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Wed, 06/19/2013 - 10:01am Cliff Pfenning Online Last seen: 26 sec ago Joined: 2010-07-01

The magic that has always seemed to be brewing in Oakland, Calif., with the Golden State Warriors finally happened during the NBA season and made the team the SPORTSLAND, Oregon "Overachievers of the Year" during Monday night's podcast, recorded at Blitz in the Pearl District of Northwest Portland.

The Warriors, New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers were other notable selections after the Warriors, who were among the top two picks of the show's four cast menbers: Derek Weber, Marlon Thomas, Michael Chamberlain and host Cliff Pfenning.

Golden State finished 47-35 and sixth in the Western Conference, then won their first-round playoff series over Denver. Last season, the Warriors were 23-43 during the strike-shortened schedule.

And, the other side, "Underachievers of the Year?" Easy: the Los Angeles Lakers.

Los Angeles built itself to win the league title with the acquisition of Dwight Howard and then Steve Nash during the offseason, but the team didn't win any preseason games, got clobbered in Portland in its season opener, and barely reached the playoffs, where they were routinely dispatched by San Antonio.

And Portland? The Blazers continue to be one of the quietest franchises in the NBA, something the panel tosses about as being a good or bad trait.

It's all from Northwest Portland, recorded every Monday night.

Tue, 06/18/2013 - 2:01pm Derek Weber Offline Last seen: 18 hours 18 min ago Joined: 2010-08-19

We’re a few days away from the 7th annual RFA Cup. Now I’m sure everyone is aware of the RFA Cup but just in case here’s some background.

The RFA Cup is the middle event in the Roofball season. The simplest explanation of Roofball is: a sport where a player throws a football at a target located on a roof.

Preview time:

On June 23rd 24 players will compete for the 7th annual RFA Cup. Defending Champion Christian Verkest, the youngest champion ever, will try to defend his title against seven time champ, Casey Campbell, six time champ Dan O’Reilly and four time champs Adam Willis, Derek Weber and Buddy Emmons. With a win Casey, Dan and Adam would become the second player ever to win all the major tournaments, the World Championship, RFA Cup and the US Open. Buddy in the mean time looks to win his third RFA Cup.

Other competitors include:

Steve Stupey – 2009 US Open Champ

Beth Willis – 11 time woman’s champion

Amy Determan – Two time woman’s champion

If you’re interested in learning more check out www.roofball.org where you can find out more about the rules, players and records. Interested in showing up watching or possibly playing? Email president@roofball.org.

Portland's drive to win the Memorial Cup begins Saturday in Saskatoon May 18, 2013 / By Cliff Pfenning, Oregonsports Journal

Just five years after hitting a franchise low, the Portland Winterhawks begin their fifth trip to the Memorial Cup junior hockey tournament Saturday in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

The Hawks beat Edmonton in the Western Hockey League final in six games just a year after losing to the Oil Kings in the WHL final, and two years after getting swept by Kootenay in the 2011 WHL final.

Portland reached the Western Conference final in 2010, just two years after finishing the 2007-08 season with only 11 wins - a season that included a 22-game losing streak.

The Hawks begin play in the four-team tournament Saturday against Halifax, which won the Ontario Hockey League title. Halifax, with 58 wins, and Portland, with 57 wins, were ranked No. 1 and 2 in the Canadian Hockey League power rankings at the end of the season.

London, the champions of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, beat host Saskatoon of the WHL, 3-2 in the tournament opener Friday night.

Portland is in the tournament for the fifth time, including twice as the host team. The Hawks have won the tournament twice., in 1983 and 1998, when the team won the tourney with an overtime goal in the final.

Ty Rattie led Portland through the playoffs with 36 points, while Nic Petan was second in the league with 28.

Mac Carruth allowed just 1.63 goals per game on average.

 

Portland hasn't lost in ... forever as it heads to Vancouver May 14, 2013

Did anyone see this coming?

Timbers fans?

The Portland Timbers started the first third of the 2013 Major League Soccer season the way fans hoped with the team first kicked off two years ago, with narry a loss in sight.

Were it not for a 2-1 loss at home to Montreal, Portland would be unbeaten.

