Brian Wheeler fundraiser

[crandc]

It would be good for Wheels and good PR for Blazers to step up. But I have never had a former or even current employer help out when I was in crisis.

I hope those who knew him step up.

And yes health care system sucks

 

[riverman]

https://www.gofundme.com/f/its-always-a-great-day-to-help

Sounds like things have deteriorated with his health.

somebody should forward this gofundme link to the broadcast crew and people with the team who knew him..players too...Dame alone could solve his financial dire burden. HCP should be on this...

 

[CJ_is_Gone]

Sometimes maybe it’s ok to stop overthinking it and throwing blame around and justifying why it’s not one’s responsibility and just I dunno be nice. Like if you have an organization worth billions and someone who worked for you a long time needs money just help them out even if it’s not your responsibility. This is why so much sucks in the world right now.

Dont disagree with the first part of your statement.

How do you know that the Blazers haven't contributed? If I were running the Blazers, Id make a contribution anonymously.

You seem ready to throw dirt on the Blazers because, in your eyes, they 'haven't been nice'

Time to stop throwing blame around

 

[calvin natt]

somebody should forward this gofundme link to the broadcast crew and people with the team who knew him..players too...Dame alone could solve his financial dire burden. HCP should be on this...

Yeah but it’s Not Lillards fault Wheels is fat

 

[Hoopguru]

Government spending on keeping our population at a healthy weight (including medical procedures) would encourage policies which encourage a healthy lifestyle. It would discourage policies which contribute to unhealthy lifestyles and activities.

There is no down side that I can see.

Im all for National medicine with the option to keep if possible.
I really wonder though if obesity to drop even with national medicine?
Seems as long as there are fast food places, alcohol and pot and a good percentage of kids and adults don't exercise.

 

[calvin natt]

Dont disagree with the first part of your statement.

How do you know that the Blazers haven't contributed? If I were running the Blazers, Id make a contribution anonymously.

You seem ready to throw dirt on the Blazers because, in your eyes, they 'haven't been nice'

Ok. If they’ve contributed money then I retract. Also if they’ve given money why is there a new gofundme? And on the gofundme site fwiw don’t see a lot of large donations.

 

[riverman]

Yeah but it’s Not Lillards fault Wheels is fat

For Dame it's a tax write off....he'll give that money to the IRS if he doesn't donate some. Jody, same thing.

 

[Stevenson]

Look, Brian is morbidly obese, and has been for most of his adult life. That didn't start when the Blazers hired him nor did it start when they let him go.

Their responsibility ended when they let him go. That's not the same as saying it would be good IF they helped, but they are under no obligation to help him.

He was paid well, and had a job for 20+ years. If I lose my job tomorrow, after working at my job for 15 years, does my insurance go with me? Is it my former employers responsibility to pay for my healthcare?

Now if the medical reason why he is in the hospital was caused by his employment (like they put him in unsafe situations, he was hurt on the job doing his job), that'd be one thing.

Really, you are showing your ignorance, actually, several of you here are.

1. I have people in my family who are obese. It has ZERO to do with self-control. It's almost always a medical, hormonal imbalance. Go research the new drug Mounjaro and you will better understand this disease. 2. Wheels had a gastric bypass surgery to lose wight, and he did. But, like about 30% of the population, it reversed. That happened to my older brother, who lost and regained 100 lbs after that surgery. and 3. Most of all, from what I understand, Wheels' medical issues have nothing to do with weight.

So take your holier-than-thou judnemtal, ignorant take and go learn something go which you speak.

 

[BBert]

He went thru with a lap band surgery yet still completely ate himself into oblivion.

I mean yeah it’s sad. I wish him the best. But choices are the essence of life.

Not a reason to shame an organization over.

And yes, I do agree that the medical system in this country is a sham. I feel fortunate that I’m blessed enough to never have had to pay a dime for insurance. But I’ve heard horror stories from friends and loved ones about it.

Is a compulsion a choice though?

