Canzano Rant

[oldmangrouch]

I dont buy into the conspiracy theory at all... but Yao and the asian market in LA would be more marketable than us vs them IMO.. although we would provide a better seried. Weird how it works huh

Depends on *which* conspiracy theory you are talking about.

Stern may not order the refs to make sure Team "X" wins a game....but the "star" system and the inconsistent calls it generates is hard to dispute.

 

[Wheels]

Depends on *which* conspiracy theory you are talking about.

Stern may not order the refs to make sure Team "X" wins a game....but the "star" system and the inconsistent calls it generates is hard to dispute.

Wouldnt really call that part a conspiracy.. as w have a certain guy on our team who gets a lot of those calls too.

 

[STOMP]

I think Blazer fans who are convinced that there is a conspiracy going on (the NBA wants Rockets to advance to appease Chinese fans) need to make their case. The burden of proof falls on them.

It's been pretty well established that the NBA put out a memo during the 2006 playoffs for the refs to focus more on calling fouls against Yao in the HOU-DAL series. Did the NBA start pulling for the Rockets only recently or something? Oh, I know, they were trying keeping the German fans happy that year. Now attention has shifted to China. That must be it.

first of all I thought the Rockets won game 1 fair and square mostly because Yao was incredible and Portland was collectively ice cold on their jumpers. But it's pretty easy to make the case of why Stern/the league might tell his skulking striped minions to make the calls go for the Rockets in this series... same as always, follow the money. Portland is and always has been a ratings killer and Houston is a major TV market with China in tow. There is no question as to which team advancing would make the league more money, a lot more.

STOMP

 

[STOMP]

Depends on *which* conspiracy theory you are talking about.

Stern may not order the refs to make sure Team "X" wins a game....but the "star" system and the inconsistent calls it generates is hard to dispute.

especially since Stern acknowledges it exists in interviews and acts like it's a good thing.

STOMP

 

[cloudydays]

I think some of the contact Yao was putting on our guards warranted a foul-call...

Do I believe it was the reason why we lost, no....

Yep. Let's say Yao gets into more foul trouble in the first half (which he really should have), that completely changes the whole game. Maybe Portland wakes up and realizes that they have a great chance to win the game, but it's impossible to say.

 

[STOMP]

No because if the NBA was as rigged as we all would like to think then they would want a Portland vs. LA series to up ratings. I think that series would be more marketable than a Rockets Lakers one, especially considering what happen in the last 2 games against Por and LA.

Most of the TVs that tune in for a series are from the TV markets of the teams involved. Houston >>> Portland and China dwarfs both.

STOMP

 

[cloudydays]

I think the whole Donaghy fiasco showed that there is sometimes "influences" on a ref's decisions.

 

[Wheels]

I think the whole Donaghy fiasco showed that there is sometimes "influences" on a ref's decisions.

cloudy how the hell are ya?

 

[STOMP]

to add on to my follow the money conspiracy thought... more money will be made on this series if it's competitive and extended. So if it is true that Stern is manipulating game outcomes through his officials, it would seem he'd have the early calls go against Houston tonight

STOMP

 

[durvasa]

first of all I thought the Rockets won game 1 fair and square mostly because Yao was incredible and Portland was collectively ice cold on their jumpers. But it's pretty easy to make the case of why Stern/the league might tell his skulking striped minions to make the calls go for the Rockets in this series... same as always, follow the money. Portland is and always has been a ratings killer and Houston is a major TV market with China in tow. There is no question as to which team advancing would make the league more money, a lot more.

STOMP

Again, where was this favoritism the last few years for the Rockets when they were playing Utah? Or 4 years ago when they played Dallas and the league instructed referees to pay specifically focus more on calling fouls on Yao?

 

[STOMP]

Again, where was this favoritism the last few years for the Rockets when they were playing Utah? Or 4 years ago when they played Dallas and the league instructed referees to pay specifically focus more on calling fouls on Yao?

I provided you with what you requested... reasoning why the league might direct calls one way or another. Wasn't Yao out last year vs Utah? And isn't Dallas a huge market as well?

I have no clue what you're referring to with the league instructing refs to get Yao stuff... do you have a link to clue me in?

STOMP

 

[The Professional Fan]

Canzano said on his radio program yesterday that the fans shouldn't have been chanting "these refs suck", but instead be booing the Blazers. How would that make us better fans? Turning on our own team? What a maroon.

Exactly.

 

[durvasa]

I provided you with what you requested... reasoning why the league might direct calls one way or another. Wasn't Yao out last year vs Utah? And isn't Dallas a huge market as well?

I have no clue what you're referring to with the league instructing refs to get Yao stuff... do you have a link to clue me in?

I understood why people think the league might do it. What I was saying is that people who think that's actually what happened should make the case on why they think it did happen. In other words, I understand the motivation from an economic standpoint. But that in itself isn't evidence, IMO.

Even without Yao last year, the Rockets were still an extremely popular team amongst Chinese fans. The Jazz stomped us good for two years, and I don't recall any sort of favoritism in terms of calls heading our way.

Here's the links you asked for:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E05E5DE1630F930A35756C0A9639C8B63&sec=&spon=
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5830586.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/11/s...em&ex=1213329600&en=284a2e97b05c5cec&ei=5087

 

[LittleAlex]

Canzano said on his radio program yesterday that the fans shouldn't have been chanting "these refs suck", but instead be booing the Blazers. How would that make us better fans? Turning on our own team? What a maroon.

