Clyde: Torn on who to root for

[alex42083]

A good article in the Houston Chronicle about Clyde, and his loyalties in this series despite being the analyst for the Houston TV games.
I'm surprised they haven't shown Clyde on the big screen at the games, I bet he'd get a rousing ovation. Maybe in Game 7!
But Clyde will always be the man in Portland until Brandon's career is over, I bet.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/6397846.html

About an hour before Sunday’s Game 4, Drexler’s first NBA employer — the Portland Trail Blazers — went through pregame warm-ups.

On the other end of the court, the Rockets — the team he watched as a child, won a championship with as an adult and works for as a TV analyst — went through a similar routine.

“It’s like watching two (of your) children playing,” said Drexler, 46, dressed comfortably in a red blazer with a Rockets logo. “You don’t know who to root for. I root for both of them, and I’ll always root for both of them.”

Drexler finishes his thought carefully, saying the only thing a man in his position can: “May the best team win.”

Unlike his nickname — Clyde the Glide — Drexler has found it anything but smooth when it comes to his rooting interests in the Western Conference first-round series.

In Portland, Drexler became arguably the most beloved sports figure in the city’s history, playing 11½ of his 15 NBA seasons there and leading the Blazers to two NBA Finals.

“In Portland they look at you like you’re theirs,” Drexler said. “They have a lot of reverence for you. It’s a really nice honor. Portland is home.”

 

[RR7]

He seems to have an easy time being negative as shit about the team while he's commentating about them. You'd think if he was torn, he might be able to offer the slightest bit of praise to the team while announcing them.

 

[Wheels]

And there are reasons why he will not be considered the Best Blazer of all time in more than a decade.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Living in Houston, I had to listen to the Rockets broadcast last night. Trust me, he is rooting for Houston.

 

[BIG Q]

Living in Houston, I had to listen to the Rockets broadcast last night. Trust me, he is rooting for Houston.

Agreed, I have been forced to listen to his crap and besides rooting for Houston, he is just unlistenable. People thought Walton was bad, Clyde takes it to a whole new level. He is so bad I do not even consider him a Blazer anymore.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Didn't he retire as a Rocket?

 

[BlazersBlood]

Well he's always been a Houston boy and won a championship there. I bet it hurts him a little that Brandon is on his way to take Clyde's spot in the hearts of Portland as the best SG ever to wear a Blazer jersey.

 

[sabas4mvp]

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[video=youtube;JJ1MTsLHjTk]

oh clyde

 

[hasoos]

Living in Houston, I had to listen to the Rockets broadcast last night. Trust me, he is rooting for Houston.

Yep I did too, and I completely agree with you. It seems a lot of fans around here are still in the dark as to what Clyde became when he left Portland. Sure he always will have a soft spot for Portland. But it was really evident that his loyalties lye with the team that got him a ring, and his home town.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Agreed, I have been forced to listen to his crap and besides rooting for Houston, he is just unlistenable. People thought Walton was bad, Clyde takes it to a whole new level. He is so bad I do not even consider him a Blazer anymore.

I always thought Bill Wlaton was sort of William Shatner bad. So bad that he was cool and funny.

 

[andalusian]

Having moved to Portland in 1996 and becoming a Blazers fan after that - I do not have the attachment most have to Clyde. He was fun to watch as a basketball player - but Roy is without doubts my favorite Blazer of all time.

 

[rocketeer]

so blazers fans are upset that clyde is rooting for the team that he grew up liking as a kid, in the city he went to college(that he later was the coach of), where he finished his nba career and won his only championship, and now has a job as their broadcaster? really?

i have absolutely no doubt that clyde wants the blazers to do well and if they beat the rockets, they'll be the team he wants to win the championship. but he is employed by the rockets and is working the rockets broadcasts, what do you really expect?

