Rick Barry Challenges Blazers' Character

[e_blazer]

Hey, it was on the Crapzano show, so it has to be good, right?

"I think it's about the character of the players," Barry said. "It shouldn't matter how much money you're making. You should have great personal pride to be happy with yourself and give your best effort and be the best you can every time you step on the court.

"Obviously, they misjudged the character of these individuals that if all of a sudden they're getting paid these contracts and are not going to give the effort... they screwed up."

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/or...y_points_to_trail_bla.html#incart_river_index

You know, because the lack of money accounted for the same record at this time last year, so it's perfectly logical to point to it being the new contracts that are causing the problems this year.

 

[Minstrel]

Lots of people on this forum also think that players got paid and have lost motivation.

I don't subscribe to that theory, but it's a popular one in general (not just about these Blazers). That's why you always hear about "contract year" play and such.

 

[Cippy91]

I believe in this theory to an extent. Especially when you look at Meyers and Crabbes season so far. Moe is not like that at all though. It might be a character thing. Meyers is weak minded, we know that, lets others get to him. Look how he plays. Shit, Crabbe just got 70 mil, maybe he just never expected to get this far in the league and is content with just getting money.

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

Hey, it was on the Crapzano show, so it has to be good, right?

"I think it's about the character of the players," Barry said. "It shouldn't matter how much money you're making. You should have great personal pride to be happy with yourself and give your best effort and be the best you can every time you step on the court.

"Obviously, they misjudged the character of these individuals that if all of a sudden they're getting paid these contracts and are not going to give the effort... they screwed up."

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/or...y_points_to_trail_bla.html#incart_river_index

You know, because the lack of money accounted for the same record at this time last year, so it's perfectly logical to point to it being the new contracts that are causing the problems this year.

Rick Barry is the last guy who should be making statements like that. This is the guy who was the first "big" star to jump to the old ABA for (mainly) monetary reasons. Eventually (the short version) he got sold to the Virginia Squires, where he refused to play because he didn't want to live in Virginia. I like Rick Barry but this is a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black.....

 

[e_blazer]

Lots of people on this forum also think that players got paid and have lost motivation.

I don't subscribe to that theory, but it's a popular one in general (not just about these Blazers). That's why you always hear about "contract year" play and such.

Sure. I see that line of thinking often, but I think it's a superficial take on what's going on with the Blazers. I see no indication of lack of effort on the players' part. I see a bad stretch of the schedule, some close losses, injuries, and perhaps some roster deficiencies as much more of contributing factors than the new contract BS. But people are going to yap.

 

[Minstrel]

Rick Barry is the last guy who should be making statements like that. This is the guy who was the first "big" star to jump to the old ABA for (mainly) monetary reasons. Eventually (the short version) he got sold to the Virginia Squires, where he refused to play because he didn't want to live in Virginia. I like Rick Barry but this is a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black.....

But Barry isn't claiming that getting paid is bad. He's saying getting paid and then relaxing and not playing to your maximum potential is bad. I've never heard any suggestion that Barry was lazy after getting paid. Holding out is a different thing altogether--especially back when players had much less power over where they played.

(Also, I'm not saying Barry is right about the Blazers. I'm just saying that what's criticizing them for is not getting as much money as possible.)

 

[noknobs]

Well if anyone is equipped to comment on character it's Rick Barry..

What’s true is that no one liked Rick Barry. But one of the most loathed characters in basketball history is also one of the game’s biggest heroes.

Barry iswellknown for two things: his subversive, iconoclastic underhanded free throw and his role as the most arrogant, impossible son of a bitch ever to play the game of basketball. Nobody got along with the guy. Even in his oddly premature autobiography, Confessions of a Basketball Gypsy (which, when it was released in 1972, was expected to be a kind-of apologia for his behavior), Barry admitted that he’d once punched a nun. In the same book, his own mother called him greedy.

During the second half of Game 5 of the 1981 NBA Finals, CBS play-by-play man Gary Bender drew attention to a 1956 Olympic team photograph, one in which Russell, the African-American basketball legend, was smiling ear to ear. Barry, working alongside Russell as an on-air analyst, commented jokingly, “It looks like some fool over there with that, um, that big watermelon grin."

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

But Barry isn't claiming that getting paid is bad. He's saying getting paid and then relaxing and not playing to your maximum potential is bad. I've never heard any suggestion that Barry was lazy after getting paid. Holding out is a different thing altogether--especially back when players had much less power over where they played.

(Also, I'm not saying Barry is right about the Blazers. I'm just saying that what's criticizing them for is not getting as much money as possible.)

But this is a guy who bailed on his teammates because he (literally said) he didn't want his kids talking with a Southern accent (though it prolly woulda made Jon Barry more interesting to listen to). He took the money then pretty much tanked it. Not much different than what he's accusing our guys of doing.

 

[Minstrel]

But this is a guy who bailed on his teammates because he (literally said) he didn't want his kids talking with a Southern accent (though it prolly woulda made Jon Barry more interesting to listen to). He took the money then pretty much tanked it. Not much different than what he's accusing our guys of doing.

Well, as I said, I'd view a holdout over not wanting to be on a team to be a little different than choosing to sign a deal with a team and then easing the foot off the pedal.

