Blazer's Edge

Tara talks to Ian Johnson, author of The Bounce and the Echo: Dying to Love a Game. Johnson is a former Division 1 basketball player at Davidson College and a five year veteran of European Leagues. In the book he talks about his basketball journey, his mental health journey, his effort to move on from basketball to the next phase of his life and how he came to love the game again. All of this is intertwined with anecdotes about the history of basketball.  Tara talks to him about why he wrote the book and they share a mutual appreciation of how sports reflects history (and history is reflected in sports). Johnson discusses what it was like playing at Oak Hill Academy with Carmelo Anthony, playing against LeBron in high school, and balancing (or trying to balance) being a student and an athlete in college.   Finally, Johnson shares some radical ideas about how to change youth sports that he believes would lead to more well-rounded and healthier players.  Highlights 1:00 Intro and pandemic talk.  4:00 Early bask

Here at the WHAT Podcast we don’t like to leave things hanging (unless it's taking a few extra weeks off in the middle of a pandemic). So we decided it was time to resolve who would be the 2020 NBA Champion. We brought in two super guests to help us out. Writer Jannelle Moore and podcast producer Sasha Ashall joined us to work through the 2020 Championship bracket so we could figure out, once and for all, which team will walk away with the Larry O’Brian Trophy.  We seeded the teams into a 32 team bracket and dove into the first round by pitting the team’s mascots against each other. (The last two NBA Mascots of the Year earned their team a bye in the first round.) Which teams are moving on? We’ll be back next week with round two of the WHAT 2020 NBA Championship Bracket.  All this plus recommendations of ways to stay connected to basketball even as we stay apart.  Icebreakers: Quarantine impulse purchases--cast iron, meat, Stroopwafels, dirt. 7:00 Where Sasha’s basketball fandom came from watching the worst p

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Danny Marang and Tara Bowen- Biggs are joined by Keith Parish of Fastbreak Breakfast (and Grits & Grind) to talk who would have actually taken the 8th seed, biggest regrets with the season on hold, how salsa is great but dangerous, try to name the 22 players who have played for both the Blazers and Grizzlies, which Gasol brother is better, what the Blazers might look to do at the draft, the greatness of Andre Miller and more! Intro Opening Comments "Point Break" and Serial Killers 3:00 Snacks of choice during Quarantine 5:00 The origins of "Fastbreak Breakfast" 10:00 Andre Miller the Gawd 14:00 What's your biggest regret of this season? 16:30 Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson 18:00 The return of Jusuf Nurkic 23:00 Carmelo Anthony and how he's viewed now 24:30 How would things have turned out for the 8th seed? 29:00 How good were the Grizzlies really? Would the Pelicans with Zion Williamson been enough? 31:00 Is there a world where the Blazers make the playoffs?

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang are joined by former Trail Blazer's radio play-by-play voice, Brian "Wheels" Wheeler! Together they run down some great stories like, the time Stevie Wonder attended a Blazer's game and told Wheels how much he loved how he called the game, or when Chick Hearn said he'd give him pointers on his demo reel and vouched for him at job interviews, or the time the Golden State Warrior's PR team asked Wheels to apologize (in writing) to then coach Mark Jackson for saying saying on the broadcast that upset him (in a game the Warriors blew a huge lead in), and his thoughts on calling Michael Jordan's games in light of "The Last Dance" premiere. Fantastic stories, the genesis of how he got into play-by-play, potential nicknames for players (including Gary Trent Jr) and more on this week's episode!! Intro  Opening Comments Brian Wheeler joins the pod! 2:00 Syncing up the radio with live game-play 3:00 Painting a picture with words for

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang are joined by Adam Ryan of "In All Airness" to talk throwbacks, Clyde Drexler vs Micahel Jordan, how things would be viewed if luck had been on the Blazer's side, life on the other side of the world, chasing the Holy Grail of throwback basketball footage, reflecting back with former players, Adam's trip to All Star weekend in Chicago, his love for Terry Porter, the Mt Rushmore of Goggle Wearers and more! Intro  Opening Comments Adam Ryan - In All Airness Life on the other side of the world right now 3:00 Is there a Holy Grail of throwback basketball footage/game? 6:00 Tracking down old game tapes 8:30 Sidetrack- Paul Allen’s obsession with the Blazers 10:00 How did “In All Airness” start? 12:00 Talking with different players from different eras; such as Fat Lever and Danny Schayes 16:30 What it’s like sitting down with players well passed their playing careers 19:30 The genesis of basketball in Australia 23:00 Talking abou

