Wondering where Walton is?
by hollywood robinson on May 25, 2008 1:13 PM PDT
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PrintI figured he had just had enough of working with Screamin' A. Smith, but it turns out injuries have once again come back to trouble big Bill.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-plaschke25-2008may25,0,887523.column?page=1&track=mostviewed-storylevel
I know a lot of people consider his analysis to be nothing more than an old hippie's ramble, but he always manages to work in stories of his championship year in Portland amongst his fits of hyperbole. He's a great representative of Portland and Oregon in general, and I've gotta say, I've missed the big guy in these playoffs. Here's hoping he recovers.
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I miss Walton too
And from me, that’s saying a lot, because I always HATED what he says every broadcast. He was such a blustery IDIOT, and hyperbolizing all over the place.
Now, I’ve grown up some, and I find him at least a lil’ endearing. It helps I am an insufferable Homer, and he thinks the Blazers will win lots of championships.
Keep in mind, I wasn’t alive when we won a Chamionship with the big Red Head, and I wasn’t anywhere close to being NBA aware enough to even know him as a Celtics in ‘85 or so. My entire exposure to him, aside from clips of the ol’ days, is as an awful color commentator who gets put in his place by my favorite, The Snapper.
After listening to Reggie Miller, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, etc, I am much easier on Bill Walton, and I have found a way to live with his exaggerations. “Throw it down big man” is one of my favorites.
Back in 2000, I think, me and my parents and numerous siblings were on our way to Washington DC for a business trip turned family vacation, and we saw Bill Walton at the airport (it was early in the playoffs and I forget who we were playing, but Walton was in Portland announcing a game). He was tall, obviously, but stick skinny and splotchy and pasty. My Mom said he looked like he has AIDs.
I hope he gets better. I never thought I’d say this, but I miss him commenting on the games. My standards have maybe sunk, or he’s grown on me. Either way, get better big man!
Mortimer
He is a skilled commentator
I have always found his analyses to be insightful. Never understood the condescension.
Winning is everything.
To me
He’s always saying something like “(Blank) is the best (blank) ever in the history of the world” and is saying it seriously.
One example that comes to mind: “Brent Barry is the best college player in the nation” back when Barry was at OSU, as a freshman or sophomore, and not even starting. This is the sort of thing Walton says all the time.
He can be right, and I think he’s smart. But he goes waaaaaaaaaaay overboard too often, but I’ve learned to deal with it.
Mortimer
I miss him too
I was just complaining to a friend about Reggie Miller. He is junk, I wish he was playing for Boston so I didn’t have to listen to him.
Four
Reggie Miller is ridiculous
I can’t believe how bad he is. He had the rep as a funny smart guy as a player, what with his constant trash talk and banter with Knicks fans. He is the complete opposite as an announcer. He might be one of the worst ex-player color commentators, ever. Up there with Magic and Isiah, certainly—and those two are the Hitler and Stalin of color analysts.
When Walton talks, he at least believes and knows what he is saying. I am not convinced that Miller understands the notion that what you say out loud should make some semblance of sense, and that random words and phrases don’t always go together. He is just dumb and incorrect and unfunny far too often.
I really liked him as a player. His post-NBA career bums me out to no end. Walton looks like the Snapper Steve Jones compared to Reggie Miller.
Mortimer
Yep
Reggie is absolutely god awful. Although he is pretty funny to listen to, as he tends to frequently butcher the English language through horrendous pronunciation.
Who I really dislike is the female announcer on ESPN. She just reads off stats.
KP: You know Mike Rice, Mike Barret you've both been very valuable to us this season. But I'd still trade you both for a couple of 2nd round draft picks.
Where's Walton?
I cant believe this guy gets so much criticism for saying what he thinks, irrespective of truth of common sense.
Walton is the reason each and every PTB fan has a reason to want to win it all again. Bill Walton was one of the greatest players I ever saw play and that is no joke. Its unfair to look at his poor health and judge him lesser. Walton was arguably one of the greatest college players ever, leading UCLA to win after win after win.
In the pro’s he emerged as the dominant Center of the NBA, leaving then incumbant Kareem Abdul Jabbar in the dust of a 4 game Western Conference Finals butt-kicking on way to YOUR World Championship.
