Farewell, Sweet Z-Bo! Zach Randolph: Behind the Music

[SlyPokerDog]

Zach Randolph spent nearly a decade earning a reputation as one of the NBA's true platinum-plated knuckleheads. But in these playoffs, we witnessed a stunning evolution: perma-scowling, chronically half-assed team-destroyer to a legitimate, if unconventional, star and leader. Z-Bo's decade in the NBA has been far too complicated—and far too strange in too many ways—for just one person to sum up. So before we bid a fond farewell (till next season) to the playoffs' most compelling character, and with some help from those who witnessed Z-Bo at his best and worst, we present Z-Bo: Behind The Music.

http://www.gq.com/blogs/the-q/2011/05/z-bo-an-oral-history.html?mbid=social_retweet

 

[SlyPokerDog]

JailBlazer: 2001-07, The Portland Trail Blazers Years

Ben Golliver writes for CBSSports.com's Eye On Basketball blog and edits the Portland Trail Blazers blog Blazersedge.

In his new memoir, Idea Man, Paul Allen takes a short break from bashing Bill Gates to provide a frank obituary on the so-called Jail Blazers. "We traded Zach Randolph to the Knicks, ending an era that none of us would miss," Allen sneers. "The following season, we had the youngest team in the league and not a single arrest of suspension. The culture had changed."

Young, wildly talented, immature, stubborn and quickly empowered by an $80 million contract extension, Randolph answered to no one. Portland is a fishbowl, a town accustomed to winning and uncomfortable with any sordid off-court behavior from its heroes. Randolph was just a year out of high school and acted like it, and his instantly infamous "Hoop Family" entourage made matters worse. There was the suckerpunch of teammate (and registered sex offender) Ruben Patterson, during practice. There was a truly vile legal complaint involving paying strippers for sex and an alleged sexual assault. There was an incident in which his brother allegedly fired a gun at a nightclub. There was another lawsuit for harassment concerning the intimidation of witnesses to a dogfighting ring. His old high school coach pleaded with Randolph to associate with better people and Randolph promptly cut him out of his life. By the end of his tenure with the Blazers, Randolph's wealthy suburban neighbors were regularly complaining to the local media about his loud, late-night parties.

Shortly after Allen took an expensive bath to get rid of Randolph, the team launched a new marketing campaign: "Rise With Us." The "rising" was to take place not only from the draft lottery, where the Blazers had been stuck since 2003-04, but also from the stink of the arrests and ugly headlines. Allen's loaded "culture" talk might read like Fox News, but the campaign was a smash hit.

Read More http://www.gq.com/blogs/the-q/2011/05/z-bo-an-oral-history.html#ixzz1MjK9947t

 

[DaLincolnJones]

wow, Sly, that was a great read, thanks a bunch. I almost want to take back all the hate full things I have said about Zbo...naw.

 

[PapaG]

"We traded Zach Randolph to the Knicks, ending an era that none of us would miss," Allen sneers. "The following season, we had the youngest team in the league and not a single arrest of suspension. The culture had changed."

Looks like those who have spent years bashing Pritchard over that trade had better point the finger at Paul Allen as well, because had to have approved of the deal.

 

[crandc]

Hmm, he didn't say it, or explain it, he SNEERED it. Truly?

 

[mook]

Nice piece. Kind of a Roshomon kind of thing, where different people see the same guy different ways depending on their own perspective.

I guess it's also a good reminder that people change. It's often hard to admit to ourselves that there are shining qualities in people we are accustomed to demonizing.

 

[KevinJBonn]

Perhaps this kid won't have to feel so conflicted about his childhood hero as he gets older now...

 

[crandc]

If Zach Randolph after several teams and many years finally matured, decided to take advantage of his considerable talent, realized he has a job that millions want and few get, I can only say good for him. Maybe he learned from the Bonzi Wells' of this world who squandered their talent and opportunity and now live with the regrets.

Portland was in a situation where they could no longer take a chance on his maybe maturing. They'd taken too many chances and been burned by too many knuckleheads, as Barkley would call them. IMO both the Blazers and Zach Randolph came out OK.

 

[jlprk]

Looks like those who have spent years bashing Pritchard over that trade had better point the finger at Paul Allen as well, because had to have approved of the deal.

I point the finger squarely at Andre Miller. You with me?