More Numbers in the Rafters!
Thanks be to God, Allah, and Buddha that Terry Porter and Bobby Gross FINALLY had their number retired. I am sick to death watching negligent Trail Blazers management sit idle while our rafters sit bereft of retired jersey numbers of Blazers greats past.
Sure, Bill Walton (#32), Maurice Lucas (#20), Larry Steele (#15), Dave Twardzik (#13), Lloyd Neal (#36), and now Gross (#30) have all had their numbers retired. But what about the other members of that championship squad? Isn't it time we recognized the invaluable contributions of Lionel Hollins (#14), Herm Gilliam (#3), Johnny Davis (#16), Robin Jones (#34), Wally Walker (#42), and Corky Calhoun (#10)? Where's the outrage?
And what about all the all-stars we've had in the past? Sidney Wicks (#21) isn't up there. Either are Kermit Washington (#42), Jim Paxson (#4), Kevin Duckworth (#00), Cliff Robinson (#3), or Rasheed Wallace (#30). All of them were All-stars. Shouldn't their numbers be retired?
Come to think of it, Brandon Roy (#7) was an all-star, too. Why wait until he's retired to retire his jersey number? I don't want anyone else wearing his number while he's still in the league. Maybe we should just hang Brandon in the rafters and lower him down during a fireworks display at the pregame introductions. It would be like the start of a WWF match (the games are already officiated like one).
And what about Scottie Pippen(#33)? He is a 6-time NBA champion and one of the fifty greatest players of all-time! And Shareef Abdur-Rahim (#3), Steve Smith (#8), Shawn Kemp (#40), Dale Davis (#34), Walter Davis (#6), and Detlef Schrempf (#12) were all all-stars. Who cares if it was with other teams.
Every single number should be retired until the only available jerseys are pi, thirty-twelve, absolute zero, infinity, and negative two. Then we should retire those numbers, too. We'll have the only team that has triple digit jersey numbers. The rafters will be so clogged with banners that the fire marshall will have to shut down the Rose Garden. Then it will be time to laugh!
HA HA HA! In your face the rest of the NBA!
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I'd retire Duckworth's and Washington's
but that’s just me. – Elgin
It's all blues and no dinner at the Ministry of Bag. The steaks are getting thinner. The office is a drag. - Pete Brown
by 22baylor on
Dec 19, 2008 4:52 PM PST
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There are only 100 numbers between 0 and 99
We can’t retire every single number. What will our players wear, Roman numerals?
As somebody wise once said, “Looking up at the Rose Garden rafters is quite similar to looking at the Boston Garden (TD Banknorth) rafters—the only difference is that all the championship banners are missing!”
The point is that Boston players earned jersey retirements by winning titles, MVP awards, multiple All-Star game appearances and etc.
Blazer players should be expected to earn jersey retirements and by retiring the jersey of every guy who makes a decent impact on the team only waters down the honor.
Jersey retirements should be treated like an expensive whiskey—it has a sweeter taste when it’s not watered down.
by Bust a Bucket on
Dec 19, 2008 5:09 PM PST
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PS.
Who the hell is Corky Calhoun?
I kinda like that name…
by Bust a Bucket on
Dec 19, 2008 5:11 PM PST
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Defensive stopper on the '77 title team!
Come on! Knowing the entire ’77 roster is mandatory to be a Blazer fan!
The inbound to McGinnis, drives, stops, pumps, shoots, short, no good...AND THE GAME IS OVER! ~ Bill Schonely
by SandbergOnSports on
Dec 20, 2008 10:09 AM PST
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It's satire
Like “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift. In it he sarcastically says that the British should eat Irish children because they’re such a nuissance. I don’t want LeMarcus Aldridge to actually change his number to 19.3.
by BlazerTag on
Dec 19, 2008 7:18 PM PST
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Dang
I thought the infinity idea was really good.
by Bust a Bucket on
Dec 19, 2008 7:38 PM PST
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Thanks
Maybe someone should run it by KP
by BlazerTag on
Dec 19, 2008 7:50 PM PST
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Perhaps
But he might think eating Irish children is a better idea.
by Bust a Bucket on
Dec 19, 2008 9:17 PM PST
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The sarcasm here is pretty harsh
I do think that Terry Porter’s number should have been retired, he after all holds several of our organization’s records, and winning a championship is not the only thing to consider in a great team. We did win the Western Conference, and ran into one of the best Bull’s teams of the MJ era, in the finals (not the best, but they were still an amazing team).
