Commitment

Blazer Fan in Chicago — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 05:32:17 -0000

I have gone back and forth about whether to post this or not. I decided to. Bear with me, for the next three minutes as you read, if you will. I think there is something we all ought to consider towards the end of my post.

Having been born raised in Portland and moving to Chicago eight years ago after finishing college, I like to think I know my home city and state well. I always enjoy my visits to see my family twice a year and often bemoan the fact I have chosen to make my home and raise my family in Chicago because I love Oregon so much. Portland is a beautiful place to live and is filled with beautiful people (not a reference to external beauty). There is a refreshing honesty, in general, to the culture there. With so many Oregonians, what you see is what you really get. If I spend the rest of my adult life in Chicago, I will still always love Portland and call it home.

I also love the game of basketball. Growing up I dreamed, like many boys, of being a Trail Blazer. I would sneak a radio into my bedroom when I was little so I could listen live to every game even though they went way past my bedtime. I'm sure my dad knew, but let me do it anyway. Speaking of my dad, he owned a small furniture chain in the Portland area all through my childhood. Much of his business was custom furniture and many of the Blazers would buy furniture from my dad. Clyde Drexler would call my dad the day before he would come in so my brother and I could skip school the next day and go to work with my dad to see Clyde. He even came to my fourth grade basketball team's pizza party. We didn't ask him to, he offered out of the kindness of his heart. When I got older I asked my dad if Clyde asked for some kind of a discount on the furniture for his appearance at my party. My dad assured me Clyde is just a good man. None of my friends believed me that Clyde was coming, but needless to say all of them (and their brothers, sisters, moms, dads, and even a couple grandpas and uninvited friends) showed up at the party just in case I was telling the truth. Clyde sat for an hour talking with all of us. One of the best days of my life. After a very average high school hoops career at a school just south of Portland, my playing days for the game I loved ended. But my love for the game and especially the Trail Blazers could continue. You won't find a bigger Blazers fan than I.

This offseason in particular has been quite a rollercoaster. Like many Blazer fans on the site here, I didn't want KP and company to throw all our cap space (not to mention 5 years) at Hedo Turkoglu. But as time passed I warmed to the idea and got pretty excited thinking about having a point forward who could score and pass which would help Roy's workload but also enable us to play Bayless more without him having to try to fill that role. When I heard reports that Hedo had agreed with Portland I was pumped. I was equally disappointed to hear that Hedo backed away from Portland to sign with Toronto. But I reserved judgment until I got more information. This evening having read Hedo's agent being quoted that Hedo had made a verbal commitment to come to Portland and then backed out once Toronto made an offer, I was really upset. I felt like I had been hit in the face (I've never been punched in the gut so I don't know what that feels like, but I have been hit in the face). I was indignant that the team and city I love had been mistreated and disparaged.

But what has been even more upsetting to me than being jilted by Hedo have been the posts and comments about Hedo and his wife. I think it is fair game to attack Hedo for misleading and lying to the Portland front office. It is one thing to engage in "misdirection" or to "play the free agent period field." It is another thing to verbally commit to sign with the Blazers and pull out of your agreement out of personal preference (after many of the other SF prospects signed with other teams while we were hosting you).

Where many a Blazer fan has crossed the line are the comments making Hedo out to be less of a man because he listens to his wife. Any real man listens to his wife. Her opinion, thoughts, and needs should matter to him more than his own. This is especially true when thinking about the major decisions in life, like where you will live for the next five years. When Hedo made his verbal commitment to Portland and flew out to work out the details, Toronto was a darkhorse canidate that was seen by most to be highly unlikely to gut their team in order to be able to sign Hedo. Once they made a comparable offer, Toronto became an option for Hedo and his family. Should he have honored his commitment to Portland? Probably. Going back on his word may make him less of a man. But looking out for his wife and family don't. At the end of the day, Hedo probably did what he thought was best for his family. When he puts his head on the pillow every night, we aren't there. His wife is.

I am not pointing any fingers here. Just saying what I felt needed to be said. Thanks for considering what I had to say. Now let's go spend our money on a more worthy candidate (or two).

Phew! Rudy wants to play with Turk!

Blazer Fan in Chicago — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:26:22 -0000

Phew! Rudy wants to play with Turk!

On Hoopsworld's chat with Portland guy Jason Fleming, I just got the question below answered...I feel much better now!

Josh in :
Jason, what do you make of Chris Sheridan publishing his article on Rudy Fernandez's unhappiness about the Blazers' pursuit of Turk? It seems sensationalized and poorly sourced. The Oregonian blog ran a post saying it isn't that bad. Is it? Thanks!
Jason Fleming:
Rudy just re-iterated it's not true at all, so there you go. He will welcome playing with Hedo, which is good, since they would have very different roles. Last Rudy question, I promise.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Chat.asp?CHAT_TOPICS_ID=359

SB Nation User Blog: Blazer Fan in Chicago

Commitment

Phew! Rudy wants to play with Turk!

Phew! Rudy wants to play with Turk!