From the moment we announced our intention to tour the state of Oregon on the “Make It Better” Statewide Summer Tour, few communities have gotten behind the tour like Medford.

The interest was so high, in fact, that we scheduled two clinics to accommodate the more than 350 kids who participated. To help out, we enlisted the services of the irrepressible Channing Frye, who flew to Medford Friday morning with Chris Bowles, the Trail Blazers Director of Player Programs to help out.

Our day began with a rotary breakfast at 7 a.m. Despite the early hour the energy was fabulous (so was the bacon!). The group was very interested in what was going on with the Blazers, and pleading with us to come back someday for a preseason game.

We met Channing at Kids Unlimited, a former bowling alley where Hall of Famer Marshall Holman got his start. Because of the media interest, we held a media availability with Channing, Antonio and Traci to talk about the tour, the team and the fun we’ve had in Oregon.

Our two clinics served in one day as many kids as we had seen in the previous four, a great showing and a great way to end our trip. Channing signed autographs for the kids, and made me laugh when he told one kid that playing in New York was like “having to take a test early in the morning.”

The facility was beautiful, in large part because of the generosity of Sherm Olsrud, a Trail Blazers season ticket holder who funded much of the renovation to bring events like ours to Medford.

Sherm was in the house, watching the clinic, chatting with Channing and showing off one of his proudest possessions, a basketball signed by the 1976-77 Trail Blazers. Because his wife Wanda couldn’t make it, Channing called and wished her well also.

After we finished, we donated our basketballs to Kids Unlimited, hopped in our Kia (and our bus) began the five-hour journey home, where we arrived at about 9 p.m.

It was a trip that have been excruciating if you didn’t enjoy the company of your co-workers, but we unanimously enjoyed a great bonding experience and a chance to meet Trail Blazers fans throughout the state – it was a most memorable week, and one we won’t soon forget.

Summer Tour Stops: Eugene | Coos Bay | Roseburg | Klamath Falls | Medford