Beware of Angry Owner

[MickZagger]

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/or...f/2012/04/canzano_blazers_column_gets_un.html

Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen threw a haymaker at me via Twitter while he was apparently en route to his team's final home basketball game of the NBA season. He linked to his own PaulAllen.com website that featured a four-photograph strip titled "The Four Stages of reading a John Canzano column about the Portland Trail Blazers." Included were four photographs of a Dumbo octopus that Allen recently encountered, complete with clever captions that jabbed at this columnist.

When I saw it, I was pleased to learn that Allen continues to read my column. Also, fascinated by the cool photographs of the odd-looking octopus. Also, confused as to why the Blazers owner believes I am either a floppy-eared octopus or that my reach extends to the bottom of the Ironbottom Sound. (I assure you, Mr. Allen, my bald head is the generally accepted running insult around here. Also, if the octopi were aware you still hadn't hired a GM, they would never appear this peaceful in the wild.) Mostly, I was disappointed that in all Allen's creative expression, the guy who nicknamed himself "Idea Man" failed to do the one thing that most of us care to know.

Deadspin, a blog read by the sports universe, called Allen's creation "a rage comic" even as I have a difficult time imagining the somber guy I've encountered in the hallway after Blazers games filled with that kind of emotional response. I must be under Allen's skin. Not my intention at all with the column. But I do know that there's an octopus out there who probably thought she was posing for a simple, tasteful deep-sea photograph for Allen and instead ended up splashed all over the Internet.

This is becoming comical.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Canzano is a clown. He needs to go.

 

[Mediocre Man]

While I agree that he is a clown, he is right to get on the organization about this GM thing. It's embarrassing that a professional sports franchise goes without a GM for a full year. The city and fans of the Blazers that support this team financially deserve a lot better

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I wish PA would just dupe or dare Canzano into taking the GM job, then do nothing as JC blunders his way through a season so poorly that he is run out of town.

 

[Nikolokolus]

A spat between a hack writer and a hack owner ... I don't even know who I'm rooting for.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

While I agree that he is a clown, he is right to get on the organization about this GM thing. It's embarrassing that a professional sports franchise goes without a GM for a full year. The city and fans of the Blazers that support this team financially deserve a lot better

The franchise made trade deadline moves that most people thought were great moves for the future. They brought Joel over and picked up Hickson on the waiver wire. They also fired a coach you thought should be fired years ago.

What did they miss out by not having a "GM?"

 

[The_Lillard_King]

When PA writes, he doesn't really care what anyone thinks of him (what a great postion to be in).

When Canzano writes, all he cares about is what people think about what he writes

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

WE HAVE A GM. Chad Buchanon! And he's done a good job.
I dont understand the "Blazers dont have a GM" crap. Chad has been handling all GM duties, therefore we do in fact have an acting GM.

 

[Mediocre Man]

The franchise made trade deadline moves that most people thought were great moves for the future. They brought Joel over and picked up Hickson on the waiver wire. They also fired a coach you thought should be fired years ago.

What did they miss out by not having a "GM?"

I have no idea what they missed? I thought the moves they have made since the draft have been pretty good. The draft sucked though, Felton and Crawford both have sucked. Not that I am sure a "real" GM would have done any better? It's important to have leadership though, and if they want to hire Buchanan then great, but get a GM before a coach.

 

[Shooter]

When Canzano writes, all he cares about is what people think about what he writes

I doubt very much that this is true. Canzano knows that he's making enemies with his style of sports journalism, and yet he continues to do it year after year. That's not the sign of a guy desperate for people to like his writing.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I doubt very much that this is true. Canzano knows that he's making enemies with his style of sports journalism, and yet he continues to do it year after year. That's not the sign of a guy desperate for people to like his writing.

I didn't say he wants people to like him, he wants to draw a reaction from people and have people read his articles (love or hate him). His radio show opening shows he thrives on people reacting to him one way or another.

So actually what PA did was help Canzano as he gave Canzano's article more attention. But I don't think PA cares one way or the other.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I have no idea what they missed? I thought the moves they have made since the draft have been pretty good. The draft sucked though, Felton and Crawford both have sucked. Not that I am sure a "real" GM would have done any better? It's important to have leadership though, and if they want to hire Buchanan then great, but get a GM before a coach.

Good point, it does give a image of lack of leadership in the organization.

