Jason Quick responds
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 11, 2008 4:16 PM PST
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PrintHere's the link: Sorry Greg
First off, I listened to them and was, quite frankly, embarrassed. I didn't intend to come across so abrasive, but I did, and I have no other choice but to own up to it.
There is one line I would like to take back, where I said "I can't stand to be around" Oden. I think a more accurate reflection of my feelings would have been to say 'I'm sick of dealing with the entity of Greg Oden." The entity of Oden is the media mosh pits around him. It's hearing stupid questions, like ones about his beard. It's the incessant questions on the radio, and in internet chats, about him. And yes, it's the actual dealing with Greg himself. I totally stand by my comments that the guy is not pleasant to be around. There is nothing enjoyable about it.
At the same time, he has never been a jerk. Never. But he's sullen, uninterested, he mumbles, and generally acts like he is living a tortured life. And that's where it gets frustrating for me. There is a great kid somewhere inside this shell he has crawled into. I've seen it. I saw it at the Orlando Pre-Draft camp before Portland drafted him, when he had a table of reporters practically rolling on the ground in laughter. I saw it in an interview I did with him at a downtown Portland hotel, when he was moving, thoughtful and engaging and smart. I miss that. I think Portland misses that. Because really, that's Greg. And that part of Greg is a sliver of what made him a great basketball player. Now, that sliver is gone.
Here's my 2 cents: Get over it and move on in life.
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Meh
Quick is walking on thin ice with the rest of Portland it seems. I think the last person you wanna alienate after Brandon Roy, is Greg Oden.
"Phooey Michael, P-H-O-O-E-Y, phooey", said Tony Luftman.
by Outlaw is Rejector on Dec 11, 2008 4:25 PM PST reply actions
Well,
SOMEONE aliened Travis Outlaw long ago.
And I thank them for it.
"I like blocks," Fernandez said.
LOL I didnt alienate Travis, Travis Alienated ME!
Though patience be a tired mare, yet she will plod. - William Shakespeare
i still dont get it...
whats so funny about that. What makes him an alien?
Sophia
Though patience be a tired mare, yet she will plod. - William Shakespeare
i just think hes goofy looking like an alien.
i find it extremely endearing.
nm
"I like blocks," Fernandez said.
OH, OK that's what I assumed but I didnt know if there was some sort of
joke I am not privy to. He looks like gumby.. is gumby as alien?
Sophia
Though patience be a tired mare, yet she will plod. - William Shakespeare
his head is kind of a strange shape
looks a little like the
bald and what not…just kind of a little bedge joke
by Sabonis4Ever on Dec 11, 2008 5:37 PM PST up reply actions
that is extremely disturbing.
Though patience be a tired mare, yet she will plod. - William Shakespeare
If you were making a montage video of Outlaw highlights would you
Use the song
“Mississippi Queen” by mountain
or
“Subterranean Homesick Alien” by radiohead
???
If I were making a montage of the Blazers
I’d set it to “Brothers Gonna Work It Out” by Public Enemy. Chuck D FTW.
Walking on thin ice?
The Blazers organization gives him tons of access and I haven’t seen anything about them limiting it…
Maybe you missed this article:
http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2008/12/blazers_give_it_up_for_oden.html
Apparently Oden has ignored the senseless calls of BEdgers to ignore Quick and answered questions for that article… hmmm… Why don’t we start attacking Oden now for talking to Quick.
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 11, 2008 4:38 PM PST up reply actions
Jason Quick is an excellent beat writer
who made some inappropriate comments and now owned up to it. Let’s move on.
Boomshakalaka
Yup
If you read that whole piece, what else is there really to say?
It wasn’t that he wasn’t making valid points, it was the way he was making them that was upsetting people. He cleared that up with this and now it is over.
Period.
Word.
"I like blocks," Fernandez said.
I think the points upset a lot of people
Maybe not some, but if you look at the comments on that blog entry, there are a lot spiteful, “I hate yous”
I'm a really really ridiculously good looking orange mocha frappaccino drinking manhammer sandwich
3 long hours away...
Jaws were hitting the floor as Greg repeatedly attempted to tear the rim off the backboard...
The more quick says the more awkward is gets for me
What will happen if Oden reverts to clown man? Is he just dancing for the media now?
In my opinion every new thing Quick says here makes it worse. If Oden becomes a big time player in the future it will make everything he does with Oden awkward. What kind of a beat writer would he be then? For the sake of your career you’ve got to shut up Quick.
Why?
You make assertions about what will happen if Oden becomes a big time player…
Quick and Oden won’t care about this in two years. And you probably won’t remember it either.
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 11, 2008 4:40 PM PST up reply actions
That is what I want, but the way it is right now is awkward
My point is obvious. The less we hear now the sooner we’ll forget about it.
