, Toscana 2006
Vieux Papes, Blanc de Blancs

The Occasional Book

Jack London - The House of Pride, and Other Tales of Hawaii
Jack Walker - The Extraordinary Rendition of Vincent Dellamaria
Colum McCann - Let the Great World Spin
Niccolò Machiavelli - The Prince
Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird
Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus - The Nanny Diaries
Brian Selznick - The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Sharon Creech - Walk Two Moons
Keith Richards - Life
F. Sionil Jose - Dusk
Natalie Babbitt - Tuck Everlasting
Justin Halpern - S#*t My Dad Says
Mark Herrmann - The Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law
Barry Glassner - The Gospel of Food
Phil Stanford - The Peyton-Allan Files
Jesse Katz - The Opposite Field
Evelyn Waugh - Brideshead Revisited
J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
David Sedaris - Holidays on Ice
Donald Miller - A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
Mitch Albom - Have a Little Faith
C.S. Lewis - The Magician's Nephew
F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby
William Shakespeare - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Ivan Doig - Bucking the Sun
Penda Diakité - I Lost My Tooth in Africa
Grace Lin - The Year of the Rat
Oscar Hijuelos - Mr. Ives' Christmas
Madeline L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time
Steven Hart - The Last Three Miles
David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day
Karen Armstrong - The Spiral Staircase
Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
Adrian Wojnarowski - The Miracle of St. Anthony
William H. Colby - Long Goodbye
Steven D. Stark - Meet the Beatles
Phil Stanford - Portland Confidential
Rick Moody - Garden State
Jonathan Schwartz - All in Good Time
David Sedaris - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Anthony Holden - Big Deal
Robert J. Spitzer - The Spirit of Leadership
James McManus - Positively Fifth Street
Jeff Noon - Vurt

Road Work

Miles run year to date: 54
At this date last year: 50
Total run in 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269