If I Were KP...

[ABM]

I'd never do another interview with Canzano ever again.

First, KP gives the show a very cordial, as honest as possible, and respectful 15 minutes (with Canzano digging, digging, digging) followed by Canzano basically ripping KP a new one for the remainder of the show.

Frankly, I was a bit taken aback, if not appalled.

 

[illmatic99]

If I were KP, I would either seal myself off from the media completely, or be more candid. This middle ground with him concealing everything but still trying to appear open about everything is starting to piss me off. Although I thought the Canzano interview might have been a bit harsh, I still liked the fact that JC asked the tough questions to get KP to open up.

 

[B-Roy]

If I were KP, I would either seal myself off from the media completely, or be more candid. This middle ground with him concealing everything but still trying to appear open about everything is starting to piss me off. Although I thought the Canzano interview might have been a bit harsh, I still liked the fact that JC asked the tough questions to get KP to open up.

This.

I found it kind of annoying that KP was trying to be open and secretive at the same time.

 

[ABM]

This.

I found it kind of annoying that KP was trying to be open and secretive at the same time.

Please.

What's he supposed to say?! He's got a deal almost done with Hinrich?!

 

[B-Roy]

Please.

What's he supposed to say?! He's got a deal almost done with Hinrich?!

Make up your mind. If you don't want to give anything away, don't act like you do.

 

[LameR]

Please.

What's he supposed to say?! He's got a deal almost done with Hinrich?!

No no no! He would never say that!

"Deal coming soon"

 

[Sug]

It's a no win for KP either way. If he is to open he gets in trouble from the NBA, and if he plays it too close to the vest then he gets attacked. There is a certain level of respect that you need to extend to someone in KP's position, and JC did not do that. We all know that JC knew that KP could not talk about certain things, yet he pressed him. On top of that he made an assessment of KP's demeanor based on his BS interview.

I agree with ABM, it was not comfortable to listen to. There is asking the "tough" questions, and then there is trying to make a guy look bad on purpose.

 

[ABM]

Make up your mind. If you don't want to give anything away, don't act like you do.

Not following that at all. I heard the interview. I thought he answered all of Canzano's questions the best that he "could". Canzano's questions were rather pointed, in my opinion. Shoot, when John asked them, I'm going, 'KP's not gonna answer that question, John. Are you kidding me?!'

 

[illmatic99]

On top of that he made an assessment of KP's demeanor based on his BS interview.

I too felt that was out of line. But, you come to expect that with Canzano. Not really anything out of the ordinary.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Canzano did his job and KP followed suit ... in the end we got pretty much exactly what I expected we would, which is a very unsatisfying interview with few answers and little substance.

I'm resigned to the fact that it's going to be pretty uncomfortable around Blazerland until Roy and Aldridge get extended and the cap space is put to some kind of use -- this means more uncomfortable interviews, no interviews and endless debate and questioning of everything that is happening or isn't happening.

I plan to distract myself by focusing on Summer League and getting into debates about Mills, Bayless or Pooh Jeter for the next couple of weeks.

 

[ABM]

Canzano did his job and KP followed suit ... in the end we got pretty much exactly what I expected we would, which is a very unsatisfying interview with few answers and little substance.

I'm resigned to the fact that it's going to be pretty uncomfortable around Blazerland until Roy and Aldridge get extended and the cap space is put to some kind of use -- this means more uncomfortable interviews, no interviews and endless debate and questioning of everything that is happening or isn't happening.

I plan to distract myself by focusing on Summer League and getting into debates about Mills, Bayless or Pooh Jeter for the next couple of weeks.

 

[HailBlazers]

Indeed. It's all for show!

 

[SodaPopinski]

Yes, please. Let's get back to the days where management would refuse to give any sort of interviews to the media. Those were certainly the glory days of the organization.

C'mon people. Get some backbone. I thought they were fair questions. Of course he's going to throw some tough ones at KP to see if he can get him to either purposely or accidentally reveal useful information. Canzano did his job, and KP responded about as well as he could.

Move on.

 

[ABM]

Yes, please. Let's get back to the days where management would refuse to give any sort of interviews to the media. Those were certainly the glory days of the organization.

C'mon people. Get some backbone. I thought they were fair questions. Of course he's going to throw some tough ones at KP to see if he can get him to either purposely or accidentally reveal useful information. Canzano did his job, and KP responded about as well as he could.

