J.A. Adande's: The Blazer Fans deserve better

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Clickbait warning. Its a good article.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12407958/nba-portland-trail-blazers-deserve-better

In no NBA city is the investment/return deficit for a fan base and its team as sorrowfully large as Portland, where the only explanation for the cycle of heartbreak that stretches back almost 40 years brings to mind the line Clint Eastwood icily delivers in the climactic scene of "Unforgiven": Deserve's got nothin' to do with it.

Of the six NBA teams that don't share a market with an NFL, NHL or Major League Baseball team, the Blazers have been around the longest. That combination of longevity and exclusivity has created a bond enhanced by passion and knowledge of the sport.

"This city is pretty special when it comes to how they embrace the players that play here and continue here and making it their home," said former Blazers guard Terry Porter.

 

[santeesioux]

They need to win it all this year. The Ducks losing was rough.

 

[BlazerWookee]

They need to win it all this year. The Ducks losing was beautiful.

FIFY...

Neener.

 

[magnifier661]

Wtf man?!?! Why am I so emotional reading shit like this. I need to turn in my man card!

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I teared up skimming through it.

 

[e_blazer]

Personally, I don't like the poor, poor, pitiful Blazers fans routine. I don't view the Blazers as any kind of a failure for not having won a title in the last 38 years. Only a handful of teams have won in that time period and many other franchises have never won a title. The Blazers have been close a couple of times and I'd sure love to see them get over the top. Yeah, we've had more than our share of bad luck with injuries, but if you dig into the record, you can find that most teams have dealt with career-ending injuries and bad draft picks. I'm just rooting for this team to stay healthy and go into the playoffs on a tear. After that, let the chips fall where they will.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Ahem...wookee and I did the "defense" chant at Fanfest!

 

[jlprk]

Adande is an old-line Negro Oreo cookie who criticizes any black rebels. I'm not clicking. But I'll commence crying, just to join the crowd.

 

[PDXFonz]

"oh shit an entire espn article just about the blazers?"

"oh wait never mind they are just trying to hype for television ratings tonight"

 

[Boob-No-More]

Threads like this are why I love this forum. I come here every day to read about my beloved Blazers and I learn something new almost every day.

For example, until I read this thread, I had absolutely no idea Mags even has a man card.

BNM

 

[Strenuus]

Wtf man?!?! Why am I so emotional reading shit like this. I need to turn in my man card!

I'm liking you being emotional, not to turn in your man card.

Man cards are stupid.

 

[Strenuus]

"oh shit an entire espn article just about the blazers?"

"oh wait never mind they are just trying to hype for television ratings tonight"

To be fair, JA was just in town. I thought it was good.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Personally, I don't like the poor, poor, pitiful Blazers fans routine. I don't view the Blazers as any kind of a failure for not having won a title in the last 38 years. Only a handful of teams have won in that time period and many other franchises have never won a title. The Blazers have been close a couple of times and I'd sure love to see them get over the top. Yeah, we've had more than our share of bad luck with injuries, but if you dig into the record, you can find that most teams have dealt with career-ending injuries and bad draft picks. I'm just rooting for this team to stay healthy and go into the playoffs on a tear. After that, let the chips fall where they will.

I didn't read this as a poor "lovable loser" fanbase article; more that we have some goddamn personal dignity in the face of challenges. The point (which is hugely salient) about us not suddenly expecting a championship out of Our Guys because Jerome passed away was a good one. We know life and basketball, and we know what's important to us. A championship will be the reward for playing great ball.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

"oh shit an entire espn article just about the blazers?"

"oh wait never mind they are just trying to hype for television ratings tonight"

Better than "oh, another espn article shitting on the blazers"

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Better than "oh, another espn article shitting on the blazers"

A low bar to jump over but I'll take it.

 

[noknobs]

I don't view the Blazers as any kind of a failure for not having won a title in the last 38 years. Only a handful of teams have won in that time period and many other franchises have never won a title.

I was skeptical of that comment but I checked and as it turns out only 11 cities have won since 1977, and one of those cities no longer has a team, so I suppose it could always be worse.


Portland does have a championship, but not during my life time... it would sure be nice to experience that. But at the moment I'm more concerned with beating the Clippers tonight.

 

[magnifier661]

I'm back! Time to give us the power of God and let's get this win!!!!

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I was skeptical of that comment but I checked and as it turns out only 11 cities have won since 1977, and one of those cities no longer has a team, so I suppose it could always be worse.

