Portland: Stepping up to the Big Leagues
Nike, headquartered in nearby Beaverton, OR, may have put Portland on the map as far as athletics go, but Portland has proudly boasted a storied NBA franchise since 1970. The Trailblazers, who call the Rose Garden Arena their home, enjoy one of the most loyal and dedicated fan bases in the National Basketball Association. Portland’s court has been graced by legends, including current television personality Bill Walton and fellow Hall of Famers Clyde “the glide” Drexler, Lenny Wilkins, Drazen Petrovic and Scottie Pippen. Currently, the Blazers are enjoying a successful upswing in their fortunes. Since drawing the 1 pick in the NBA Draft lottery in 2007, with which they selected Ohio State big man Greg Oden, Portland has reached the playoffs in both the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 season. The year 2007 also saw shooting guard Brandon Roy take home NBA Rookie of the Year honors.In addition to the Trailblazers, the city is soon to add its second professional sports team, the Portland Timbers. The Timbers will join Major League Soccer in the 2011 season as an expansion team, taking their name from the city’s long time minor league soccer club. The team will continue to take the field at Portland General Electric Park, commonly referred to as PGE Park by residents, when they upgrade to the larger MLS stage.Sporting options do not end there, as several lower level teams call Portland home as well. The Portland Beavers, a minor league baseball team, are 9 time champions of the Pacific Coast League and have a long history with the city dating back to 1901. For hockey enthusiasts, Portland offers the Winterhawks who play in the Western Hockey League boast 2 league championships of their own.At the collegiate level, the Portland Pilots provide an NCAA Division I program, competing in the West Coast Conference.