It's Calabro!!!!!

[Orion Bailey]

When did I explode? I just think telling the people of Portland you are doing right by them by hiring people from Seattle is stupid. Calabro is good, but I don't think he is all that much better than who he is replacing

YOu and Stren exploded in different ways but yeah. You exploded. Your human though. Wish I could say Ive never exploded.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Why? Barrett wasn't. Barrett was a double A baseball announcer, Calabro is big leagues.

Bollocks. Barrett's really good, and anyone who says he's an unapologetic homer hasn't listened to him for several years.

 

[DaLong]

Just giving you a bad time. No insult intended.

Haha, acknowledged. Just trying to slip in an inside forum joke. Not as cool as him, that's for sure.

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

When did I explode? I just think telling the people of Portland you are doing right by them by hiring people from Seattle is stupid. Calabro is good, but I don't think he is all that much better than who he is replacing

Yeah, it seems more like an attempt to attract Sonics fans.

I get that Calabro is considered to be in a higher tier than MB, but I'm skeptical that this move will significantly expand the blazers fan base in Seattle...if that was the reason.

 

[DaLong]

Bollocks. Barrett's really good, and anyone who says he's an unapologetic homer hasn't listened to him for several years.

He was decent, but his apocalypse now routine grows tiresome.

 

[BlazerWookee]

He was decent, but his apocalypse now routine grows tiresome.

Not sure I understand what you mean by "apocalypse now routine?"

 

[Natebishop3]

Wookie does not handle change well.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Wookie does not handle change well.

I prefer paper money. The pennies are the same color as my palm fur, and if I'm not careful dimes and nickels disappear into the gaps between my fingers, and they can sometimes re-appear at the most inopportune moments. Just ask Mrs. HCP.

 

[Pinwheel1]

So it's not because Calabro is considered by many as one of the best play by play announcer in the business? It's just because he was the Seattle announcer? That makes no sense to me. It might be an extra bonus for PA's marketing plan, but there is no way that it is the main reason they went after him.

 

[DaLong]

Not sure I understand what you mean by "apocalypse now routine?"

Thinking along the lines of having a 20 point lead cut to 16 and the Blazers are all of a sudden reverting to past tendencies, not putting the pedal to the metal, and letting the other team back. Sometimes I'd just like commentary without implying overarching generalizations. Sometimes teams catch up, that's the game. Too frequent was this style imo.

 

[Natebishop3]

So it's not because Calabro is considered by many as one of the best play by play announcer in the business? It's just because he was the Seattle announcer? That makes no sense to me. It might be a extra bonus for PA's marketing plan, but there is no way that it is the main reason they went after him.

Seattle is small potatoes. Streaming and League Pass have opened up basketball to the entire world. I don't think the Blazers are concerned about capturing Seattle. I think they're trying to grow their global brand.... of course, that's what I wrote in my article.

 

[TBpup]

When did I explode? I just think telling the people of Portland you are doing right by them by hiring people from Seattle is stupid. Calabro is good, but I don't think he is all that much better than who he is replacing

I don't get all the Seattle hate when there are so many Seahawks and Mariners fans here. The Shonz came from Seattle....that seemed to work out well. I liked Barrett but there is a reason Calabro is doing the NBA Finals for ESPN...he is very good.

 

[e_blazer]

I don't get all the Seattle hate when there are so many Seahawks and Mariners fans here. The Shonz came from Seattle....that seemed to work out well. I liked Barrett but there is a reason Calabro is doing the NBA Finals for ESPN...he is very good.

I think the concern is the one that's always nagged Blazers fans that, with Paul Allen being a Seattle guy and Seattle not having a team, this could be the first step towards moving the team to Seattle. Hopefully, just paranoia, but who knows?

 

[julius]

Seattle is small potatoes. Streaming and League Pass have opened up basketball to the entire world. I don't think the Blazers are concerned about capturing Seattle. I think they're trying to grow their global brand.... of course, that's what I wrote in my article.

No! IT'S SEATTLE! BUILD A BONFIRE BUILD A BONFIRE PUT SEATTLE ON THE TOP. FUCK SEATTLE...RCTID!!!

 

[Orion Bailey]

I don't get all the Seattle hate when there are so many Seahawks and Mariners fans here. The Shonz came from Seattle....that seemed to work out well. I liked Barrett but there is a reason Calabro is doing the NBA Finals for ESPN...he is very good.

The NW really needs to come togewther as one in solidarity against the rest of the sports nation. Each city now has only one major sprt team for the major sports.

I dont see why we cant unite against the rest of the regions. I'm a NW guy. Moved back and forth all my childhood because of divorced parents. I consider Portland my home, but I consider myself a northwester overall.


Iv'e lived in CO, Chicago, and NY. Nothing compares to the NW. Nothing. We should take pride in having a big brother like Seattle that garners attention for the NW or Portland probably wouldn't exist.

 

[julius]

Well, Seattle has 2 major league teams, and Portland IS older

 

[Schilly]

Barrett was very average at best when he started. He got much better over time, but he always has just seemed like a news anchor to me. I have watched a lot of Blazers games the last all of my life, and typically choose the national broadcast over the local. My belief is that we have gotten used to the Mikes more than we love them and worship how fantastic they are. They're only decent, but they're our only decent. Barrett would be a fantastic talk show host on the radio. Calabro is on par with hiring Shonz in his prime. Calabro also has the kind of reputation that top notch color commentators will want to come work with him.

