BlazersEdge.com Exclusive: Mike Golub Loves You

by Ben Golliver on Jul 26, 2008 2:05 PM PDT

Earlier this summer, we were lucky to sit down with Mike Golub, then COO of the Portland Trail Blazers. Recently, Mr. Golub was promoted to a position as a special adviser to Vulcan, Paul Allen's parent company that manages his sports teams.

I spoke with Mr. Golub this week by phone and then via email to get the lowdown on what his new position entails, the timing of the promotion, and who, if anyone, replaces him. His thoughts are in the boxes.

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Blazersedge.com: Are you new duties set in stone?

Between the Blazers, Seahawks and now the Seattle Sounders Paul Allen owns 3 teams In the past there has been some coordination between , some synergy, but we've only just scratched the surface on how best the three teams can work together, grow the fan bases and optimize the business.That's my charge. I know the Blazers and Portland extremely well. We at the Blazers have an be the team of the Northwest. And the Seahawks definitely have an interest in doing more in Portland. It's a very interesting set of opportunities.

Blazersedge.com: The timing is interesting to me, in that you would take this position so soon after the Sonics move became official. was this coincidental or causal?

It was definitely part of the equation, but not all of it. The Blazers business is on a very solid foundation for the first time in a while. We have really turned the business and how people feel about the team around in dramatic fashion. Now with the Sonics no longer in Seattle, the Blazers have an opportunity to become the regions team much in the same way the Seahawks and Mariners are.

Blazersedge.com: How does your day to day change logistically? You're still based in Portland but i'm guessing less face time in PTB offices?

I'm very happy that I will still be based in Portland, but I will defnitely be spending more time in Seattle . If any of your readers have favorite places to stop along I-5 I would very much welcome suggestions.

Blazersedge.com: When should we expect an announcement on your replacement?

My position won't be replaced. Most of the departments and the parts of the business that I had been responsible for will now be reporting directly to Larry Miller.

Blazersedge.com: Any other thoughts?

The Blazers have without question the best fans in sports. They hung with us during the tough times and its so rewarding for all of us around the team to have the fans as excited and engaged in the team as they are. The future is remarkably bright for the franchise and its going to be a heck of a fun ride to be on. Sports has a unique way of bringing people together and making a city a more enjoyable place to live. That's why I'm in the business and I am hopeful my new job will allow me to more of this. Congrats on developing such a great online community at Blazers Edge. Everybody at the Blazers appreciates what you do for the fans and the franchise.

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So there you have it, straight from the source. To me (and to many people) this kind of direct communication between upper management and fans would have been unthinkable as recently as a few years ago.

I think it is fair to say that Vulcan does not have the same PR standing as the Blazers organization. I think many fans are skeptical, perhaps distrusting, of the perceived closed door approach of Vulcan, which many view as being a "Seattle" company rather than a "Portland" company.

I hope that Mr. Golub, who seems to share the vision of open communication and honesty put forth by Larry Miller and Kevin Pritchard, brings that "culture" to Vulcan.

It seems to me, with this discussion, that he has begun that process already. Here's my question to you... does this dialogue begin to change your perception of Vulcan?

-- Ben (benjamin.golliver@gmail.com)

Poll

Does this dialogue change your opinion of Vulcan?

Yes, I'm sold, it's a new day!

20 votes

Yes, it's a great start, but there's still work to be done.

102 votes

I'm relatively indifferent; I care more about the product on the court.

128 votes

No, I have too many bad memories.

12 votes

No, but it's something and I thank Mr. Golub for his time.

35 votes

297 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 11 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Mr. Allen's a great owner; the Sonics move makes me appreciate him even more.

We’re fortunate to have such a stand-up guy as an owner. I’m sad to see the Sonics go, but at least Seattle has two other franchises. I literally can’t even imagine the depth of mass heartbreak if the Blazers ever left town (we’re the Packers of the NBA) – and we have Allen to thank for that. I trust his managerial moves with the Blazers ‘cuz he’s earned it.

(brief off-topic) All the talk of the Blazer’s fan-facing strategies just reminds me that the Blazers/Comcast distribution deal is dirty, sad, and generally conflicting with the “new culture” kool-aid.

That said, I’m 100% behind everything that we’re doing, from marketing to management to coaching to players; but since everything else is so sweet, I get the feeling that the Comcast thing will probably just get ignored.

anyway, whatever; victory is ours!

by jerome glide porterworth on Jul 26, 2008 3:38 PM PDT reply actions

from my brief conversations with blazers suits about comcast

they are really frustrated too…

i think because they have been so forward-thinking on so many things and doing the comcast deal has been the exception…

at the end of the day, that frustration doesn’t do anybody any good, and they know that…

i’m quite confident they continue to apply consisent pressure on comcast behind the scenes…

but it doesn’t look super positive, does it?

"You'd rather say 'whoa' than 'giddyup.'" ~ Dean Demopoulos

by Ben Golliver on Jul 26, 2008 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions

More pressure on Comcast

Ben, correct me if I’m wrong…...but I thought Mr. Allen owns Comcast. So who would they be putting this pressure on?

