Mike Barrett Comment

[BGrantFan]

This now holds the title of Most Foolish Blazer-related Complaint of 2010-11. It takes over the spot held by the poster who complained how Nate never changes, then subsequently complained in two threads he posted about Nate changing the starting line-up by inserting Matthews over Batum.

We're going to have to go deep inside of ourselves to find something more irrelevant and ridiculous to get upset about this year than Mike Barrett's capital offense. Then again, it is only December, and we have a looonnnnggg way to go, so I'm sure we'll see even more silly complaints as the season plods toward its disappointing finish.

 

[hasoos]

Chances are if you get pissed off over shit like this, it probably only a matter of time before you blow a fuse over some random event anyhow. Try growing a thicker skin.

 

[The Professional Fan]

I heard the comment and cringed. But I could almost FEEL him regret the choice of words afterward. He didn't say it on purpose. It just came out. Relax.

 

[BBert]

Considering all the NBA players who have been shot or otherwise involved in shootings, I've decided the next time Barrett says the word "shoot" during a Blazers broadcast, I'm boycotting the team!! And he better not say someone got "hacked!" That really hacks me off!!

I mean it!!!

Who's with me?

 

[RedHotRollin]

Did anyone catch the comment he made about if Paul Pierce were to bring a knife onto the court and stab someone, he would still think he did nothing wrong? I found this very disturbing and a very poor choice of words being as I believe Paul was stabbed in real life.

Barrett has a superiority complex. Some how since he was never part of such a thing and would never, gives him a right to facetiously take a shot at Paul Pierce. It's not only Paul, he does it to everyone including his broadcast partners Rice being one, who deserves it btw.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

I heard the comment and cringed. But I could almost FEEL him regret the choice of words afterward. He didn't say it on purpose. It just came out. Relax.

I think that's why he said "use it" instead of "stab". He seemed to hesitate mid sentence.

Oh, and I love Mike Barrett and Mike Rice. Maybe it's cause my favorite team is the Blazers and no other commentators know shit about them.

 

[illmatic99]

no other commentators know shit about them.

I think you'd be surprised.

 

[e_blazer]

I think that's why he said "use it" instead of "stab". He seemed to hesitate mid sentence.

I agree. I think his built-in censor tried to kick in as he realized that what he was saying was a bad choice of words. His point about Pierce was on target, IMO, but he shouldn't have said what he did. Given the number of hours he spends talking in public, it's bound to happen from time to time. Give the guy a break.

Oh, and I love Mike Barrett and Mike Rice. Maybe it's cause my favorite team is the Blazers and no other commentators know shit about them.

Same here. I think they strike a nice balance of giving you information and keeping it light. They're the Blazers broadcasting crew and, while they should be objective about things overall, a little homerism is a good thing from my viewpoint.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

I think you'd be surprised.

I've listened to other commentators. For the national TV games, you can tell the commentators only see the games they call and then 2 minute highlights of Blazer games. Other team's commentators only see them when their team plays the Blazers. I realize that Mike and Mike are basically the same, but I like them because what they know and seem to care about is the same as what I know and care about. They are both actually very knowledgeable and they admit when calls against the Blazers are correct as much or more than any other team's commentators. The Boston guy thinks no Celtic has ever committed a foul. I'm very impartial about fouls and calls when it comes to basketball. When I play with my friends and I think a guy on my team made a bullshit call I tell him. I know Mike and Mike get some calls wrong, all fans do. I don't get the hate for Rice or Barrett. So MB likes to stay positive, so what? If you actually listen to him and forget your own prejudice towards him, he has been swaying a lot of negative things recently too.

 

[illmatic99]

His voice and tendency to emphasize completely arbitrary words while calling a sequence in his PbP bug me. Also, I hate when he says the opponent "traveled WITH the ball....AND scores," when clearly the guy wouldn't have traveled, but if someone on the Blazers does the same thing, he goes something like, "... drives INTO the lane...and puts IT in." (note the emphasis on arbitrary words in my example). Just those quirks add up, and I don't think he's a good announcer, and it's my personal preference. We should have replaced him with the legend, Kevin Calabro, who was available after the Sonics left (he's not available now).

I feels sorta similarly about Wheels. He's really good at calling quick action, but he sounds like he's cutting himself when the opposing team makes a run.

 

[BGrantFan]

His voice and tendency to emphasize completely arbitrary words while calling a sequence in his PbP bug me. Also, I hate when he says the opponent "traveled WITH the ball....AND scores," when clearly the guy wouldn't have traveled, but if someone on the Blazers does the same thing, he goes something like, "... drives INTO the lane...and puts IT in." (note the emphasis on arbitrary words in my example). Just those quirks add up, and I don't think he's a good announcer, and it's my personal preference. We should have replaced him with the legend, Kevin Calabro, who was available after the Sonics left (he's not available now).