Then the injuries debilitated the man almost into a commoner, and eventually into the roll-your-eyes causing color commentary he so eloquently lets flow.
Nevertheless, Bill Walton is a PTB icon.
If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?
I love Bill's commentary
On a 2 man crew he is a little annoying. But with 2 other people he’s just funny. I don’t tend to take it seriously. I find his hyperbolies and non-sequiturs endearing.
Besides I feel like most announcers really don’t offer any sort of “incite” to the game. I look to be entertained as I watch a broadcast. That’s why I really love the Marc Jackson, Jeff V.Gundy, and Mike Breen broadcast crew.
KP: You know Mike Rice, Mike Barret you've both been very valuable to us this season. But I'd still trade you both for a couple of 2nd round draft picks.
Hey meow!
Couldn’t agree more, well maybe just a bit more. The “Mountain Man” was the greatest big man I ever saw. Too bad his candle burned so fast. But for that year and a half, well words cannot describe how good he really was. He could do it all and as I recall, his only weakness was against a super tall and exceptionally strong man. And back then there was only one, Artis Gilmore. That giant really gave Bill fits didn’t he? That Chicago series was one tough brawl.
Bill will always be my favorite, even if I think he is a little annoying at tmes on the air. Remember, any chance he gets he NEVER let’s anyone forget how special the run of 77’ really was. Because he says so many off the wall kind of things, the truth of what really happended with the team and us the fans sometimes gets under appreciated.
I wish every new age Blazer fan could take the time, and sit down to watch all the playoff games that year, then you would really know the depth of what bow4meow is saying. And oh yeah, the first 60 games of 78’ the Blazers went 50-10. 50 and freakin’ 10! Of course then Bill went down…...
Anybody out there remember when Bill tried to come back. First playoff game at home aginast Seattle? How excited we all were that he was “ready to go”? Well I was there, and I couldn’t believe what my eyes were seeing. Bill dragging his foot up and down the court. I don/’t mean a little limp. I mean a big hobbling kind of drag of his foot up and down the court. Jaw dropping amazing was what it was.
Get better big guy. We all really do miss you.
The Oden Era, Day 340
Hey Mo! (mo! from RHCP in background)
I know alot of current PTB fans didnt get the chance to see the early evolution of the PTB, and into the Walton/Ramsay chapionship run. What saddens me though is seeing Walton get cheap shotted for his extravagant lexicon.
I love your Artis Gilmore flashback. Of course, I have to give it up to KPTV channel 12 who at the time delivered rabid PTB fans the action on a significantly scaled back level then today. I had to grow up watching on a black and white TV. I bet Mortimer hasnt even heard of one of those.
Gilmore was a monster with Clyde Frazieresque facial hair and a look as mean as they came. Gilmore literally plugged the middle and you had two choices going against him—get blocked or get knocked (down). Still he fundamentally was little better then Mark Eaton and skill-wise wasnt even on par with Bill. Altho Gilmore did have that sweeping hook straight outta George Mikan’s book. It was guys like Gilmore that made me believe you cant beat that team in their house.
Kinda like when the Spurs this year were down 0-2 to Norleans and somebody* wasnt impressed.
keep flaming mo!
If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?
great worplay
Bill does incite alot of people with his insight. Walton truly respects the fans, and does his gosh darn best to give us what he thinks we want to hear. How can you not love such genuine sportsmanship?
If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?
Bingo
That describes my down and then up relationship with Walton. I just couldn’t stand him for so long, but I was just taking him too serious. I loved him and The Snapper together, because it was like the Snapper was saying everything I wanted to say to him.
I don’t hate him anymore, but part of my past dislike was his idiocy and how we’re supposed to love every single person who had anything to do with our championship team. I’ve had ‘77 Championship fatigue my entire Blazer-loving life, and am quite sick of revering it so much. I want something new, not worshipping something from over 30 years ago… that’s a few lifetimes in the world of sports.
So, I judge Walton as an announcer only.
He bugged the hell out of me before, but not anymore. He has endeared himself to me, and I’m not quite sure when it happened, but it did. I’m just not as sure he knows he is joking sometimes.
Mortimer
OT -- Quick poll
would you rather have Bill Walton doing the halftime show or Michael Holton?
