Travis Outlaw, the almost Mississippi State Bulldog

Bulldog fans can salivate forever about what would have been had Travis Outlaw suited up in Maroon and White…..or Jonathan Bender, or Monta Ellis.

However, he opted for the NBA, before the current one-year rule, and was taken 23rd overall by the Portland Trailblazers in the 2003 NBA Draft. Heading into the 2008-2009 NBA season, this makes Outlaw the longest tenured Blazer.

Travis had his best season in ‘07-08, averaging career highs in multiple categories including points (13.3), rebounds (4.6), and minutes (26.7), while getting some recognition for the NBA’s 6th Man Award (Manu Ginobili ended up with the honors).

This year, Outlaw desires to come into his own even more. Jason Quick, of The Oregonian, recently traveled back to Starkville, Mississippi to do an extensive piece on Outlaw. The article discusses Outlaw’s roots, the house he recently built in Starkvegas, and his basketball aspirations. The reading is highly suggested.

• “Rain dampens Outlaw’s day, not Outlaw,” The Oregonian (Aug. 31, 2008) Jason Quick.
• HT: “Travis Outlaw wants to start, but he’s not complaining,” Ball Don’t Lie – Yahoo Sports Blog (Sept. 2, 2008) Kelly Dwyer.
• UPDATE: I would also like to point out Jason Quick’s claim about Travis Outlaw being Starkville’s second most famous athlete next to Jerry Rice is wrong. I think most residents of Crawford, Mississippi, where Rice is really from, would take exception to this statement. There’s actually a billboard in Crawford to prove this (at least it was there the last time I drove through the town several years back).