Blazers' Mt. Rushmore
by SandbergOnSports on Feb 24, 2009 12:22 PM PST
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PrintScoop Jackson recently wrote a new column in which he picks the "Mt. Rushmore" for every NBA team. In other words, he wanted to choose the four most significant faces in the history of each franchise.
Some of those teams are easy to pick - The Magic have Shaq, Penny, Nick Anderson, and Dwight Howard. But others, he admits, are hard to choose - how do you pick only four Celtics to represent the franchise?
For the Blazers, Scoop picked Clyde Drexler, Bill Walton, Jack Ramsay, and ... Billy Ray Bates.
He makes the point that while Bates isn't necessarily a household name to casual basketball fans, Scoop says that Bates is "the most exciting player in Blazers history."
While, I'm not quite sure that I agree with that, it is an interesting selection.
For me, the top four has to be Clyde (most beloved player in the franchise's history), Walton (without him, no championship), Ramsay (the man who put it all together and build a Blazer legacy for years to come) ... and finally, Bill Schonely. How many people became Blazer fans simply by listening to Schonz on the radio? In the early days, Schonz would visit small towns in Oregon promoting the Blazers and helping them feel like the team belonged to the entire Northwest. He convincec companies to advertise with the Blazers when no one else would.
Any thoughts on the subject? Do other Blazers belong up there instead?
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What no TP?
: )
"I saw him in the face" Sergio's quote on the latest alley-oop to Rudy.
by blazermaniac32 on Feb 24, 2009 12:30 PM PST up reply actions
Bates?
Exciting or not, the guy played 2 mediocre years for Portland. That’s like saying Rudy will be the 4th most important Blazer of all time after next year because he’s exciting!!!
Clyde/Walton/Ramsay/Schonz work for me. If this Portland teams win a lone title, Roy takes the spot of Walton. (Yes, I chose Walton here.) If Portland wins numerous titles with this team… Roy and maybe even someone else get in here.
I like yours
as long as there is space for Roy some day
C*mcast sucks!
by Blazermaniac77 on Feb 24, 2009 12:41 PM PST up reply actions
How do you pick only four Celtics to represent the franchise?
Plus the comparison looks pretty weird when applied to teams that have been in the league for different numbers of years.
Celtics: Auerbach, Russell, Cousy, and Bird.
Thunder: Presti, Durant, Green, and Westbrook.
I think Carlesimo’s gotta be there, for the shocking basketball discovery of Kevin Durant not being a shooting guard…
My HDTV is a torrented game that I can watch lag-free :(
Let LaMarcus keep the headband!
by inroywetrust on Feb 24, 2009 12:50 PM PST up reply actions
If only.
Jerryd Bayless has two emotions: Kill and Win.
"I want to put points on your face."
-Rudy to Pau Gasol
TRADE TRAVIS OUTLAW FOR A CHAIR
by rockingharder on Feb 24, 2009 8:00 PM PST up reply actions
without PA, we're the Las Vegas Rollers
or the OKC Bison or the Cincinnati Lemurs or something.
We’re the Portland Trailblazers because PA wouldn’t sell out. Bottom line.
He gets face 4 on my Rushmore.
If not PA, then probably Glickman. Dude did a lot for this franchise.
Want more aggressiveness? Try less Baylesslessness.
A good point
I kinda feel like that’s true of every team though. Even “bad” owners are pretty important to their team’s continued existence.
What about KP? Certainly he’s the story of these last few years.
Roy LMA KP have done a lot for this franchise as it stands.
Nothing but props to them.
Want more aggressiveness? Try less Baylesslessness.
Ask me again in 10 years
When 2 of those names are current Blazers 8-)
"Respect everyone, fear no one." -TP
Drexler, Walton, Ramsay and Blaze the Trail Cat
Lenny Wilkens might be in the discussion.
Brandon is one of those quiet assassins. - Chris Paul
I can't believe no Dragline
letting us know about his Blazer’s Mt. Tushmore choices…
From the back of Travis Outlaw's Franz card: Travis leads the team in monstrous thunder dunks, wins awards for post game interviews, and often gets extra points for degree of difficulty.
Mo Cheeks doesn't fit in that group
He was a good dude that was coaching in a bad situation.
"Respect everyone, fear no one." -TP
Drexler, Walton, Ramsay and Whitsett
If you are talking “influencial” in shaping the face of the franchise, hard to argue against Trader Bob having as big of an impact as anyone else named above (even Shonz).
It may not be a “positive” influence, I mean the jailblazer years were painful, but a MAJOR part of PTB history…
how about Geoff Petrie
instead of Whitsitt?
He was a good player and great GM for the Blazers. – Elgin
Since when do we need to ponder to froth? - jscot
Adleman
How about Rick? 1st team captain and then most successful coach. He should still be out coach ala Jerry Sloan’s tenure.
Buck Williams
Still trying to figure out the C value paradox...
by Sexual Tyrannosaurus on Feb 24, 2009 5:16 PM PST reply actions
Clyde, Walton, Ramsey & Larry Miller
Isn’t Miller the one that wants to take the
Blazers GLOBAL ? He’s on the Blazers Mt. Rushmore
strictly because of his ignorant hypocrisy !
Global ??? Hey Larry, how about making the Blazers
an Oregon Brand 1st ? Southern Oregon, the Oregon Coast
and much of Eastern Oregon can’t get any Blazer cable
games due to the horrrrrible cable deal you & your boys signed with
your hometown Philly cable GIANT ! I wonder how much
Warry’s kickback fattened his wallet ? Void this horrible
deal PA, or put some pressure on your own company (Charter)
to sign a deal !
It's GO time !
Walton, Drexler, Roy, Schonely
Walton, Drexler and Roy represent the historical progression of the franchise, which is what Mt. Rushmore is all about. And for many years Schonely was the 2nd most recognizable blazer around the state so he gets the last vote.
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