But they have been as active if not more active without a GM

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

MODS - merge alert.

http://sportstwo.com/threads/212516-Paul-Allen-taking-shots-at-Canzano-via-Twitter!

 

[The_Lillard_King]

WE HAVE A GM. Chad Buchanon! And he's done a good job.
I dont understand the "Blazers dont have a GM" crap. Chad has been handling all GM duties, therefore we do in fact have an acting GM.

You're right we have a GM.

Chad not only is being an active GM, he is smart by saying he doesn't want the GM job (hence the impression Blazers don't have a GM). Chad is basically being a GM without the threat of being fired as a GM because the organization feels some moves have to me made (firing a GM is always a move that can be made to change things up)

 

[Blaze01]

Chad Buchanan is\would be a crappy GM....

Horrible talent evaluator....

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Chad Buchanan is\would be a crappy GM....

Horrible talent evaluator....

You do know that teams have Scouts and asst GM's that do most of the talent evaluating?

 

[Ed O]

WE HAVE A GM. Chad Buchanon! And he's done a good job.

Um.

What?

Ed O.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Paul's "All In"

By Mike Rice


I owe the Blazers a blog this month and was trying to figure out what to write in on, when I read a column in Wednesday's Oregonian about the short comings of Paul Allen and his attention to his basketball team, the Portland Trail Blazers.

Paul Allen and the Trail Blazers have been a big part of my life for the last 21 years.

My years coincide with Paul's ownership of the Blazers.

I go back to the Memorial Coliseum days when this city needed someone to step up and fund a modern, up-to-date arena. That was done by Paul Allen. He did not try to move the franchise to a different city as other owners have done.

Think about it for a minute when you read a negative column on Paul Allen. He has always put his love for the Blazers above everything else.

He has lost millions of dollars on this franchise, but a day does not go by that he is not e-mailing and texting Team President Larry Miller and General Manager Chad Buchanan on how they can improve this team.

He has never threatened to move this team if the city did not kowtow to his every wish like what other cities have gone through.

Remember when you read a column like this on Paul; you are getting the modern spin on how to sell newspaper. Good news, happy news, does not sell. Bad news, news that can be put on Twitter, news that can destroy sells papers.

Paul Allen, if he listened to some, would have sold the Blazers long ago and would not have saved the Seahawks who were ready to leave Seattle for the highest bidder.

The reason he did not listen was because of the words passion and love of the game.

He has a great deal of passion for Seattle and Portland and their sports teams.
The passion has not dimmed in the recent years.

He still wants the best for both teams and continues to show it with his pocket book.

Going into this year, the Blazers had the 5th highest payroll at $79 million.
You can say it was the highest payroll not to make the playoffs if you're into the "negative spin" that talk shows and negative writers live on.

You could do that, but shouldn't.

You also look at the Greg Oden and Brandon Roy situation and see what might have been if both were healthy. The players were there, everything was set up for a championship run, but it did not happen. Do we sit back and blame the medical staff and blame the owner and sell papers, or do we figure out a new plan is needed for the future of this team? Do we sit back and blame--blame to sell papers, or do we clear cap room with trades and get draft picks for the future? Do we not look to spend money on the future to improve? Not a word has been mentioned about not bringing in top free agents or a top coach to save money.

Sometimes we get caught into newspaper talk about your Blazers because it's only the only major sports team in our area. You don't hear the Blazers down playing the Timbers in Portland; only the media playing one against the other.

Do your homework on looking at other cities and their teams who have had ownership challenges and attendance issues for years!

I have traveled the NBA cities for a long time. I see how the Blazer fan base is the best in the NBA.

I still get goose bumps when they introduce the Blazers at the Rose Garden.
This does not happen in a lot of NBA cities.

I am always proud that I represent the Blazers. I am also really looking forward to this summer and the moves the Blazers will make.

I know they will make moves because they have an owner that wants to win a championship for this city.

He does not need to read about how he should act to keep his passion alive.
It is alive and he is not looking to sell newspapers by negative actions.

As you can see, I get a little riled up when I read and hear how the Blazers can't get free agents to come to this city.

We mainly have a shot at a lot of trades and free agents because we have the planning and resources to make that happen.

We have an owner who asks a million questions on the best way to win in the NBA. If you have the right answers to these questions, things get done.