Or, since the start of "Showtime", 9 franchises in 35 years. 2 of those have won only 1 title, and 1 has won 2, so that means that 6 franchises (LA, BOS, DET, CHI, MIA, SAS) have combined to win 31 of the past 35 titles.

This, IMO, is why the "championship or bust" mentality is pure folly (says the guy with "It's Championship Time!" under his avatar...)

 

[dviss1]

I wasn't logged in so I got to see Jlprk's post... Now I remember why I have him on ignore....

 

[maxiep]

We're one of the luckiest fanbases in the NBA. Few teams have been as consistently good. It sucks not to have repeated 1977, but there are a lot of teams that would trade histories with us.

 

[BBert]

We're one of the luckiest fanbases in the NBA. Few teams have been as consistently good. It sucks not to have repeated 1977, but there are a lot of teams that would trade histories with us.

I've been around for all of it. We've had some really good times, and some close but no cigars. It's been mostly a pretty fun ride, in between the heartbreak.

 

[e_blazer]

If ESPN wanted Adande to write about a long-suffering fan-base for last night's game, he could have gone with the opposing team. The Clippers came into the league the same year as the Blazers (they were the Buffalo Braves back in 1970) and have never won a title. It took until 2013 for them to even get a division title. Most of the time of their existence they've been horribly mismanaged and a perennial doormat. About the only thing that was good about them was that it was an easy ticket to get in LA to watch one NBA-caliber team play. Through all of the Donald Sterling-induced crap, they've had some strong fans who have supported them no matter what. You could make a case that those fans are more "deserving" of something good happening for them than Blazers fans, who've at least been winners and contenders for many years of the team's existence. But we all know that "deserving" doesn't mean jack, and I hope the Clippers continue to be mired in futility for years to come.

 

[Rhal]

If ESPN wanted Adande to write about a long-suffering fan-base for last night's game, he could have gone with the opposing team. The Clippers came into the league the same year as the Blazers (they were the Buffalo Braves back in 1970) and have never won a title. It took until 2013 for them to even get a division title. Most of the time of their existence they've been horribly mismanaged and a perennial doormat. About the only thing that was good about them was that it was an easy ticket to get in LA to watch one NBA-caliber team play. Through all of the Donald Sterling-induced crap, they've had some strong fans who have supported them no matter what. You could make a case that those fans are more "deserving" of something good happening for them than Blazers fans, who've at least been winners and contenders for many years of the team's existence. But we all know that "deserving" doesn't mean jack, and I hope the Clippers continue to be mired in futility for years to come.

Iv seen quiet a few articles about the Blazers on ESPN the last few years and if its not a piece talking about analytics it always seem to be written by Adande.

 

[e_blazer]

Iv seen quiet a few articles about the Blazers on ESPN the last few years and if its not a piece talking about analytics it always seem to be written by Adande.

I don't have any problem with Adande. He's a good writer and I think he treats the Blazers fairly. I just don't like the poor, long-suffering fans angle with the Blazers. I think over the years we've had it pretty good.

That said, a championship would be mighty fine right now.

 

[Rhal]

I don't have any problem with Adande. He's a good writer and I think he treats the Blazers fairly. I just don't like the poor, long-suffering fans angle with the Blazers. I think over the years we've had it pretty good.

That said, a championship would be mighty fine right now.

I guess its how you look at the angle. I dont like it when its talking about the history of the franchise in talking about how we have done but when talking about the injuries to supposed stars in the making iv got no problem phrasing it like that.
In the case of how he used it in this article ill agree that I didnt like how it was used since he combined the hard losses with the injuries.

 

[Natebishop3]

Friggin Adande jinxed us!

 

[illmatic99]

I don't have any problem with Adande. He's a good writer and I think he treats the Blazers fairly. I just don't like the poor, long-suffering fans angle with the Blazers. I think over the years we've had it pretty good.

That said, a championship would be mighty fine right now.

You were saying... sigh

 

[e_blazer]

Man, and we thought that KingSpeed is a jinx. Adande is the Grand Poobah of jinxes. Next time he writes and article about "deserving Blazers fans" I vote to tar and feather the SOB.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Adande has been K*be-rider for since he was a cub reporter. Not on par with Bucher, but now that he has nothing to write about, he turns his evil powers our way...

 

[stampedehero]

Its only a ESPN article. Lets get a hold and look at what is is what it is. Telling the fans they have not won anything in 38 years is bullshit. This fall they'll pick on Cleveland Browns and the Bills. You all know the Timberwolves would not be found in their slick magazine of spiff TV shows. Screw them