The best of this week’s upcoming sports events
Tuesday, December 22
Portland Pilots vs. University of Idaho Vandals
How ‘bout them Pilots? Already this season the ballers from The Bluff have hung upset losses on Oregon, UCLA, and then #16-ranked Minnesota, earning themselves a spot in the Top 25 Associated Press rankings for the first time in 50 years! So knocking off a relatively obscure University of Idaho squad shouldn’t be a big deal, right? Wrong. The Vandals beat the Pilots by 20 points just a couple weeks ago, and you can bet that leading scorer Nik Raivio and company have revenge on their minds. The best part? Tickets to this contest at the cozy Chiles Center—where every seat is nice and close to the action—start at just $8. Merry freakin’ Christmas, Portland!
Where: Chiles Center
When: 7 p.m.
Tickets: 224-4400, ticketmaster.com
Friday, December 25
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets
While it’s true that Christmas is a time for family, generosity and caring for others, ‘tis also the season to watch the best athletes on earth rise up, scream at the top of their lungs and emphatically dunk on somebody’s face. Yes, once again this year the Blazers will play host to a nationally televised Christmas Day game, so hurry up and rip open those presents, tell grandma you love the horrible sweater-vest she knitted you, shotgun a few glasses of eggnog and hit the door—tip off is at 7:30!
Where: Rose Garden
When: 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: 797-9600, trailblazers.com
Saturday, December 26 – Wednesday, December 30
Les Schwab Invitational
Isn’t the day after Christmas depressing? Your house is littered with shreds of wrapping paper and lame presents, and you’re just starting to come down from a near psychedelic sugar high after consuming twice your body weight in fudge and peanut brittle. Fortunately, your solution to the post-Christmas doldrums is only as far away as a trip out to the ‘burbs. Starting Saturday, Liberty High School will host a four-day, 16-team basketball tournament featuring the top high school squads from both Oregon and across the country. There will be a dunk contest, a three-point shootout, and best of all, your chances of catching an early glimpse of a rising hoops star will be very high. NBA ballers Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant and Kevin Love—just to name a few—all played in this tourney back in the day.
Where: Liberty High School
When: Visit web site for daily schedule
Tickets and Event Info: primetimepdx.com/lsinv
Welcome aboard, Jeremy. Looking forward to hearing more from you! :-)