I feels sorta similarly about Wheels. He's really good at calling quick action, but he sounds like he's cutting himself when the opposing team makes a run.

You seem to spend a lot of time getting angry about announcers paid by Paul Allen. Knowing how Paul feels about loyalty from his employees, it may be better for your psyche to just mute the game and watch without sound.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

His voice and tendency to emphasize completely arbitrary words while calling a sequence in his PbP bug me. Also, I hate when he says the opponent "traveled WITH the ball....AND scores," when clearly the guy wouldn't have traveled, but if someone on the Blazers does the same thing, he goes something like, "... drives INTO the lane...and puts IT in." (note the emphasis on arbitrary words in my example). Just those quirks add up, and I don't think he's a good announcer, and it's my personal preference. We should have replaced him with the legend, Kevin Calabro, who was available after the Sonics left (he's not available now).

I feels sorta similarly about Wheels. He's really good at calling quick action, but he sounds like he's cutting himself when the opposing team makes a run.

Fair enough. I agree with you about the travelling thing.

 

[MARIS61]

I heard Paul Pierce was a cancer patient.

 

[Fender]

Are you serious?!? I can swear that I've heard this phrase used a ton of times in the NBA. Just because it was used on someone like Paul pierce (who came from a bad background) makes it insensitive? Get a grip.

 

[Ed O]

Are you serious?!? I can swear that I've heard this phrase used a ton of times in the NBA. Just because it was used on someone like Paul pierce (who came from a bad background) makes it insensitive? Get a grip.

He didn't just come from a bad background. He was stabbed 11 times in 2000.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Pierce#Stabbing_incident

Acting like every NBA player has been knifed is just silly and ignorant.

Ed O.

 

[Fender]

Acting like every NBA player has been knifed is just silly and ignorant.

Wtf??? It is just an expression about constant complaining to referees. Like I previously said, I've heard analysts say it many times before. I don't find it as a big deal when used on a player like Paul Pierce even if he had been stabbed before and especially over 10 years ago. I mean how is everyone supposed to
remember and on the spot.

How am I acting like all NBA players have been knifed?

I would. I don't think that Pierce has ever been shot.

Also, it would be ridiculous to change the type of "weapon" used based on the person. "Don't ever associate the word knife with Paul Pierce and Don't ever associate the word gun with Gibert arenas", now that is silly and ignorant.

Now I would say this though; I do believe that it is kind of dumb for them to even talk about using weapons mostly since children watch as well. They can just as easily say "threw a punch."

 

[barfo]

Me, I would never make a joke about something that involves health-related issues. But I can see how Mike B. might have done this unconsciously. He might not have been thinking about Pierce's knife misadventure when he said it, it might just be that knife was the weapon that came to mind for use in his metaphor because knife and Pierce are associated in his mind.

barfo

 

[Ed O]

Wtf??? It is just an expression about constant complaining to referees. Like I previously said, I've heard analysts say it many times before. I don't find it as a big deal when used on a player like Paul Pierce even if he had been stabbed before and especially over 10 years ago. I mean how is everyone supposed to
remember and on the spot.

YOUR ignorance of the stabbing is excusable. MB's would not be. In fact, as others have posted, I bet his brain made the connection and then tried to "unsay" what he was saying mid-sentence.

Also, it would be ridiculous to change the type of "weapon" used based on the person. "Don't ever associate the word knife with Paul Pierce and Don't ever associate the word gun with Gibert arenas", now that is silly and ignorant.

Not at all. You can't refer to many people in many ways based on who they are and what their race is, for example. Tailoring comments to the player is standard and would be odd if NOT done.

Now I would say this though; I do believe that it is kind of dumb for them to even talk about using weapons mostly since children watch as well. They can just as easily say "threw a punch."

He was stabbed. He almost died.

If you don't think that's a more sensitive issue than Giblert Arenas getting into trouble... I don't know what to tell you.

I can understand why people are defending MB (I am not upset about it, personally, and as I said initially I am sure that he meant nothing by it) but I don't understand how anyone can pretend like making an oblique reference to his near death is simply not an issue.

Ed O.

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

This is my buddy in Spain at a normal shopping mall.

I definitely think that the PC police have taken over our country.

 

[jlprk]

This now holds the title of Most Foolish Blazer-related Complaint of 2010-11...I'm sure we'll see even more silly complaints as the season plods toward its disappointing finish.

You're right that some people seem to enjoy being offended. Second place goes to the lupus thread.