Is anyone else fed up with this team?

[Wheels]

They don't capture the spirit of Portland at all.

I know its not as big of stakes as the NBA and that people laugh at the MLS... but the Timbers are running their organization just the opposite and are doing a perfect job with connecting with the community. Merrit Paulson's suite was right behind the Army at Seattle and he was acknowledging us before the match as we serenaded him with a "Merr-it Paul-son clap clap clapclapclap" and "Merr-it Merr-it Sing us a song" He started a song towards us, disappeared for a second and came back with bags of chips and started dropping them down to the army. I didnt see it but I think I read he dropped a hot dog and some mustard too

I cant even imagine Paul Allen saying jack to the entire crowd, let alone the crowd feeling the desire to chant to Paul Allen.

I totally get what you mean about Identifying though, and I hope that the Blazers check it out a little bit on how to identify with a city, and its spirit.

/rant

 

[magnifier661]

I thought Nnamdi Asamugha was a great pick late in the first round. Darren McFadden had an excellent season last year as well.

Plus, the 2010 draft was full of productive rookies that weren't even all first-round picks. Jacoby Ford, Rolando McClain, Lamarr Houston, Jared Velheer, Walter McFadden, Stevie Brown, and Jeremy Ware were all major contributors on an 8-8 team. Ware, a 7th-round pick, is good enough for Oakland to not spend tens of millions on Nnamdi, which while it hurts, is probably best for the team. Bruce Campbell, while a project, was a beast on special teams, and helped spring Ford for some long gains.

I'm not sure another NFL team in the last 5 years had major contributions from that many players drafted in their rookie seasons.

Are you a Raider fan? I am, but it's been really hard to cheer for the organization. I'm hoping that soon changes. I suspect things won't really turn around until Al Davis dies.

 

[HailBlazers]

I'm about as patient and understanding with this team as anyone here - but if they traded Batum and/or Crash to GSW, I would seriously consider rooting for the local team here . . . and that's saying A LOT.

Word. I had a dream last night Batum was playing for another team, and lighting it up! Can tell what's on my mind.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Wow what a bullshit statement. The Raiders have been the worst team in the NFL for over 12 years. I don't see how you can even compare the two types of teams and owners.

It's a management style thing. Forgetting results for a second or two -- and 11 years without advancing past the first round aint exactly killing it btw -- I think Paul Allen is very impatient, very erratic and wants to be very hands on as a personnel guy. That's not bullshit, that's Al Davis' MO.

But hey, way to get all emotional about it.

 

[magnifier661]

It's a management style thing. Forgetting results for a second or two -- and 11 years without advancing past the first round aint exactly killing it btw -- I think Paul Allen is very impatient, very erratic and wants to be very hands on as a personnel guy. That's not bullshit, that's Al Davis' MO.

But hey, way to get all emotional about it.

No problem and thanks I am emotional about it. I've been a long time Raider's fan and I don't see the pattern at all. Al Davis is a horrible owner and I consider Allen as a very generous one. Also, I compare the Raiders to the Clippers owner. Raiders had some really good players that they traded for nothing. Woodson and Buchannon are two players we should have never gotten rid of. That was all Davis and I'm still very bitter about it.

Davis also had an argument with Marcus and because of it; he benched him for an entire season. Allen has never done anything like that. So, I take it somewhat personal that you would even think that the two owners are similar.

 

[maxiep]

The decision actually makes me more excited as a fan. I like hearing that my owner isn't satisfied with three straight first round exits. Changes need to be made. What we had this year didn't work and wouldn't have worked next year. I'm ready to part with Nate and many of our players too. I truly believe that winning is all that matters to Paul Allen. That is not true of all owners.

To me it's more like Paul Allen realized the foundation of his house was crumbling, so he changed the drapes.

 

[maxiep]

Are you a Raider fan? I am, but it's been really hard to cheer for the organization. I'm hoping that soon changes. I suspect things won't really turn around until Al Davis dies.

I suspect the same dynamic exists for we Blazer fans.

