Barnett was on the first Trailblazer team and scored the first bucket in franchise history. Beloved Blazer broadcaster Bill Schonely is supposed to have first made his catch phrase "Rip City!" following one of his shots. I suspect that something must have gone wrong with how his Blazer career went/ended, as instead of having a warm spot towards his former team, he eagerly piles on with negative gossip/innuendo in every single Blazer-Warrior matchup where I've listened to him over the years.
The worst example of this was the game which ended with the Bonzi Wells-Chris Mills dustup and a near riot in Oakland. Replays show Warrior fans raining drinks, throwing trash, and one woman spitting repeatedly on Blazer players entering the tunnel following their last second victory... all with Barnett going on and on with what terrible people the Trailblazers are. One full drink then clearly hits Rasheed (who'd hit the game winner) in the face, and he goes into the stands to confront the fan. Security is on it and the fan is arrested... Barnett is even higher on his horse saying this is unprovoked and Wallace should be arrested.
to land the job initially Fitz undercut his mentor (quality play by play voice Greg Papa) a year after Cohan bought the team. Reportedly he came in at less then half the rate. He's an empty paint by numbers shill as a broadcaster. He's been their TV voice for 17 years now yet I've never heard a Warriors fan speak well of him. I occasionally have dropped by W's forums and seen posters with names like Fire Fitz NOW
Hopefully both are let go as new ownership puts their stamp on the team in their first full off season.
I'd agree with all that
I've the league pass too... those guys are all pretty over the top homers. Jazz announcer Hot Rod Hundley takes it to a level that is entertaining for me at least. My favorite announcers in the league are the Clipper duo
STOMP