If Conley Jr is what it takes to make GO happy
Then KP should put a deal together to get Conley Jr
The Blazers can’t afford to let Oden slip into a depressed funk
(This reminds me of the “it always rains in Portland” lament from Walton, back in ’73)
If Conley can do for Greg what Rudy did for Sergio
then that trade needs to be looked at.
by Sabonis4Ever on Dec 11, 2008 4:43 PM PST up reply actions
I dont see how he is not a quality point guard
If you mean veteran then I understand
by Sabonis4Ever on Dec 11, 2008 6:54 PM PST up reply actions
Because
Conley is not a significant upgrade over our current crop of PGs. If we’re going to the trouble to make a trade, then I want it to be an improvement.
Some apology!
Say more detailed bad things about the guy! I think I officially don’t like JQ now.
Media types never seem to really apologize (unless they say the N word)
They just own up to it and then clarify themselves by repeating what they said earlier. Not really an apology.
But from the starting point of most media apologies this one looks a bit better than others.
that was no apology.
He heaped on more of the same!
That's because what he was saying was correct
How he said it was wrong. If you can’t tell the difference, then you will never understand why the Blazers don’t care about what Quick said on the radio and the only people who care are lackey fans.
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 11, 2008 4:57 PM PST up reply actions
hey, that's better than no fan at all...
right?
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 11, 2008 5:31 PM PST up reply actions
I'm not really sure how that is an insult at all...
Lackey just means someone who is subordinate and will do things for whoever they are a lackey to. I am subordinate to and would be willing to be a mop guy for a day at a blazers practice.
Wouldn’t you?
".. is gumby an alien?" - Sophia
Way to show off your small-town mentality
Circle those wagons for Oden. Too bad the Blazers don’t share your opinion. Greg answered questions for Quick regarding Nate’s post game speech in Toronto.
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 11, 2008 4:55 PM PST up reply actions
where do these trolls come from?
you call me a lackey fan and accuse me of a small-town mentality because I thought it was a weak apology? What’s up?
come on Blazin', get over it
Oden doesn’t care about Quick’s comments on some lackey radio show (lackey because 1080 gets lower ratings than 95.5 TheGame).
Why do we need to act like Oden’s PR agent and attack the guy on blogs. Did he use a poor choice of words? Yes. Was the overall meaning of his comments legitimate? Yes.
Let’s not fight about it. Just accept the criticism of your player and focus on the next game.
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 11, 2008 5:36 PM PST up reply actions
Allright Bucket-
I intend to get over it. :). Can you explain to me why talking about GOs personality and JQs like/dislike thereof is a “legitimate” topic for a journalist in a public setting? You don’t see that as crossing a professional boundary?
If that was the only thing it's about, then yes
Quick’s point was that Oden was not being a nice guy around the locker room in general. He used and emphasized his personal taste for him (ok, that sounds kind wierd, sorry) but if you listen past the “downer” and “I can’t stand to be around him” comments he says, “I don’t think it’s just me”.
Quick is mad and frustrated that Oden isn’t being Oden anymore, like the guy who had reporters falling over themselves at the Orlando pre-draft camp…. etc, etc,. etc.
And Quick is concerned that Oden will not be able to start playing better until he gets over this expectations/mental thing. Toward the end of the interview he says, “I don’t know how he’s going to do it, but he needs to”.
Quick is pissed off that Oden is not being able to let go of the expectations and just play ball and be cool in the locker room. Did he use poor phrasing to express this? Yes, terrible. But it wasn’t just a question of “Jason, who are your buddies on the team?”. It came across as Quick saying he doesn’t like to be around Oden, but that wasn’t the point of his comments.
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 11, 2008 6:00 PM PST up reply actions
Are you JQ?
What’s your problem with small-town mentalities?
What, you’d give the water to the salmon over me! If I had my gun…
nice "water/salmon/human" reference
I get that.
I love guns and have several. And grew up in a small town.
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 11, 2008 5:34 PM PST up reply actions
It would seem
Blazer’s Edge has acquired some influnce. Congratulations Dave. For what it’s worth, home sickness will pass with time but depression lasts a lifetime. While there’s no known cure for the illness Depression, the symptoms can be managed and happiness breaks through on occassion. Best wishes to Greg.
Greg sounds kind of emo.
He’s on his way to sporting skinny jeans, mascara, and a pierced lip.
"I've hacked into your brain. You're throwing a party and no one's showing up."
Don't buy in to it.
The media’s sense of entitlement to judge a person’s inner life is a pretty twisted thing. Go to the supermarket checkout stand if you don’t believe me. And I don’t understand why a Blazer fan would wish GO ill. He’s 20 years old, people, a boy. He’s entitled to have conflicted emotions about what has no doubt been a pretty bizarre life.
I think what irritates me so much about this is Greg could have a medical condition
that he’s coping with . Depression is a tough hole to climb out of and the callous manner in which Quick has dealt with this is not really very funny or condusive to the “healing” or whatever tha Greg needs in order to be more fun to hang around. Quick needs to get over himself. Who cares if he hates being around a superstar, then he should get a new job.
Sophia
Though patience be a tired mare, yet she will plod. - William Shakespeare
by BlazerFan1 on Dec 11, 2008 4:51 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Quick pointed out that it's not just about him
He said something to the effect of: Yeah, his teammates like him, but he’s just not a fun guy to be around in the locker room.