Amara Baptist, Digital Content Manager for the Portland Trail Blazers, dropped by the WHAT podcast to talk about what is keeping her entertained, share memories of her time working at Kobe Bryant’s summer basketball camp and give us tips for social media success. Plus we’ve got four more songs to add to the 2020 Feel Good playlist. Highlights 1:30 Icebreaker: What would you put on the English muffin of your dreams (shout out to Brooke Olzendam)?  7:00 Social media stars during the outbreak: Check out Matisse Thybulle on Tik Tok, CJ McCollum’s Instagram captions. Mario Hezonja and Meyers Leonard on Twitch. 9:00 NBA Players who can’t figure out how to use digital collaboration tools are so relatable (Hi, Carmelo Anthony). 11:00 Amara’s memories of Kobe Bryant. Handling social media during the Lakers first game back after his death. 19:00 Social Media school: what are some of the keys for successful social media presences, both for individuals and for brands?  35:00 Logistics of how you have a social media team.

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang are joined by Trail Blazer's guard Anfernee Simons! Together they touch on, managing time with the season up in the air, how Simons works on skills development, what players he looks to take moves/skills from, whether or not he's afraid of ghosts, what coaches expect of him out on the floor, listener questions and a whole lot more! Intro Opening Comments Anfernee Simons! Do you still access to a basketball hoop? 1:30 How are you and the family doing? 3:00 How are you staying busy? 4:30 There are BEARS in Florida 7:00 Is Ant afraid of ghosts? 8:30 How much do you love social media? 9:00 When you’re working on a skill- what’s the process you go through? 10:30 When you want to add something to your game, who are the guys you watch? What have you take from Lillard and McCollum? 12:00 When you work on something new, how long do you work on it before you take it to live game action? 15:00 What have been your Top 3 favorite momen

Trail Blazers sideline reporter Brooke Olzendam dropped by the Hoops and Talks podcast to talk to Cassidy and Tara about how she is passing the time while the league is suspended. Learn more about the English Muffin Challenge, “Olzengrams”, and what sports stories everyone is enjoying while we wait for NBA basketball to return.  Highlights 1:00 Brooke’s English Muffin challenge 2:51 What is a favorite random sports fact? Invention of basketball, the invention of the High Five, and did Rocky Marciano really invent the fax machine?  9:15 What is fun about her job? Telling player stories. For example, talking to CJ McCollum’s high school coach to find out if he imagined McCollum would have such a successful NBA career.  11:30 We enjoyed McCollum tweeting the replay of the Denver Nuggets playoff game.  12:00 How has Brooke been spending her time? With family, keeping track of her mom, doing puzzles with her son. 20:00 Olzengram Live with Damian Lillard and Damian Lillard Jr. It is fun to see the players at home. 

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bown-Biggs and Danny Marang and joined by two guests; John Sabine of NBC Sports Chicago and Bulls Outsiders, and Cassidy Gemmet of the WHAT podcast. Together, they tackle John's poorly seeded NBA nickname bracket to crown the best nickname in NBA history. What nicknames did John forget? Which ones did we get right and which did we get wrong? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a brief break, the Blazer's Edge podcast with Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang is back! Intro Opening comments Staying safe and sane during social isolation 2:00 Immediate reaction to the shut down of the season 4:00 Players coming together to help 8:00 NBA players not being able to play ball - what are they doing now? 10:00 What will happen if the season resumes? 12:00 Quick detour to talk about the uniqueness of Duncan Robinson 14:00 The delayed return of Jusuf Nurkic 18:00 The "what if" of the season resuming and the improved health of the Blazers 22:00 Missing out on how Nurkic-Hassan Whiteside would work together...or not. 25:00 Portland dealt a bad hand, could it end up okay that it was THIS season? 30:00 Looking to the 2020 NBA season and what the financial impact could be on the Trail Blazers 34:00 How to plan for team building with so many uncertainties 40:00 Things we missed out on- Who was better, the Lakers or the Clippers? 45:00 Doing things outside of basketball, Patty Mills and Jamal Mu

Jamie Hudson of NBC Sports Northwest joined us to talk about what she will remember about the season (so far), what she misses about basketball, how reporting on the NBA has changed since the suspension of the league and how she is spending her time at home. It was so great to talk to her and hear her cheerful voice.  Basketball marathons, games to re-watch, Gary Trent Jr coming into his own, Instagram baby dance parties, covering Carmelo Anthony, finding her voice as a reporter, Below Deck vs 90 Day fiance, we’ve got a smorgasbord of topics for anyone hungry for basketball (and basketball adjacent) talk.  1:00 Icebreaker: What makes the perfect basketball game marathon? 6:00 What stood out about the Trail Blazers’ season so far? 9:30 What is it about basketball that you miss the most right now? 13:15 What were some of the highlights for Jamie as a reporter this season? 18:00 What is Jamie doing with the league suspended? 21:30 Making a pitch for shows to binge: 90 Day Fiance vs Below Deck. 26:30 In what ways

