Blazers Buzz Kill: Hedo Turkoglu Belongs in Fargo North Dakota...

It is said the first home game after a long road trip is difficult because the body is adjusting from the travel.  

You could see Portland was weary at the beginning of their match up against the Orlando Magic.

And the Magic just BALL'D, yo. 

When the teams played in Orlando, the Magic unleashed the Juggernaut (Dwight Howard) and we were able to defeat them.  Tonight they brought their ENTIRE SQUAD—and they were snipers behind the three-point line. 

Magic snipers, firing BOMBS.

But Portland answered.

We put on the fourth quarter from heaven—only to have it turn into the fourth quarter from HELL! 

The Blazers had the Magic right where they needed to be.  We had them hanging their heads, their hands on their waist, their shots not falling, their coach frustrated and turning pale. Aldridge couldn't miss and Rudy was making Sports Center's top 10 on each possession! 

I had to watch the game at work, but I imagine the atmosphere in that Rose Garden was a bit like a Metallica concert meets a Louis Palau gathering at Waterfront Park.   Intensity, passion, a firm CONVICTION in the object of the crowd's mighty affection—the Portland Trail Blazers. 

We had them down EIGHT POINTS with almost less than a minute to go!!

And they scored nine-straight points, all three-point shots.

The game winner an UGLY bank three by Hedo Turkoglu—HEDO TURKOGLU?

Just who is this man?

Remember that scene in the movie Fargo where the cop is asking the two ladies from the sports bar to describe Steve Buschemi's character?

They go: "Well...he was funny looking."

The cop goes: "Yeah?  Funny looking, how?"

They go, "You know...just funny looking."

Hedo Turkoglu is one funny looking Turk, and I remember two seasons ago when he lobbed the inbound to a flying Grant Hill to silence Portland at the buzzer.  He had pulled off big time magic at the Rose Garden before—but an UGLY bank three for the game?

Poor Brandon Roy had to hide his face.

For me, it was a bit like getting hit with a nail in the stomach.

But hey, then Channing Frye came into my work, and he had a good night with his lady.  (They were awful nice!)  Frye was telling people the team was going to Utah, and he did not seem too phased.

Something tells me Portland will rebound—and Hedo Turkoglu will forever be a funny looking guy who belongs in Fargo, North Dakota.

I can live with that.