As they sit through 11 games, they're 4-1-6, good for 18 points and second place in the Western Conference behind FC Dallas. The Timbers' total of four wins still puts them outside the top level off league teams, but that total is quickly rising after the squad went four games without a win, scoring just a loss and three ties. Since, they've talied four wins and three ties against no losses, earning a nine-game unbeaten streak.

Saturday, Portland plays at Vancouver in the second game of the Cascadia Cup. Vancouver enters the game at 3-4-3, 12 points, having scored nine of its 12 goals at home.

Portland has scored eight of its 18 goals on the road - a stark contrast from past seasons.

Seattle, the third squad in the Cup, is 3-3-3, 12 points, and earned a draw with Portland in the third week of the season.

 

Portland's third season in MLS starts off 4-1-6, 18 points May 12, 2013

HOME TEAMS LISTED FIRST

MARCH                                        

3      TIMBERS 3, NY Red Bulls 3 - Diego Valeri and Darlington Nagbe score and Jose Valencia causes an own goal as Portland rallies from a 3-1 deficit in the second half to open the season.

9      Montreal Impact 2, TIMBERS 1 - Ryan Johnson scores in the 80th minute, but Montreal follows up its win at Seattle a week earlier with a win at Jeld-Wen Field.

16    Timbers 1, SEATTLE SOUNDERS 1 - Portland gets a goal from Rodney Wallace in second-half stoppage time to salvage a draw with the host Sounders in the first game of the Cascadia Cup.

30    Timbers 2, COLORADO RAPIDS 2 - Portland rallies from a two-goal deficit with a pair of second-half scores by Will Johnson.

APRIL

6      PORTLAND 2, Houston Dynamo 0 - Ryan Johnson scores two goals to give Portland its first win under coach Caleb Porter.

14    PORTLAND 1, San Jose Earthquakes 0 - Will Johnson scores in the 77th minute for the winning goal, while SJ fans make their mark on a windshield.

21    Portland 1, SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES 1 - Diego Valeri's score and strong goalkeeping by Donovan Ricketts earn a draw, which leaves the 'Quakes at 0-2-5 against Portland in MLS play overall.

27    Portland 3, SPORTING KC 2 - Johnson, Nagbe and Wallace all scored, with Wallace getting the winning goal in the 58th minute on a pass from Diego Charra.
 

MAY

2      Portland 0, New England Revolution 1 - The Timbers pound out 22 shots, eight of them on goal, but can't score the winner.

8      Portland 1, FC Dallas 1 - Nagbe scores, but Dallas earns a penalty kick goal by Kenny Cooper and the top teams in the West battle to a draw.

12    PORTLAND 3, Chivas USA 0 - Wallace, Valeri and Johnson all tallied from among the Timbers' 19 shots.

18    Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs Portland Timbers, 4 PM

25    D.C. United vs Portland Timbers, 7:00 PM
 

JUNE

8      Chicago Fire vs Portland Timbers, 5:30 PM

15    Portland Timbers vs FC Dallas, 5:00 PM

19    LA Galaxy vs Portland Timbers, 7:30 PM

23    Portland Timbers vs Colorado Rapids, 7:00 PM
 

JULY

7      Columbus Crew vs Portland Timbers, 5:00 PM

13    Portland Timbers vs LA Galaxy, 8:00 PM

20    Philadelphia Union vs Portland Timbers, 4:30 PM

27    San Jose Earthquakes vs Portland Timbers, 7:30 PM
 

AUGUST

3      Portland Timbers vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 8:00 PM

17    Portland Timbers vs FC Dallas, 8:00 PM

21    Portland Timbers vs Real Salt Lake, 8:00 PM

25    Seattle Sounders FC vs Portland Timbers, 7:00 PM

30    Real Salt Lake vs Portland Timbers, 7:00 PM
 

SEPTEMBER

7      Portland Timbers vs Toronto FC    TBD

14    Chivas USA vs Portland Timbers, 7:30 PM

20    Portland Timbers vs Colorado Rapids, 7:00 PM

29    Portland Timbers vs LA Galaxy, 3:30 PM
 

OCTOBER

5      Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs Portland Timbers    TBD

13    Portland Timbers vs Seattle Sounders FC, 6:00 PM

19    Portland Timbers vs Real Salt Lake, 7:30 PM

26    Chivas USA vs Portland Timbers, 7:30 PM