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang look back at the past week with horrible losses to the Phoenix Suns and the Sacramento Kings, the upcoming return of Jusuf Nurkic and all the listener questions we can handle! Intro Opening comments What team were we watching? 2:00 Aron Baynes and the 3-point murder bus 4:00 Back and forth with Trevor Ariza and Hassan Whiteside 7:00 Why do this losses feel so bad? 10:00 Alex Len v CJ McCollum and the Tale of the Tape 12:00 LISTENER QUESTIONS Who has replaced Skal on Team Mom's photo? 14:00 Are the Blazers going into load management for the vets AKA selectively tank? 16:00 Do Moses or Jaylen. have a chance to make the roster next year? Wenyen? 19:00 The return of Jusuf Nurkic 22:00 Do you think POR targets a big move (sign & trade) or moving CJ, Simons or Collins this summer? 25:00 MORE NURKIC! 28:00 The Blazer's defensive issues aren't easily solvable 30:00 How will the season be effected if crowds aren't allowed in arenas

On this week’s Hoops and Talks podcast, Cassidy and Tara choose celebrity ambassadors, discuss the playoff race, comment on the outstanding play of CJ McCollum and Gary Trent Jr, and give Mario Hezonja some love for taking one for the team.   Then it is time to choose our players for the 2010s All Decade team. Listen in and tell us which team would win! Highlights 1:00 Who would be your choice for celebrity ambassador for the Trail Blazers?  5:30 Blazers are not that far out of the playoff race.  6:30 How much does it matter if the Blazers make the playoff?  8:30 What is the value of Playoff experience? 10:05 Mario Hezonja is having an impact, getting fined.  13:30 Despite the mounting losses, the games are still pretty fun to watch.  14:30 What have we learned about the team while Lillard was out? 18:00 Gary Trent Jr has been playing like a seasoned vet but he needs a nickname.  19:00 Listener mail asks us, what about moving CJ to the bench?  23:30 All 2010s decade draft. Cassidy’s team: Damian Lillard, Wesl

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang take a look at where the Blazers are and how to rationalize the season, the unwritten rules of basketball, the growth of the deep bench, early looks at draft prospects, how safe is Coach Stotts, the return of Jusuf Nurkic and more! Intro Opening comments Trae Young, Trevor Ariza & the unwritten rules 3:00 How has Ariza looked in a Portland uniform? 8:00 Competence is not a bad word! 10:00 Taking a look at the young guys and their defensive issues/growth 13:00 Nassir Little and Wenyen Gabriel and what could they turn into? 18:00 Listener questions! 21:00 Who are some players the Blazers could look at between 9-12 in the Draft? Obi Toppin, Onyeka Okungwu, Deni Avdija 22:00 Why a pick matters more than just drafting a young player 23:40 Looking ahead to Zach Collins and his return- are we maybe building up too many expectations? 32:00 Deciding between Gabriel and Swanigan for a deep roster spot next year 36:00 Load management

On the latest episode of the WHAT podcast, Tara and Cassidy name their All 2000 Decade team and they are nothing like you would expect. Tune in to find out who they chose, catch up on the Blazers since the All Star Break and ask if we should let go of our anger about the Blazers’ loss on March 6, 2001? 1:00 Icebreaker: Red Vines or Twizzlers? Also black licorice stories.  2:30 Thoughts on the Blazers without Lillard? CJ McCollum has limited options. There is a big difference between the guys in suits and the guys suited up.  6:45 Nassir Little has changed his shoes. No more pink. When are the guys in street clothes going to form a suit rainbow? 9:00 2000s All Decade team. What were you doing in 2000? Did you have a favorite player? How about 2010? 17:30 Cassidy’s picks: she agrees with the fan vote for the Trail Blazers all decade team. Adds picks for her favorite players from the Portland Fire: Jackie Stiles, DeMya Walker, Kristin Folkl, Sophia Witherspoon and Sylvia Crawley. 20:40 For Tara’s all-decade team