If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?
Walton's repartee
is genious… its funny…. to plagarize himself, give the guy some credit, he’s a living legend that went thru most of his life afraid to speak openly because of an embarressing lisp. Mind you once corrected the flood gates opened.
Isnt it necessary to consider that while Bill was not talking, what was really going up there in his brain….. we all know what was at work…
If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?
You gotta remember
Some of us were not around when Walton was a Blazer, or even a NBA player, and certainly don’t remember him struggling with a lisp or being afraid to talk. Some of us ONLY know him as a hyperbolic talker, and didn’t grow up with him as anything else.
I know he’s a legendary Blazer, deserves our love and admiration, and if I ever saw him play I’m sure I woulda’ been much more forgiving of his announcing career growing up, like I am now. But, I didn’t grow up with Bill Walton the Icon NBA Player, I grew up with Bill Walton the Announcer who Says Dumb Stuff. It’s hard to think of him as anything else.
I’ve grown to enjoy him for what he is, and I do not dislike him anymore. He’s good people.
Mortimer
My insight to Walton
Watched him Play.
Followed him thru UCLA. That was big news in SI after Lew.
What I remember most, is his desire to win. The bench was miked in the Paramount broadcasts (the place to be in ‘77,if ya didn’t have a ticket). Bill was Da Man durin’ TO’s, sayin’ “Ram it down there Gol Darn Throats” (cleaned up, Baby, this was in Game fired up shoutin’ goin’ on here). This Big Boy wanted to Win, nuthin’ mo.
Luv ‘im mo’ than any (every). Cyclin’ ‘round, listenin’ to “The Dead”. Hope he is in Africa again, explorin’ da Underground.
"Always Willing, Ever Able" - rivbike.com
"A Dbl Shot O' Whiskey & A Pitcher O' Beearr" - BoilerMaker (It's Game Time Baby, see Ya Again, 'n the Second Half)
Im thankful
that you can give THEE PTB legend some credit. Allowing for the benefit of doubt is always admirable. Not only did Bill have a noticable lisp, it was a part of his then extremely shy and humble personality. If Walton was as canderous when he was drafted as he was now, he may not have been a #1 pick. It was Bill’s own graciousness that intrigued owners and GMS as much as his superior skill level and hoops aptitude. What Walton is now means nothing to me personally, because I know he was one of the greatest players of all time and he did it as a Portland Trail Blazer.
If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?
hmmm...
I thought he stuttered. I didn’t know he had a lisp.
"I got the goose bumps." - Rudy translated by Alamart
Stuttering
I think the issue was more that he had a bad stuttering problem than a lisp, but regardless, I agree it was amazing how he opened up after overcoming his speech problem(s). The guy is so passionate, entertaining, energetic, and self-deprecating when he announces (and yes he’s better in a 3 man crew as others have said)... I love it, and I miss it.
I was in the fourth grade when “Walton & Co.” (said the headline in the June 6, 1977 Oregonian) won the championship…. that playoff run was one of the greatest moments of my childhood. And yes, that three game series with the Bulls in the first round was a war. Walton was so amazing, and his attitude fit the era perfectly. I was reminded of this recently when I saw the HBO documentary about the UCLA dynasty (which included hilarious footage of a 19 year old shaggy seven foot redhead riding his bike and marching in protests in Westwood).
Every now and then, Bill Simmons from ESPN does a “how would things be different if XYZ happened?” Of course we wonder what would have happened if Walton had stayed healthy, but beyond that, I wonder what would have happened if Walton had been born 30 years later. With today’s medical technology, would they have been able to fix his feet in a way that enabled him to play? The only comparable example I can think of is Zydrunas Ilgauskas for the Cavs… he had massive foot problems early in his career, they were fixed, now he plays regularly, but he’s like a statue out there and Walton was a gazelle.
MLB2PDX!!! (someday...)
by The Cactus Leaguer on May 25, 2008 8:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Walton's vegan diet
at the time seemed Bill took alot of heat because of his vegan diet and I can remember many a person who remarked about if he had any meat on his bones…..there was also some suspicion that this somehow led to his fragility and brittle-bonededness.
Did you mean self-deprecating?
