The event has yet to roar into the Rose Garden Arena, but 7 lucky fans got a taste.

PORTLAND, Ore., July 4 (UPI) — The Oregonian newspaper reported Friday that forward Hedo Turkoglu, who earlier in the day appeared headed to Portland, had broken off talks with the team.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Free-agent forward Hedo Turkoglu and the Portland Trail Blazers have ended contract talks, a person close to the team confirmed Friday.

Hedo Turkoglu will visit with the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday. In an e-mail to The Associated Press, agent Lon Babby says Turkoglu will be in Portland on Thursday. He did not elaborate.

Sounders FC got two first half goals and escaped from a wild atmosphere at PGE Park with a 2-1 win over the USL Portland Timbers in a U.S. Open Cup third-round match.

The Portland Beavers are no Reno Aces – and for that, the Tacoma Rainiers are thankful.
<p/>After getting swept in a four-game series by Reno for the second time in a span of 12 games, the Rainiers opened a brief, three-game homestand with a clean, well-played 4-1 victory over the Portland Beavers on Wednesday.</p>

Doug Fister, a 6-foot-8 right-hander, combined with two Rainiers relievers to silence the Portland Beavers’ bats.

Free agent small forward Hedo Turkoglu has been contacted by five teams and, as expected, the Portland Trail Blazers were the first to call.

MANCHESTER - The Sea Dogs posted an 8-5 Eastern League decision in a game halted by a thunderstorm after eight innings at Merchantsauto.com Stadium.