Bill Simmons: "Say something to the fans of Portland.....

[OddEnormous]

that talks them off the ledge."

Chad Ford: Jump.



Simmons podcast from the 25th

 

[OddEnormous]

To all you stooges buying what the Blazers, Steve Patterson, Brian Failure, Dirt Clod, Larry Miller, etc etc etc are selling, you might want to have a listen to this podcast and hear what Ford has to say about Pritchard. Especially the way he talked up all the people around him and that worked for him.

Ford said he's never known the names of any of the other team's scouts, but knew the names of Pritchards.

You're all on the fail boat. Welcome aboard.

 

[MrSelfDestruct]

Read the transcript this morning and sadly, found myself agreeing on most points.

Bill Simmons:

"Say something to the fans of Portland that talks them off the ledge."

Chad Ford:

"Jump. My advice to you is jump. Because I think Paul Allen -- we talked a little bit about this in the debate -- has now entered the Donald Sterling zone."

Bill Simmons:

"He's Al Davis. He's crazy Al Davis. It's unbelievable."

Chad Ford:

"If you're an owner and you're thinking, "Who should I hire for my next GM?" take note of this. He was amazing as a General Manager. The team throws him under the bus for months. Leaves him dangling, leaks to the press all sorts of ridiculous and derogatory stuff about him. He keeps doing his job. Doesn't say anything. He now knows, he finally figures out that he has no chance keeping his job. He's working 20 hours a night still preparing for the draft, knowing they are going to fire him as soon as the draft is over. That's what is going to happen.

"It's an hour before the draft. As you're getting ready to walk in the war room, Paul Allen says, "Hey Kevin, can I talk to you for a second?" Fires him an hour before the draft but says, "Hey, we still want you to run the draft room tonight."

"Pritchard doesn't do what I would have done, which is when I got there, I would have picked up the phone and started calling around, "Listen, I'll give you Brandon Roy for your 56th pick in the draft. With the 22nd pick in the draft, we're going to take Omar Sanham. Which you would loved."

Bill Simmons:

"I would have enjoyed that. Get the bleep button ready. I would have told Paul Allen, "Hey, Paul go [****} yourself. How about that? Go [****] yourself. And I would have walked out and that would have been the end of my GM reign. So I applaud Kevin Pritchard."

Chad Ford:

"Classy guy. There's no way that they are going to find a guy who is as innovative as creative as he is. RC Buford, Sam Presti, these guys are smart guys, they're not stupid. After they saw what happened to Kevin Pritchard, they're really going to give up the great gigs they have in San Antonio and Oklahoma City and go to that mess?"

Bill Simmons:

"I loved that rumor. Like Presti is going to go work for Paul Allen who hung Pritchard out to dry for four months. That sounds awesome."

Chad Ford:

"Whoever is going to take that job is taking that job because they don't have anything else better that I can do. Meanwhile, whether it's this summer -- and we know the Suns job is open, the Clippers job, the Warriors job and maybe a couple more when they find out that Kevin Pritchard is available -- if it's not this summer, it's next summer and he's the leading candidate, ahead of Danny Ferry, ahead of all of these guys. And he gets the job he wants. With Donnie Walsh's contract coming up in New York that could be the Knicks, it could be all sorts of different opportunities. He's going to come out fine. If I'm a Blazer fan, it's over."

Bill Simmons:

"Yeah, if I were Kevin Pritchard, I'd do TV for a year. Handsome guy, articulate, he'd be good, an asset to any television show on whatever network. Bang it out for a year, get a paycheck and your price is going to be through the roof next year. I think people are going to realize that was really stupid, they just got rid of one of the top 7 GMs. And not to blow smoke up Pritchard's [****] for 10 minutes because he did, he whiffed on Oden/Durant. It has to be mentioned.

"I actually think if Paul Allen was going to legitimately fire this guy and come up with an excuse, where fans could be like, "Alright, I don't agree with him, but at least I get it," he should have played the Oden/Durant card. Like, "Look this guy messed up the biggest draft decision this franchise has had in 25 years." I don't think that would have been fair but at least that's a legitimate reason. I don't even know the reason."

Chad Ford:

"I don't think anybody does. I think we're all waiting for the other shoe to drop. The kind of shady revelation."

Bill Simmons:

"I think the info that's out is pretty accurate. I think they thought this guy was getting too much attention and publicity and I think it rubbed Allen and the people that run that Vulcan, whatever the [****], I think they were like, "Who's this guy? Why does everybody think he's a rockstar? This was a team effort. This guy takes too much credit." I actually don't think he was a take too much credit guy."

