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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!

 

3 recs | Comment 44 comments

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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 reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 reply reply actions actions   0 recs

PS.

Who the hell is Corky Calhoun?

I kinda like that name…

by Bust a Bucket on Dec 19, 2008 5:11 PM PST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Dang

I thought the infinity idea was really good.

by Bust a Bucket on Dec 19, 2008 7:38 PM PST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Thanks

Maybe someone should run it by KP

by BlazerTag on Dec 19, 2008 7:50 PM PST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Perhaps

But he might think eating Irish children is a better idea.

by Bust a Bucket on Dec 19, 2008 9:17 PM PST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 to parent up reply reply actions actions   1 recs

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 to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 reply reply actions actions   1 recs

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 to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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