Why now? Maybe they have a good idea of changes that will happen this summer and feel like the national attention will be on us.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Well, Seattle has 2 major league teams, and Portland IS older

But only one major sport team per sport in the NW. No competition.

 

[DaLong]

But only one major sport team per sport in the NW. No competition.

Dick size. Dur.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Great hire. I liked the Mikes, but for everyone who is always complaining about Portland being a small market that gets overlooked and underappreciated by the national media, this is a home run. We just hired THE NBA play-by-play guy away from ESPN radio. Calabro is a national name. He's not just a Seattle guy. He's calling the NBA finals for ESPN for fuck's sake. He brings a level of credibility and prestige to the Blazer broadcasts the Mikes never could. Again, I didn't dislike the Mikes at all, but Calabro is a big upgrade in every imaginable way.

This hire won't have any impact on future free agent signings, but I do like that the organization is showing a willingness and ability to go after and get top national talent. Again, this doesn't directly impact future player signings, but I like an organization that thinks big. You think small, you get small.

For two decades, San Antonio has been a small market team that thinks and acts like a big market team. That's the attitude and approach to business I want this organization to possess. And that's the perception I want perpetuated. Fuck this small minded, small market bullshit. Lillard has proven you can play for Portland, bleed red and black and be a national media star all at the same time. He doesn't think small and I'm glad to see the rest of the organization doesn't either.

BNM

 

[Schilly]

I think the concern is the one that's always nagged Blazers fans that, with Paul Allen being a Seattle guy and Seattle not having a team, this could be the first step towards moving the team to Seattle. Hopefully, just paranoia, but who knows?

Yes the Logical 1st step 7 years in advance is to hire a new Play by Play guy... Check.

I wonder if people actually realize how ridiculous that sounds?

 

[Daweez04]

I still can't understand the "how it was done" on firing the Mikes. They were given a year of pay, and it was all done behind closed doors rather than letting it leak.

Can someone explain the issue? Firing someone is never easy, not sure how much better it could have been handled.

 

[Natebishop3]

I still can't understand the "how it was done" on firing the Mikes. They were given a year of pay, and it was all done behind closed doors rather than letting it leak.

Can someone explain the issue? Firing someone is never easy, not sure how much better it could have been handled.

What do you mean? The story broke on Oregonlive before the team released it. That's the definition of the story leaking.

 

[Daweez04]

Yes the Logical 1st step 7 years in advance is to hire a new Play by Play guy... Check.

I wonder if people actually realize how ridiculous that sounds?

Well... If you want to draw in more Seattle fans in order to make selling a new arena easier... It wouldn't be the worst move...

Agreed though, time for the tin foil hats to come off.

 

[Mediocre Man]

So it's not because Calabro is considered by many as one of the best play by play announcer in the business? It's just because he was the Seattle announcer? That makes no sense to me. It might be a extra bonus for PA's marketing plan, but there is no way that it is the main reason they went after him.

I have no problem with them hiring Calabro. He's really good. I hate that the President of our team fired an extremely popular team with the promise of bigger and better things, when really it's all about market share in Seattle

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I still can't understand the "how it was done" on firing the Mikes. They were given a year of pay, and it was all done behind closed doors rather than letting it leak.

Can someone explain the issue? Firing someone is never easy, not sure how much better it could have been handled.

The Mikes were like family. And all they got was a "future endeavors" letter which wasn't much better than the shitty letter Aldridge sent to the fans last year.

 

[MarAzul]

Oh Boy! A Seattle guy! This smells of sheep dip! When he sells his home in Seattle and buys one in Oregon, it may change the odor.

 

[e_blazer]

Yes the Logical 1st step 7 years in advance is to hire a new Play by Play guy... Check.

I wonder if people actually realize how ridiculous that sounds?

More ridiculous than expecting the fan base to know the details of the team's contract with respect to staying in Portland and whether or not it can be broken?

Not saying that I'm losing sleep over the possibility of the team being moved, but to say it will never happen...?

 

[OneLifeToLive]

Yes the Logical 1st step 7 years in advance is to hire a new Play by Play guy... Check.

I wonder if people actually realize how ridiculous that sounds?

It will always be a concern of mine but as all of you know by my posting record...I'm ridiculous.

Nice choice though by McGowan and once again you didn't disappoint. Way to go, Chris!

 

[Daweez04]

What do you mean? The story broke on Oregonlive before the team released it. That's the definition of the story leaking.

It wasn't like it was "leak" days before hand, and this is how the parties involved heard about it. I saw the Olive and press release around the same time, and I follow stuff pretty closely.

Does it really make a difference if the fans hear about it on Olive 30 minutes before the Blazers can get their release out? Does that mean everything Woj posts makes every organization classless?

There is a huge difference in breaking a story as it happens, and have things leaked way in advance in todays sports media.

Pretty much every single hire/fire that happens in sports media is "broken" by the media before an official press release can get out. This was actually one of the fastest releases I have ever seem from when it was broke.