SB Nation User Blog: MavetheGreat

Where are you sitting?

MavetheGreat — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:06:56 -0000

Heads up Blazer fans! You may not have heard, but there's a game tonight at the Rose Garden. In fact, it's the home opener against the Spurs. Halloween night, first game. Put your wallets on a chain and your kids on leashes because that place is going to get crazy tonight.

I'll be in attendance, up in section..hmm I don't have my tickets here and can't remember. I'll post after lunch with my seats.

Where are you sitting?

OT: Blazersedge Community

MavetheGreat — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 22:52:31 -0000

I have a recommendation that this community abides by when it comes to trolls or people who don't promote helpful, and edifying conversation. Ignore them.

In a matter of 24 hours I have seen one guy with an aptitude for worming just beneath people's skin and inching the host into madness make jerks out of our fine community. This is disappointing because many of those people are known for being great assets to the site and promoting fair, and civil discussion.

Let's make a pledge to not lower ourselves or our standards because of someone else's actions, no matter how aggravating. Let's recognize when one of our own, whom we know to be honorable, loses perspective and responds to someone disrespectfully, and let's remind them in as polite of words as possible not to turn ugly. Please respectfully remind me when I'm out of line as well (This post may be out of line as a Fanpost).

I can't tell you how refreshing this community has been to me. I wish I could read every post written because of how intelligent, articulate and humorous we are (mostly you!). It is equally discouraging when someone turns the Pepsi into Poison. My suggestion: IGNORE TROLLS and they will go away, but above all, and with any response, treat everyone with respect (even if you're sure they don't deserve it).

Sorry for getting sappy...that's unlike me.

Von Wafer scores 23 in preseason game

MavetheGreat — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:58:37 -0000

Von Wafer scores 23 in preseason game

Check out the ex Blazer stealing the show in Memphis

The Email I sent to Comcast Sportsnet

MavetheGreat — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:27:27 -0000

Maybe most of you have seen my comment under the Ryan White article.

Here is a link to that comment where you can find contact information for CSN.

Below is the message I sent to them.

Dear CSN,

Please forward this to parties responsible for the negotiations with cable providers regarding your station.

To whom it may concern,

A lifelong Portland resident and Blazer fan, I am as proud as punch of our city and our club. The Blazers resurgence has been a rainbow in the dark storm of our current economy. You can’t live in this city and not see enthusiasm and giddiness that has swirled around the upcoming season. In a time of depression and weariness, we needed something to get excited about and we have it.

Unfortunately, there has been an ugly sore marring the beauty of the Blazers pending season. Comcast and many cable providers have been unable to come to an agreement with terms of the CSN station. Blame has been passed both ways, and the sides have appeared to dig trenches and refuse to give ground. There has been a lot of money spent on bickering, name-calling, and ads to pass the buck. I’m not interested in that game anymore. It’s time for the parties to take a look around and see the situation for what it is. Ugly. Nasty. Distracting.

I’m not going to write to you about what I would say to the providers, that’s between them and me. I will say, that many of the small providers probably aren’t in a great position financially in this market, and can’t afford what you’re asking. Therefore, it’s time for Comcast to man up. At the cost of losing a bit of profit margin, it’s time for Comcast to realize how important Portland’s lone professional sports franchise is to the city and give it to them. Spin it like a charity move if you want, butter it up and get some good PR, Comcast could use it. How much money are you willing to spend on advertisements that blame others before its greater than what you would make getting your way? It’s time to do the right thing Comcast.

Sincerely

(My Name, which is a secret)

Home Opener...no Ginobli?

MavetheGreat — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:54:46 -0000

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili says he needs arthroscopic surgery to repair a ligament injury in his left heel.

"They're going to operate on me," he told Argentina's La Nacion newspaper Friday. The 31-year-old doesn't know when he'll have the surgery or who will do it.

Ginobili, who helped lead Argentina to a bronze medal in the Beijing Olympics, said an MRI exam of the injury showed no improvement.

"It's the same as it was two months ago, when they did the first exam," he said. "Now, the thing is, it's not better either, and it seems like the only way to repair it completely is arthroscopic surgery."