Move on.

I'm necessarily not talking about the interview, itself. I'm more referring to the "weaselness" that followed.

 

[alex42083]

KP knew exactly what he was getting into. It's John freakin' Canzano.. the organization knows his reputation, they may not agree to everything he says but I think they have a professional respect for one another that they do their jobs.

And I'm sure KP had some talking points that he could always go back to, which he did with the whole "we like our four rookies, it's about their development. We don't need to do anything. We have the cap space." blah blah.. You could even tell during a point of the interview when they were talking about Hedo, and KP said.. "What I didn't like about the whole thing..." and then he stopped himself and talked about Rudy, Greg, Jerryd and Nicolas.

I had no problem with it.

 

[Tince]

I agree with the people who think Canzano's questions were tough, but that's his job, and ultimately that's what we want from our reporters. However, like a few of you have said, his act afterwards was low class. If he were really Mr. Tough Guy, he would have said all those things about KP to him in the interview.

Also, did anyone catch him ripping Joey Chestnut's handshake? Handshake guy really bothers me. I'm all for giving a good firm handshake and looking someone in the eye, but guys like Canzano who are so caught up into it and trying to squeeze hard to show you're the alpha male in the room is stupid. In case I wasn't sure if Canzano has short-man syndrome, I'm sure now.

 

[mgb]

Ya, especially when they grab your fingers and crunch down and you can't return anything even if you want to. I just try to shake a solid but not hard shake, but because of my size a lot of times people will think it's a contest or at least I assume because it's because of my size. Just insecurity.

 

[barfo]

Also, did anyone catch him ripping Joey Chestnut's handshake? Handshake guy really bothers me. I'm all for giving a good firm handshake and looking someone in the eye, but guys like Canzano who are so caught up into it and trying to squeeze hard to show you're the alpha male in the room to shows me how bad the guy has short-man syndrome.

That's the only thing I caught, and it was pathetic. The guy was his guest, and Canzano calls him out - at great length - after he leaves for his handshake? What a dick Canzano is.

barfo

 

[STOMP]

I'm necessarily not talking about the interview, itself. I'm more referring to the "weaselness" that followed.

exactly. I tuned in because of all the Quick fueled rumorama that so many here were freaking out over. JC played the antagonist throughout asking snarky pointed questions that had no chance of being answered. KP did his regular smooth song and dance deflecting only to have Canzano acting like somehow he was toying with the GM... as if KP didn't deserve basic respect for acting professional and not revealing his true plans. If it were me, I'd have real issues going on that asshat's show again.

After KP was finished/done, Canzano mocked him for seeming down and repeatedly asked people to call in and say whether they "were buying what he was selling". Basically he was calling the guy who has constructed this rising young team we obsess over a glum liar. Taking that sort of confrontational/bullheaded tact, there isn't a chance that any GM would reveal a thing. I'm not pining for softball questions, but a little awareness of the situation. Knowing for sure that specifics on players and contracts are not going to be revealed, how about asking questions on how some of these negotiations typically work? Maybe get him to share examples of past offseason conversations/negotiations and try to shed some light on the process? Instead we just get Canzano being a jerk... great radio.

STOMP

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

It's a no win for KP either way. If he is to open he gets in trouble from the NBA, and if he plays it too close to the vest then he gets attacked. There is a certain level of respect that you need to extend to someone in KP's position, and JC did not do that. We all know that JC knew that KP could not talk about certain things, yet he pressed him. On top of that he made an assessment of KP's demeanor based on his BS interview.

I agree with ABM, it was not comfortable to listen to. There is asking the "tough" questions, and then there is trying to make a guy look bad on purpose.

I agree completely. KP has certain restrictions placed b y the NBA as to what he can and cannot say. Crapzanno knows that. Now, it's fine to ask tough questions, but Crapzanno's attitude afterwards (calling KP "stupid...") is well over the top.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Many of us at the largest Blazer message forum listened to Crapzanno’s interrogation and subsequent remarks about you yesterday. Clearly, he understands there are certain details you cannot speak of regarding free agents and trades. In light of that, his questions were for the most part insulting and idiotic. His subsequent remarks about you being “stupid” and so forth were grossly unprofessional and well over the top- and he knows it.

I had cancelled a subscription to the Oregonian a couple of years ago due to his lies and back stabbing ways, and now a large group of us will no longer tune into 95.5 and clearly if we do for some other reason will make it a direct point to NOT patronize any advertisers to that station.

