SB Nation User Blog: SloppyJoe

Rad Bad Blazers Video from 87

SloppyJoe — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 01:41:58 -0000

Rad Bad Blazers Video from 87

I stumbled across this on the "For Portlanders Only" website (something everyone who grew up in the area should check out)..some notable cameos, Michael Holton among them! Fun stuff!..

My Thoughts on Oden and Your Blood Pressure

SloppyJoe — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:57:18 -0000

I can't hold this back any longer.

i think 50% (based on the MSPs poll results earlier this morning) of Blazer fans need to chill the heck out. Apparently 50% of Blazer fans were disappointed in Greg's showing at FanFest.

The expectations on this kid are immense, granted, and partly due to the Blazer's own marketing efforts. But, we, ourselves are apparently inflating expectations beyond what is reasonable to expect.

Don't let those expectations blind you to his situation. Even though we all assume he's some Super-Being with Power and Abilities far beyond those of Mortal Men, he is a man who has spent the last year of his life away from the basketball court recovering from surgery. It's going to take some time for him to be dominant. It's clear he has the tools, and the abilities to become dominant, but for us to expect him to come out tonight at Sacramento and drop 30/14/6 assists and bench press Spencer Hawes in one hand while eating a chili dog in another is crazy.

I get the feeling many Blazer fans' blood pressure is needlessly being raised by these expectations and expectations of failure.If you have Prozac/Xanax/some other legally prescribed mood altering med, I'd say make sure your bottle is filled now, because what you see in this pre-season might freak you out. But I say, DON'T WORRY.

Since I care about my Blazer brothers and sisters, here is my advice. Do what I do. Sit back, realize the kid doesn't have his sea legs yet, and get back to me at mid-season (at the very least) to tell me he's a bust and that you're disappointed. Don't expect him to dominate tonight; temper your expectations for now, realizing that he's only, what, 20? Remember he doesn't come from Krypton, and can't fly.

Keep in mind, even if his conditioning is off, the sheer size of Greg is going to improve our interior defense.

That concludes my rant. Thanks for reading.

Joe

Comcast Deal Imminent?

SloppyJoe — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:59:25 -0000

On Wheels After Work last night...on (insert really deep voice here) 955 THE GAME Wheels alluded that 'progress' had been made on getting CSN carried on, what I assumed, where Dish and DirecTV. You could tell by his voice that he knew something that he couldn't reveal.

Last week on Courtside, I recall someone making a comment about some impending positive news on this as well...but details were kept very sketchy.

Has anyone heard anything more about this? I'm about to move into our new house and re-activate my DirecTV and would whole heartedly welcome this news.

OT: 95.5 Morning Sports Page Changes

SloppyJoe — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:24:47 -0000

As I pulled out onto the road this A.M. (partially conscious, as usual for a Monday morn), I noticed that the familiar voices of Kenny and Katy on 95.5 The Game (here in PDX) were replaced with some annoying L.A. radio personalities.

According to 92wastheyear, who heard the promo, Gavin "The People's Champ" will take over "The Morning Sports Page" sports talk.

I really enjoyed having a local sports talk show, and feared that once again Portland morning sports talk had been yanked. I didn't mind Kenny's slightly amateurish delivery, and the show had been growing on me lately.

How do you feel about this change?

BlazersEdge Fans on Facebook

SloppyJoe — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:22:26 -0000

Apologies if this has already been brought up (I searched, honest)..

For all you facebook aficionados out there, there is a I Read Blazersedge.com therefore I am a True Blazers Fan group (created by our very own Ben) you can join.

I must say, the readers of BE are a fine looking group!

Linky Link:

I Read Blazers Edge.com Therefore I Am A True Blazers Fan Group

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8084237975

My Thoughts on the Comcast Deal

SloppyJoe — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:35:58 -0000

First off, I realize I might rile a few of my fellow Blazer fans up with my opinion, but hear me out.

I'm tired of seeing people blame the Blazers for the channel not being picked up by satellite or other cable systems. It's misplacing the blame and is short-sighted. In reality, they only control the first link in the chain; the content. (And, in fact, even though they are the 'flagship' of the channel..CSN will also carry Ducks games, etc)

This is business, and how TV deals work. The Blazers simply provide the content which is distributed by Comcast. If Comcast sees no business advantage to offering it sat providers, they have no obligation to. I doubt the Blazers have had much leverage in the beginning to 'force' Comcast to allow carriage on other providers. Since comcast keeps telling us they are 'negotiating' with other carriers, that's what we have to assume they are doing.

