C. Frye pulling up in front of a capacity crowd at GM Place

It has been eight years since the Grizz packed up and headed south to the sold out crowds (not!) at the FedEx forum in Memphis.  Two years ago, “Sonicgate” went down, and the Emerald City lost out on a forty year relationship with their pro hoops squad.  For fans on northwest corner of the 49th parallel, who have not been able or willing to make the three to five hour drive to the Rose Garden, this was the best opportunity to support BC’s own Steve Nash and his crew from Arizona.  Not surprising, many of the fans were just as supportive of the league’s up and coming Trailblazers, lead by Seattle’s Brandon Roy.

As a huge supporter of the Grizzlies and the Sonics, my adopted home team, if continues to feel like Mr. Stern enjoys toying with my emotions as the last time GM Place held a professional basketball game was 2007, featuring the Suns and Sonics.  When the game was announced on the schedule, I excitedly looked forward to purchasing my ticket to catch what might be my only shot at NBA action this season, but as game time approached, although still giddy at taking in the game with my family, I questioned supporting an organization which feels no loyalty to fans in the Northwest.  My personal boycott did not last long as we approached the stadium with the other 20,000 fans (actually it was quoted to be 19,700).  Once inside the doors, flashbacks of the countless Grizzlies games raced through my head, and with the same eagerness that I felt between 1995-2001, I raced off to my seats with family in tow.

While I had the opportunity to purchase more expensive tickets or even sit at media row, I choose to remain up where it all started for me, in the cheap seats where the real fans sit!

Sites and sounds from the rafters in the Portland Trailblazers 113 – 93 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

- Teasing fans ever so subtly, the floor at GM Place still has the outline of the Grizzlies logo at centre court.

The Grizz used to roam at halfcourt!

- Just as he did the crowd at his concert a week before, HOV brought the energy for both squads in a typical NBA warmup featuring a full arsenal of floaters, bricks and circus shots as the guys went through the motions

- Vancouver faithful proudly represented their country during the national anthem, clad in Grizzlies warmups, hats and the ever popular (yet horrid) #50 teal jerseys.  I still am holding out for Mitchell & Ness to drop one of these bad boys!

- With the Suns donning their white home uni’s, Nash brought down the house with an ovation similar to what one might have seen at the Jay Z show.

- Maybe it was just the elevation of my seats, but it appears Channing Frye and Nick Cannon might have been separated at birth.  Sadly for all the Nashty fans, Frye saw about 10 more minutes of action than the home town hero.

- Midway through the first half, both Greg Oden and JRich took turns missing massive throw downs, Oden of the two handed hammer and JRich pounding one off the opposite side of the rim as he went for a baseline cram.  Judging by the distance he got on the rebuke, someone may have gotten seriously hurt had they been under the net.

- The pace of the game was relatively slow, regardless of the 59-55 halftime score, however the Phoenix Suns dance team managed to keep the male fans amused in so many different ways.  While I am as warm blooded as the next guy, it is a toss up between the dance team and the sweet one handed backdoor dime that Nash bounced for a Barbosa circus shot finish for play of the game so far (check the vid, approx 40 seconds in).

Video highlights courtesy of Sportnet.ca

- Overheard understatement of the night from the fans behind me after BRoy dropped one of his many pull up J’s, ” Boy, that Brandon Roy guy is pretty good”.  Uhm, yes sir he is.

- After slapping Phoenix around in the 3rd, minutes into the 4th, the Blazers fans behind me start a “We want Chalupa” chant.

- Although the ice bags had already been saddled up at the end of the third, the Vancouver crowd made it well apparent that they were there for one man and one reason only with the “We want Nash” chant, supported by Amare.  Sadly Nash had officially shut down for the night, but pleased two lucky fans by tossing his autographed kicks into the crowd.

- The night came to a close with the camera man capturing a group of “OG” fans…..that’s Original Grizzlies for your Memphis folk, with signs pleading the commish to return a team to Vancouver.  Ah, we can only keep hoping.

When all was said and done, the near 20,000 fans were entertained by their hoops hero if but just for one night, and proved once again that the game is certainly alive and strong in Vancouver, it’s just that the people of power don’t quite believe it.  I for one, will wait patiently until the Suns return next year.