 

[Pinwheel1]

Ok. If they’ve contributed money then I retract. Also if they’ve given money why is there a new gofundme? And on the gofundme site fwiw don’t see a lot of large donations.

Again they probably didn't even know about his financial situation. The GoFundMe campaign started yesterday. I have had close friends and even family who never told me about issues. Sounds like Wheels was too proud to ask, so his friend took it upon herself to get the word out.

 

[MickZagger]

Is a compulsion a choice though?

If you don’t seek to get help with it. Sometimes I wonder how does it get to that point. I’m not fat shaming, I don’t judge him in any way as a person because he’s obese. People have their vices.

Him and Kenny Vance are two guys who spent thousands in medical for lap band only to not follow through with doctors orders. Overeating when you have that procedure can get someone deathly ill.

It’s no different as a drug addict who people shame all the time. But at the end of the day, yes, I believe you need to at least put in some kind of effort to try and better your life.

That said I’m hoping for the best with Wheels.

 

[julius]

Really, you are showing your ignorance, actually, several of you here are.

1. I have people in my family who are obese. It has ZERO to do with self-control. It's almost always a medical, hormonal imbalance. Go research the new drug Mounjaro and you will better understand this disease. 2. Wheels had a gastric bypass surgery to lose wight, and he did. But, like about 30% of the population, it reversed. That happened to my older brother, who lost and regained 100 lbs after that surgery. and 3. Most of all, from what I understand, Wheels' medical issues have nothing to do with weight.

So take your holier-than-thou judnemtal, ignorant take and go learn something go which you speak.

Those are neat points and all, but how does it address anything I said in the post?

I said the team isn't responsible for what he did to himself once they let him go. They don't owe him anything for this. That's what I was addressing.

 

[calvin natt]

Those are neat points and all, but how does it address anything I said in the post?

I said the team isn't responsible for what he did to himself once they let him go. They don't owe him anything for this. That's what I was addressing.

Nobody thinks they owe him anything. Nobody thinks it’s the teams fault or problem or responsibility. Just that in the world it would be great if people and organizations would step up and do stuff when they don’t have to. Maybe they will. When I give a lady $20 at the stop light I don’t berate her about her choices or roll my window down to say hey I read your sign but it’s not my fault or problem. Because I’m not an asshole.

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

MGB was bed ridden for years in a nursing home before he passed. I am guessing it would have been impossible for him to get food besides what the facility was giving him. If someone controlled the food he ate for years, why was he still unable to conquer his obesity?

IMO, there are people that are just going to have a tough time with this. Sort of like there are some people that should never touch alcohol or gamble.

 

[crandc]

And unhealthy eating goes back to policies that give billions in taxpayers money to produce and market unhealthy food. Maybe if that kind of funding went into subsidizing healthy food? And for poor people, many states are literally banning using SNAP for better food and drastically cut so people have to buy the cheapest food.

 

[julius]

Nobody thinks they owe him anything. Nobody thinks it’s the teams fault or problem or responsibility. Just that in the world it would be great if people and organizations would step up and do stuff when they don’t have to. Maybe they will. When I give a lady $20 at the stop light I don’t berate her about her choices or roll my window down to say hey I read your sign but it’s not my fault or problem. Because I’m not an asshole.

There's a difference between "man, it'd be cool if the team did this" and "I can't believe the team isn't doing this!"

we're getting the latter, not the former.

 

[calvin natt]

There's a difference between "man, it'd be cool if the team did this" and "I can't believe the team isn't doing this!"

we're getting the latter, not the former.

We are? I’m seeing “it’d be nice” and “I wish they would” versus the “they don’t owe him” crowd.

 

[TBpup]

And unhealthy eating goes back to policies that give billions in taxpayers money to produce and market unhealthy food. Maybe if that kind of funding went into subsidizing healthy food? And for poor people, many states are literally banning using SNAP for better food and drastically cut so people have to buy the cheapest food.

This I don't understand. Just like you can't buy alcohol with assistance, they should limit the amount of empty carb, almost completely non-nutritional food that fills carts so often when I see someone using a government issued debit card. Some people already struggle with their situation, and then decision making processes processes which make that situation even more difficult. Nutrition education is so lacking for so many people. This is a BIG area where government could help.

