I Can't Believe It! I Actually (In Fact, Wholeheartedly,) Agree With Canzano

[The Sebastian Express]

Hell it's not even a blog, it's the flea market of sport's "journalism" (I use the term loosely). Just imagine a bathroom stall used by high school journalism students

Ahaha, a good comparison.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

They can call it a power play but this has to be one of the most embarrassing events that has ever happened to this franchise. This also made the management look like pure assholes. Very embarrassing.

 

[julius]

They can call it a power play but this has to be one of the most embarrassing events that has ever happened to this franchise. This also made the management look like pure assholes. Very embarrassing.

Really? more embarrassing than Damon and Rasheed being pulled over in Centralia? More embarrassing than the sex scandal in Utah? Worse than Damon getting caught with pot in Tucson? More embarrassing than Qyntel Woods "basketball card ID" fiasco? Or his dog fighting incident? Or the introduction of Trenton Hassell as a Blazer? Or Steve Patterson's eye brows?

 

[Natebishop3]

Really? more embarrassing than Damon and Rasheed being pulled over in Centralia? More embarrassing than the sex scandal in Utah? Worse than Damon getting caught with pot in Tucson? More embarrassing than Qyntel Woods "basketball card ID" fiasco? Or his dog fighting incident? Or the introduction of Trenton Hassell as a Blazer? Or Steve Patterson's eye brows?

I don't know if this is more embarrassing than any of those events, but it is definitely more newsworthy. Never before in the history of sports has one team threatened to sue another team (at least from the same league), not to my knowledge anyway. That's more newsworthy nationally than Damon with pot or Woods' dog fighting.

 

[julius]

I don't know if this is more embarrassing than any of those events, but it is definitely more newsworthy. Never before in the history of sports has one team threatened to sue another team (at least from the same league), not to my knowledge anyway. That's more newsworthy nationally than Damon with pot or Woods' dog fighting.

This isn't getting the run that Damon or Qyntel's idiocy did.

 

[The Sebastian Express]

This isn't getting the run that Damon or Qyntel's idiocy did.

Qyntel's dog fighting was easily bigger. Considering it also had the subplot of Zach and he being accused of threatening the witnesses inside a movie theatre.

 

[MARIS61]

Really? more embarrassing than Damon and Rasheed being pulled over in Centralia? More embarrassing than the sex scandal in Utah? Worse than Damon getting caught with pot in Tucson? More embarrassing than Qyntel Woods "basketball card ID" fiasco? Or his dog fighting incident? Or the introduction of Trenton Hassell as a Blazer? Or Steve Patterson's eye brows?

Far more.

The Blazers tried to blackball Darius out of a career, despite the fact he is willing and able to play. They are now attempting to strongarm other teams into a conspiracy. It's pathetic, and could lead to jail sentences for Allen and Miller if they don't change their tack.

 

[ABM]

Far more.

The Blazers tried to blackball Darius out of a career.

Yep, even paid off those league and/or players' association-appointed doctors, as well.

 

[oldmangrouch]

The Blazers are a private business. They handled this the same way someone like Microsoft of Nike would have. People need to get over it and stop trying to hold the team to some mythical "higher standard".

 

[julius]

Far more.

The Blazers tried to blackball Darius out of a career, despite the fact he is willing and able to play. They are now attempting to strongarm other teams into a conspiracy. It's pathetic, and could lead to jail sentences for Allen and Miller if they don't change their tack.

Willing to play? you mean that year and a half when he sat on his ass doing no rehabbing?

Jail sentences? Just like KP violated federal law, eh?

 

[The Sebastian Express]

Willing to play? you mean that year and a half when he sat on his ass doing no rehabbing?

Jail sentences? Just like KP violated federal law, eh?

It's okay. Everyone can think he tried really hard - that is why they found him using diet pills, afterall.

 

[STOMP]

But this is the "bed" Allen made and now he has to lie in it; he is the one who fell in love with Darius and outbid himself to sign Darius to that long term 8/9 million a year contract.

Nash did that not Paul Allen... if you mean that Allen did that because he hired Nash I agree with you, but there has never been any reason to believe that PA was particularly involved with that signing... well no real reason, only strong worded Canzano speculation (which I've learned not to accept as fact)

STOMP

 

[BrianFromWA]

I'm thoroughly enjoying the fact that many in here, without the benefit of knowing what KP, PA, LM or TP know, or why they've done so, seem to think that at this juncture of the proceedings your

It's like when talking heads get on CNN or Fox during a "crisis", and spout out opinions without the benefit of knowing what the cops know, or what the president knows, etc. And then at the end, if you ever get to see the info, you go "oh...maybe they were right".

