“Identity theft is not a joke, JIM!”
Portland native Lance Russell (formerly an assistant basketball coach at Northern Oklahoma College) was in attendance for Sunday night’s MLS game between the Portland Timbers and visiting Seattle Sounders. While taking in the game, a fellow fan mistook Russell for Portland Trail Blazers superstar and now Olympic gold medalist Damian Lillard, offering to pay for his drink. After trying (unsuccessfully) to convince him he wasn't Dame, Russell eventually relented, taking the fan up on his offer.
Embracing his new alter ego, Russell pointed to his watch for comic effect, echoing Lillard’s signature “Dame Time” gesture. Truth be told, Lillard and his supposed doppelganger don’t look much alike, suggesting a bit of liquid went into Sunday’s mix-up at Providence Park, where the Timbers took it on the chin in an ugly 6-2 defeat.
If you think about it though, it’s really a win-win for everyone (well, except the Timbers). One delusional fan got to live out his dream of meeting the NBA’s third-leading scorer from a season ago while Russell had his drinks comped and probably gained a few followers from his tweet going viral. A six-time all-league selection and former Rookie of the Year, Lillard is said to want out of Rip City (the Blazers have been bounced in the first round four of their last five seasons), though, to this point, Portland hasn’t seen much traction in trade talks for the 30-year-old point guard.
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