Granted, I'd agree that that reason for the holdout (if that was literally the only reason) is pretty dumb.

 

[dviss1]

Well if anyone is equipped to comment on character it's Rick Barry..

He's dead to me.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I don't see money as the reason, more like one part of a potpourri of reasons.

This was already a bad defensive team, that didn't really get better with their signings and acquisitions. Maybe this year's team will go on another hot streak and make everybody fell a little bit better about their "character" ( or maybe not)? But I'll be happier if Olshey is a bit proactive this trade deadline.

 

[riverman]

There's some truth to the money end of sports...some guys lose the edge or hunger, get cozy...Vince Carter comes to mind...Plumlee is having a career year and playing his ass off...coincidentally the guy who's in a contract season. You'd hope these things didn't factor in but sometimes they do...I'll say CJ, Dame and Mason are definitely not mailing it in and other guys are playing better but not MIP material like CJ was last year, that's for sure

 

[SlyPokerDog]

"Canzano uses Rick Barry to troll Blazer fans for ratings."

 

[LicketyBrindle]

I don't really think its an effort problem with our recently paid players. I find that a bit of a lazy opinion on Barry's part. No doubt the "BaldFacedDouche " gave him the rundown beforehand and Barry's just going with it for lack of any balanced view. In my opinion we simply overpaid for all but Harkless. I don't necessarily see that much significant difference in Meyers or Crabbes game from last year. We just simply gave them more than I feel they're worth. Simply quadrupling someone's salary is not going to make them all of sudden better than they are. I guess I never figured either ones contribution would vault us to another level. which brings me too Turner. Basically exact same situation only as a new addition we might have at least hoped for a bump in overall team play. No, we basically sank 45mil a year for an inconsistent and mostly ineffective bench rotation. I might find all of them useful players at a price relevant to their talent. Not dogging it in my opinion. Just not that good.

 

[Scalma]

Rick Barry can eat a dick

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I find that a bit of a lazy opinion on Barry's part. No doubt the "BaldFacedDouche " gave him the rundown beforehand and Barry's just going with it for lack of any balanced view.

Exactly!

 

[Boob-No-More]

Rick Barry can eat a dick

Why just one? Why not a whole bag full?

BNM

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Why just one? Why not a whole bag full?

BNM

We should save some for Canzano.

 

[BlazerWookee]

"Balled-Face Truth," lol...

 

[riverman]

Rick Barry can eat a dick

If cannibalism is on the table, he could start with his son Jon.....but Brent must take after the maternal side of the family

 

[Boob-No-More]

Well if anyone is equipped to comment on character it's Rick Barry..

Ok, I remember how (deservedly) hated Rick Barry was back in the day, but this line by the author cracked me up:

Barry is well known for two things: his subversive, iconoclastic underhanded free throw

How exactly is shooting FTs underhanded subversive? Was that Barry's plan, shooting FTs granny style, to bring down the entire league and overthrow the powers that be? I highly doubt if it was, but if true, that would make Barry as dumb as he is loathsome.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

We should save some for Canzano.

A bag full isn't enough. I'm thinking more like a truckload.

BNM

 

[TBpup]

Barry said something bad about the Blazers and didn't sing their praises despite their poor record? He sucks!

 

[Chris Craig]

"Canzano uses Rick Barry to troll Blazer fans for ratings."

Is that Rickrolling? I mean Ricktrolling

 

[riverman]

bad about the Blazers and didn't sing their praises despite their poor record? He sucks

That's not why he sucks but that's why it's news here I guess

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Is that Rickrolling? I mean Ricktrolling

Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down

 

[Chris Craig]

Barry I challenge you to a duel

 

[ripcityboy]

John Canzano had Rick Barry on his radio show? Where was Kanye? It would have had a Holy Trinity of Egotistical Douche bags.

 

[Minstrel]

How exactly is shooting FTs underhanded subversive? Was that Barry's plan, shooting FTs granny style, to bring down the entire league and overthrow the powers that be? I highly doubt if it was, but if true, that would make Barry as dumb as he is loathsome.

The author may have meant that a male pro athlete proudly using a "feminine" shooting style was subversive, socially.

 

[blue9]

I don't really think its an effort problem with our recently paid players. I find that a bit of a lazy opinion on Barry's part. No doubt the "BaldFacedDouche " gave him the rundown beforehand and Barry's just going with it for lack of any balanced view. In my opinion we simply overpaid for all but Harkless. I don't necessarily see that much significant difference in Meyers or Crabbes game from last year. We just simply gave them more than I feel they're worth. Simply quadrupling someone's salary is not going to make them all of sudden better than they are. I guess I never figured either ones contribution would vault us to another level. which brings me too Turner. Basically exact same situation only as a new addition we might have at least hoped for a bump in overall team play. No, we basically sank 45mil a year for an inconsistent and mostly ineffective bench rotation. I might find all of them useful players at a price relevant to their talent. Not dogging it in my opinion. Just not that good.

Great take! While Crabbe/Meyers might be playing slightly below last season's performance, I don't think it's significant. Only Aminu/Davis are significantly worse than last season - and last season was a career year (anomaly) for Aminu, so the regression shouldn't be surprising.