I haven't seen a lot of pub about the owners that applauded the Blazers' email. I've heard from Gilbert. I've heard about Billy Hunter. Where's the IKPIT bumper sticker now? Tim, KP told you in October that the team had their stuff in one sock, ready to go if/when this happened. But now you think they overreacted, got the league all mad at us (owners and League Proper), all b/c PTI and Canzano choose to misread stuff so that they can make it a bigger story?
(Again, the email said: (and I'm paraphrasing) if you do this for the purpose of playing Miles legitimately, have a nice day and good luck to you. If you're doing it to eff with us (and we're looking at you, Wallace, and your attempt at blackmail), we're going Corleone on you.

I find it humorous.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Far more.

The Blazers tried to blackball Darius out of a career, despite the fact he is willing and able to play. They are now attempting to strongarm other teams into a conspiracy. It's pathetic, and could lead to jail sentences for Allen and Miller if they don't change their tack.

LOL. Where in the email does it say "we want to ruin Darius' career"? In fact, I read it to say "if you want to play him legitimately, good luck to you. If you're trying to screw us by exploiting him, we're going to the mattresses".

They're much closer to looking out for his interests than Wallace is.

It's a shame he wasn't willing and able when, you know, he was under contract to play for the Blazers.

I'm trying to see where jail could possibly come from in all this.

"conspiracy'? "Strongarm"? By saying "don't cheat, or else we won't let it go quietly?"

LOL. I think you're out of touch a bit on this one, Maris.

 

[TP3]

ABM and others...please. This is in no way embarrassing. More embarrassing than your stars getting pulled over with weed?????? You're hilarious!!! This was news for one day - it has no lasting impact. Weed impacts fan support, sponsors, and therefore, the bottom line.

This was a smart move to set up "potential" future legal action. Who's riled up in the NBA?! And if they were...how will it hurt the Blazers?

If you think this is personal with Darius you are missing the whole point of the email.

 

[ABM]

ABM and others...please. This is in no way embarrassing. More embarrassing than your stars getting pulled over with weed?????? You're hilarious!!! This was news for one day - it has no lasting impact. Weed impacts fan support, sponsors, and therefore, the bottom line.

This was a smart move to set up "potential" future legal action. Who's riled up in the NBA?! And if they were...how will it hurt the Blazers?

If you think this is personal with Darius you are missing the whole point of the email.

OK, but.....

"I couldn't even sleep I was so mad," said one league executive speaking on the condition of anonymity who got the memo very early Friday morning. The executive went on to say that intent was "irrelevant" in this case legally speaking.

The fact Portland engaged in such behavior is not going to do the Blazers any favors around the league. If the Blazers don't like the way the rules are constructed with regard to medical retirements, that's one thing. However, to threaten litigation is something entirely different.

Expect this little incident to be a black eye that won't soon go away for Portland. And while no one will say it publicly, you can expect teams around the league and possibly even agents to consider this fiasco before engaging in future dealings with the Blazers' organization....

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=11191

 

[julius]

I guess the next time a player is medically retired, the Blazers should sign him to a contract and play him minimal minutes (esp when there are better players out there). Because obviously that's okay dokie with a lot of the NBA.

 

[Masbee]

OK, but.....
"I couldn't even sleep I was so mad," said one league executive speaking on the condition of anonymity who got the memo very early Friday morning. The executive went on to say that intent was "irrelevant" in this case legally speaking.

The fact Portland engaged in such behavior is not going to do the Blazers any favors around the league. If the Blazers don't like the way the rules are constructed with regard to medical retirements, that's one thing. However, to threaten litigation is something entirely different.

Expect this little incident to be a black eye that won't soon go away for Portland. And while no one will say it publicly, you can expect teams around the league and possibly even agents to consider this fiasco before engaging in future dealings with the Blazers' organization....



http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=11191

"Couldn't sleep".

Are you fucking kidding me?

What lameass exec is losing sleep over THAT e-mail?

Either that exec is REALLY REALLY bad at what they do for a career if that type of an e-mail gets them so flustered they can't perform their duties.

Or, they are doing something they shouldn't and are afraid - and pissed that they might get called to task for doing something "all the other boys do".

Oh, of course, the "quote" has to be from Chris Wallace.

Douche.

As for the rest of the article - complete baseless conjecture.

Here is my baseless conjecture:

NBA execs and agents and owners will continue, as they always have, to look out for their interests, and when those interests overlap with the Blazers, business will be done.

 

[PapaG]

I just don't get why people keep bringing up Miles' contract as being the a key reason in all of this. I just don't think it is relevant. A 8/9 million dollar contract at the time for Miles was maybe a 1 million more than he deserved. Big deal. You don't see him freaking out over other larger contracts. If Miles would have been signed by a team this summer and had been playing this year, Paul Allen would not have given a rats ass right now. It would be over and done with.