 

[maxiep]

I know there's a lot wrong in Blazerland when I look to my Redskins for front office stability.

 

[magnifier661]

I know there's a lot wrong in Blazerland when I look to my Redskins for front office stability.

LMAO! So true! It just sucks really. I'm fans of teams that just can't get over the hump. It's a troubling prediciment for me. I'm just too loyal and it sometimes is very painful.

 

[e_blazer]

It seems to me that there are two ways to look at this:

1. The Blazers screwed up when they hired Cho. His style doesn't fit with what PA is looking for and they're taking a necessary, if somewhat embarrassing, step to fix the mistake as quickly as possible.

2. The Blazers (PA) screwed up by firing Cho, a competent GM, without giving him enough time to show what he could do. This type of action is typical of PA and will continue to result in bad management decisions in the future.

Choice No. 1 is the official Blazers position. If it's correct, then dumping Cho and moving on to somebody who is a better fit as quickly as possible is a good thing. Choice No. 2 seems to be the popular assessment among the many fed up Blazers fans and sports pundits. I suppose that the reality could lie somewhere in the middle: Cho was the wrong choice AND PA is overly meddlesome in micromanaging the Blazers. Regardless of what the true situation is, PA shows no signs of being willing to step aside as owner, so we as fans are going to have to live with him and his idiosyncrasies. I saw nothing from Cho that was so marvelous that says that firing him was an overtly awful decision. The timing looks bad, but so what as long as we end up with a GM that is competent and who is a better fit with PA? All I can say is, they'd better get it right this time.

 

[Nikolokolus]

No problem and thanks I am emotional about it. I've been a long time Raider's fan and I don't see the pattern at all. Al Davis is a horrible owner and I consider Allen as a very generous one. Also, I compare the Raiders to the Clippers owner. Raiders had some really good players that they traded for nothing. Woodson and Buchannon are two players we should have never gotten rid of. That was all Davis and I'm still very bitter about it.

Woodson wasn't traded, he was a free agent and he went to play for a quality organization (my Packers) that was willing to pay him. Furthermore Davis has never been afraid to overpay guys, he just seems to suck at structuring contracts in such a way that he can manage his cap.

Davis also had an argument with Marcus and because of it; he benched him for an entire season. Allen has never done anything like that. So, I take it somewhat personal that you would even think that the two owners are similar.

Why would you take it personally at all? Is Paul Allen a close personal friend or something?

 

[Ed O]

It seems to me that there are two ways to look at this:

1. The Blazers screwed up when they hired Cho. His style doesn't fit with what PA is looking for and they're taking a necessary, if somewhat embarrassing, step to fix the mistake as quickly as possible.

He seemed like a great fit when they hired him, and here we are 10 months later with it being such a bad fit that he needed to be fired in SPITE of no performance issues. That makes me question who might ever be a good fit... or if we're just going to keep throwing candidates at the wall until someone sticks.

Ed O.

 

[maxiep]

When Allen purchased the team, I was wary, because I generally distrust people from Seattle.

When Allen cleared out the front office and coaching staff and installed the Whitsitt regime, I was dismayed. I figured PA wanted to put his own mark on the team after riding the championship run, so I gave him a chance.

When I saw the way Trader Bob tore down the culture the previous management had built up I swallowed it for years, but at the end when we became the Jail Blazers I almost gave up my season tickets; only Whitsitt's dimissal stopped me from doing so.

When Nash was the only GM who would take the job, I knew we'd be in for a rough patch. Once again I held my nose and suffered the losing as I though Allen had learned a lesson about team building. I figured as soon as the teardown was done, PatterNash would be gone.

When Allen hired Pritchard and KP put an emphasis on character over talent, I thought PA finally got it. When Pritchard magically got us both, I fell in love with this team all over again and was glad to see Allen had figured it out.

Then came KP's dismissal, which was only mitigated by what I thought was a really solid pick in Cho. I thought the old PA who just couldn't let a good thing alone had come back again, but I heard enough shady things about Pritchard and Penn that I gave Allen the benefit of the dout.