Quick definitely didn’t do a good of getting his point across, but Oden fans have twisted it to be that Quick is mad that Oden hates Quick. In reality Quick is mad that Oden isn’t fun for anyone to be around (not just him).
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 11, 2008 5:01 PM PST up reply actions
Nah, Oden gets criticized far too much. It's annoying and undeserved.
Sophia
Though patience be a tired mare, yet she will plod. - William Shakespeare
When you're the biggest #1 pick since Lebron James
you’re going to get nitpicked like a mofo.
It’s unfortunate because the microfracture set him back and people don’t allow him a grace period to come back.
But it’s something he has to learn to deal with, and, as Quick pointed out in this same interview, the best way might be by blocking everything out and just focusing on basketball.
Quick is actually a big Blazers cheerleader in this interview, saying how he is disappointed that Oden can let go of all the expectations. His advice is spot on. How his frustrations came to a boil and how he expressed himself was the problem. What he meant was genuine, true and pro-Blazers.
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 11, 2008 5:42 PM PST up reply actions
He does have to learn to deal with it. Some people just have a more delicate constitution then others
Sophia
Though patience be a tired mare, yet she will plod. - William Shakespeare
How do you know what Quick is thinking?
"It's not who jumps the highest -- it's who wants it the most" Buck Williams
by Fund A Mental on Dec 11, 2008 5:07 PM PST up reply actions
I can't tell if you are a blazer fan,
or a Quick fan. Which would be a really lame team to root for.
"It's not who jumps the highest -- it's who wants it the most" Buck Williams
by Fund A Mental on Dec 11, 2008 5:08 PM PST up reply actions
If you actually listen to the entire interview, he says that stuff.
And if you read what he just put up on the blog. It’s pretty clear.
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 11, 2008 5:42 PM PST up reply actions
Great call Sophia
Its not like JQ has a particularly tough job. He has the privilege to be around our team for the entire season, and because he believes someone isn’t enjoyable to be around is not an excuse to be a jerk on the radio. As far as depression goes, you’re absolutely right. And while we don’t know whether Greg is depressed or not, Quick’s reckless statements definitely don’t help the situation.
"Smile! You're on a poster!!" - Mike Rice
Sophia could be a lobbyist for the makers of Prozac
She’s so in tune with people’s feelings and sensitivities. It makes me want to throw up in my mouth.
Just kidding.
I hope Greg isn’t depressed, but it seems more and more likely that he is.
What if he is thinking to himself, this isn’t fun any more? What if he sees going to practice and going through the hard work and motions as just a job and business?
I can see how somebody with a mountain of expectations on their shoulders could easily become depressed and not enjoy the game any more. I wouldn’t want to be in his position. I’d rather still be in college if I were him.
It sucks. It’s tough. Sophia is Ms. Sense & Sensitivity.
Depression sucks. But many people are depressed. Maybe the “American Dream” is more of an illusion than a reality. Maybe we are the richest country on earth, but no happier than the average developing country. Maybe the current state of affairs (degrading environment, worldwide poverty and strife and terrorism, higher fuel and food costs… did I mention the worst economic crisis since the Great "Depression")… maybe all of this has caught up with us and we are entering a period of pandemic depression. When will people start to snap? Who will be the first pro athlete to commit suicide this decade?
Is the sky falling yet?
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 11, 2008 6:46 PM PST up reply actions
So I am a Jerk if I don't enjoy being around your child?
Sorry guys, I am with Big Suke on 1080 on this issue. Quick did nothing wrong, he was only voicing his opinions. Are we living in the Middle East, this is America, we are allow to voice our opinions, beat writers or not. What have GO done as this "Greatest thing ever happened to the Blazers" up to this point? Joel is our best center by far for the time being. Think about it guys, all the great commons national media are saying about GO, what if GO is playing for the Lakers? What would you say than? I love the current Blazers, I watched each game at least twice so far this season. But I am not one of those protective parents like you guys are to GO. Too much TLC to a child might not be a good thing. Sometimes you just need to mix in a few tuff loves for your child to grow. Leave Jason Quick alone, PLEASE.
i don't think a lot of us are saying coddle the guy
but its not JQ’s responsibility to give him “tuff loves” as you say. It falls on Nate and his teammates. Nobody is saying JQ doesn’t have a right to his opinion, but he should keep his opinions based on GO’s actual play, not the hype he’s seen/hear/written or how fun/not fun GO is for HIM to be around. Unless Brandon, KP, Nate or one of our veterans (Blake, Przy) says something, I don’t think JQ needs to.
"Smile! You're on a poster!!" - Mike Rice
Fine
I find it satisfactory. I didn’t think it warranted an outright apology but he definitley needed to take that part back and clarify which he did.
@Bust a Bucket
Don’t tell me to “get over” anything, it’s about the most condscending thing you can say to a person.
by neutroticblazerfan on Dec 11, 2008 6:36 PM PST reply actions
let's move on in life
and beat the Jazz here soon!
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 11, 2008 6:37 PM PST up reply actions
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