The phone call came Tuesday afternoon from the publisher of the newspaper and by Wednesday night the news was official.

After spending the last four months writing a column on the Portland Trail Blazers and producing running coverage on the Rose Quarter/Memorial Coliseum redevelopment, my days at the Portland Sentinel have sadly come to a close.

March will be the last issue for the monthly newspaper serving North and Northeast Portland. The ad revenue just isn’t there, and while the paper will explore non-profit avenues to transform into an online news service covering all of Portland, at this time that dream is simply that – a dream.

Honestly, for me though it was a dream of sorts writing for this small but dynamic neighborhood newspaper. It was something to call my own and to be a part of the process of producing a newspaper every month.

Because of that paper, I was able to learn more about where Brandon Roy’s work ethic truly originates from.

I learned during their days together in Seattle, no one messed with Nate McMillan because they feared the wrath of Maurice Lucas. I was reminded it’s in God’s hands now. Remind myself of that daily.

I learned Jeff Pendergraph is a “momma’s boy” in every sense of the word, and he’s proud of it and rightly should be. His story graces the front cover of February's issue.

I learned Damon Stoudamire has much love for Portland and the Blazers, and that you can always come home again, regardless of how life and circumstances change.

And hopefully along the way of these four stories – and the last column I’ll pen for the March issue – you’ve learned something along the way too. I know I learned something about myself through these stories.

As always, thanks for reading. Know I say that often, but it's true.

Obviously, I’ll be around and you know where to find me. But if USA Today folds and SLAM goes under, then I’m screwed. Until then, I’ll keep writing and bringing you a story or two.

A big thanks goes out to Cornelius Swart – the publisher and managing editor of The Sentinel. Can’t thank him enough for giving me the chance to contribute to his paper. And to Roger Anthony, an editor who took his years of knowledge from The Oregonian and the Portland Tribune and helped me shape my ideas and stories into something actually decent to read.

Thanks guys. It was a fun run while it lasted.

photo: portland sentinel.com

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