The point that has irked him is the comments from other organizations about trying to screw th Blazers. True or not it makes no difference. It pissed him off because he felt like it was a slap in the face. So he fought back in only manner that he knew how. Which has backfired. But his contract is not the issue because he is paying it anyways. He can accept that Miles is playing, what he can't accept is his "partners" plotting to screw him. Again whether or not it is true I don't know, but he seems to have reason to believe it is true.

The fact that Allen will have to dish out $9 million to be distributed evenly to every team because of Darius' 20 minutes of action this regular season (if it ends up being that much) is reason enough to sue the crap out the Grizzlies.

 

[Blaze01]

BTW, has anyone ever heard an interview with Chris Wallace? The guy is a complete idiot....

I am literally stunned that a guy like that could get an GM job in the NBA.....

 

[Masbee]

"Here is my baseless conjecture:

NBA execs and agents and owners will continue, as they always have, to look out for their interests, and when those interests overlap with the Blazers, business will be done.

"When you are an executive of another team, you are looking at Portland's roster and you are trying to figure out how you can get better. And I think on the margins there are going to be situations where people are going to be less proactive in dealing with Portland because of that, but on the whole, people are interested in their own deals they can put together.
"If they can find a way to make it beneficial they are going to do that."

As you would expect.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=11196

 

[Stevenson]

I am literally stunned that a guy like that could get an GM job in the NBA.....

Well, you are not "literally" stunned. If you were, you would not be able to walk. You are figuratively stunned.

 

[Boob-No-More]

And while no one will say it publicly, you can expect teams around the league and possibly even agents to consider this fiasco before engaging in future dealings with the Blazers' organization....

Yeah, what agent in his right mind would want his clients to play for the richest owner in sports, who is willing to overpay everyone on the roster for a chance to win a championship. Expecting agents to boycott the Blazers over this email is like expecting lonely, desparate guys to boycott internet porn.

Agents will stear their clients where the money is - ALWAYS. And Paul Allen still has more money to throw their way than any other owner. Besides, it's not like Allen was trying to screw Miles out of the $18 million he's being paid to NOT play for the Blazers. He is actually TRYING preserve his cap space so he can spend even MORE money on an additional player or players. And agents will consider this a bad thing?

EVERY single NBA player agent is salivating over teams clearing cap space for 2010. Why? Because there will be a TON of huge contracts handed out that summer, and there are more teams clearing cap space than superstars to go around. That means more money will be availble for overpaying second tier players, role players and guys with "upside" (like Miles once was).

The same thing could be true in 2009 - if Miles' salary does not count towards the Blazers salary cap. Paul Allen desparately wants to throw his money around. He wants to be a significant bidder for any quality free agents available in 2009. Without him, there is a lot less money to throw around and one less bidder vying for the top free agents this summer. Remind me again, why would agents be opposed to Paul Allen having significant cap space? And, why on earth would they steer their clients elsewhere? If anything, they should be pissed at Chris Wallace for removing a significant, and very rich, player from the 2009 free agent bidding wars.

Of course, you won't read about any potential boycott of the Grizzlies over this. Why? No top free agent will ever sign with Memphis - regardless. A boycott is completely unnecessary. They have the cheapest owner in sports and are about to become a farm team for the rest of the league. Anyone who thinks OJ Mayo is staying in Memphis his entire career is delusional. First chance he gets, he'll bolt for a bigger market and a richer owner. Michael Heisley is the new Donald Sterling and the Grizz are the new Clippers.

BNM

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I think the reputation of an organization and how they treat their players does come into play when players are making decsions about where they want to play.

I support the idea of organizations who trade their stars not to bottom dwelling teams but to contenders. That stuff gets around and their are certain organizations that are looked uopn as player friendly. I thought the Blazers were one of those organization . . . maybe they still are but this looks ugly.

 

[STOMP]

Agents will stear their clients where the money is - ALWAYS. And Paul Allen still has more money to throw their way than any other owner. Besides, it's not like Allen was trying to screw Miles out of the $18 million he's being paid to NOT play for the Blazers. He is actually TRYING preserve his cap space so he can spend even MORE money on an additional player or players. And agents will consider this a bad thing?

Spot on point that deflates the concern that this is hurting Portland's image among players and agents. I'd add that PDX never has been a FA destination, but basically that factoid largely renders this a non-story so it's back to business as usual. Teams will still only do trades with Portland if they think they're bettering their interests. Agents will continue to steer their clients towards the most money possible. Star players probably still favor warm weather and the extra millions that playing in a major market brings. And same as ever, Canzano will be facing another deadline.

STOMP