Brian Berger: Interesting Inside Info about KP (1 Viewer)

[BGrantFan]

http://www.sportsbusinessradio.com/about

That's neat. Now he has an hour show on the weekends and a PR firm that is near bankrupt.

Hi Brian!

 

[Ed O]

What's your real name, Ed?

Ed. Ed O., actually, and you could find my full real name and mailing address and probably a phone number within about 15 minutes of searching online.

Gee, Brian is in the PR business, which I know a lot about in Portland. Suddenly, he's parroting what Steve Patterson has been saying over the airwaves.

I don't know what he was reporting before. Is he being inconsistent with what he'd reported before?

95.5, do you consider this a conflict of interest?

Not at all. Why would I? He was pretty brutal on Bert Kolde in that clip and wasn't very kind to Paul Allen, either.

Also, what's wrong with me calling out a public figure behind a wall of anonymity? Is criticizing Quick and Canzano OK, but calling out this little shit Brian Berger against the rules? If so, let me known.

You look ridiculous and petty. You've got your facts wrong and look ignorant and more than a bit crazy.

Other than that, there's nothing wrong with what you're doing.

Ed O.

 

[BGrantFan]

He's been appearing on radio since at LEAST 2006, which predates 95.5 The Game by a couple of years.

You claiming he got his first radio gig there is factually inaccurate unless a time machine is involved somehow.

Ed O.

Great. Now, validate what Brian is claiming, and then call his PR "firm" and ask about his client list.

 

[Mediocre Man]

here's some of the info..
Here are some bullet points:

-KP not what he was perceived to be publicly - KP seemed like a good guy when I talked to him

-KP was basically incompotent. Others made him look good. - I have heard this as well from someone inside the Blazers organization

-He and Tom Penn were not as close as perceived - Never heard this, but I think both guys are "lookout for #1 guys"

-Penn made attempts to make KP look incompotent in front of other GM’s and agents - Never heard this either. Both had the same agent, so I would doubt it

-KP was not as beloved within the organization as the public thought he was - I know of 3 people personally that work for the Blazers that did not like KP

-many believe that Penn actually wanted KP’s job - Nope

-There was a divide among players’ feelings about KP - This is very true according to a friend of mine

-He wanted Morrison over Roy. That angered Roy. - Paul Allen wanted A_am.

-Patterson actually drafted (traded for) Roy and LMA. KP took credit. - As I said before, I believe this to be 100% true

-Jason Fillipi (international scout) was responsible for finding Batum not KP - Yes, but KP has said this as well

-KP was surrounded by guys to hide his deficiencies. - I think most great leaders are surrounded by these people

-KP was the lowest paid GM in the league and he wasn’t happy about it. - This is true


I know most don't give a rats ass what I think, but I really do know people that know these things.

 

[BGrantFan]

Ed. Ed O., actually, and you could find my full real name and mailing address and probably a phone number within about 15 minutes of searching online.

I have literally zero interest in doing that. If you want to criticize me for being anonymous, post her with your full name. Or, shut up about it.

I don't know what he was reporting before. Is he being inconsistent with what he'd reported before?

I'll consider the source, and I'll assume his motivations. I'll check up tomorrow to be sure.

Not at all. Why would I? He was pretty brutal on Bert Kolde in that clip and wasn't very kind to Paul Allen, either.

He's in PR. He has a new client, a client who desn't go by the names Paul Allen or Bert Kolde.

You look ridiculous and petty. You've got your facts wrong and look ignorant and more than a bit crazy.

I can live with that. I know Brian Berger. Do you, anonymous Ed?

Other than that, there's nothing wrong with what you're doing.
Ed O.

I know there isn't. So why are you lobbing personal attacks at me?

 

[Ed O]

Great. Now, validate what Brian is claiming, and then call his PR "firm" and ask about his client list.

Read the link ABM gave you.

Do you think that the blog entries about being on Sirius were fabrications? Or do you want to admit you were wrong?

Ed O.

 

[RoyToy]

I have little reason to believe anything this guy is saying. He basically says Steve Patterson's story and says yup, it's true.

This is boring.

 

[Ed O]

I have literally zero interest in doing that. If you want to criticize me for being anonymous, post her with your full name. Or, shut up about it.

Ed Ouellette.

Feel better?

Going to admit you're a hypocrite now? Or a coward?

Or not?

Ed O.

 

[BGrantFan]

I have little reason to believe anything this guy is saying. He basically says Steve Patterson's story and says yup, it's true.

This is boring.

There is literally no reason to believe it, but Brian, you have to pay the bills, right? He isn't even good at PR. At least make it realistic, my man. PM me, and let's hash it out.

