I'm sure you're having trouble connecting the two here, but I think you know what I'm saying. Brian Wheeler was over at my house watching the College World Series last night and we were talking about a team's fortunes changing, and how positive energy is so contagious. Soon after we said that we were pounding around my family room, pumping our fists, and celebrating Oregon State's monumental win over North Carolina that gave the Beavers their first-ever national championship in baseball.

So, first things first, congratulations to the Beavs. I've been proudly waiving my Oregon State flag outside my house since the NCAA Tournament started, and I'm going to leave it up for a few more days. There are incredible stories that grab you from time to time, and this is one for the ages. By now you know all the interesting tidbits. It's the first baseball national title for a truly-northern team since Ohio State won it back in 1966. It's Oregon State's first national title, in any sport, since the cross country team won it in 1961. And, again, this was done with homegrown talent. This just doesn't happen. When you consider the population of baseball-crazy states like California, Arizona, Texas, and Florida, it gets downright mindboggling. The fact that Pat Casey could assemble a team of players mostly from Oregon and the Northwest, and win the title, makes this feel like a once-in-a-lifetime team. Some of the photos from last night's game made me think of the Miracle on Ice in 1980. I know, I know, only an Oregon State alum would say something like that.

Okay, now to Trail Blazers' news. The NBA Draft is this week, of course, and final preparations are being made by the decision makers. I was at the Blazers practice facility on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and each time I went by there it was the same story. Steve Patterson, Kevin Pritchard, and Nate McMillan were in closed-door meetings with all the scouts and assistant coaches. On Sunday I asked Pritchard how much sleep he had gotten the night before. He smiled and said, "about three hours." He explained that "I woke up at about 3am and started watching video tape." The hours these guys put in is amazing. No matter what happens Wednesday, even if you don't agree with it, don't think it has happened without every single stone being overturned, and every possible scenario explored.

Our draft party will be Outback Steakhouse in Tualatin on Wednesday. Huge tents will be erected, and a big crowd is expected, so get there early. We take the airwaves at 4:05, and will have Wheels reporting live from just outside the war room at the practice facility. He'll have exclusive interviews and all the breaking news. Martell Webster and Steve Blake will be with us at the draft party, and after the draft ends, Patterson, Pritchard, and Nate McMillan will all come over and talk about what happened in the draft. If you're a Blazers fan, this is a must attend. If you're outside the area, log on to kxl.com and you can hear our draft show live. We'll start at 4:05 and will be on the air at least three hours or so, maybe more.

By the way, I was at the practice facility today, and talked to Travis Outlaw, Martell, Blake, and Juan Dixon, who are all in town working out. Joel Przybilla was in town over the weekend, and just returned home to Milwaukee last night.

The Blazers Summer League team will head for Lake Tahoe on Friday, to get ready for the Las Vegas Summer League, which starts for them on July 6th. They take on the Houston Rockets in their first game. All the broadcasters are going to Vegas with the team, and we'll have a sickening amount of coverage. All the summer league games will be on the radio, most on a tape-delayed basis on KXL. Check back to this website for information on that. We'll have exclusive highlights, interviews, and I'll have an extensive daily report on this web site. Also, the radio show, Courtside Monday Night presented by L.A. Weight Loss, will come to you on Tuesday, July 11th, live from the ESPNZone inside our hotel, New York New York, in Las Vegas. You thought we were going there for a vacation? Get serious.

 

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