Chad Ford:

"It was our [the media] fault. It was our fault for that. He never came up with the term "Pritch-slap," that was a media thing. He didn't ask for... I was close to Kevin over the last few years. I never once heard him try to taunt his record, taunt another team. He never pushed that. He was always actually very complimentary. I knew who his scouts were. There are a lot of GMs who have never, ever mentioned to me a name of anybody else who works in their organization. He constantly mentioned these guys. Talked about them. Talked about Nate McMillan."

Bill Simmons:

"At the Sloan Conference he brought his entire staff with him. He was proudly ... I've only met Kevin twice, I thought he was a really nice guy, I wouldn't say I'm friends with him or even acquaintances with him, but I was impressed that he was so proud to introduce his staff to everybody. I just thought he seemed like a genuine dude."

Chad Ford:

"He's a genuine dude. I do think he does occasionally come across as arrogant. He's competitive."

Bill Simmons:

"He should be arrogant. He did a great job. I would be arrogant."

Chad Ford:

"This is the thing. If you're upset that he's getting undue attention that's one thing, but the reason the guy got so much attention was because he was doing a great job and I think this is the thing. You wrote one of my favorite columns, the one after there was no trades at the trade deadline, called the "No Balls Association." Kevin Pritchard had balls. He was not afraid and that's why fans, not only just Blazers fans, but NBA fans, appreciated him as a GM because he was not afraid, he didn't calculate at every step along the way, "What is the move that will keep my job for an extra six months?" It was always about doing what he thought was best and the most aggressive move. I wish there was more GMs in the league like him."

Bill Simmons:

"You have to give him credit to be the first guy out of all these guys to use cap space, not to just blow it on the free agent du jour, but as a strategy, as a long-term strategy of, "I'm going to take a bad contract, pick up a pick, I'm going to buy a pick here and put a guy in Europe who's not going to be ready for three years." I mean, maybe it was a group effort but that guy was in charge... I think Oden/Durant is really the only blemish on his resume. Even the Camby trade last year was a freaking heist."

--------------------------------------

http://www.blazersedge.com/2010/6/29/1542443/transcript-bill-simmons-and-chad

 

[The Professional Fan]

Hm. I reserve the right to wait and see. I don't think Ford or Simmons really know what happened here. This whole situation is deeper and more complex than what meets the eye. I wouldn't expect the national media to know jack shit about it. In fact, my perception of them is that they're a few days/weeks behind what we've discussed/unearthed right here.

 

[OddEnormous]

This whole situation is deeper and more complex than what meets the eye.

How do you know that? What if the whole thing is face value?

I wouldn't expect the national media to know jack shit about it.

They were speaking about their personal experiences with Pritchard.



Man, I don't think you're going to like what they have to say about Danny Ferry at the end regarding the job he did at Cleveland. And this is before he was ever linked with Portland.

 

[oldmangrouch]

In broad terms, there are 3 possible reason KP was fired.

1) Job performance. On that score, I think the opinion of people like Ford is very credible.

2) Some kind of "HR" issue. Obviously, the national media would be in the dark about that. Of course, as I have repeatedly stated, I don't buy this theory at all.

3) Personality clash. I still think this is the most likely scenario....and Ford seems well dialed in on that issue as well.

 

[Erroneous Subterfuge]

"It's an hour before the draft. As you're getting ready to walk in the war room, Paul Allen says, "Hey Kevin, can I talk to you for a second?" Fires him an hour before the draft but says, "Hey, we still want you to run the draft room tonight."

Since that's totally inaccurate, I stopped reading. Story time isn't until 8:30pm.

 

[STOMP]

Hm. I reserve the right to wait and see. I don't think Ford or Simmons really know what happened here. This whole situation is deeper and more complex than what meets the eye. I wouldn't expect the national media to know jack shit about it. In fact, my perception of them is that they're a few days/weeks behind what we've discussed/unearthed right here.

exactly... those two make the MSP sound high brow. Seriously, I'm supposed to be despondent as a Blazer fan over that drivel

STOMP

 

[HailBlazers]

Its been Drama since the start. KP is the only one I've seen take the high Road. Until PA comes out of the closet himself I won't believe anything Larry Filler says

 

[Erroneous Subterfuge]

Its been Drama since the start. KP is the only one I've seen take the high Road. Until PA comes out of the closet himself I won't believe anything Larry Filler says

Hey I drank and continue to drink KP Koolaid, but I don't need Larry Miller to tell me shit when I have common sense. There's no f'ing way the owner walked up to the GM (a GM that Paul Allen wanted to conduct the draft) an HOUR before the draft and said you're fired, but do the draft anyways. Give me a fucking break. It's much easier to believe that they had come to a mutual agreement to part ways earlier that day, or the night before, and some asshole (agent) leaks it an hour before the draft.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Hey I drank and continue to drink KP Koolaid, but I don't need Larry Miller to tell me shit when I have common sense. There's no f'ing way the owner walked up to the GM (a GM that Paul Allen wanted to conduct the draft) an HOUR before the draft and said you're fired, but do the draft anyways. Give me a fucking break. It's much easier to believe that they had come to a mutual agreement to part ways earlier that day, or the night before, and some asshole (agent) leaks it an hour before the draft.