Whose to say that DirecTV or Dish, or other local cable companies are even interesting in picking it up? Do you blame the Blazers for that? There's a ton of variables to consider in these 'negotiations'.

Personally, I have DirecTV, and it'll be below freezing in hell (or Los Angeles, - they are about the same IMO) when I move back to Comcast/cable. If the channel isn't made available to me on DirecTV, I'll continue listening on the radio and watching whatever TV networks are showing the game, just like I've always done.

Considering the travesty that was FSNW's (A.K.A. Fox Sports Puget Sound) Blazer's coverage, I'm happy that more games will be available somewhere. Hopefully I'll be watching it on DirecTV at some point.

I have a feeling a deal will be worked out for carriage on satellite systems, then our bickering and complaining will all be moot.

And no..I'm not a Blazer employee..just a uber-fan who is tired of the blamin'

My advice: Relax. Worry about more important things, like what are we gonna do about the point guard position?

(dons his asbestos suit)

New Blazermaniac Father: Advice Requested

SloppyJoe — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 21:49:24 -0000

My wife gave birth to our first child, a baby boy last Friday! He's already got a better jump shot than his old man ;-)

Anyway, as the season nears, do any of you have advice on how I can maintain my usually high level of fandom in the face of diminished sleep and dirty diapers? I must maintain my fatherly responsibilities (those are my most important duties, after all). But I still yearn to listen to/watch all those games!

Any advice on juggling Blazermania and fatherhood?

Joe

Steve "The Snapper" joins Sonics TV team

SloppyJoe — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 15:50:47 -0000

Steve will be working the Sonics games on FSN. I miss him covering Blazer games, but I really miss his "point/counter-point" with Walton on national games. Here's the link for more info:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sonics/2003872804_soni07.html

I'm glad to see that he's going to back on the air. What do you all think?

The Seattle Situation

SloppyJoe — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 17:54:47 -0000

First off, let me offer the disclaimer that I bleed red and black. I'm a die-hard Blazer fan since I stood on my parents shag carpet at age 5 watching the Blazers win the championship.

Having attended college up in Bellingham, I have enjoyed watching Blazer/Sonic duels in both cities over the years. I've even endured razzing from sauced Sonics fans up north. Some of my best friends are Sonics believers.

I am outraged at the apparent silence and lack of acknowledgment Stern has afforded this whole fraked-up situation thus far. There are so many twisted angles to this story that it makes me sick.
Bennett, et al, have wanted to move this franchise all along, with Aubrey McLendon making it clear the other day in his interview in the OK Journal Record. A "Good Faith" effort was a requirement of the sale from Schultz to Bennett. I guess "Good Faith" in this case simply means "token words."

On one hand, you have to fault the Seattle/Washington State leadership for failing to do more. At the same time Bennett has NEVER met with Seattle's mayor. I have a hard time blaming the voters up there, because they have already partially funded two other new arenas, particularly when Bennett didn't want to pay anything out of his pocket for this new NBA arena.

Surely Stern (if not him, the other NBA owners for sure) will take issue with McClendon's statement that he'd be happy to just "break even" in OK city. The league has revenue sharing between teams, and a new team losing money or breaking even isn't going to sit well with the other teams.

I'm hoping this all provides powerful legal ammunition for those seeking to keep the Sonics in Seattle.

Here's a good link that explains the 'keystone cops' method of NBA ownership that Bennett, McClendon have been demonstrating:

http://www.nysun.com/article/60568?page_no=3

Ok, enough of my venting. Thanks for your ear (or eyes in this case). GO BLAZERS!

Greg Oden Truehoop Bullet!

SloppyJoe — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 05:50:06 -0000

I submitted it! Anyone want an autograph? ;)

Ok, ok maybe I'm a little too excited. Long time reader, first time "diary poster" here in the 'Edge.

I read an interesting anecdote about Greg Oden offering a ride home on PA's jet to some KATU reporters from the draft in New York. I sent the link on to Henry, and it made the bullets. It comes from www.oregonmediainsiders.com, a fascinating site with 'behind the scenes' stuff about Oregon TV/newspaper/radio. You'll have to skim through a few comments, but here's the link to the entry:

http://www.oregonmediainsiders.com/node/1212