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

[maxiep]

If thats a crack on me. I'd love to see some links.

 

[RamblinRod]

It just appears to me that the pieces to this puzzle seem to suggest that there was a very compelling reason why KP fell out of favor with management. Whether that's because he didn't fire his agent, or his involvement with Penn's shady extension, or because he took too much credit for things he shouldn't have. I will admit, these "wrong doings" might only exist in Paul Allen's mind. But when you tell a guy he's no longer welcomed to sit next to the owner at games, there's a reason for it. Justified or not. The pieces to this puzzle also suggest that the Blazers had no intention of firing KP on draft night. Sounds like something was going to get resolved the next day, but when KP's camp leaked that information the Blazers were forced to deal with it. Why would the Blazers fire the guy right before the draft? Just to be mean? To teach the guy a lesson? Sorry, it just doesn't pass the smell test with me. There are certain things Miller said that doesn't pass the smell test either, like when he said they were still evaluating KP as of draft day. I think we can all agree that's probably bullshit. But I do believe his account of how it all went down, probably the same way some of you believe Chad Ford and Bill Simmon's theories of how it all went down. I would love to hear KP's version. That seems to be the missing piece to this puzzle, and Paul Allen's account for that matter.

 

[OddEnormous]

Thats about the only kind you'll find.

 

[BGrantFan]

the same way some of you believe Chad Ford and Bill Simmon's theories of how it all went down.

I only posted that I believe what Ford said about his personal conversations with Pritchard. Maybe Ford is a liar, and Pritchard really was an egotistical douche who tried to take all of the credit when talking to Ford.

If that's the case, what's in it for Ford to provide cover for Pritchard. Seems to me he was being honest about his personal contact with Pritchard.

As for any speculation he has on the "Why?", I'm certainly not taking it as proof, just as I'm not taking Brian Berger (and his two days of glory) and his tale as any sort of proof.

 

[RamblinRod]

As for any speculation he has on the "Why?", I'm certainly not taking it as proof, just as I'm not taking Brian Berger (and his two days of glory) and his tale as any sort of proof.

That's fair. None of knows what really happened. If we did, I imagine we as fans would all be on the same page.

 

[e_blazer]

Thats about the only kind you'll find.

You have such a long history of grousing about Blazers management and Nate "McDillon" I presumed you must have some issues with the guy charged with managing the team. Forgive me if I was wrong.

 

[oldmangrouch]

What I find fascinating is that some of the very same people on this board who spent a lot of time bashing KP the past two years for not making trades and not using RLEC now seem to be in full support of the KP is a martyr and PA and the Vulcans are the devil incarnate movement. Seems rather odd to me. Enormously so.

There is a huge middle ground between "KP walks on water" and "KP is a fraud who deserves zero credit." I refuse to drink either flavor of kool-aid.

If they had some can't miss guy waiting in the wings to take over - so be it. I don't see any evidence of that. Bringing in a guy like Ferry - even though I consider him competent - is stirring up confusion, disruption, and hard feelings without there being any upside.

 

[andalusian]

There is a huge middle ground between "KP walks on water" and "KP is a fraud who deserves zero credit." I refuse to drink either flavor of kool-aid.

Note to self - put OMG in the "KP is a fraud who walks on water" camp.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Note to self - put OMG in the "KP is a fraud who walks on water" camp.

Nicely done.

 

[andalusian]

Thats about the only kind you'll find.

Thank goodness I can help with these:

 

[BlazerBeav]

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."

And then he'd have been fired WITH cause, and not been able to walk away with a multi-million dollar check. This is why Bill Simmons does not have a real job.

 

[BGrantFan]

Thats about the only kind you'll find.

 

[BGrantFan]

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."

And then he'd have been fired WITH cause, and not been able to walk away with a multi-million dollar check. This is why Bill Simmons does not have a real job.

Not if he'd already been terminated.

Plus, Mr. Literal says hello!

 

[OddEnormous]

This is why Bill Simmons does not have a real job.

Bill Simmons doesn't have a real job? If anything he has the very best job.

 

[OddEnormous]

You have such a long history of grousing about Blazers management and Nate "McDillon" I presumed you must have some issues with the guy charged with managing the team. Forgive me if I was wrong.

2nd post in a row you've lied about me.

Blazer management has never been a target of mine until this latest episode. I've given them every benefit of the doubt. Firing Pritchard and then bringing in Danny Ferry to replace him along with more Seattle Sonic "greats" is about the last straw.

 

[BlazerBeav]

Not if he'd already been terminated.

Plus, Mr. Literal says hello!

I'd say it was the case that he was told his tenure would end after the draft, in which case he was still under contract to perform his job.

 

[BGrantFan]

I'd say it was the case that he was told his tenure would end after the draft, in which case he was still under contract to perform his job.

The report from Larry Miller said that Pritchard and Paul Allen mutually decided that Kevin should stay for the draft, EVEN THOUGH HE HAD BEEN TOLD OF HIS FIRING THAT AFTERNOON. Or was Larry Miller lying, and you have the real inside scoop?

 

[BrianFromWA]

Almost everything I've seen jibes with the story that PA and KP had a chat around 3pm where PA told Kevin he would not be retained. KP asked to administer the draft, PA agreed. That's backed up by Born saying (iirc) something about KP being a hero/martyr/whatever, doing the right thing. It was then (somehow) leaked to the media, and that's where Miller's security guard heard and relayed it.

 

[RamblinRod]

The report from Larry Miller said that Pritchard and Paul Allen mutually decided that Kevin should stay for the draft, EVEN THOUGH HE HAD BEEN TOLD OF HIS FIRING THAT AFTERNOON. Or was Larry Miller lying, and you have the real inside scoop?

That's not what Larry Miller said at all actually. According to Miller, it was KP's decision to stay on through the draft. Miller also said KP and Paul Allen came to a mutal understanding and they were to meet the following day to decide how to proceed with the termination. Not sure I buy the whole mutal understanding thing, but that is what he said.

 

[BGrantFan]

That's not what Larry Miller said at all actually. According to Miller, it was KP's decision to stay on through the draft. Miller also said KP and Paul Allen came to a mutal understanding and they were to meet the following day to decide how to proceed with the termination. Not sure I buy the whole mutal understanding thing, but that is what he said.

No, Miller said that Pauul and Kevin had met, and Kevin knew he was terminated, but that Kevin asked to stay on through the draft. Miller confirmed that there had been a conversation that day where Pritchard was told he was not going to be retained. That's a de facto firing. Had Kevin blown up on Paul at that moment, it would not have mattered. Debating Simmons' silly hypothetical is ridiculous enough, though, so carry on.