2-4 the who

by 24thewho on Jul 27, 2008 6:42 AM PDT up reply actions

He used to own Charter communcations

not sure if he still does. He does not own comcast.

by raoulduke on Jul 27, 2008 8:56 AM PDT up reply actions

But he could ;-)

People around BEdge use to say that he has so much money he doesn’t care about spending a lot of it for the Blazers to make his favorite hobby experience better. Now he could truly demonstrate it… At least he could buy the rights to Blazers game broadcasts from the NBA/Comcast/Whoever, then show them in free TV and over the Internet.

Coach, I promise I wasn't running hard ...

by Norsktroll on Jul 27, 2008 7:18 PM PDT up reply actions

It was only a couple of years ago that you could only get about 25 or 30 games

on tv no matter who you paid. Now comcast customers get all of them. Thank you comcast.

I am really sorry that the rest of the state is getting hosed, but comcast shelled out big bucks to get the rights. If crappy dish or anyone else doesn’t want to pay for them. blame dish.

by raoulduke on Jul 27, 2008 9:44 PM PDT up reply actions

Replies to two comments from Monsieur Golub:

1) “The Blazers have without question the best fans in sports. They hung with us during the tough times[.]”

My first thought was, ” Oh, no we DIN’T!”, but after some thought, it’s a little more nuanced than that.
Yes, there was a level of fan rejection and snubbing a few years back, reflected by empty seats at the RG.
However, that had a protest quality to it – not the rejection of a former fan base that had departed
(like that of fans of, say, the Chicago Blackhawks or maybe the Indiana Pacers recently) so much as
the demand for something better from still-fans-if-very-disgruntled-ones (like fans of, say, the current Knicks
or Toronto Maple Leafs). Back when Pritchard was a non-GM Blazer, and current Blazers were on board
(such as Nate, Trout, Blake, and Przy and MarWeb), Blazer fans remained Blazer fans, and expressed it
by not attending games, talking smack about the Vulcans, ad generally treating the Blazers like a Bad Franchise.

Point being, this looks awfully similar to losing a fan base, but is in reality a dedicated fan base being proactive.
The appearance is so similar, but the root truths are nearly in opposition.
Either way, a true fan base doesn’t just Stand By Your Man when things go sour, nor do they abandon ship.
They remain fans, and hate what’s happening.
Hopefully, Golub understands the subtle dynamics of Blazer fans going through that phase a few years back;
I’d hate to think his “they hung with us during the tough times” comment reflects
any sort of blindness to, or denial of, the fan base status of the pre-Roy/Pritchslap era.

2) “If any of your readers have favorite places to stop along I-5 I would very much welcome suggestions.”

When driving on I-5 through the Centralia area, check your speed, don’t partake of odiferous illicit substances,
and try not to have too conspicuous a vehicle. Nothing yellow.

Blazers have a five-on-three...and they pull it back and wait for help.

by QualityPie on Jul 26, 2008 3:44 PM PDT reply actions

When I Drove to Seattle

I always hit the Centralia Burgerville. It is the last one for like 24,700 miles. I don’t normally eat at Burgerville so it’s a swell treat.

--. --- | -... .-.. .- --.. . .-. ...

by tominhawaii on Jul 26, 2008 5:54 PM PDT reply actions

Good choice

I would hit up the DQ off the Tenino exit and get a dipped cone. That seemed to break up the drove nicely.

by tingeyga on Jul 26, 2008 11:53 PM PDT up reply actions

Hey Ben

i believe the correct terminology is

” Mike Golub Hearts You”

Leaders build cultures that create self-esteem, generate and sustain trust, elevate the dignity of work , create community and foster open communication, and finally encourage growth and learning.

-Warren Bennis USC Professor

by BlazerFan1 on Jul 27, 2008 1:09 PM PDT reply actions

Having been on the Blazer bandwagon since 1970,

I have seen many ups and downs. As I saw it, GM Whitsett sold Paul Allen on the bill of goods that he could get former high draft choices from other teams that were willing to discard them cheap. That meant he was ignoring character altogether which was a big shift in Blazer team culture. That directly led to the JailBlazers. I see Canzano and to some extent The Oregonian as stirring up mud on the sidelines. Canzano has been interested in his own fame trying to write his way to national prominence. So his feud with Vulcan has never been a big deal to me.

I have been a fan through those tough times and I very glad that Kevin Pritchard and Paul Allen have returned to the original philosophy of the founders of this franchise. We have been very fortunate that KP and draft magic has gotten us this team hopefully on the verge of may long playoff runs and championships.

Stu Inman: a soft-spoken, witty and brilliant basketball guy -- who had so much to do with Portland's only championship. He believed that you won with not just great players, but with great people. (D Jaynes 2-2-07 Portland Tribune)

by OrygunRod on Jul 28, 2008 3:56 PM PDT reply actions