What is winning?

by bustabucket18 on Aug 30, 2008 7:52 AM PDT

As this season approaches, us fans are expecting something great. We have no reason not to expect this, all the pieces seem to be falling into place. Oden is back and looking great, Blake is looking quicker and has done a lot over the summer, Channing is cut, Aldridge has bulked up, Roy will be ready in time, Rudy had a fantastic Olympics, Outlaw and Webster are expected to improve even more from last year, Bayless is coming off an MVP summer league, even Sergio is looking improved, we can expect a solid performance from Pryz and some of the other backups, and they are all good guys. Wait, what? They are all good guys!
They resemble a family, they help out in the community, they are real role models for kids, they LOVE Portland (Channing), they are humble, they put the team first, they are good family men, they are class act guys.
And we put so much emphasis and concern on how many games they will win this year, next year, and in three years. Now, there is nothing wrong with this, I do it all the time. But I started to ask myself, is winning games really what defines the success of this team? I guess by a worldly view, yes, it absolutely is. But I've got to say, the class that these guys have shown over the last few years is awesome. Say for some reason they don't have a great season (knock, knock, knock), that won't stop me at all from talking about what a truly great group of guys we have. When it comes right down to it, I would much rather have a team that works hard and are fantastic role models, than a team that wins a bunch of games, and is being seen in the strip clubs and bars and in the news for marijuana use, or dog fighting, or going to prison. I think we can all agree, that a quality group of guys is greater than a rotten group. Does winning games really even fall into the equation? If so, then we have a quality group that may end up winning a lot of games, but if not we still have a quality group of guys! We call this scenario, win-win.

Tweet Comment 8 comments | 2 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Nice post.

And I totally agree. Win or lose I love this team the way it is right now. But WHEN we win with good guys, and we will, its going to be even sweeter…

Little known fact: Rudy Fernandez once roundhouse kicked Chuck Norris in the face while simultaneously dunking on it.

by In Walks Rudy on Aug 30, 2008 8:25 AM PDT reply actions

I think we have the luxury

of being able to say having good character guys is more important than winning. This team is going to be a winning team. Great character is just an awesome bonus. If we were in our 10th year, or so, of having a team loaded with polite, humble, team oriented guys who were always in the running for the number 1 pick in the lottery, we wouldn’t appreciate it, save a few (a lot of who I bet come to BE). Most fans would be demanding something be done so that the team could win. I’m not saying do whatever it takes to win; I’m saying we are in a unique position to appreciate their character.

When I saw the title of this post, I thought it was going to be more existential and there would be a debate on the philosophy of winning.

The street lights is on.

by Magnum on Aug 30, 2008 12:26 PM PDT reply actions

Seeing this group of exciting players with good character grow is the main reason why I love this generation of the Blazers

Yet winning is important, and rooting for a perennial loser becomes hard over time. It’s even harder if the losing team comes hand in hand with incompetent disinterested management/ownership (which is often the case), making even the chances of becoming a winning franchise in a few years slim. That creates cynicism and bad mood among the fans.

Odenied: Asked whether he noticed Oden favoring his right knee, Frye dismissed it entirely. "He favors dunking on your head, that's what he favors."

by Norsktroll on Aug 30, 2008 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Good group on. Good group off.

I love this team the way it is now too. As I have often stated, we do have a good core group. Not only good players on the court, but good guys off the court too. For example I have heard Brandon Roy is a good guy off the court, as well as a very good player on. Management and ownership seem to be doing the right things so far. I hope that continues ( as in keep the core group intact ). Our guys may be young and not have lots as in post season experience. Still we can grow together, and I am honored to be a new fan growing with my new team. Good group on and good group off is a win win for everyone.

by CanadianBlazerfan on Aug 30, 2008 4:21 PM PDT reply actions

not everything,

it’s the only thing.

by Bust a Bucket on Aug 30, 2008 4:43 PM PDT reply actions

Especially nice for the true fans...

If you are like me you stuck with the team thru the good, bad and ugly ~~cue Outlaw theme song~~ no I didnt like a few of them and yes some were not quality humans but – I am not a fair weather fan and I cheered with all my heart for every game. It is so nice to have the team made of quality guys. Wins will be nice and they will come but it feels good to feel good about our team – What we truly can be happy about is we have not had to suffer for all that long – sure it felt like an eternity….
Give thanks for the men at the top that have been making the decisions to bring Quality players to our team….I am.

by BigDaddy72 on Aug 30, 2008 5:01 PM PDT reply actions

I want my cake and I want to eat it too.

I want good-character guys who will bring home a well-deserved championship to the good city of Portland.

by CaptainSexyJacob on Aug 30, 2008 8:13 PM PDT reply actions

I agree

Nice post. I always thought winning in basketball meant “scoring more than the other team”, but as I get older I feel grateful to support a group of guys that I like and admire personally, and if they win, great, but I won’t get broken up about it. To me they are winners every time they help out in the community or turn down a shoe deal or less money from another team and play where they’d like to live and contribute as a well-known citizen. My whole attitude, of course, might have something to do with living so close to Wrigley Field, where losing is a team virtue.

by rpeachey on Aug 31, 2008 1:56 PM PDT reply actions