The best of this week’s upcoming sports events
Friday, March 12
SportFight XXVII - Wild Card
If you took the advice offered in this column last week, you witnessed five straight hours of nonstop mixed martial arts action at the jam-packed Roseland Theater last Saturday night, highlighted by three incredibly brutal girl fights and a jaw-dropping performance by a 50-year-old fighter (that’s right, 50!) who actually won his match and received a standing ovation. Yes, MMA in Portland is alive and well—and those were just the amateurs.
This weekend, the pros will get their shot at glory at Spirit Mountain Casino. And while the lights may be a little brighter and the moves more polished and technical, the same raw emotion that makes MMA such a great spectator sport is sure to be on full display. This edition of SportFight will feature what is sure to be a blur of a match up between featherweights Roy Bradshaw and Colt Toombs. Toombs is the son of none other than wrestling legend "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, who currently lives in Hillsboro. But it’s the main event that’ll pack the most punch, as lightweight champion Travis Bush moves up a weight class to challenge Nathan Coy for his welterweight belt in a battle between two athletic freaks of nature.
After the fights, you’re sure to be amped up, so head out to the casino tables and engage in your own battle with one of the blackjack dealers—just make sure to leave $20 in the glove box for gas so you can make it home.
Where: Spirit Mountain Casino
When: 8 p.m.
Tickets: 800-585-3737, starticketsplus.com
Saturday, March 13
6A High School Basketball State Championships
Ah, high school, that magical time in everyone’s life when deep-seeded personal insecurities, out of control acne and awkward sexual experiences all came together to make you the depressed, bitter person you are today. This Saturday, take a walk down memory lane by watching the cool kids—you know, the ones who used to give you atomic wedgies—compete for the boys and girls state basketball championships. It’ll be a packed day of prep hoops action as four consolation games precede the girls championship at 7 p.m. and the boy’s championship at 9 p.m. Later that night, you can pass the time by looking at old year books and convincing yourself that joining the chess club really was a better choice than playing sports.
Where: Rose Garden
When: 7 p.m. (Girls Championship), 9 p.m. (Boys Championship)
Tickets: 877-789-ROSE, rosequarter.com
Sunday, March 14
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Toronto Raptors
Last summer, Hedo Turkoglu double-crossed the Blazers after verbally agreeing to a lucrative free agent contract, instead opting at the last minute to sign with the Toronto Raptors. As it turns out, the Blazers have had the last laugh. Turkoglu has suffered through easily his worst season in six years, the Raptors have struggled and the Blazers have found a much more promising prospect at small forward in emerging star Nicolas Batum. But that doesn’t mean Portland fans are ready to forgive or forget. Oh no. This is Toronto’s only visit to the Rose Garden this year, and half the city has had this date marked on their calendar for a long time. Revenge is a dish best served cold, and Blazer nation will be spoon-feeding Turkoglu all night long in front of a national TV audience. Everyone together now: Booooooo!!!!
Where: Rose Garden
When: 6 p.m.
Tickets: 797-9600, trailblazers.com
Photo: Hedo Turkoglu betrays the Blazers, NBA.com