 

[Mediocre Man]

1 – that Roy’s body is breaking down and he only has 2-3 years left in the NBA - I have heard from several people that Roy's legs are not good for longevity

2 – that LMA is not reliable or rugged enough to count on as one of our pillars - Not heard this at all

3 – that Nate’s days are “numbered” and he will be fired if things are not firing on all cylinders after the first half of the season - Yay. Seriously, yay

4 – that Greg Oden is unlikely to play more than half a season per year - Haven't heard this either.

 

[BGrantFan]

Ed Ouellette.

Feel better?

Going to admit you're a hypocrite now? Or a coward?

Or not?

Ed O.

So everybody here who criticizes a public figure is a hypocrite, other than you, of course?

That's a pretty broad brush, Mr. Ouellette. Or does this only apply to me?

 

[RoyToy]

I also don't get what's the big deal about not being the one to find Batum/Rudy/etc.

They're here, aren't they? Who makes that decision? Who moves around the draft board to get them?

This is why I find this whole thing funny. If the GM bombs, it's all his fault. If he does well, he had very little to do with it.

Bottom line, who was responsible for putting the roster together? Kevin Pritchard.

 

[Ed O]

So everybody here who criticizes a public figure is a hypocrite, other than you, of course?

That's a pretty broad brush, Mr. Ouellette. Or does this only apply to me?

Sure, there's hypocrisy, no question, in claiming to know someone personally and casting aspersions but doing so without being willing to reveal anything about oneself.

Are you going to explain how he got his first radio gig in with a radio station that only came into existence in 2008 when he'd been appearing on the radio at least since 2006, or would you rather keep it mysterious and anonymous?

Ed O.

 

[RoyToy]

This whole thing just seems like damage control to me.

Sure, KP wasn't a saint. But some of this is just ridiculous.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Back on topic.

Some of the stated reasons for firing KP are rather suspect.

He wanted a raise? Wow, like no PA emplyee has ever asked for a raise before.

Patterson gets the credit for Roy/LMA? Then I guess he should also be held responsible for Webster-over-Paul, or Telfair- over- Jefferson.

Some of the other stuff, about KP's unpopularity with staff/players, sounds like Patterson projecting his own experience onto KP.

To be blunt, this sounds less like "inside info", and more like Patterson.

 

[BGrantFan]

Read the link ABM gave you.

Do you think that the blog entries about being on Sirius were fabrications? Or do you want to admit you were wrong?

Ed O.

Wrong about what? About knowing Brian? If I fucked up his bio, I apologize to Brian, and to you, since you seem to care so much about it. His one hour radio gig here in Portland has been quite the career since being let go from the Blazers. Well, there is alway the PR firm.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Things I took away from the program (assuming Brian Berger is telling the truth).

1. The Blazers needed a new face of the franchise in 2006 because Patterson was so villified (rightly so) in the local media.
2. There's a fairly strong chance Patterson made the deals, KP helped ID the talent (or didn't if Berger is telling the truth about him wanting Morrison)
3. We now have conflicting reports about how much credit/blame is due KP and two of the people contradicting the official account we've been lead to believe are former employees who may or may not have an axe to grind with KP and could have just as much of an axe to grind with Allen, but we don't really know.
4. KP is fired. It was either because of gross incompetence and petty jealousy on the part of Allen, or he had basketball related reasons for doing so ...

I want to believe there were basketball related/professional reasons because it means that maybe the inmates aren't running the asylum. As a fan of the Blazers you should probably want Patterson and Berger's version of events to be true if you harbor hopes of them winning a championship. If you discount their versions of events and Paul Allen is a bumbling idiot with a vindictive streak that overrules common sense then your favorite hoops team is probably fucked and they're probably not worth wasting your time on. Who knows what is true.

 

[BGrantFan]

Anyhow, back to what Brian the PR flack said. Where is the proof?

 

[RoyToy]

Back on topic.

Some of the stated reasons for firing KP are rather suspect.

He wanted a raise? Wow, like no PA emplyee has ever asked for a raise before.

Patterson gets the credit for Roy/LMA? Then I guess he should also be held responsible for Webster-over-Paul, or Telfair- over- Jefferson.

Some of the other stuff, about KP's unpopularity with staff/players, sounds like Patterson projecting his own experience onto KP.

To be blunt, this sounds less like "inside info", and more like Patterson.

The only person they brought up was Brandon Roy, and they said he has supposedly never forgot that KP supposedly wanted Morrison over him. Yup, that's the reason they used as to why KP wasn't cool with the players.

Bullshit. KP was the first guy that wanted to give Roy his money, and I'm sure Roy knew that.

Shit is not adding up.

 

[BGrantFan]

Things I took away from the program (assuming Brian Berger is telling the truth).

Why on Earth would you assume that he's telling the truth, or even knows the truth? Did you mean if he's telling the truth?

 

[ABM]

Things I took away from the program (assuming Brian Berger is telling the truth).