Every year at the trade deadline, draft day, and the first day of free agency, one of the most exciting places to be is in Portland. The reason for that is Paul Allen who buys extra draft picks, adding free agents to fill the roster and making trades. He has never needed a push from outside trying to get emotional to satisfy their own agenda to make the Blazers a better team.

I love the quotes from Oregonlive.com on the subject:

"He is a passionate man who loves to experience life…We are lucky to have him."

"To say these (newspaper) pieces are tired is an understatement." - bmac

"Mr. Allen is a multi-tasker, so he is not neglecting the Blazers. The fans here can be fickle. Only .0333% of the teams each year become NBA champ." - Ziggy

"Like a new-owner could solve the problem. If we forget what Paul Allen has done for the city we put our team at risk." -- Anonymous.

"The man has lost millions upon millions in an attempt to put a quality team on the floor. I have not agree'd with some of the moves that he has made lately. However, he has been a pretty committed owner during his time as an owner. You watch, next draft, he will again spend money to try and move up." -- oceanfrnt34th

"He tried to buy a championship once and we hated it. And of course Canzano led the charge against that team." -- Anonymous

"The Oregonian is in the business of selling newspaper." -- Anonymous

After reading some of these quotes, it does show me the real fan base.

And with that I can point to 3,500 grants for $450 million over the past 20 years, and a plan to donate most of his wealth to charity during the rest of his life.

That is the Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen.

No one loves the Blazers and the NBA more than him and I hope he gets his dream of winning a championship for Portland.

http://blogs.trailblazers.com/Broad...188/EntryID/3820/BroadcasterID/6/Default.aspx

 

[Mediocre Man]

Shocking that a Blazers employee would write such a piece.

 

[crandc]

The octopus pics were hilarious. I think I like PA's odd sense of humor. (well, OK, for a 1% er)

Sometimes when people like Crapanzo get an inflated view of themselves, the best way to take them down is to not take them seriously. Because of course Crapanzo considers himself a Very Serious Person TM.

 

[e_blazer]

Shocking that a Blazers employee would write such a piece.

And equally shocking that you would post a cynical response to it instead of discussing the substance.

 

[Mediocre Man]

And equally shocking that you would post a cynical response to it instead of discussing the substance.

And shocking you would comment on my post rather than the substance of the piece, or the very thing you complained about me not doing

 

[Reep]

Funny, after reading both, I thought Canzano had the emotional response. PA's seemed rather calm and humorous.

 

[e_blazer]

And shocking you would comment on my post rather than the substance of the piece, or the very thing you complained about me not doing

Well, I guess by now we must both be close to dead from the shock, but if not, I think Mike raises some good points. Canzano has made a practice of shooting from the hip in these pieces, without any sources other than those in his head, and he deserved to be called on it by both PA and Rice. It's shoddy and shady journalism.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Funny, after reading both, I thought Canzano had the emotional response. PA's seemed rather calm and humorous.

Ya, PA seemed to put him in his place

 

[Mediocre Man]

Well, I guess by now we must both be close to dead from the shock, but if not, I think Mike raises some good points. Canzano has made a practice of shooting from the hip in these pieces, without any sources other than those in his head, and he deserved to be called on it by both PA and Rice. It's shoddy and shady journalism.

if you believe they are in his head it is. Canzano has won many awards, and while a lot of what he says seems to be with an agenda, I think he has people he gets legit info from

 

[HailBlazers]

riiiight

 

[Spoolie Gee]

if you believe they are in his head it is. Canzano has won many awards, and while a lot of what he says seems to be with an agenda, I think he has people he gets legit info from

"Journalist" awards are a complete joke though. It's like getting a degree from Hamburger U. and using it as evidence that you're educated.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Every year at the trade deadline, draft day, and the first day of free agency, one of the most exciting places to be is in Portland. The reason for that is Paul Allen who buys extra draft picks, adding free agents to fill the roster and making trades. He has never needed a push from outside trying to get emotional to satisfy their own agenda to make the Blazers a better team.


This is part of the blog that rang true to me. This is why I enjoy having PA as a owner. He takes a lot swings. Yes with many of those swings he gets misses, but that doesn't stop him from trying again and again to build a winning club at whatever cost. And really that makes it fun for many Blazer fans.

 

[e_blazer]

if you believe they are in his head it is. Canzano has won many awards, and while a lot of what he says seems to be with an agenda, I think he has people he gets legit info from

The column that triggered the response from PA didn't even claim to have a source. It was just Canzano pontificating and calling PA out.