Learn more about the Indiana Pacers with Caitlin Cooper from Indy Cornrows. Who to watch, what their style of play is like, and how they have adjusted to their own injury bad luck. 00:45 Main story lines, reintegrating Victor Oladipo into the lineup and trying to get some continuity with lots of injuries 1:45 More on Oladipo: He’s not as explosive as he was before the injuries. He’s not getting as many on-target shots as he used to, he seems like he’s still a little off balance.He’s still able to get back and cover on defense.  4:15 Who are the main playmakers? Malcolm Brogdon, one of the highest possession players in the league. He doesn’t have as much space as he did when he was playing alongside Giannis. Struggling with open threes as well.  7:00 More about the Pacer’s bench, they are solid. Sabonis is a starter but he’s important to making the bench successful. Lots of free flowing movement, lots of fluidity. They lack in size.  9:00 Other strengths of the team. PnR with Brogdon and Sabonis can be good.

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang are joined by guest Brian Noe to take a look back at games since the All Star break, CJ McCollum running the show and how it differs from Damian Lillard, what limitations are impacting the game, listener questions, why Brian Noe still has a Christmas tree up and more! Intro Opening comments 2:00 Brian Noe on the show! 4:30 CJ McCollum running the show 6:00 Taking a look at..ugh… the Piston’s game 8:00 Gary Trent Jr and a decade long career 10:00 Looking at CJ McCollum through the year 12:00 The differences between how Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum run the show 14:30 Why isn’t there a lot of movement in the offense 19:00 What’s contributing to these horrendous quarters? 23:00 It’s all Wenyen Gabriel all the the time! 29:00 Listener Questions! Is there any hope for ‘Rio being a serviceable NBA player? 34:00 It seems less and less likely that the team will make the playoffs, what are you looking for if that happens? 42:00

Tara and Cassidy welcome friend of the podcast, the original FANalyst, Jo Wulffenstein (and her dog Seymoure) back onto the show. We talk about what she has been up to, how she stays connected to her beloved Blazers, and what is the most unique Blazers paraphernalia she has come across in her world travels.  We recap the best All Star Weekend in recent memory, debate the ending of the dunk contest, and have an idea how to improve the Elam Ending even more. Plus, we share what we think the Blazers will focus on down the stretch. All this and more on the latest WHAT podcast.  Icebreaker  2:01 Icebreaker: Inspired by the scarves in Toronto, what do you think is the most important accessory for the NBA walk up? 6:30 Catching up with Jo--where have you been the last few years? Living in Alaska, traveling around the world and chasing down every Trail Blazers fan she sees. 10:30 The tiniest Ed Davis doll and other Blazers paraphernalia.  17:00 All Star Talk from the biggest All Star fan, Cassidy who watched the Lege

On this week’s edition of the Blazer’s Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang take a look at the final games leading up to the All Star Break (begrudgingly), discuss the future in the NBA with Zion Williamson and Ja Morant, the curious case of CJ McCollum, looking at the final 26 games of the season, discussing whether or not the Blazers will end up making the playoffs and more... on this week’s episode! CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Intro Opening comments The ups and downs of the season 2:00 How absolutely ridiculous is Zion? 4:00 What happened in New Orleans? 7:00 How about in Memphis? 11:00 Ja Morant, Zion and the future of the league 11:30 How likely are the Blazers to make the playoffs? 13:30 There was some good out of the last 2 games- Anfernee Simons time! 16:00 How about we calm down with hating/blaming Caleb Swanigan 19:00 **UPDATE** Evaluating Tara’s “season of CJ” 22:00 Taking a look at where CJ ranks and what his expectations are the as the number two option 26:00 How should CJ be viewed and wh

Alex Haigh returns to the Hoops and Talks podcast to catch up with Tara and discuss what Gary Trent Jr said to Donovan Mitchell, how does she feel about the season so far, which Blazer has the most fashion sense, and what difference has Carmelo Anthony made to the team? Then we talk about the newest basketball, culture and art magazine, Flagrant, for which she is the designer. Issue #1 is about to debut. She talks about what it is like to make a print publication when so much has gone digital and gives us a teaser about what to expect in the first issue. Highlights 1:45 What did Gary Trent Jr say to Donovan Mitchell? 4:00 Are the Jazz the Trail Blazers’ newest rivals? 7:15 Overall impressions of the seasons so far. 8:00 Memories of Tolliver and Bazemore. They really seemed to embrace the city. 11:30 What are some of the ways that Carmelo Anthony has impacted the team? He gave a little hope and a little energy at a time when they really needed it.  14:20 Walk-in outfit analysis. Which Blazers are bringing high