As far as the other members of our championship team, I agree that we have gone a bit overboard with retiring numbers. Winning the NBA championship was a huge thing for our organization, but retiring everyone’s numbers sets a bad precedent, and kind of holds them up as a once in a lifetime team, when we should be looking towards the championship every year. So yea, I guess I both agree and disagree with your sentiments.
Jaws were hitting the floor as Greg repeatedly attempted to tear the rim off the backboard...
by TheOdenator on
Dec 19, 2008 5:21 PM PST
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Hollins number is retired
"Sometimes I catch myself watching him and he's shooting floaters all-net. And just to watch how he's talking trash. I loved it. I loved every minute of it. Rudy's a competitor." - Brandon Roy
by Trail Ducker on
Dec 19, 2008 5:31 PM PST
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Whoopsy-doo!
Sorry, it’s my first post. Rookie mistake… like getting 5 fouls in 17 min.
by BlazerTag on
Dec 19, 2008 7:32 PM PST
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this really gets my goat also
Drexler is the only no-brainer for being retired. Walton didn’t play long enough for the Blazers.
If it were up to me, I’d have #22 in the rafters and #77 in honor of the entire championship team. I can live with Lucas, Walton and Porter… anything more than that is ludicrous and frankly a joke.
Boomshakalaka
by jksnake99 on
Dec 19, 2008 5:55 PM PST
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what about Bill Schonely's microphone?
It’s up there. Would you allow it to stay, or would you put it in a burn barrel with the others?
by Bust a Bucket on
Dec 19, 2008 6:07 PM PST
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The mics not a Jersey
so I kind of think that it is more akin to the Blazer’s having a wall of honor or something. I can see how jksnake sees a jersey as a different sort of issue altogether.
Jaws were hitting the floor as Greg repeatedly attempted to tear the rim off the backboard...
by TheOdenator on
Dec 19, 2008 6:12 PM PST
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Luckily technology changes
Wheels probably wouldn’t want to use Schon’s old mic.
by Bust a Bucket on
Dec 19, 2008 7:14 PM PST
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haha
Jaws were hitting the floor as Greg repeatedly attempted to tear the rim off the backboard...
by TheOdenator on
Dec 19, 2008 7:45 PM PST
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How about artifacts for other Blazers?
Like Rasheed Wallace’s bong or Ruben Pattersons’s rap sheet etc…
by BlazerTag on
Dec 19, 2008 7:26 PM PST
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now we're talking...
If they ever blow up Memorial Coluseum, they should raise all those relics to the rafters before hand, all the JailBlazer memorabilia… they set off the dynamite.
by Bust a Bucket on
Dec 19, 2008 7:30 PM PST
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Throw in Rider's bong
and Qyntel’s mini treadmills and we’ve got a party
Bayless has been testing the fences for weaknesses
by blazeraddict on
Dec 19, 2008 7:32 PM PST
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we could get some TSA guy from the Tuscon airport
to introduce the tin foil.
by Bust a Bucket on
Dec 19, 2008 7:39 PM PST
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We should turn the blimp in to a yellow hummer
Being a Blazer fan is fun!
by Blazermaniac77 on
Dec 20, 2008 1:50 AM PST
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Qyntel's rookie card
My HDTV is a JustinTV streamer who doesn't just use a webcam :(
by inroywetrust on
Dec 20, 2008 3:55 AM PST
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I agree
The only time jersys should be retired is when you just can’t see another person wearing that number. 22 is the only number that would look strange on anyone. Most people don’t remember the other numbers. putting 77 up there is a fantastic idea too. And as I have said many times I don’t like the idea of someone not getting to choose their favorite or lucky number if it is available. You know, not being used by a member of the current team?
But here is another reason I don’t like the retired jersey honor… it makes it harder to honor other players who deserve time in our rafters. We could honor more greats like Jerome Kersey and Arvidos Sabonis and, well there are quite a few great Blazers that just arn’t going to get there due. Maybe Sabas doesn’t deserve it for making us wait. OH if he had been center on the Drexler/Porter/Kersey/Buck teams. And what about buck? He wasn’t here for ever but he was a great Blazer.
Maybe there could be these great artistic renderings of our studs with their name and number up on banners in the rafters. The number itself wouldn’t have to be retired.
Whatcha all think?
by Blazersaurus on
Dec 19, 2008 7:01 PM PST
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Agree
The only time jersys should be retired is when you just can’t see another person wearing that number.