Now we have Cho's reign end before it really even began. The only explanation we're given is that Cho never became PA's BFF.

At this point, after 24 years, I'm done with giving Allen chances. The sooner he sells the team the better.

 

[Minstrel]

It seems to me that there are two ways to look at this:

1. The Blazers screwed up when they hired Cho. His style doesn't fit with what PA is looking for and they're taking a necessary, if somewhat embarrassing, step to fix the mistake as quickly as possible.

2. The Blazers (PA) screwed up by firing Cho, a competent GM, without giving him enough time to show what he could do. This type of action is typical of PA and will continue to result in bad management decisions in the future.

Unfortunately, with the knowledge that he was apparently fired for non-performance-related reasons, your third option--both--is likely true. They "screwed up" in hiring a guy that Allen doesn't get along with and they also fired a guy who had been competent in his performance so far. (His being competent is my own evaluation based on what actually transpired during the season...I didn't like the Bayless deal, but thought the Wallace deal was an excellent one and overshadowed the mistake with Bayless.)

That doesn't really fill me with confidence that Allen and his management team are going to settle into steady success anytime soon. Maybe Cho was the right choice, maybe he wasn't. It's the process that seems pretty poor, not necessarily the result in this precise case. But I guess we'll see.

 

[magnifier661]

Why would you take it personally at all? Is Paul Allen a close personal friend or something?

No I really hate Al Davis and like Allen. Maybe it's making my opinion on your opinion a little myopic.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

PA made three big moves this year:

1. Aggressively pursuing of Matthews and getting him by willing to pay more than anyone else.

2. Picked up Wallace mid-season by being willing to do what feew if any other owners were willing to do and that is take on Wallace's contract.

3. Fired Cho

Are we really going to throw mud at Allen for this Cho firing right on the heels of the team gaining two valuable players because of Allen. Stablility at the GM spot is nice and all, but people act like it's been all bad with Allen. Allen doesn't like the GM, so what? There are plenty of GM out there, there are not a lot Paul Allen's out there.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

When Allen purchased the team, I was wary, because I generally distrust people from Seattle.

When Allen cleared out the front office and coaching staff and installed the Whitsitt regime, I was dismayed. I figured PA wanted to put his own mark on the team after riding the championship run, so I gave him a chance.

When I saw the way Trader Bob tore down the culture the previous management had built up I swallowed it for years, but at the end when we became the Jail Blazers I almost gave up my season tickets; only Whitsitt's dimissal stopped me from doing so.

When Nash was the only GM who would take the job, I knew we'd be in for a rough patch. Once again I held my nose and suffered the losing as I though Allen had learned a lesson about team building. I figured as soon as the teardown was done, PatterNash would be gone.

When Allen hired Pritchard and KP put an emphasis on character over talent, I thought PA finally got it. When Pritchard magically got us both, I fell in love with this team all over again and was glad to see Allen had figured it out.

Then came KP's dismissal, which was only mitigated by what I thought was a really solid pick in Cho. I thought the old PA who just couldn't let a good thing alone had come back again, but I heard enough shady things about Pritchard and Penn that I gave Allen the benefit of the dout.

Now we have Cho's reign end before it really even began. The only explanation we're given is that Cho never became PA's BFF.

At this point, after 24 years, I'm done with giving Allen chances. The sooner he sells the team the better.

What is this last chance that you are now done with PA? Because he fired the GM without giving a good reason?

 

[magnifier661]

PA made three big moves this year:

1. Aggressively pursuing of Matthews and getting him by willing to pay more than anyone else.

2. Picked up Wallace mid-season by being willing to do what feew if any other owners were willing to do and that is take on Wallace's contract.

3. Fired Cho

Are we really going to throw mud at Allen for this Cho firing right on the heels of the team gaining two valuable players because of Allen. Stablility at the GM spot is nice and all, but people act like it's been all bad with Allen. Allen doesn't like the GM, so what? There are plenty of GM out there, there are not a lot Paul Allen's out there.