1. The Blazers needed a new face of the franchise in 2006 because Patterson was so villified (rightly so) in the local media.
2. There's a fairly strong chance Patterson made the deals, KP helped ID the talent (or didn't if Berger is telling the truth about him wanting Morrison)
3. We now have conflicting reports about how much credit/blame is due KP and two of the people contradicting the official account we've been lead to believe are former employees who may or may not have an axe to grind with KP and could have just as much of an axe to grind with Allen, but we don't really know.
4. KP is fired. It was either because of gross incompetence and petty jealousy on the part of Allen, or he had basketball related reasons for doing so ...

I want to believe there were basketball related/professional reasons because it means that maybe the inmates aren't running the asylum. As a fan of the Blazers you should probably want Patterson and Berger's version of events to be true if you harbor hopes of them winning a championship. If you discount their versions of events and Paul Allen is a bumbling idiot with a vindictive streak that overrules common sense then your favorite hoops team is probably fucked and they're probably not worth wasting your time on. Who knows what is true.

Speculation is king in these parts. Always has been, always will be.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Why on Earth would you assume that he's telling the truth, or even knows the truth? Did you mean if he's telling the truth?

I don't know him, I don't have any personal experience with him and I tend not to make judgements about people's truthfulness or duplicitous nature until I've been given evidence one way or another. All I know is that we now have two people who have gone on the record contradicting the image that KP was the golden boy he was made out to be. It's food for thought, nothing more, nothing less.

 

[RoyToy]

I don't know him, I don't have any personal experience with him and I tend not to make judgements about people's truthfulness or duplicitous nature until I've been given evidence one way or another. All I know is that we now have two people who have gone on the record contradicting the image that KP was the golden boy he was made out to be. It's food for thought, nothing more, nothing less.

Everything is based off of Steve Patterson, though. Everyone's pretty much circulating the same story, and looking at it as fact.

 

[maxiep]

I find it interesting that a bumbling incompetent with no skills whatsoever like Kevin Pritchard was promoted to GM, much less allowed to keep his job for four years given how terrible he is.

Color me skeptical.

 

[BGrantFan]

I don't know him, I don't have any personal experience with him and I tend not to make judgements about people's truthfulness or duplicitous nature until I've been given evidence one way or another. All I know is that we now have two people who have gone on the record contradicting the image that KP was the golden boy he was made out to be. It's food for thought, nothing more, nothing less.

Two people, neither of who were even employed by the Blazers for the last 4 years, and their stories are the same. Plus, one works in PR, and a very negative personality just crawled out from under his rock of shame to try and rehabilitate his image. Yet you "assume" Berger is telling the truth? lol

I have a bridge to sell you. Interested? It's in Arizona.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Why on Earth would you assume that he's telling the truth, or even knows the truth? Did you mean if he's telling the truth?

Not trying to be combative here, but why wouldn't you assume he is telling the truth. I have never heard anything about Berger having an axe to grind.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Two people, neither of who were even employed by the Blazers for the last 4 years, and there stories are the same. Plus, one works in PR, and a very negative personality just crawled out from under his rock of shame to try and rehabilitate his image.. Yet you "assume" Berger is telling the truth? lol

I have a bridge to sell you. Interested? It's in Arizona.

I "assume" he's telling the truth? No, no I don't. Re-read what I wrote; I gave the caveat that "assuming Berger is telling the truth" then here is what I take away from his program etc. etc. etc. I neither assume he tells the truth nor do I assume he's lying. I "assume" he made some statements that stand out because they are so starkly different than the image that has been painted about KP and the organization over the past 4 years. To me this is just fodder for conversation, nothing more and nothing less.

 

[BGrantFan]

Not trying to be combative here, but why wouldn't you assume he is telling the truth. I have never heard anything about Berger having an axe to grind.

How would Brian know? Plus, his story is the exact same as Patterson's story. The only guy he's making look good is Patterson. Plus, Brian is in PR.

Connect the dots. I'll get confirmation, if I can, tomorrow.

 

[Ed O]

I find it interesting that a bumbling incompetent with no skills whatsoever like Kevin Pritchard was promoted to GM, much less allowed to keep his job for four years given how terrible he is.

Color me skeptical.

Did you listen to the clip?

He gave Pritchard a LOT of praise and said that he did a good job of getting skilled people around him, but that a lot of people around him didn't support him like they should have.

Ed O.

 

[BGrantFan]

I "assume" he's telling the truth? No, no I don't. Re-read what I wrote; I gave the caveat that "assuming Berger is telling the truth" then here is what I take away from his program etc. etc. etc. I neither assume he tells the truth nor do I assume he's lying. I "assume" he made some statements that stand out because they are so starkly different than the image that has been painted about KP and the organization over the past 4 years. To me this is just fodder for conversation, nothing more and nothing less.

Semantics, but you did say you were "assuming" Berger was telling the truth. Whatever, though. I obviously am not fond of Brian. I'll eject from the thread now.