PAUL ALLEN: BUY THE STORM!!

by hurryup09 on Sep 26, 2008 11:41 AM PDT Comment 30 comments

Just now, in listening to Rudy's interview on Mike Barrett's Courtside radio show, I was reminded that Rudy's sister plays for the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks. Alarm bells went off in my head.

Remember, in an interview last week (sorry: I still don't know how to do the link thingie), Rudy let it slip that: 1) he's concerned with living away from the coast for the first time; 2) he believes that a rainy climate is "bad for the body"; 3) he's pumped about playing in the famous Forum on opening night; 4) Kobe was very complementary to him after the Gold Medal Game. See where I’m going with this??

However, the Blazers don't need to wait helplessly for Rudy's rookie contract to expire and him to sign with the hated team to the south. We have an owner with vision and--more importantly--megabucks. True, even Paul Allen can't convert Portland into a sunny coastal city with an arena full of Tinseltown celebrities. But at least he can address this WNBA factor.

Come on, Mr. Allen: buy the Seattle Storm, move 'em to Portland, and sign Rudy's sister to the squad! Don't let the evil Kobe lure our Rudy away!

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it will never happen

Rudy will want to recoop the wages he lost in Europe these next few years as soon as possible. And that would be to sign an extention with the blazers, which can be way more than the Lakers could pay, especially since the Lakers will be over the cap.

by usmcr3049 on Sep 26, 2008 11:50 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I hope you're right

But remember, Rudy has already shown that living his dream is more important to him than earning extra millions.

"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla

by hurryup09 on Sep 26, 2008 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

On the serious side...

…I think that after a few years of the kind of love that Rudy received when he got off that plane @ PDX, he’ll have no desire to go anywhere. Plus, by that time the Blazers should be on top and the Lakers should be in serious decline.

I’m just indulging my paraniod side—and offering BE readers the opportunity to do the same.

"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla

by hurryup09 on Sep 26, 2008 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Er...

I meant “Staples Center,” not “Forum.” Also, the interview from “last week” that I referred to is contained in amlmart1’s “recommended” fanposts, “RUDY INTERVIEW (9-22-08)” and “MORE RUDY INTERVIEW.” Although I don’t think the part about Kobe being all complimentary is in there.

"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla

by hurryup09 on Sep 26, 2008 11:50 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't think that the idea Rudy could eventually play for the L*kers is even remotely absurd . . .

This year, probably not. Next year probably not. Before his career is over . . . why not?

The Dude abides

by noaher on Sep 26, 2008 12:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

as for Paul Allen buying the Storm . . . he's into profitable business investments these days. A WNBA team does not qualify.

The Dude abides

by noaher on Sep 26, 2008 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Speaking of that

…By the time Rudy’s rookie contract runs out, the WNBA might be kaput and Rudy’s sister out of a job. So a cheaper option might be available to Paul Allen: hire Rudy’s sister to a Blazers front office gig!

"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla

by hurryup09 on Sep 26, 2008 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If she looks like Rudy

She could be a Blazer Dancer.

by pualo on Sep 26, 2008 3:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hear KP wants to trade for this Bobcats dancer

More photos from a previous season http://www.nba.com/bobcats/ladycats_dow_natasha.html?curPhoto=0

Apparently she is enough of a fan favorite that her comeback this year is featured in blog posts as one of five reasons to go to a Bobcats game or something. So that would be her, the chance to maybe spot Michael Jordan, and Okafor, Richardson and Wallace? How much do they pay her? Man it must be tough rooting for this franchise.

http://www.bobcatsplanet.com/joomla/blog/42-nba/402-5-reasons-the-charlotte-bobcats-make-the-playoffs-this-season

St. Bayno's 120 Haiku Prospects: Nicolas Batum in the paint—prairie grass, blown by wind. Jerryd Bayless—leaps over a kite string, and keeps going.

by Norsktroll on Sep 26, 2008 3:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gad!

"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla

by hurryup09 on Sep 27, 2008 1:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

OT: sort of.

Does having a sucessful NBA team increase attendance for WNBA teams, or decrease it?