It absolutely makes no sense to me. I remembered reading not too long ago that most in this forum said we had such a great owner. This was comparing Allen to Cuban. All the sudden a lot of people want Allen to sell the team. It's like this about everyone. Roy is franchise, then gets hurt and everyone wants him waived or medically retired.

 

[PapaG]

Are you a Raider fan? I am, but it's been really hard to cheer for the organization. I'm hoping that soon changes. I suspect things won't really turn around until Al Davis dies.

Oh yeah. A buddy of mine in SF has two front row tickets right beneath the goal posts in the Black Hole. I get one game a year with him down there. I'm easy to find on the Raider TV games because the two of us and the two black dudes we sit by are the only people not geeked up in weird costumes. Literally though, they're first row seats right under the goal post in the Black Hole. Every other football experience pales in comparison, outside of UW/Oregon games.

 

[oldmangrouch]

It absolutely makes no sense to me. I remembered reading not too long ago that most in this forum said we had such a great owner. This was comparing Allen to Cuban. All the sudden a lot of people want Allen to sell the team. It's like this about everyone. Roy is franchise, then gets hurt and everyone wants him waived or medically retired.

It's like Maxie alluded to - you can only give somebody the benefit of the doubt so many times.

Petrie forced out!
TraderBob fired for PR reasons?
Nash the best we can find?
KP......what the hell???
Cho.....I give up.

 

[mercykersey]

PA made three big moves this year:

1. Aggressively pursuing of Matthews and getting him by willing to pay more than anyone else.

2. Picked up Wallace mid-season by being willing to do what feew if any other owners were willing to do and that is take on Wallace's contract.

3. Fired Cho

Are we really going to throw mud at Allen for this Cho firing right on the heels of the team gaining two valuable players because of Allen. Stablility at the GM spot is nice and all, but people act like it's been all bad with Allen. Allen doesn't like the GM, so what? There are plenty of GM out there, there are not a lot Paul Allen's out there.

Fully agree with you, Paul allen can fire Rich Cho and any GM he wants until he finds the one he likes and the one he feels is pushing us towards the championship. I dont understand why people are upset with Paul Allen, hes the one who's lost hundreds of millions of dollars on this team, i think he deserves to find the right GM, he took a flyer on Rich Cho and it didnt work out.. Who gives a fuck? Go cry about a simple firing somewhere else, never seen such emotional babies, if we lose Greg Oden i will be upset, this doesnt bother me a bit.

 

[Natebishop3]

Fully agree with you, Paul allen can fire Rich Cho and any GM he wants until he finds the one he likes and the one he feels is pushing us towards the championship. I dont understand why people are upset with Paul Allen, hes the one who's lost hundreds of millions of dollars on this team, i think he deserves to find the right GM, he took a flyer on Rich Cho and it didnt work out.. Who gives a fuck? Go cry about a simple firing somewhere else, never seen such emotional babies, if we lose Greg Oden i will be upset, this doesnt bother me a bit.

If you don't see the negatives of this move, you need to take off the rose colored glasses.

1) They didn't even give him a year to work. How many GMs can get anything done in less than a year?

2) They praised him up until a month ago, and now he's out?

3) What GM is going to want to work here with a controlling owner who won't even give them the power to make changes or the time to put their stamp on the team? Paul Allen can fire Cho and try to find the one he likes, but if he keeps treating his GMs like shit, the best GMs won't want anything to do with Paul or this organization. Paul might just be stuck with what he can get and not what he wants.

 

[MickZagger]

The only difference is PA can throw as much money at a GM as he wants. Money talks and bullshit walks. I wouldn't be surprised if Warkentein is the guy.

 

[Pinwheel1]

If you don't see the negatives of this move, you need to take off the rose colored glasses.

1) They didn't even give him a year to work. How many GMs can get anything done in less than a year?

2) They praised him up until a month ago, and now he's out?

3) What GM is going to want to work here with a controlling owner who won't even give them the power to make changes or the time to put their stamp on the team? Paul Allen can fire Cho and try to find the one he likes, but if he keeps treating his GMs like shit, the best GMs won't want anything to do with Paul or this organization. Paul might just be stuck with what he can get and not what he wants.

