What’s the buzz from the world of sports? Here are some items that will have people talking:
1
Congratulations to Timbers owner Merritt Paulson, who won the Slats Gill Award as Sportsperson of the Year at the 60th Oregon Sports Awards, which were held on Sunday.
The award is much deserved. Without Paulson’s persistence, the Timbers would not be in Major League Soccer and sports fans in this region would be missing out.
Scoff at soccer if you want. It’s not for everybody — but neither is NBA basketball (or minor league baseball).
It should also be noted that while not a Portland native, Paulson has made the city his home and placed an emphasis on community involvement. That’s a big deal — Paul Allen’s visits to Portland usually are limited to Blazers games. The Timbers’ community presence played a significant part in how quickly this region embraced the Timbers.
2
The Tweet from boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr., that New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin is an overnight sensation because he is Asian-American is clearly ridiculous.
But there are some reasons beyond Lin’s basketball ability for the phenomenon — including his race and his Harvard education. His rise strikes a chord that appeals to anyone who’s ever dominated a pickup game, or humbled buddies at H-O-R-S-E.
But ask yourself this: Would Jeremy Lin be a household name if he were playing in Portland, Memphis or Minneapolis instead of New York? Would he be on the cover of Sports Illustrated if this weren’t mid-February?
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