Proably true, but that is a pretty irrelevant detail compared to the issue of *why* he deserved to be fired.

 

[STOMP]

Proably true, but that is a pretty irrelevant detail compared to the issue of *why* he deserved to be fired.

but no one knows the reason why including Ford and Simmons, so they're down to squirting milk out their nose while they come to far fetched conclusions based on their own hyperbole of him being let go an hour prior to the draft. We probably will never know the reason why KP was let go. Maybe it was for legit reasons, maybe it was based on something trivial, but I really doubt we're going to be let in on this. Should we "jump" based on some silly clown's advice or should we act like we've lived a few days and see how things unfold from here on out?

I'm interested in seeing both what the club does next and what happens with KP down the road. I'm hoping that like during Pritchad's stint, I find myself in agreement with the decisions that are made more times then not. It will also be interesting to see how KP does without the Blazer organization around him.

STOMP

 

[BGrantFan]

To all you stooges buying what the Blazers, Steve Patterson, Brian Failure, Dirt Clod, Larry Miller, etc etc etc are selling, you might want to have a listen to this podcast and hear what Ford has to say about Pritchard. Especially the way he talked up all the people around him and that worked for him.

Ford said he's never known the names of any of the other team's scouts, but knew the names of Pritchards.

You're all on the fail boat. Welcome aboard.

We all knew the names of Pritchard's scouts. KP's problem was that he didn't fellate Paul Allen and Larry Miller in public.

 

[barfo]

We all knew the names of Pritchard's scouts. KP's problem was that he didn't fellate Paul Allen and Larry Miller in public.

Did any of Portland's previous GMs fellate Paul in public? I don't remember it. In fact I remember Trader Bob being much more "I'm the man" than KP ever was.

If that wasn't the rule for previous GMs, why would it have been the rule for KP?

barfo

 

[OddEnormous]

Since that's totally inaccurate, I stopped reading. Story time isn't until 8:30pm.

That was the story at the time and totally irrelevant to their personal dealings with Pritchard.

The one common thread in every leaked story for the last 4 months was that Pritchard didn't share enough of the credit and got too big for his station. Ford said everything he ever saw from Pritchard was the opposite of that.

Just close your eyes and plug your ears though.

 

[BGrantFan]

Did any of Portland's previous GMs fellate Paul in public? I don't remember it. In fact I remember Trader Bob being much more "I'm the man" than KP ever was.

If that wasn't the rule for previous GMs, why would it have been the rule for KP?

barfo

Not sure, but Pritchard didn't seem to the be the selfish prick that WojWark made him out to be, at least according two other known national writers who said Pritchard gave everybody praise.

So, I'm left with my opinion, and Larry Filler's presser where he went out of his way to thank everyone involved cements my opinion. My thought now is that Paul Allen treated KP like shit, as is evident by his joke of a "salary" comparatively, Pritchard wanted more money, and Paul Allen had his widdle feewings hurt because a guy paid peanuts was more competent than PA would ever be at this job.

That's my take on what happened. Now, on to Danny Ferry, who did jack shit with LeBron James!

 

[The Professional Fan]

How do you know that? What if the whole thing is face value?

Ha. With regards to this situation, I guess I have to ask - what the fuck is face value any more? Perhaps that wasn't the best best choice of words on my part. Face value is? Speculation from people that think they have inside information? Or Larry Miller? Either way - Simmons and Ford don't know shit about it!

Man, I don't think you're going to like what they have to say about Danny Ferry at the end regarding the job he did at Cleveland. And this is before he was ever linked with Portland.

Who "they?" I'm confused by this statement.

 

[Erroneous Subterfuge]

The one common thread in every leaked story for the last 4 months was that Pritchard didn't share enough of the credit and got too big for his station. Ford said everything he ever saw from Pritchard was the opposite of that.

Just close your eyes and plug your ears though.

Nothing I've said in this thread has even remotely questioned whether or not Pritchard gave others enough credit. What the fuck are you talking about?

 

[mgb]

Who knows which one, Paul or KP, was doing the other a favor finishing the draft? KP might have ask if he could finish it not the other way around and PA let him while he could have told him no. I think KP being allowed to finish the draft and him being able to take the high road with his letter to the fans might just be a favor from PA. PA could be protecting KP and looking bad in the process by not telling why he actually fired Penn and KP.

