Blazers celebrate 1976-77 championship team

I'm thrilled and honored to have my number retired in Portland As the Portland Trail Blazers wrap up the season and look to the future, the team is also celebrating its past. via NWCN.com

[Rebekkah Barnard]

I have always loved the Portland TrailBlazers. I have been a fan since they came into the league. I still remember right after they won the championship in 1977 - downtown - everybody screaming and horns honking. We loved our Blazers. We loved our team who played their guts out to win the championship for Portland. If I live to be 100 I will never forget that day - and watching the last few seconds and those words on CBS "It's all over"!

Bill Walton felt the same way. He eventually made it to Boston and won a championship there. But he admitted that it was his championship in Portland that he will be the most fond of.

I can still name every player of that championship team. I can still tell you the final score of every game against Philadelphia in the finals.

This was a special time - and a special team. I just hope one day they win another championship. And I still remember the words of Bill Schonely who said after the game (in reference to how he could have been a commentator for the Seattle Mariners)- "Who are the Seattle Mariners"?

[sasaha]

ok