Not to take away from Gross, Twardzik, Steele, etc., but retiring jerseys of solid/good players takes away from the type of night that took place when TP had his number raised. There are many other ways to honor the solid pros (i.e. ring of honor, big banner for the title team), but the retirement ceremony should be for the all time greats of a franchise.
Bayless has been testing the fences for weaknesses
by blazeraddict on
Dec 19, 2008 7:31 PM PST
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can we un retire a number?
just sayin.
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out burns out farms and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
by faith on
Dec 19, 2008 7:15 PM PST
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if MJ can come out of retirement
I don’t see why a number can’t…
by Bust a Bucket on
Dec 19, 2008 7:16 PM PST
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can you imagine the burn that guy would feel?
I think I can only add "The NBA, where caring for everybody but the fans happens". --amlmart1
by prezofdeath on
Dec 19, 2008 7:25 PM PST
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MJ got decent burn when he played for the Wizards
at least 35 minutes per game if my memory serves me well.
by Bust a Bucket on
Dec 19, 2008 7:36 PM PST
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7.5 on the lame o meter
I think I can only add "The NBA, where caring for everybody but the fans happens". --amlmart1
by prezofdeath on
Dec 19, 2008 9:50 PM PST
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then I think anyones number who played pre-2000, should be unretired...or at least once 2100 rolls around, otherwise teams'll be needing the 1000th digit.
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out burns out farms and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
by faith on
Dec 19, 2008 7:42 PM PST
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Didnt Lionel Hollins already get retired?
Year before last maybe?
by raging WebTed on
Dec 19, 2008 8:24 PM PST
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They noted on ESPN last night that the Blazers have the 2nd most jerseys retired, to the Celtics...
…………………. It’s a pathetic joke.
"Now with a non-provocative footer!"
by timbo on
Dec 19, 2008 9:10 PM PST
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sad, sad, sad...
Does Porter and Gross count as two different jersey retirements? Or do you only count how many numbers have been retired?
You could theoretically retire hundreds of jerseys if you include all the people that ever wore a certain number.
by Bust a Bucket on
Dec 19, 2008 9:19 PM PST
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yep
with the standards the Blazers have set… if this group ever wins a title you’re going to see 52, 12, 5 and maybe even 8, 88 or 25 in the rafters… and it will all take away from the only guy who will truly deserve it… #7. Greg is the only other guy on the team who has a chance to become true “retired jersey” but in Blazer land all it takes is to be a role player on a title team.
Boomshakalaka
by jksnake99 on
Dec 19, 2008 9:55 PM PST
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Retired jersey stats
Atlanta 5
Boston 22 (1 broadcaster)
Charlotte -
Chicago 4 ( Jackson, Krause)
Cleveland 6
Dallas 2
Denver 5
Detroit 7 (+ team owner)
Golden State 5
Houston 5 (1 GM)
Indiana 5
LA Clipper -
LA Lakers 7 (1 broadcaster + 6 Minny Lakers "honored")
Memphis -
Miami 1. It’s MJ ;-)
Milwaukee 7
Minnesota 1
New Jersey 6
New Orleans 2
New York 9
Oklahoma – / Seattle 6 (1 broadcaster)
Orlando 1 (“The Fans”)
Philadelphia 8 (1 broadcaster)
Phoenix 10 (+1 trainer)
Portland 12
Sacramento 8 (incl. “The Fans”)
San Antonio 6
Toronto -
Utah 8
Washington 4
So yeah, considering the age of the franchise we are ahead of the curve.
by Norsktroll on
Dec 19, 2008 10:24 PM PST
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Why would you retire "The Fans?"
Does that mean they don’t have to cheer anymore?
by pualo on
Dec 19, 2008 10:54 PM PST
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retired a trainer?!
"Phooey Michael, P-H-O-O-E-Y, phooey", said Tony Luftman.
by Outlaw is Rejector on
Dec 20, 2008 1:29 PM PST
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I believe it
Look at Shaq, Hill, and Amare.
Jaws were hitting the floor as Greg repeatedly attempted to tear the rim off the backboard...
by TheOdenator on
Dec 20, 2008 2:36 PM PST
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LoL
point, set, and match.
"Phooey Michael, P-H-O-O-E-Y, phooey", said Tony Luftman.
by Outlaw is Rejector on
Dec 20, 2008 5:20 PM PST
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I say retire as many jerseys as the fans want
I think they should retire the jersey of Sabonis. I don’t care if he never won a ring, he’s my favorite from the Blazer’s past.
"There is a difference between having two guys banging down low and having two guys who can bang down low." - Blazin'
by tominhawaii on
Dec 20, 2008 5:50 AM PST
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