Roy On Penn Being Fired (BT Smith)

[ABM]

FWIW

http://www.columbian.com/weblogs/blazerbanter/2010/mar/18/roy-on-penn-being-fired/

Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy addressed the firing of Tom Penn, ex-Blazer vice president of basketball operations, following a workout Thursday at the team's practice facility in Tualatin, Ore.

Roy on Penn's unexpected firing:

We'll miss him. But that seems to be this business. Guys come and go.

On whether the issue can be distracting:

No. I'm not easily distracted. I'm trying to fight to get into this playoff race, and I think guys know how important things are. And, again, guys get injured, you've got to play through it. Guys get traded, you've got to play through it. And that's unfortunate what happened with him, but again, we've got to play through it. We're trying to get as high as we can in this race; we've got teams on our heels. We don't got time to really sit back. Maybe after the season, we can sit back and say, 'Wow, that was a crazy year.'

On whether he has spoken with Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard:

No, I haven't. I seen him yesterday when I came into the weight room, but I was kind of like, 'Hi.' He was kind of busy, and I was getting ready to lift weights. But, no, we didn't speak about anything.

On his first reaction to Penn being fired:

I was like, 'Wow. I wonder what happened?' Usually a guy gets fired, maybe something happened. But it was kind of just something that got brought to my attention. Nobody really knows. I don't want to play detective. I'll let you guys do that. Maybe you tell me what happened one day.

 

[RR7]

It's been talked about a lot, but I just don't see this being a distraction for the players. If it was KP, or an assistant coach, maybe. But the assistant GM, just thinking they are going to let it get to them all that much.

 

[MARIS61]

It's been talked about a lot, but I just don't see this being a distraction for the players. If it was KP, or an assistant coach, maybe. But the assistant GM, just thinking they are going to let it get to them all that much.

Hard to say, depends on the reason.

If it was without good cause, I'd be concerned as an employee.

Allen firing Adleman is why Clyde and company bolted.

 

[RR7]

Hard to say, depends on the reason.

If it was without good cause, I'd be concerned as an employee.

Allen firing Adleman is why Clyde and company bolted.

Yes, but that's the coach, not an assistant GM.

 

[hasoos]

Does Tom Penns firing have any effect on Roy having a long term contract in place here? Nope. I doubt he cares.

 

[Pinwheel1]

No offense to Tom Penn, but once they play another game no one is going to give a shit. Slow week on the Portland NBA beat. Next week we won't remember tom whats his name.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Roy is smart . . . I don't exactly what he is feeling (probably nothing), but even if he was, you don't come out and talk shit about your employer. It is just common sense. There is a pecking order that needs to be respected.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Has KP directly made any public statement (not the ones through his agent) but himself?

 

[MickZagger]

People think Roy gives a shit if Penn is gone. lol

 

[The_Lillard_King]

People think Roy gives a shit if Penn is gone. lol

I don't know, I like Brian Smith. I can see why he did the interview with Roy.

 

[BBert]

Roy, when asked about Penn's firing:

"Who gives a crap? He doesn't play and he doesn't coach. I've never even had a conversation with the guy. How anyone could think an accountant or whatever he is losing his job could have any impact on how we prepare for the playoffs is nuts. I don't have any idea why he got fired. You're the reporter, you figure it out."

 

[barfo]

I think Roy's response was just about perfect - what I would have written for him if I was his PR flack.

1) say something nice - but not too nice - about the deceased.
2) disclaim any knowledge of the killing
3) Show polite interest in the crime, but only because you are being asked about it
4) stress that you are focused on basketball, basketball, basketball

barfo