 

[The_Lillard_King]

so blazers fans are upset that clyde is rooting for the team that he grew up liking as a kid, in the city he went to college(that he later was the coach of), where he finished his nba career and won his only championship, and now has a job as their broadcaster? really?

i have absolutely no doubt that clyde wants the blazers to do well and if they beat the rockets, they'll be the team he wants to win the championship. but he is employed by the rockets and is working the rockets broadcasts, what do you really expect?

I don't think anyone is upset . . . just not buying that he is rooting for both teams and hopes the best team wins . .. give me a break.

 

[santeesioux]

I'm too young to really remember Clyde as a Blazer, only as a Rocket so i don't really have any attachment to him, so screw him!

 

[Sinobas]

Well come on now, he is announcing for Houston, don't most announcers sound a little biased towards their team?

 

[Shooter]

Sorry, but this is total bullshit. Drexler works for the Rockets, doesn't he? How could he not be rooting for them? That would be like Mike Rice cheering for someone else instead of the Blazers.

Nonsense.

 

[Uther TheGardener]

no clyde has always been bias toward houston...smug little slimey smile...blah he is molded.

Walton has more love for the blazers than clyde ever has....

there is a reason he works for the rockets...think long and hard on that one....

 

[handiman]

Clyde wore the Rockets jacket in the 50 Greatest Players of all-time ceremony, despite playing less than a quarter of his career for them. That should prove beyond a doubt which team his loyalties toward are strongest.

 

[Natebishop3]

Take the jersey down from the rafters I say!

 

[ehizzy3]

drexler was way before my time. i appreciate what he did here but roy is gonna go down as the best blazer ever. he already is my all time favorite

 

[Wheels]

Take the jersey down from the rafters I say!

CO SIGNED!!!

 

[Shooter]

drexler was way before my time. i appreciate what he did here but roy is gonna go down as the best blazer ever. he already is my all time favorite

Walton is the best Blazer ever. When Roy gets us a championship, we can talk again.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Walton is the best Blazer ever. When Roy gets us a championship, we can talk again.

Wally Walker is the best Blazer ever. When Roy gets us a championship, we can talk again.
/sarcasm

 

[ehizzy3]

Walton is the best Blazer ever. When Roy gets us a championship, we can talk again.

thats your opinion.

 

[Fawzi83]

Clyde the Glide sold us out

*EDIT*
On 2nd thought, after reading that article. Clyde is working for the Rockets as an analyst so there's no way he can say that he's rooting for the blazers. If he worked for the Blazers I think he would've said he was rooting for us

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Clyde the Glide sold us out

He was mad at Whitsitt, I don't remember why. You'd think though he'd mellow after Whitsitt traded him to the team he most wanted to go to, but he didn't. Months later he was quoted as saying "Tell Whitsitt to keep my name out of his mouth." (Bob was saying that a then current player's practice habits weren't any worse than Drexler's).

 

[BlazerBeav]

Clyde wore the Rockets jacket in the 50 Greatest Players of all-time ceremony, despite playing less than a quarter of his career for them. That should prove beyond a doubt which team his loyalties toward are strongest.

I will NEVER get over that. That was total bullshit.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Fuck Clyde Drexler!

yeah, I said it...

 

[MAS RipCity]

Yea, I used to look up to Clyde as a kid. My fv athlete ever, but man..the 50 greatest players deal was crap and even 10 at the time, thought it was bunk.
Anyone else notice he NEVER shows up to events anymore? He wasn't at Porter's Jersey retirement (please, can't ask for a day off)..wasn't at Duck's funeral (yea in Asia..but its a funeral dude)..and didn't he miss the team heritage night last season? Can't believe I pulled for Houston over Portland once he got traded there (I was in elementary school, shoot me ) I still really like the guy, but do kinda feel like we're "little brother"

 

[Ed O]

A beauty of being able to root for players as PLAYERS, and not as idealized people, is being able to just accept that Clyde is human and that, while he was a great basketball player, emotional attachment to him as some sort of paragon of Portland pride is not only misplaced but will invariably lead to feelings of betrayal.

Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge are no different. Which is fine by me... I'll root for them as long as they're wearing the Blazers jersey.

Ed O.