Portland's All-Star

Managed to get two tickets to last night's Blazers vs. Bulls game and, wow, what a fun time. Can't remember a more exciting game that I've seen in person -- and made all the better sitting next to my sweetie. (I think, after this game, she now understands the importance of offensive rebounds.)

Anyway, the undermanned Trail Blazers managed to beat back a late challenge by Chicago and won the game, 109 to 103. Andre Miller and Rudy Fernandez played great all-around games but it was LaMarcus Aldridge who rose above all -- including the Bulls' marvelous Derrick Rose -- with a career-high 42 points, including two free throws at the end of the game that clinched the win.

For years, Aldridge has been the No. 2 guy on the Blazers, playing second fiddle to three-time All-Star Brandon Roy. But with Brandon out of the lineup most of the year, Aldridge has stepped in as the team's leading scorer and rebounder and just missed out on being named to this year's Western Conference All-Star team.

Of course, you'd expect to see several handmade signs around the Rose Garden last night proclaiming Aldridge as "Portland's All-Star." But that was only part of the fun. One sign read: "Marry Me, LaMarcus" and another said "Marry Me, Rudy." Two teenage girls next to us brought a couple of signs -- including one that read "Be My Groom, Batum" -- and finally got on the big screen with 30 seconds left in the game. They were thrilled.

Visible next to them was a good-looking lady with black-framed glasses and a huge smile on her face: Lori. :-)

The Blazers eclipsed 100 points, so every fan leaving the arena got the customary coupon for a free chalupa at Taco Bell. (Reward or punishment? Only our stomachs can tell.)

We crossed the street, waited five minutes for our bus and were home about 20 minutes later. Have I said lately that I love this inner-city neighborhood of ours? So convenient to everything.

Photograph by Bruce Ely, The Oregonian. Check out his photo gallery from last night's game.