 

[Natebishop3]

MGB was bed ridden for years in a nursing home before he passed. I am guessing it would have been impossible for him to get food besides what the facility was giving him. If someone controlled the food he ate for years, why was he still unable to conquer his obesity?

IMO, there are people that are just going to have a tough time with this. Sort of like there are some people that should never touch alcohol or gamble.

Weight loss really requires some measure of exercise.... or literally zero calorie intake.

 

[MickZagger]

Weight loss really requires some measure of exercise.... or literally zero calorie intake.

I’ve always thought obesity has more to do with sedentary lifestyle than what you eat. Of course genetics come into play. But you gotta move, be active. I’m 37 and literally can eat whatever I want with no recourse. But I’m also constantly on the move.

And I have a lot of obesity in the genes on my moms side.

 

[Natebishop3]

I’ve always thought obesity has more to do with sedentary lifestyle than what you eat. Of course genetics come into play. But you gotta move, be active. I’m 37 and literally can eat whatever I want with no recourse. But I’m also constantly on the move.

And I have a lot of obesity in the genes on my moms side.

Yup. Weight loss is really just simple math. You need to burn more calories than you intake.

 

[MickZagger]

Yup. Weight loss is really just simple math. You need to burn more calories than you intake.

Exactly

 

[riverman]

First ...Brian didn't ask for this gofundme....his friend did knowing he wouldn't...Brian reads our forum. Maybe show some sensitivity folks. If you don't want to donate, fine...but insulting him in a time of need is pretty tacky.

 

[crandc]

This I don't understand. Just like you can't buy alcohol with assistance, they should limit the amount of empty carb, almost completely non-nutritional food that fills carts so often when I see someone using a government issued debit card. Some people already struggle with their situation, and then decision making processes processes which make that situation even more difficult. Nutrition education is so lacking for so many people. This is a BIG area where government could help.

It's cheap. When a family is poor they buy what fills stomachs. And the response is often cutting benefits. Getting off the topic but my point is more is needed than medical intervention after disease sets in.

 

[crandc]

Yup. Weight loss is really just simple math. You need to burn more calories than you intake.

Bet you are one of the people who never had serious weight problems.

Some fortunate people never gain weight. Others need only think about food. Just like some can handle a social drink while others can't.

 

[Phatguysrule]

And unhealthy eating goes back to policies that give billions in taxpayers money to produce and market unhealthy food. Maybe if that kind of funding went into subsidizing healthy food? And for poor people, many states are literally banning using SNAP for better food and drastically cut so people have to buy the cheapest food.

Bingo

 

[TBpup]

It's cheap. When a family is poor they buy what fills stomachs. And the response is often cutting benefits. Getting off the topic but my point is more is needed than medical intervention after disease sets in.

Exactly. Education and preventions beats trying to fix it afterwards.

 

[Natebishop3]

Bet you are one of the people who never had serious weight problems.

Some fortunate people never gain weight. Others need only think about food. Just like some can handle a social drink while others can't.

And those people are active and eat healthy?

 

[Stevenson]

And those people are active and eat healthy?

Truly, you don't know what you are talking about.

If you are naturally lean, or have never struggled with weight, or have hormones that work properly, or don't have PCOS like my daughter, lucky you. But please don't think you know something chubby people don't, because it's an arrogant, ignorant, incorrect take. You don't.

 

[TBpup]

Some people struggle with things in life because of a a choice they didn't make.
Some people struggle with things in life because of choices they make or won't make.

Regardless, we can be supportive. The hard part sometimes is doing so without enabling. I had to deal with that with a family member. A relative kept wanting to help to the point to where now, they never learned or were required to do things on their own. Now the family member is almost gone, and the person they enabled is severely limited because they always figured out a way to rationalize out of their choices, get others to feel sorry for them, or refuse to make the choices necessary. It has been sad to watch for years even though every other member of the family warned them of what would happen.

The struggle is, what do do now?