Kevin Pritchard's Open Letter To Blazer Fans

[ABM]

Nice, KP.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2010/06/kevin_pritchards_open_letter_t.html

Dear friends,

It's incredibly difficult to find the words to convey just how lucky and grateful I am to have experienced what I have for the past seven years with the Portland Trail Blazers, but I felt it was important to try.

First and foremost, I want to thank and salute Paul Allen. He is being unfairly characterized as a bad guy in all of this and that is completely inaccurate and totally unfair. We do not have Luke Babbitt, Elliot Williams, Armon Johnson and Ryan Gomes without an owner like Paul, just as we wouldn't have Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Nic Batum, Rudy Fernandez, Andre Miller or Greg Oden. He is a Blazers fan in every sense of the word and his only mission is to bring another title to Portland. Like any relationship ours has had a few bumps and bruises, but I would not be where I am today without Paul and for that I am eternally grateful and forever indebted to him.

Parting ways is not the end of the world. Ultimately, it may not be a bad thing at all, but right now I know the emotions are pretty raw. But it doesn't serve anyone to bash the Trail Blazers or Paul. It is after all a business of tough decisions. So, for the sake of the players, coaches and everyone who believes in Trail Blazers basketball, let's turn the page, move on and keep our eye on the prize.

None of this is to be taken too seriously. It is just basketball. And, as strange as it may sound, none of the highlights from the past seven years had to do with anything on the court; it was everything off the court that meant the most to me. The little jibs and jabs with my co-workers and the media or enjoying dinner with great NBA friends and counterparts or talking with a passionate fan in the grocery store. In the end, it's all about sticking together and helping each other out.

Portlanders take great pride in their basketball team and it's great to see that love and passion back. I'm glad I was able to play a small part in making that happen, but understand our comeback was a total team effort led by our owner and not me.

Speaking of Portlanders, I want to thank our great fans. Everywhere I went for the past seven years I received nothing but the most positive feedback about how much this city loves its team. I knew every night that we stepped on the court at the Rose Garden that our fans would make the difference and without question having the best fans in the NBA is a huge advantage.

I'll always look back fondly on Portland and the many great memories and all the lasting relationships I made here. Yes, ultimately, I'm tearfully sad to be leaving Portland and incredibly disappointed that I won't be able to help see this thing through to the end. But rest-assured wherever I end up I'll be keeping a close eye on Portland and cheering the team on because I will always consider myself a Trail Blazer.

Thank you, Portland. You're the best. You have a great owner, great players, a great coach, a great team president, a great president emeritus and a great front office. In other words, you have a great team and I mean that from the bottom of my heart.

Keep the faith.

Go Blazers!

Sincerely,
Kevin Pritchard

 

[barfo]

Great letter.
Either KP is the most generous guy in the world, the most full of bs guy in the world, or he really did do something that he shouldn't have. I'm gonna go with door #3.
Who is the president emeritus, and why does he deserve a call-out here?

barfo

 

[ABM]

Who is the president emeritus....?

barfo

I'm thinking Harry Glickman.

 

[Tince]

I'll take KP at his word on this one. What a wonderful letter and it really puts things in better perspective for me...

 

[Minstrel]

Great letter.
Either KP is the most generous guy in the world, the most full of bs guy in the world, or he really did do something that he shouldn't have. I'm gonna go with door #3.

Or he's purposely trying to project an image of classiness since he'll be on the job market again. I suppose that could fit into your option 2, but he may legitimately realize there's two sides to the story and is choosing not to be bitter or petty. It depends on whether you make a distinction between "being full of BS" and being diplomatic.

 

[barfo]

Or he's purposely trying to project an image of classiness since he'll be on the job market again. I suppose that could fit into your option 2, but he may legitimately realize there's two sides to the story and is choosing not to be bitter or petty. It depends on whether you make a distinction between "being full of BS" and being diplomatic.

I don't think the letter gets him another job. It might be a minor positive, but the next employer is going to be much more interested in his track record and his rep within the industry and so on. Letters to fans aren't likely to be a big consideration.

Is there really a distinction between being full of bs and being diplomatic?

barfo

 

[BGrantFan]

I like that Pritchard took the high road with the man who publicly shunned him to seats higher in the crowd, and I like what he said about Portland. I don't believe he'll always cheer for the Blazers, though. I believe he'll cheer for Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Nic Batum, Greg Oden, and the rest of the players he drafted, regardless of where any of them end up during their careers.

Classy letter, filled with emotion, and wordy. Pritchard in a nutshell.

No statement on the firing, slides out the back door on Thursday, and inaccessible for months prior to what most of us knew was eventually coming with Pritchard and his job. Paul Allen in a nutshell.

 

[ABM]

Is there really a distinction between being full of bs and being diplomatic?

barfo

Me thinks it's sincerity. I truly believe he had a genuine love for the city and its fans.

 

[barfo]

No statement on the firing, slides out the back door on Thursday, and inaccessible for months prior to what most of us knew was eventually coming with Pritchard and his job. Paul Allen in a nutshell.

So, your position is that Pritchard is full of bs. Since he said it was in no way to reflect badly on Allen?

barfo

 

[craigehlo]

Way to go out with class and your head held high. Thanks for leaving the Blazers in better shape than you inherited them.