I mean if the garden is selling out every game, there’s got to be people left over willing to watch female ball. maybe?

or does having a Great NBA team decrease the interest in WNBA teams.

for me, if I just watched our boy’s kill Los Aliens, I tend to feel the “high” for the next couple of days, so, My interest definately goes down, but then again, ….I’ve yet to see a woman’s team play, live or via television so, yeah, nevermind, I lost the thought.

I'VE NO PROOF. NONE. NADA. I BASE MY OPINION ON FAITH AND FATE ALONE. BEFORE IT'S DOUBTED AND THROWN UNDER THE RUG, READ THIS AND TELL ME FATE DOES NOT EXIST.

May 23, 2006
"And come on now, really...had we gotten the #1 selection would we have been happy or just talking about how our cursed luck continues because this is the first year that high schoolers (and thus Greg Oden) aren't allowed in the draft? Save it for next year guys...save it for next year."
--Dave

a tribute to what it was, and the way it is. Mad respect Dave.

by faith on Sep 26, 2008 12:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Sick. Just disgusting. Yuck.

"People? You man Sheeple."

by Mike-Fu on Sep 26, 2008 12:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

He came over you play for the Blazers.

I think it’s a little too soon to be worrying. As fans we hate the Lakers, but players respect their success and it is a big deal to play in the Staples Center, especially their first pro game.

Yes Kobe respects and looks like he even liked Rudy, but that doesn’t mean Rudy is moving to LA any time soon. Our own Brandon Roy has said Kobe is his favorite player, because he respects what he does on the court.

Just because players respect or like each other doesn’t mean its their goal to all be on the same team. Often times that’s when they play best, is against somebody they like.

by Bskey on Sep 26, 2008 2:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

That "you" should be "to"....

by Bskey on Sep 26, 2008 2:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, if you want to be all logical about it...

…then why would Rudy want to stop playing behind Roy only to play behind Kobe? All three are shooting guards, after all. Not that I think Rudy will actually ever want to leave the Blazers, but if he did it would probably be to go somewhere and start.

"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla

by hurryup09 on Sep 26, 2008 3:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think Rudy had Portland on his wish list.

Rudy’s attitude during our courting of him kind put me on edge and had me feeling Portland is far from his dream job. First he commented that he expected the Blazer organization to compensate him with substantial playing time for the pay cut he would take and then he has his guys calling the organization during the draft telling the Blazers not to draft certain players. The gull! I’ve been waiting for Rudy forever and even went as far as trying to get his jersey sent over here for last season, but i get nervous when players drop little tell tale commentary like that.

That said, coupled with the points made by hurryup09, i’d be willing to speculate Rudy sees Portland as a necessary stepping stone to take his place in the NBA and will want to move to a different market (LA sounds about right) when the time is right. Of course, there’s no saying that Portland won’t charm him and once we’re winning playoff games and championships, might be hard to leave.

by fysho31 on Sep 27, 2008 10:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I'm not actually sweating it

I’ll bet there have been a number of Blazer greats who never envisioned playing their entire careers here. But once they experienced the Portland lifestyle and Blazermania, they realized they’d stumbled into a good thing. I think Rudy will probably have a long, happy career here.

I was just indulging a little paranoia with this fanpost.

"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla

by hurryup09 on Sep 28, 2008 1:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Little early ...

to start worrying who Rudy’s going to sign with when his rookie deal is up, isn’t it? I mean:

1. His current deal is 4 years long.
2. When his deal is up, we will have the right to match any offers, which have to be at least 3 years long. So we’re probably looking at at least 7 years of Rudy in a Blazer uniform.
3. We can pay him the most anyway.
4. We don’t even know if he’ll be that good in the long haul.

Can we at least wait until he’s played a few games for us before we start worrying who he’ll be playing for 8 years from now?

"These are dreams that we have." --Rudolfo Fernandez

by bfan on Sep 26, 2008 2:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Spoilsport

"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla

by hurryup09 on Sep 26, 2008 3:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And don't forget

If Rudy is looking for the ocean breeze …he won’t get it in LA…..Only air from a hurricane can cut through that smog….. Yes the Ocean is there but the people in LA haven’t found it yet…..

by 67 on Sep 28, 2008 8:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rudy's sister isn't in the WNBA anymore as far as I know

Last time I looked, she played in Poland. I think she just mocked him with her highscore in the NBA. And she is considerably older than him, it wouldn’t be a long time investment to bring her to a WNBA team near you.

