For Christmas, we got my son two tickets to the Portland Trailblazers vs. Milwaukie Bucks game. We live about an hour from PDX, so technically, the Blazers are our home team. And we love them — always have. I grew up watching Clyde the Glide take on Jordan, Pippen and Grant in the 1992 finals (they lost to the Bulls, by the way). I'm not sure who was more excited about the tickets — me or my 10-year-old son!

If you're unfamiliar with Damian Lillard, aka Dame Time, you should be! Drafted in the 1st round (6th overall) to the Blazers in 2012 from a small school in Utah, Damian has spent his entire career in Portland — until this season.

When the opportunity to play with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks came up, nobody could blame him for taking the opportunity for a chance to win a championship.

You would think the people of Portland, and Oregon, for that matter, would be mad.

Far from it.

When my son and I went to the game, you could feel the love and appreciation for Damian. The organization even put half of its iconic Rip City structure in green in front of the Moda Center! It is typically red and black only.

When they announced his name, there was a two-minute standing ovation. I have the video of it; I can prove it. Some signs read, "Win Your Ring and Come Home," and many read, "We Miss You." Adidas dedicated a basketball court at their Portland campus to........

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