Portland Trail Blazers Retired Numbers

[42N8Bounce]

If they are retired for their play, what would that matter?

Pete not being in the HOF for his hitting is asinine

Good point. Are these guy's numbers hanging in the rafters simply because of their accomplishments on the court? Or are they expected to bring something else to the table?

 

[riverman]

If they are retired for their play, what would that matter?

Pete not being in the HOF for his hitting is asinine

Kevin Spacey is a great actor too....but he's not winning another Oscar.....Pete got caught gambling …tarnished his career and it was a shame because he was great....I remember when the Ducks got rid of their 7 ft center Ian Crosswhite if I remember his name...Australian center who gambled against his team and threw some games...those guys don't get banners in the rafters...and it's not the team's fault...that's on them

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I don’t quite get why people think too many numbers are retired.

It’s an honor you give to someone for representing your team well and playing well. Its not the hall of fame. It’s just saying we are putting your number up here and reserving it as yours because of the commitment you had to Portland, to the fans, to the city while you were here.

I personally don’t feel too many guys have their number retired and adding a guy like Kersey would be fine!

 

[riverman]

Good point. Are these guy's numbers hanging in the rafters simply because of their accomplishments on the court? Or are they expected to bring something else to the table?

In the case of Kersey...he was not only a great player but an even greater ambassador to the franchise....I think it often goes beyond just their game although without the game, they wouldn't be in contention ….would roids change Barry Bonds home run record?....many would say yes....guys who hit a few less but didn't take roids to do it get ripped off by the guy who takes drugs to pull it off. Jerry West for example would have 10k more points if there had been a 3 pt shot in his day....scoring title goes to guys who had the 3 pt shot

 

[e_blazer]

I think most of the fans agree with you.

Does anyone think any of these guys are truly worthy?
#13 Dave Twardzik
#14 Lionel Hollins
#15 Larry Steele
#30 Bob Gross
#36 Lloyd Neal
#45 Geoff Petrie

Out of that group, Petrie is the only one I'd have a slight regret about unretiring.

Is there are respectable way to 'unretire' a jersey?

For all of them but Petrie, the Blazers could have a championship jersey category separate from retired numbers. The only reason any of those guys have a jersey in the rafters is because of the championship.

 

[barfo]

There are literally an infinite number of numbers. Maybe we should just retire everyone's jersey! Wouldn't it be nice to see Brook Steppe and Carlos Rodgers up in the rafters?

barfo

 

[42N8Bounce]

There are literally an infinite number of numbers. Maybe we should just retire everyone's jersey! Wouldn't it be nice to see Brook Steppe and Carlos Rodgers up in the rafters?

barfo

Interesting point. Perhaps the NBA should go to letter and number combinations on the uniforms, like license plates, to allow for additional flexibility.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Kevin Spacey is a great actor too....but he's not winning another Oscar.....Pete got caught gambling …tarnished his career and it was a shame because he was great....I remember when the Ducks got rid of their 7 ft center Ian Crosswhite if I remember his name...Australian center who gambled against his team and threw some games...those guys don't get banners in the rafters...and it's not the team's fault...that's on them

The difference is that Spacey won awards while he was still acting.

Pete belongs in the hall. Just like OJ belongs in the hall

 

[riverman]

The difference is that Spacey won awards while he was still acting.

Pete belongs in the hall. Just like OJ belongs in the hall

A lot of people agree with you...I think Pete could've handled it better when he got caught...if he had...he definitely deserves the HOF...he lied when caught and got snarky instead of remorseful...really was a sad thing for me personally because I was a huge fan of Pete's...OJ can fuck himself though...I'm glad he gets stripped of all accolades ...murder and theft are pretty fucking far from sports gambling. Young kids need to look up to HOF members in my book.