And my already very low opinion of Canzano gets just a little bit lower.

Suck a bag of dicks Canzano you worthless hack.

 

[MARIS61]

Okay...Im fine with saying the majority of the calls went HOU way, cause they did...but that did not affect who won the game, just the point differential.

Please dont tell me anybody here actually believes the refs are under order by the higher ups to ref the games in Hou's favor. Anybody REALLY believe that?

Yep.

The playoffs have been mapped out for nearly a decade, and it's been fairly obvious to anyone with eyeballs.

 

[MARIS61]

This issue is bigger than basketball.

It's about how Portland is perceived across the nation. And since we live here, it's about you and me.

I'm sick of Canzano attaching himself to us like he's an Oregonian.

He's from Fresno and pleaded with Blazers fans to for sake their team and cheer the Lakers on a few years ago.

The fact he thinks we have a little brother syndrome with LA or Seattle shows how unobservant he really is.

We've been years ahead of any city on the left coast for as long as I can remember in politics, music, the arts, you name it.

They're the ones tagging along behind us.

 

[STOMP]

I understood why people think the league might do it. What I was saying is that people who think that's actually what happened should make the case on why they think it did happen. In other words, I understand the motivation from an economic standpoint. But that in itself isn't evidence, IMO.

but a mystery memo is???

Donaghy provided damning evidence that the league manipulates results. The star system being openly acknowledged by the commissioner is as well. Sure as rain coming down in a Portland winter you know if a visiting team gets out to an early lead that their star players will soon find themselves in foul trouble so the home team's fans don't leave in the 3rd.

I think it's pretty clear that the league is into sports entertainment more then just straight sport. This Portland fan has seen a few too many occasions where Sabas's neck fouls Shaq's elbows (and the like) and those sort of calls seem to happen in game 7.

I'd rather they just called the game straight up like they do in college, and in baseball, football, and every other sport... but whatchagonnado?

STOMP

 

[durvasa]

but a mystery memo is???

Donaghy provided damning evidence that the league manipulates results. The star system being openly acknowledged by the commissioner is as well. Sure as rain coming down in a Portland winter you know if a visiting team gets out to an early lead that their star players will soon find themselves in foul trouble so the home team's fans don't leave in the 3rd.

I think it's pretty clear that the league is into sports entertainment more then just straight sport. This Portland fan has seen a few too many occasions where Sabas's neck fouls Shaq's elbows (and the like) and those sort of calls seem to happen in game 7.

I'd rather they just called the game straight up like they do in college, and in baseball, football, and every other sport... but whatchagonnado?

STOMP

But there is no evidence that the Rockets get more calls than the Blazers because of this so-called "star system". Brandon Roy is an established star in this league as well, plus he happens to be a perimeter player. The NBA allows much, much more contact against post players than wings. The lack of respect Yao gets from the refs has been an on-going theme for the Rockets for years, so its funny to hear you charge that the NBA is clearly biased towards Yao over the Blazers.

The Donaghy memo suggests that the league was specifically targetting Yao back in the 2006 playoffs, and I think that undercuts the argument you're trying to make here.

Another link:
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/b...ff_van_gundy_vindicated_over_yao_ming_-1.html

 

[MARIS61]

Wouldnt really call that part a conspiracy.. as w have a certain guy on our team who gets a lot of those calls too.

Yeah, but Channing doesn't play as much as Yao.

 

[MARIS61]

Again, where was this favoritism the last few years for the Rockets when they were playing Utah?

Utah has an enormous following, the entire Mormon church, and a great coach in Jerry Sloan.

Houston had Yao, some scrubs, some has-beens, and their coach was um.............

Or 4 years ago when they played Dallas and the league instructed referees to pay specifically focus more on calling fouls on Yao?

Obviously that never happened. Check a stat sheet.

Bottom line is Rockets needed a coach back then to at least make it look like they could win.

Refs can only do help so much.

 

[yakbladder]

Yao got called for a foul on Roy within the first two minutes of the game. 3 fouls were called on each team in the first quarter. In that first quarter, Roy got into the lane routinely and hit a high percentage of his shots. That was the start of the game. Still, the Rockets led by 11 after one because they just played better. Your description is off.

However Yao didn't get the 3 or 4 fouls he should have had easily in the first half. And suppose there were multiple fouls called in the first 10 minutes - then how does the game change?

 

[MAS RipCity]

I still believe it was one of the worst officiated performances I have ever witnessed, but they were not the reasons we lost, but it was a reason why the game was not competitive. Houston, regardless of the calls, was on fire, so they would have been tough to beat on that night. It should have been closer though.

 

[durvasa]

However Yao didn't get the 3 or 4 fouls he should have had easily in the first half. And suppose there were multiple fouls called in the first 10 minutes - then how does the game change?

I'd like to see some video proof of all these fouls Yao should have had. Or maybe you can just point out the possessions, the specific plays, and I can go back and check them on my DVR.

And in case you are not aware, the NBA officials are very clear about this ruling -- as long as the center jumps up straight with his hands in the air, they will not call a foul on on hi when there is contact. So if that's what you think should have been fouls, it's not the case.

 

[Natebishop3]

I'd rather have fans chanting about the refs, rather than sitting on their hands like the fans in Cleveland. Who cares if we come off as small town? This is Portland. I've lived here my whole life. Maybe Canzano cares what the rest of the country thinks about us, but I sure as shit don't.