St. Bayno's 120 Haiku Prospects: Nicolas Batum in the paint—prairie grass, blown by wind. Jerryd Bayless—leaps over a kite string, and keeps going.

by Norsktroll on Sep 26, 2008 2:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

This reminds me

Of the time when Greg Oden blogged about liking the beach in LA, then someone commented that he was only “3 years away from playing out his rookie contract and heading south in free agency”

Fortunately, GO blogged back that he loved his Blazer teammates and PDX was “his” kinda town

So, if Rudy starts making noise that he wishes he was in the LA sunshine, it’ll be time for Greg to have “the talk” with him…

by two4larue on Sep 26, 2008 3:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

How much do they cost?

15, 20 dollars?

I’d say PA should think about it, but not if the team costs more than $50.

Jerryd Bayless has two emotions: Kill and Win.

"I think it’s going to be very beautiful game next year."
-Nicolas Batum

by rockingharder on Sep 26, 2008 3:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Portland had a WNBA team once

nobody cared. And nobody will care. The WNBA is terrible.

--Dave
Addicted to Quack, SBN's Oregon Ducks blog

by Addicted to Quack on Sep 26, 2008 8:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd drive the 50 miles

to see an NHL game, though

by 67 on Sep 28, 2008 8:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why do you think that is?

I have to admit, I can’t watch the games. I realize those women can REALLY play, but I’m so acclimated to watching the guys that I can’t get with the women’s game. I wonder why that is, though? I enjoy watching women’s tennis, softball, and even soccer…

"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla

by hurryup09 on Sep 28, 2008 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And beach volleyball!

But you’re right — why not women’s basketball?

I would guess lack of time, for one. No one has time to watch everything. Most of us watch what most interests us.

The other thing that comes to mind is that basketball is a physical, athletic game — much more of a power game than sports like tennis or soccer. The power is an exciting element and women’s basketball has less of it. Take it to the extreme: would anyone regularly pay to watch women play professional football, which is the ultimate power game?

"Personally, I'd rather give an elephant a prostate exam on Chili Day." --Dave on rooting for the Lakers or Celtics

by MiledAnimal on Sep 28, 2008 7:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

League games in women's soccer are mostly horrible

Only international competitions are nice to watch, and really interesting only for matches between a few strong teams (e.g. Brazil, Germany, USA, Sweden, Norway). In basketball, I would also prefer to watch Team WNBA-USA than the Seattle Storm play a game.

Women’s tennis can actually be more interesting since the pace is slower, allowing for longer plays and not just serve and volley as in men’s tennis which quickly can get rather boring. And a lot of the players look nicer :)

St. Bayno's 120 Haiku Prospects: Nicolas Batum in the paint—prairie grass, blown by wind. Jerryd Bayless—leaps over a kite string, and keeps going.

by Norsktroll on Sep 28, 2008 7:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good points by both of you

I agree that in a power-oriented (vs a finesse) game, the relative lack of power in women compared to men is probably an issue. Also, I agree that I’d much rather watch a women’s all-star basketball line-up than a regular squad. The very best women players are watchable, but not so much the run of the mill pros.

Not that they can’t ALL play. I played in pick-up games against good college women players a couple times, and you quickly stop going easy on them. That is, if you don’t want to be thoroughly embarrassed.

BTW, I once had a towncar job, and I picked up Nancy Leiberman. She was just like you’d imagine; she talked hoops non-stop! One interesting thing I learned: Leiberman hadn’t been a Bob Cousy-type, as I’d imagined. Although just 5-9, she told me she’d been able to dunk a tennis ball. And she said that she’d basically beaten up on opposing guards. Something to do with having grown up playing on NY schoolyards against guys.

"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla

by hurryup09 on Sep 28, 2008 8:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The WNBA was doing pretty good – middle of the pack attendance despite having a terrible team. And the previous ABL team had great attendance. Paul Allen just gave up on the WNBA because it was 2002 and he was in the middle of that disaster with the Jail Blazer squads and the Rose Garden fiasco.

I think he should definitely buy the Storm. They would do well here.

MLB2PDX!!! (someday...)

by The Cactus Leaguer on Sep 30, 2008 7:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs