It didn't matter that it was freezing cold in Salt Lake City that day last December. Or that I was the only one wearing red-black-and-white. Or even that my date was wearing a Utah Jazz hat.
We'd won.
I was happy, even besides me winning my year-long bet or my team crushing the opposition. Not just happy because I had bragging rights for the next year. Just, well, happy.
There were only about ten Blazers fans in the Energy Solutions Arena that evening, but we were vocal and we were proud. I even got in a shouting match with a guy three rows back—I think my little victory dance when we hit a three might have rubbed him the wrong way—in which I ended all argument by pointing and yelling "scoreboard." To sum it up: best game of my life.
My high continued for the next month when the Blazers extended their winning streak to thirteen. I was proud to wear red-black-and-white on the airplane. Proud, once again, to wear my Blazers jersey.
I never stopped believing. And… well, maybe it didn't last. But thank you, Blazers, for giving me the chance to believe once more.
Keywords: basketball, Blazers, December, Portland, winning streak