Hey, its going to be great to hear Walton cover Greg Oden in the NBA… I can hear it now “this kid Greg Oden is going to transcend and revolutionize the Center position… go get em big guy!”
If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?
This is Correct Sir
"Always Willing, Ever Able" - rivbike.com
"A Dbl Shot O' Whiskey & A Pitcher O' Beearr" - BoilerMaker (It's Game Time Baby, see Ya Again, 'n the Second Half)
Read this great piece about Walton!
I came across this sometime before the start of this season. It’s so right on, and I was hoping that Greg had a chance to read it. I’m talking about Matt Love’s open letter to Greg Oden:
http://www.powells.com/blog/?p=2202Matt is the author of Red Hot and Rollin’: A Retrospection of the Portland Trail Blazers’ 1976-77 NBA Championship Season w/DVD, which I keep meaning to read.
I became a Blazers/Walton fan in 1976. My home team (Niagara Falls is about 20 miles from Buffalo) was the Braves, but they had been sold and were falling apart, eventually becoming the San Diego Clippers. Ramsey, who had coached the Braves, now led the Blazers. I’ll never forget how those guys ran circles around the 76’ers, and I believe we’re going to see something as good or better with Greg, Brandon and company.
That is way cool
Followin’ the Dr, here
"Always Willing, Ever Able" - rivbike.com
"A Dbl Shot O' Whiskey & A Pitcher O' Beearr" - BoilerMaker (It's Game Time Baby, see Ya Again, 'n the Second Half)
Hyperbole? Yes. Contagious enthusiasm? You bet!
I love listening to his broadcast and analysis. I love that the whole world hangs on each posession and that each play is the “greatest in the history of the world” and of course that big toothy grin. I love someone with a little personality
by oderiferous emanations 74 on May 25, 2008 11:44 PM PDT reply actions
Three observations
1. Bill was both the source of much joy and much sorrow in Portland. I remember the hippy who did not want to work and who broke his toe running across a lawn in the dark and tripped over a sprinkler. I remember the kid who refused to play the consolation game at the final four resulting in the team not playing and the game cancelled forever more. And I remember Maurice Lucas and Jack Ramsey convincing Bill to step up his play and he did! And I remember Bill’s bitter denunciation of Portland when he went to San Diego, burning all his bridges behind him.
2. Bill’s commentary is annoying to me except when Snapper Jones was there to zap him for his idiotic comments. Where I really lost it was last summer when Bill was the commentator for the Pan American Games and he refused to say a word about the actual play on the court . He never stopped long enough for the play-by-play guy to say anything. As a result players fouled out, were subbed and made amazing plays which went indescribable while Bill filled up the air with inanities. I literally turned the sound off for the rest of the tournament except for the 1st couple of minutes to hear more of the same.
3. Bill is a lawyer. Enough said.
Aldridge said. "We feel like we can beat any team. We feel like we can beat the Spurs, Suns, Lakers, Mavericks, whoever any night right now, and we'll still be here when those teams get old and their guys retire. We're going to be here for a long time."
Harsh...
...but he is a Lawyer.
"Always Willing, Ever Able" - rivbike.com
"A Dbl Shot O' Whiskey & A Pitcher O' Beearr" - BoilerMaker (It's Game Time Baby, see Ya Again, 'n the Second Half)
fair enough
Id agree the saddest part was Bill’s vitriol towards the franchise upon the San Diego trade. Regrettable indeed. But he isnt the first player to knock the team that traded em, seems like another legendary PTB down the line did that too.
If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?
Yea, I never saw it comin'
I was just into the Game.
"Always Willing, Ever Able" - rivbike.com
"A Dbl Shot O' Whiskey & A Pitcher O' Beearr" - BoilerMaker (It's Game Time Baby, see Ya Again, 'n the Second Half)
Actually my memory was Bill forced that departure
“I’ll never play for the Blazers again” (paraphrase from memory) from SI,com:
Off On A Wronged Foot
Bill Walton quit the Blazers after a dispute over team medical policy and headed for Golden State
John Papanek
Aldridge said. "We feel like we can beat any team. We feel like we can beat the Spurs, Suns, Lakers, Mavericks, whoever any night right now, and we'll still be here when those teams get old and their guys retire. We're going to be here for a long time."
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