 

[e_blazer]

There are literally an infinite number of numbers. Maybe we should just retire everyone's jersey! Wouldn't it be nice to see Brook Steppe and Carlos Rodgers up in the rafters?

barfo

I'm fond of pi, but it's damned difficult to fit on a jersey. No rounding to less than 50 decimal places allowed.

 

[e_blazer]

I've always thought that they should just retire jerseys rather than numbers. Pick a jersey that the player played an important game in and hoist that to the rafters, but leave the number capable of being used again.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I'm fond of pi, but it's damned difficult to fit on a jersey. No rounding to less than 50 decimal places allowed.

I prefer tau, but there’s an interesting arguement to be made.

 

[e_blazer]

I prefer tau, but there’s an interesting arguement to be made.

Now that you mention it, that number would be twice as good as pi.

 

[Mediocre Man]

A lot of people agree with you...I think Pete could've handled it better when he got caught...if he had...he definitely deserves the HOF...he lied when caught and got snarky instead of remorseful...really was a sad thing for me personally because I was a huge fan of Pete's...OJ can fuck himself though...I'm glad he gets stripped of all accolades ...murder and theft are pretty fucking far from sports gambling. Young kids need to look up to HOF members in my book.

Ty Cobb was the biggest racist piece of shit ever. Should he be out of the hall since kids might look up to him?

Ray Lewis accused of murder, just like OJ. He just went into the hall.

IT'S ABOUT ON THE FIELD, PERIOD.

Unless you cheat, on the field.

Even b.c. then put an asterisks on their plaque or whatever

 

[Mediocre Man]

https://www.complex.com/sports/2014...mpaign=referral_google_amp&utm_medium=organic

 

[Chris Craig]

Kersey, Petrie, Sabas, Roy

 

[hoopsjock]

It's too bad they didn't just do something like a ring of honor for most of those guys. It would be hard to change it to that now though. If they did they could do the retiring of the jersey for those who are truly worthy of that honor, like the four you mentioned.

 

[42N8Bounce]

I think it's interesting that Sabonis is getting significantly more votes than Uncle Cliffy. Uncle Cliffy played one more season for the Blazers than Sabonis (8 vs 7), played in more playoff games than Sabonis, and appeared in an all-star game.

Along with those 'on the court' credentials, Robinson has also significantly invested in the Oregon economy.
https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/index.ssf/2017/07/cliff_robinson_on_marijuana_an.html

Where's the love?

 

[Harry's Raincoat]

For me, there is no doubt about Walton (League MVP, Finals MVP), and Drexler (8x AS) deserving of retired jersey's as well as obviously NBA HOF. Great players while on the court. Coach Jack also made such an impact on the franchise for 10 yrs, that his #77 is warranted.

Beyond that, there are only a few worth considering for such an honor and it must include either EXCELLENT play and/or LONGEVITY. So, Petrie, Lucas, Paxson, Thompson, Kersey, Porter, Robinson, Wallace, Pippen, Sabonis, Roy, Aldridge, Lillard should be considered IMO.

Weinberg, Neal, Twardzik, Steele, Gross, Hollins, obviously were a nod to the contributions of the Championship season. Fine. Overkill? Yes.

In my own little world, I'd like to see Walton, Drexler, Lucas, Porter, Petrie, Roy, Aldridge and eventually Lillard jerseys reserved for no one else. That's my list.
Petrie and Roy had very very very similar careers. Short careers and little to none postseason success, but impactful players nonetheless. Aldridge is second on almost category ranking and Lillard is still doing his thing, but making a mark for best guard.

Fun to discuss this. I'm one of the guys who remember our teams clear back to the mid 70's and its fun to look back upon those years even just a quick visit.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Along with those 'on the court' credentials, Robinson has also significantly invested in the Oregon economy.
https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/index.ssf/2017/07/cliff_robinson_on_marijuana_an.html

View attachment 22031

So does Sabonis. He has a thriving business down in Hubbard repairing wrecked minvans:

A valuable service to all soccer moms Trail Blazer fans.

BNM