June 2001: We draft Zach Randolph out of Michigan State. Blazer nation collectively says "I didnt know Eddie from Family Matters went to MSU."

2001-2003 seasons: ZBo (I think this nickname developed during this time.) Constantly hitting the offensive boards and making nice putbacks against bigger players and generally putting up good stats even though no plays are run for him. Constantly mentioned, along with Arvydas, as the x factor by Wheels and Rice (note that I primarily listen to games on the radio.) I believe he sucker punched Ruben Patterson during these years as well. Call me old fashioned, but punching a convicted rapist does not bother me. The intrigue begins, very few subtle signs of Zach turning into ZBo. Where was the hoops family at this time?

2003-2004: Zach blows up! Rasheed is shifted to center and the man that was previously our garbage man is now getting plays called for him and is balling all over the place. So young and so talented, he makes us ignore some of the warning signs about him becoming a bit of a prima donna and a black hole. We can all put up with random detention for a scuffle around a night club when you are dropping 20-10.

summer 2004. Wow that is a big contract you just got. Were we really that worried about you getting away? Even a ZBo apologist like myself is a little blown away by your contract, but whatever, you are going to lead this team to the promised land.

2004-2005 Watching you as the focal point of the offense is not so great. Plus your behavior is more and more erratic and your attitude has taken a turn for the worst. Lucky for me you mask all of my accruing doubts about your ability as a leader and a go to guy by injuring your knee. Also, Mo Cheeks does not seem to be that great of a coach. Next year things are going to be different.

2005-2006 A new coach, a fixed up knee. All of your attitude problems are going to be behind us as Nate wont accept that garbage. Hey buddy what happened to all that rebounding hustle? Oh you save for the offensive end. All right. Luckily we can still blame this season on a knee that is 80% and an adjustment period for you and Nate.

2006-2007 Wow what a great year...statistically. You look awful when you are away from the basket. Sure you can shoot it, but doesent that leave you out of position for your bread and butter, offensive rebounds? Your game is hard to watch let alone listen to on the radio. You are damaged goods and this may be your ceiling. What are we going to do with you? Can we get you to play like Zach Randolph used to ZBo? We seem kind of stuck with you at this point, but you do have some game. Unfortunately it is not the game you are playing.

Also, you had some weird run ins with the law. A little tip; If you are into weird sex stuff use the internet. I realize you have the money to hire live sex shows, but this situation is not a good one. Keep it on the computer buddy. I will even show you how to erase your history folder and delete your cookies so that your perversion never bites you in the ass.

Summer 2007: Mercifully you are traded to one of the most dysfunctional franchises in the league. We eat 30+ million in a Steve Francis buy out. Does that tell you something about what you have become? You are so disliked that we trade you for the right to buy out a huge contract. That is no compliment my friend.

Now where does the culpability lie in turning baby faced Zach Randolph into baby faced ZBo? Some of the blame should definitely go on whoever first called a play for you. This was a bad move. The fans tolerated some silly behavior on your part and we should be blamed for that. Management should be blamed for believing an undersized PF not named Elton Brand was worth max money. You should be blamed as you believed all the hype about yourself.

So lets let bygones be bygones and we will both go on our merry way. Put er' there Zac..ZBo.

That being said, consider the chemistry of the teams around him.  Rasheed "CTC" Wallace, Isiah "They're Still Lynching Us" Rider, Bonzi "Blackout" Wells, Ruben "The Nannystopper" Patterson, Qyntel 'Pitbull' Woods, Damon "Hummer" Stoudamire, Darius "In Da Club" Miles, etc. etc. etc.

The Blazer roster looked like a home for troubled boys.  HOW REFRESHING TO HAVE THE GROUP OF GUYS WE HAVE NOW.  Thank you Paul Allen for finally getting a clue, and thank you KP for knowing what it takes to build a successful franchise we can love once again.

I wouldn't say we are responsible for the Monster that Z-Bo is.  Giving some of these guys Max-Contracts sort of rewarded their bad behavior and didn't help.  Whitsitt tended to disregard character in favor of talent.  The WCF team of the lockout season, and the WCF team that lost to the Fakers had enough character to counterbalance the bad apples. (Brian Grant, Steve Smith, Scottie Pippen, Arvydas Sabonis, etc.) When those guys left, the environment was in place where all of the players mentioned above congregated together and fed off of each other's degeneracy.

And now Zack plays for the Knicks....