It made the most sense for us to select Sam Bowie. It was almost a no-brainer.

I had a sense when I took the job that the 1976-77 Trail Blazers could be very good. We had made a lot of positive roster changes, but it wasn't until I had the team in training camp that I realized that this team could be special. Midway through that season, I felt we had a chance to win it all.

Cancer is the ugliest, scariest, most dreaded word in the English language. My credentials for saying so? Head-to-head, firsthand close encounters with different versions of the fiendish devil.

The pressure has been getting to us and we're sitting back and being a little too careful and allowing teams to come to us. We had our chances when they weren't on their game early. The third period just opened up.

We've been keeping an eye on it by having the test done, and that's ... allowed us to catch it so early. But it has been something that probably has preyed on my mind throughout the season. I just had to work through it.

I will miss the association with the players and coaches. It has been a great ride.