Ginobili hurt the ankle during the NBA playoffs, and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had urged his player not to compete in the Olympics unless the injury improved.

Link

Spain 2012

MavetheGreat — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 05:08:02 -0000

There's a lot of talk about the team the US fields in the 2012 Olympics. How about the potential Spain has that year? By my estimation, they should have most of the same players, but many of their core players should just be better.

M Gasol: This game is still so raw. Once he learns to use his size to rebound and play within himself, could he be better than Pau? He needs to improve his free throw percentage and shooting, but many other things will be natural for him to improve on.

P Gasol: Already a prolific player, perhaps could have won a championship by 2012.

Rudy: Obviously about to begin his NBA tenure. By 2012, he also might have an NBA championship ring. He also will have received coaching from one of our national team coaches as well as one of the best around. He also could improve a bit by playing a little more within himself. Perhaps the most important thing for him is just like Marc Gasol- playing with NBA players all season. He will know our game and our players better. Dunk on Oden in 2012?

R Rubio: He seems to be years from his peak, and already is touted as maybe the best European point guard ever. Very likely Ricky will have a couple NBA years under his belt as well. We all watched him penetrate past any our guard defending him with the I'm going right, no wait-around the back dribble-now I'm going left move. He could really blossom if he ends up on an NBA team that emphasizes team ball and ball movement as opposed to isolations.

J Navarro: Already a pretty good player, would be coming off the bench again. He might not be able to consistently reproduce his game from last night, but he could easily be a spark plug off the bench for Spain. Juan Carlos doesn't fear the US players, and that runner is extremely difficult to guard.

Calderon: We'll see more from Jose after running the show for Toronto the next few years, but I would guess that he too will be a better player for Spain in 4 years.

Bench/role players: There are a few players who were important for Spain this year who may be too old in 2012 (Garbajosa, Jimenez, Mumbru), but they still have a handful of strong role players who know the system, and scrap and hustle on every single play.

Spain in 2012: How many countries will be on the same tier as the US in four years?

Bayless feature article

MavetheGreat — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:37:11 -0000

Here's an article from NBA.com about our boy. They even got a couple pictures of him smiling!

http://www.nba.com/summerleagues/bayless_feature_080717.html

A couple of juicy quotes from the link:

“Whatever the coach wants me to do, I’ll do,” Bayless said. “I’ve stressed that since I got to Portland.

“I just want to be a part of it. I don’t want to be the man, I don’t want to be nothing else like that. They already have Brandon Roy – he’s the All-Star. They already have Greg Oden – he’s the No. 1 pick. They already have LaMarcus Aldridge who’s probably going to be a future All-Star. I just want to be a part that comes in and helps them win some more games.”

OKC

MavetheGreat — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 20:51:49 -0000

As with the rest of you, I'm disgusted by the Sonics moving to Oklahoma City, but muliply that by ten for who repulsive it is to see Clay Bennett proclaim "We made it" basically confirming that he had deceitful intentions the entire time.

How could you feel good about this if you live in Oklahoma City though? You have the guilt of every Save our Sonics poster and teary eyed fan flashing in your head every time you close your eyes. You have the nation's most hated man delivering tainted goods to your doorstep with a huge grin. You don't trust him, but you do want to see NBA games. You don't want to support these methods, but you also don't want to ruin the one chance your city has for a professional basketball team.

Has anyone heard from OKC?

Navarro back to Spain

MavetheGreat — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:18:26 -0000

It looks like one Spanish player will return despite moderate success in the NBA in his rookie year. The article doesn't describe Navarro's reasoning, but let's hope it doesn't become a trend. Maybe he's thinking now he can dominate over there now that Rudy is leaving.

Any Spanish speakers out there that can provide some more insight in why this guys wants to go back home?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3452735

Rudy

MavetheGreat — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:34:34 -0000

Does we already know what jersey number R-nandez will wear next year?

I believe he should be a starter next season...at least by Christmas. I would start him at SF or move Brandon to either the 1 or the 3.

My reason is that he already is a better scorer than Travis or Martell. His defense will likely be bad, but we should have a good interior presence next season.

(I apologize if this conversation has been previously discussed, just call me a noob and move on to another fanpost).