 

[barfo]

Me thinks it's sincerity. I truly believe he had a genuine love for the city and its fans.

I think he's sincere too. Thus my vote for #3.

barfo

 

[Pinwheel1]

Very gracious of him to back PA. Yes Paul could of handled it better, but none the less the fans (fueled by the media) are getting a little too emotional about this and are jumping to conclusions. Thanks KP, you are a Class Act.

 

[BGrantFan]

So, your position is that Pritchard is full of bs. Since he said it was in no way to reflect badly on Allen?

barfo

Nothing he said was untrue, so no, I don't feel he is full of BS. We don't have any of the players without Paul Allen, since he owns the team. Plus, he passive-aggressively slammed Paul Allen by even mentioning that Allen is being criticized. I caught that, Kevin!

Really, all he said about Allen is that Pritchard wouldn't be where he is (fired GM) and that he's eternally grateful for getting a shot at being a GM. I guess I'm missing the effusive praise for Paul Allen. I mean, we all know Allen is a Blazer fan. I notice Pritchard didn't praise Allen for his business acumen, either.

 

[ABM]

No statement on the firing.

Sure there was. Albeit, a short one.

 

[maxiep]

Great letter.
Either KP is the most generous guy in the world, the most full of bs guy in the world, or he really did do something that he shouldn't have. I'm gonna go with door #3.
Who is the president emeritus, and why does he deserve a call-out here?

barfo

Harry Glickman. Because without Harry, there is no Portland Trail Blazers franchise.

 

[MrSelfDestruct]

Classy letter. I'm sure KP will find another job soon, and I really hope he ends up in the Eastern Conference.

Thanks KP, I really wish I had been able to make a Meet and Greet.

 

[maxiep]

Make no mistake, this was an open letter to every owner in the league. Message: I will never trash you.

 

[ABM]

I really wish I had been able to make a Meet and Greet.

For the record...........

http://sportstwo.com/album.php?albumid=73

 

[barfo]

Nothing he said was untrue, so now, I don't fell he is full of BS. We don't have any of the players without Paul Allen, since he owns the team. Plus, he passive-aggressively slammed Paul Allen by even mentioning that Allen is being criticized. I caught that, Kevin!

I don't see how that's passive-aggressive.

He is being unfairly characterized as a bad guy in all of this and that is completely inaccurate and totally unfair.

You are characterizing him as a bad guy in all of this. How do you square that with what KP said? Is he wrong or are you?

barfo

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Classy letter. I'm sure KP will find another job soon, and I really hope he ends up in the Eastern Conference.

Thanks KP, I really wish I had been able to make a Meet and Greet.

It's Ok, apparently Steve Patterson has finally agreed to hold the next Meet and Greet.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I have to wonder, who's taking the high-road here -- KP or PA?

 

[barfo]

Make no mistake, this was an open letter to every owner in the league. Message: I will never trash you.

Is there really a big problem of former GMs trashing owners? Somehow I doubt that's what owners stay up nights worrying about (although, certainly not being trashed is better than being trashed).

barfo

 

[BGrantFan]

I don't see how that's passive-aggressive.



You are characterizing him as a bad guy in all of this. How do you square that with what KP said? Is he wrong or are you?

barfo

KP brought it up, not me. Mentioning the criticism brings up discussions about the criticism. That's very passive-aggressive. Well played, Kevin! Kevin gets to back Allen, yet brings up the criticism at the same time.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

For the record...........

http://sportstwo.com/album.php?albumid=73

That picture shows why KP was let go,

KP is a manila folder & 3 ring notebook kind of guy who believes in modern dentistry while PA is a computer guy with bad teeth.

 

[BGrantFan]

Is there really a big problem of former GMs trashing owners? Somehow I doubt that's what owners stay up nights worrying about (although, certainly not being trashed is better than being trashed).

barfo

Paul Allen doesn't stay up at night worrying about it. He publicly shuns people and strings out their firing when he gets his feelings hurt.

 

[Minstrel]

I don't think the letter gets him another job. It might be a minor positive, but the next employer is going to be much more interested in his track record and his rep within the industry and so on. Letters to fans aren't likely to be a big consideration.

It's not going to get him a job, no. I think how he comports himself will matter to some extent, though. If he goes out Portland blasting the owner, it may make other owners a little leerier of working with him. I don't know how major the effect is, but I'd imagine public image is at least a bit important.

Is there really a distinction between being full of bs and being diplomatic?

I don't know. I suppose the distinction I'd make is simply saying things you don't mean versus honestly recognizing that the other side had some merits you appreciated and striving to emphasize those rather than emphasizing the things that made you furious.

 

[Entity]

For the record...........

http://sportstwo.com/album.php?albumid=73

 

[ABM]

Larry Miller has just sent a threatening letter out to other owners essentially relating if they hire KP within one year there will be pure hell to pay.

 

[barfo]

KP brought it up, not me. Mentioning the criticism brings up discussions about the criticism. That's very passive-aggressive. Well played, Kevin! Kevin gets to back Allen, yet brings up the criticism at the same time.

You are avoiding the question. You say Paul is the bad guy. KP says Paul is not the bad guy. How do you reconcile those two viewpoints? Is KP not telling the truth?

barfo

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

It'll be weird when KP calls representing another team to offer a trade.