It's Calabro!!!!!

[MarAzul]

The guy has earned over 50 million dollars in his career. I am guessing he will have a home in both places.

Really! Why would he need one in Seattle? I don't.

 

[Chris Craig]

Just wait till we hire Mutumbo as the color man... We will be back to a magnitude 9.1!

 

[Boob-No-More]

For all those freaking out about hiring a "Seattle guy", Calabro has ties to Oregon as well - as witnessed by his career defining role as 3rd Airport Reporter in Prefontaine.

BNM

 

[Chris Craig]

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?

From our cold dead fucking hands. If Paul moved the Blazers to Seattle, there would be hell to pay. The Blazers would lose alot of fans. They'd better change the name of the team too...the only Trail Blazers are Portland....moving to Seattle wouldn't exactly make since financially either.

 

[riverman]

Really! Why would he need one in Seattle? I don't.

Maybe you could hook him up a schooner...I don't think wealthy guys like him with families need to sell everything they own to move 150 miles for a job...Portland is much closer than his ESPN office I'm pretty sure

 

[illmatic99]

 

[MarAzul]

The Blazers would lose alot of fans

Well all the matter is filling the seats in the new arena in Seattle. The long time favorite announcer there goes a long way toward that need.

 

[BBert]

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.

I think it is what McGowan said: They wanted to add some juice. Calabro is more animated than MB, and that is the direction they wanted to go with their on air product. I liked MB just fine, but I get where they are coming from.

 

[BBert]

Come home Brent!

 

[santeesioux]

I really hope the other hire isn't PJ.

 

[MarAzul]

Maybe you could hook him up a schooner...I don't think wealthy guys like him with families need to sell everything they own to move 150 miles for a job...Portland is much closer than his ESPN office I'm pretty sure

It's crappy drive between Portland and Seattle. I sure would not want to do it very long. Hell I got tired of doing it to Olympia.

 

[BBert]

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

So does Portland. Blazers and Timbers.

And we are reigning league champions in one of those.

 

[Natebishop3]

Join up Bones!

 

[TBpup]

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.

I heard from a college buddy of mine who was a huge Sonics fan and he was quite happy with the move just from the standpoint that he thinks Calabro is the best in the business. If it helps open up the Blazers to being a bigger TV market, what is the harm in that? Portland is considered a Seahawks TV market as well as for the Mariners.

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.

Exactly.....I think it is a bonus but not the reason. It might be why he was available because he still resides in the PNW but Portland just landed the guy calling game 7 of the NBA Finals. I'm not sure how that isn't a HUGE get?

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

So very well expressed....well done BNM.

Not to mention the press release from McGowan was very cold.

And I think that is why so many Portland fans had such an issue with it. It was the 'How'. Not one mention of their names but instead they were referred to as 'they're'. That was very impersonal.

Another Twitter portent like McGowan following Calabro?

 

[BBert]

I really hope the other hire isn't PJ.

Oh, god. Just when I got the thought out of my head!

 

[illmatic99]

Pretty random of Barry to tweet that now, no?

The dude was just in Cleveland for Game 6. Even made a cameo on the Truehoop podcast last night dissecting the game. Yet, he has a thing to say about Calabro in POR. BTW, those two did work a few SL games a few years back.

Hmm

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Yep, and now they are free to work elsewhere and "earn" two paychecks. Or, they can take a year off with pay. Not bad work, if you can get it.

BNM

Well unless they have a non-compete which we are unsure of.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Oh god no... Walton or Roy would be horrible. Roy has a terrible voice for broadcasting.

And Roy is more Seattle than he is Portland.

 

[BBert]

LOL @ Hubie Brown. How about "The Czar of the Telestrator" Mike Fratello?

I actually like Fratello. Must be why I can't remember the last game I saw him do. He's not enough of an obnoxious prick for network TV.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

All things considered, this is the best possible news for the play by play job, IMO.

Now, I'm waiting for the worst possible news for the color position.

That's racist.

 

[Natebishop3]

Pretty random of Barry to tweet that now, no?

The dude was just in Cleveland for Game 6. Even made a cameo on the Truehoop podcast last night dissecting the game. Yet, he has a thing to say about Calabro in POR. BTW, those two did work a few SL games a few years back.

Hmm

Does Barry have kids? Where does he call home?

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

Funny how people are freaking out about the Seattle ties when Calabro was originally a Hoosier. I watched his brother do local sports in Indiana for years before moving out here.

 

[Mediocre Man]

So does Portland. Blazers and Timbers.

And we are reigning league champions in one of those.

Then Seattle has 3

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

Criminy, as a fan since 1970, I'm still mourning the firing of Jimmy Jones as play by play guy....and was just getting adjusted to Barrett and Rice. Sigh.............solid hire, very shabbily done.....

 

[Natebishop3]

Funny how people are freaking out about the Seattle ties when Calabro was originally a Hoosier. I watched his brother do local sports in Indiana for years before moving out here.

It's not so much where they're born. Isn't Calabro the equivalent of Bill Schonely to Sonics fans?

 

[santeesioux]

On the Seattle thing I've always heard that the NFL has a rule that doesn't allow an owner to own more than one team in the same city, is that true?

 

[BBert]

And Roy is more Seattle than he is Portland.

I would be profoundly disappointed if they hired Brandon Roy.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

If a hire in the Blazers' broadcasting world can "move the needle," then this is certainly one of those moves.

 

[Natebishop3]

I would be profoundly disappointed if they hired Brandon Roy.

I know a lot of people still love him, but he rubbed me the wrong way on his way out the door.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Well unless they have a non-compete which we are unsure of.

You also claimed they were fired without cause. We don't know that either. Most such contracts contain language that allow either party to terminate the contract early under specific conditions. I suspect, but obviously don't know, that one of the conditions for early termination by the team was the waiving of any non-compete clause. Both Barrett and Rice have tweeted about potential future employment options. I don't think they'd be actively lobbying for work the day they were canned if they knew they couldn't work in their chosen field for a year.

BNM