 

[Pinwheel1]

A whole thread dedicated to what Simmons and Ford had to say about the Blazers. And I read it! What is wrong with me? The dog days of summer have started early. Why the fuck do we care what these two morons have to say. We might as well quote our 8 year old neighbors. They know as much.

 

[barfo]

A whole thread dedicated to what Simmons and Ford had to say about the Blazers. And I read it! What is wrong with me? The dog days of summer have started early. Why the fuck do we care what these two morons have to say. We might as well quote our 8 year old neighbors. They know as much.

If you can get their quotes, we'll have a thread about them for sure.

barfo

 

[OddEnormous]

Nothing I've said in this thread has even remotely questioned whether or not Pritchard gave others enough credit. What the fuck are you talking about?

Perhaps if you kept reading the transcript you'd know.

 

[OddEnormous]

We might as well quote our 8 year old neighbors. They know as much.

Your 8 year old neighbors have spent time speaking to and dealing with Kevin Pritchard?

I actually would love to hear what they have to say.

Much better than the cowardly unnamed sources.

 

[OddEnormous]

Either way - Simmons and Ford don't know shit about it!

If you'd take a deep breath and actually read or listen you'd know they both said they weren't 100% sure why he was let go. Then gave their personal accounts of dealing with Pritchard.

To all you posters losing your shit over "these 2 morons"... At least these "these two morons" have the balls to go on record instead of using "unnammed sources" to push a poisonous agenda.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Your 8 year old neighbors have spent time speaking to and dealing with Kevin Pritchard?

I actually would love to hear what they have to say.

Much better than the cowardly unnamed sources.

I have heard Prichard talk about his scouts. I don't doubt that. But I never get high enough on any ledge that I would need to look for a way off. Has Simmons stopped bashing KP? How ironic is that? Why isn't he on the attack like he was before the draft?

 

[OddEnormous]

I have heard Prichard talk about his scouts. I don't doubt that. But I never get high enough on any ledge that I would need to look for a way off. Has Simmons stopped bashing KP? How ironic is that? Why isn't he on the attack like he was before the draft?

What did he say before the draft?

Earlier this year I heard him call Pritchard "My new man crush"

 

[Minstrel]

Simmons doesn't bash KP, so far as I've seen. He bashes Oden and basically claims it was KP's one, monumental mistake.

 

[oldmangrouch]

No offense, but why would anybody equate Simmons with Ford?

Ford may have his flaws, but he knows a heck of a lot more about the NBA than Simmons. (or somebody like Quick) He has interacted with many GMs around the league, and knows more about what is happening outside of the Blazers than any of us. Just because he has a high opinion of KP doesn't make him wrong.

 

[Pinwheel1]

No offense, but why would anybody equate Simmons with Ford?

Ford may have his flaws, but he knows a heck of a lot more about the NBA than Simmons. (or somebody like Quick) He has interacted with many GMs around the league, and knows more about what is happening outside of the Blazers than any of us. Just because he has a high opinion of KP doesn't make him wrong.

Well apparently he doesn't know enough:

"It's an hour before the draft. As you're getting ready to walk in the war room, Paul Allen says, "Hey Kevin, can I talk to you for a second?" Fires him an hour before the draft but says, "Hey, we still want you to run the draft room tonight."

Is that what happened?

I don't think so. What i do agree with him on is KP in general. I liked KP and I thought the national media (As usual) screwed him (and the Blazers ) over by tagging him with the "Pritch-Slaped" tag.

All in all I think Ford was informative with what he knew and ignorant with what he knows nothing about. Which is normal for these guys who cover 30 teams. They don't do enough research. They read too many blogs.

 

[STOMP]

No offense, but why would anybody equate Simmons with Ford?

Ford may have his flaws, but he knows a heck of a lot more about the NBA than Simmons. (or somebody like Quick) He has interacted with many GMs around the league, and knows more about what is happening outside of the Blazers than any of us. Just because he has a high opinion of KP doesn't make him wrong.

remind me of some of the wisdom of Chad Ford. I've read his stuff for years and it seems to me to be the regular run of the mill agent fueled rumors and passed along media speculation that rarely turns out... usually Portland considering trading their best talent to NY for a boatload of bad contracts sort of stuff.

In the exchange with Simmons at the beginning of this thread he's trying to be outrageous/entertaining. KP was fired an hour before the draft. If he (Ford) was in KP's shoes, he would have traded Roy for a late 2nd rounder. PA = Donald Sterling. I'm supposed to respect that sort of silly crap because he's talked to GMs around the league?

STOMP