There are 30 NBA GM positions in the world. The only people who will be applying are either un-proven guys who have never been a GM, or ones that someone else has already fired. (OK technically there may be 1-2 that have quit)

But the bottom line is although PA will now lose out when competing with another franchise when bidding for the same candidate, another candidate of equal value will be able to be found. These are not NBA players. There are options out there who will be just as good, and who will work just as hard to succeed so they can make the big bucks.

 

[oldmangrouch]

There are 30 NBA GM positions in the world. The only people who will be applying are either un-proven guys who have never been a GM, or ones that someone else has already fired. (OK technically there may be 1-2 that have quit)

But the bottom line is although PA will now lose out when competing with another franchise when bidding for the same candidate, another candidate of equal value will be able to be found. These are not NBA players. There are options out there who will be just as good, and who will work just as hard to succeed so they can make the big bucks.

Which is what some people said when KP was fired. Now, less than 12 months later, we are back to square one.

 

[RR7]

Which is what some people said when KP was fired. Now, less than 12 months later, we are back to square one.

And if we can go through one GM every 10 months, but he adds us a player of Wallace's caliber for peanuts, then we should win the title I would say in two to three years. Woohoo

 

[magnifier661]

And if we can go through one GM every 10 months, but he adds us a player of Wallace's caliber for peanuts, then we should win the title I would say in two to three years. Woohoo

Rep'd

 

[barfo]

There are 30 NBA GM positions in the world. The only people who will be applying are either un-proven guys who have never been a GM, or ones that someone else has already fired. (OK technically there may be 1-2 that have quit)

But the bottom line is although PA will now lose out when competing with another franchise when bidding for the same candidate, another candidate of equal value will be able to be found. These are not NBA players. There are options out there who will be just as good, and who will work just as hard to succeed so they can make the big bucks.

I agree with this. The pool of talent for GMs is much, much larger than the talent pool for players.
And let's face it, it's really not that hard of a job. You watch a lot of basketball. You keep track of the 450 players in the league, and probably an equal number of prospects. You negotiate contracts, you call other GMs and try to bullshit them. You have a staff to help you with all of that. You take risks, and maybe they pan out and make you look like a genius, or maybe they don't and you look like shit. It's not rocket science.

barfo

 

[mercykersey]

If you don't see the negatives of this move, you need to take off the rose colored glasses.

1) They didn't even give him a year to work. How many GMs can get anything done in less than a year?

2) They praised him up until a month ago, and now he's out?

3) What GM is going to want to work here with a controlling owner who won't even give them the power to make changes or the time to put their stamp on the team? Paul Allen can fire Cho and try to find the one he likes, but if he keeps treating his GMs like shit, the best GMs won't want anything to do with Paul or this organization. Paul might just be stuck with what he can get and not what he wants.

No Rose colored glasses, i just dont feel people should be fed up, pissed off, or crying about Paul firing a GM that he didnt see eye to eye with.. Paul Allen has a lot of experience being the hands on owner for the last 23 years and he knows what he wants in a GM, Rich Cho wasnt it! Without Paul the Blazers wouldnt be in this city right now, and he loses millions every year on this team. I think he deserves to pick the guy no question.
Now if Paul fired Lamarcas Aldridge or traded him i would be furious, but Rich Cho, Paul knows more then you or I in this case.

 

[Natebishop3]

No Rose colored glasses, i just dont feel people should be fed up, pissed off, or crying about Paul firing a GM that he didnt see eye to eye with.. Paul Allen has a lot of experience being the hands on owner for the last 23 years and he knows what he wants in a GM, Rich Cho wasnt it! Without Paul the Blazers wouldnt be in this city right now, and he loses millions every year on this team. I think he deserves to pick the guy no question.
Now if Paul fired Lamarcas Aldridge or traded him i would be furious, but Rich Cho, Paul knows more then you or I in this case.

Or maybe he has no clue what he's doing. Wasn't Paul the guy who gave Darius Miles that big contract?