Enough is enough and Crapzanno has once again insulted people unfairly. Mr Pritchard, we feel you handled yourself with your usual class and dignity and under the circumstances, remarkably well. If for some reason you do not agree to be interrogated by Crapzanno again or find time to drag his ass into an alley and beat him down, please understand you have the overwhelming support of many dozens of fans.

Your Truly

Blazer Prophet and other fans at the S2 sports message forum

sent this to KP & JC as well as the station mamager at 95.5

 

[e_blazer]

One of the many things that annoy me about Canzano is his incessant posturing as one who is in the know on everything and morally superior to everyone. If he were a real journalist, perhaps he'd be interested in why the Blazers might not want to give Roy a max dollars for max years contract. On the surface, it's a total non-brainer to give him a max extension. No one player could be asked to do more for his team both on and off the court than Brandon Roy has in his time in Portland. You would think that his contract negotiations would be limited to, "Do you prefer to sign in blue or black ink, Brandon?" Since that doesn't seem to be the case, why isn't it? Are there financial issues that we're not aware of? Is there a concern about Brandon's knees or other health issues? Has Brandon asked for something outside of the ordinary? Something else going on? It would seem to me that an award-winning sports journalist ought to be a little more on the ball about trying to ferret out the reason behind the Blazers' seeming reluctance to do the obvious.

Guess it's easier to just play pop goes the weasel.

 

[Shooter]

Pritchard is as slippery as they come. He acts "sincere" and straightforward, but there's always a layer of lies underneath. I guess that comes with the territory, when you're bluffing other GMs all day long on the phone, but it's still as annoying as hell.

 

[maxiep]

Pritchard is as slippery as they come. He acts "sincere" and straightforward, but there's always a layer of lies underneath. I guess that comes with the territory, when you're bluffing other GMs all day long on the phone, but it's still as annoying as hell.

I think we need to distinguish how "slippery" he is when dealing with people outside of the Blazers organization, and how he deals with people inside the organization.

He's not perfect, but KP has done one hell of a job with this team.

 

[Shooter]

He's not perfect, but KP has done one hell of a job with this team.

I agree, but he's still slippery as hell. I wouldn't buy a used car from him.

 

[LameR]

Many of us at the largest Blazer message forum listened to Crapzanno’s interrogation and subsequent remarks about you yesterday. Clearly, he understands there are certain details you cannot speak of regarding free agents and trades. In light of that, his questions were for the most part insulting and idiotic. His subsequent remarks about you being “stupid” and so forth were grossly unprofessional and well over the top- and he knows it.

I had cancelled a subscription to the Oregonian a couple of years ago due to his lies and back stabbing ways, and now a large group of us will no longer tune into 95.5 and clearly if we do for some other reason will make it a direct point to NOT patronize any advertisers to that station.

Enough is enough and Crapzanno has once again insulted people unfairly. Mr Pritchard, we feel you handled yourself with your usual class and dignity and under the circumstances, remarkably well. If for some reason you do not agree to be interrogated by Crapzanno again or find time to drag his ass into an alley and beat him down, please understand you have the overwhelming support of many dozens of fans.

Your Truly

Blazer Prophet and other fans at the S2 sports message forum

sent this to KP & JC as well as the station mamager at 95.5

I know your heart is in the right place, but if you're going to boycott someone for calling someone else stupid, don't you think writing a message calling that person "Crapzanno" (weird spelling by the way) is a little bit hypocritical?

 

[Todd]

Hahahaha

 

[LittleAlex]

If I were KP I would consider moving if he can't come to terms with Roy this summer.

 

[gatorpops]

Pritchard is as slippery as they come. He acts "sincere" and straightforward, but there's always a layer of lies underneath. I guess that comes with the territory, when you're bluffing other GMs all day long on the phone, but it's still as annoying as hell.

Not so sure, that it is lies, more like concealed truth.

Not "Casting pearls before swine" is a good thing seems to me.

 

[Spud147]

Correct me if I'm wrong but wouldn't we lose the "cap space" if we resigned LaMarcus and Brandon right now? I thought the point was to use it to either sign a free agent out right or do a sign and trade where we could take more money back. At that point we'd go over the cap when we signed LMA and Roy. Is the cap space we're using based on last year's salary or next year's salary?