Hooped Up

In Portland…they kinda like Rudy Fernandez.

“More than 100 fans welcomed Spanish guard Rudy Fernandez to the Trail Blazers upon his arrival in Portland with chants of “Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!”

“It was a good surprise,” Fernandez said. “When I arrived, I say, ‘OK, let’s go practice now. Let’s go.’ ”

The 6-foot-6 Olympian arrived at Portland International Airport and was whisked to the Rose Garden, where the Blazers held a news conference to introduce him.

Fernandez played for Spain in Beijing, scoring 22 points in the Olympic gold-medal game against the United States. The U.S. team won 118-107.”

San Francisco Chronicle

Nate McMillan, really likes what Rudy Fernandez offers the Blazers.

“Back home from the Olympics, where he was an assistant coach for Team USA, Trail Blazerscoach Nate McMillan on Thursday could finally reveal the two-week struggle he endured in Beijing. There were sleepless nights. A self-imposed muzzle on his emotions. And the uneasiness of choosing an allegiance. All because of Rudy Fernandez. The high-energy shooting guard for Spain, who will join the Blazers this month, excelled during the Olympics, which included a team-high 22 points in the gold medal loss to the Ameicans. And after getting a front-row view for many of Spain’s games, McMillan said Fernandez, 23, is so talented that he will “definitely” play, and play a lot, for the Blazers.”

The Oregonian

It’s rare that this ever happens to a monster shot blocker like Dwight Howard but Rudy Fernandez beat Superman.  Will Rudy Fernandez steal votes from Rose and Beasley for Rookie of the Year?  

With plays like that…uh ya!

Portland Trailblazers signee Rudy Fernandez scored a game-high 16 points and Pau Gasol added 11 to send Spain to an 81-66 win over Greece in their Beijing Olympics Group B opener Sunday.

The teams, who met in the final of the 2006 World Championships in Japan, where Spain prevailed 70-47, remained close through the second quarter. But Spain went on a 13-0 run in the third, quieting the singing, bass drum-banging Greek fans in the new, 18,000-seat Beijing Olympic Basketball Stadium.

The former European champion runners-up closed to within 10 points, but Spain held on for the comfortable win.

Greece shot just 11 of 24 free throws, while Spain missed only three of 25.

New York Times

After being drafted 24th overall in the 2007 NBA draft, by the Phoenix Suns who then traded his rights to the Portland Trailblazers. Spanish international Rudy Fernández has annonced that he will leave DKV Joventut of the Spanish league and join the Blazers for the upcoming 2009 - 2010 season.  

With Greg Oden heathly the Blazers are going to be stacked!

Hooped Up