Thank You Martel Webster

by tominrehab on Apr 9, 2009 8:59 PM PDT

The 2008-2009 season was supposed to be YOUR year Martel.

You came into fall training camp in immaculate physical and mental condition. KP said in several interviews that he expected this season to be your breakout year. You've always had a sweet jimmy, a picture-perfect NBA body... and now you finally had the experience and mental framework to put it all together. This is not to say that previous season had been disappointments. You averaged double figures points and shot nearly 40% from deep last season. You started focusing on defense last year (and have always been better at locking down on a guy than Travis ever will be).

Your promise was perhaps evidenced best when KP extended your contract for four years and $20 million even though you sustained a stress fracture in the pre-season. That shows confidence. That shows faith. That shows KP believed you would be an integral part of the Blazer's upcoming championship runs.

But the injury hit you, and it hit you hard. After you kept your outlook positive and worked your tail off to return to action as quickly as possible, you were not rewarded with success. Rather, you got knocked down again with another (re-)injury. But you didn't let that keep you down either. You hit the pool and the weights. You joined the team for film sessions and meetings. You kept your positive outlook and have been there to support the guys from the sideline and in the locker room. You even helped a damsel in distress during a December snowstorm when her car was stuck on a hill and others merely passed her by.

What a tough, tough season for you Martel. The record books will show that you logged 5 minutes of NBA action during the 2008-2009.

What the record books won't show is the impressions you have made on our hearts, the inspiration you have fed to our souls, and the jubilation with which we THANK YOU for a terrific year of service.

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Comments

You forgot to thank him for posing for LetsBlaze in Memphis!

Plus, the one I’m really thankful towards is Ruffin.

by staylost on Apr 9, 2009 9:01 PM PDT reply actions

Well said

by two buck chuck on Apr 9, 2009 10:09 PM PDT reply actions

I've said it before, and I'll say it again:

Martell Webster is a cool dude. You’re one of my two jerseys I hang on the wall.

LMA: 35 points, 18 rebounds against "OKC." Beaste!

by prezofdeath on Apr 9, 2009 10:22 PM PDT reply actions

Next Year Martel will be Awesome

He will be playing at the best level of his career. I’ve had some personal experience with a long recovery from an injury. For someone like Martel the drive to win doesn’t go away during the injury, it builds up like a pressure cooker. When I finally recovered from a knee injury, I came back far better than anyone expected. Martel will too.

by GoBlazersWIN on Apr 9, 2009 11:05 PM PDT reply actions

Im so excited for next year because KP doesnt even have to make a move to make it feel like the team has improved.

Getting the new and improved Martell back after an entire summer of reconditioning will be far better than adding some FA or trading for someone that will have to gradually mesh with the team, chemistry wise. I can rest assured knowing SF will be the last of KP’s concerns this summer.

by BlazerBen on Apr 9, 2009 11:20 PM PDT reply actions

Agreed completely

KP knows it or someone would have been gone at the deadline IMO. I’m super excited to see this team next year after all our rookies have a summer off to get better, are used to the 82 game season, and the refs stop calling bs fouls on GO because he is new. Just think, this team except everyone will be demonstrably better. I’m geeked.

by KitIsh on Apr 10, 2009 1:41 AM PDT up reply actions

Rec

and thanks for the hand with the thank you posts. I will keep track of who posts which “thank you’s” and not overlap them but my plan is (1 early, 1 late) 2 a day till the team is done and to leave Roy, LMA, and Nate for last. If everyone is O.K. with that…….But thank you again

by blazerbeliever97504 on Apr 9, 2009 11:22 PM PDT reply actions

Ohh, P.S.

Rudy, Martell, Trout, Roy, Blake, and even LMA since he is ever expanding his range(probly not but hey, lol) thats some insane shooters with an improved interior post game. the next few years are gonna be awsome!

by blazerbeliever97504 on Apr 9, 2009 11:24 PM PDT reply actions

Nice post

Tough, tough season for Martell, but he never seemed to let it get him down. I hope he gets plenty of fan support now, while he needs it.

Take your time with that rehab, Martell; your future is as bright as ever.

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

by hurryup09 on Apr 10, 2009 1:03 AM PDT reply actions

How can you make a long loving post and then spell his name wrong?

Maybe that’s nitpicky but…

Blazer Fan

by leeroyjenkins on Apr 10, 2009 7:01 AM PDT reply actions

for what

for not living up to his potential,we’ve could’ve had c.p.3 or the great d.williams instead.i would’nt be suprised at all if k.pricthard uses him as trade bait this summer.he never lived up to his potential.too damn inconsistent.

by fatty on Apr 10, 2009 8:07 AM PDT reply actions

Anyone else sick of Fatty...

saying We all the time?

Seems that everything is negative, always condescending and never positive. On top of that Fatty calls this team weak and loves the rockets. Why in the heck do you use the word WE? cause from what I’ve whitnesssed you’re an intrigued Bball fan, but not a Blazer fan. Not to call you out on being a fan or anything. But sometimes something positive would be nice to see. Since WE all love this team.

by keepfryealive on Apr 10, 2009 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

WE will enjoy Martell's comeback next year

and WE will enjoy Fatty chowing down on his own words. Urp, – Elgin

Blazers win BDL 2 on 2 tournament!
Skeets: i’ll close it down now … congrats. you bastards

by 22baylor on Apr 10, 2009 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions

your not an "X". Not to call you out on being an "X" or anything...hmm

Please, for the love of all that is holy, please stop using the following: "Book it.", "FTW", "Epic" & "Fail".

...no seriously--stop.

by nima on Apr 11, 2009 10:19 PM PDT up reply actions

But then you might not get our current stars!

I like CP3 and D-Will, and if we drafted them I would be absolutely enamored with them. But we choose Webster.

And Webster wasn’t ready to contribute in any meaningful way. So we had another draft of high picks and got Roy and LMA. Then they learned the ropes during another tough season such that we got the #1 pick, and our choice of Oden/Durant (I like our choice, btw).

Now maybe fate would’ve given us all of them, but I doubt it. Two seasons after CP3 and D-Will were drafted, their teams were play-off/championship contenders. You don’t get good picks then! No #1. You probably don’t get both Roy and LMA either.

Look back and say how stupid that decision is all you want, but I like our path. I like our stars. I like this team.

-T

Oden and LaMarcus and Roy, oh my!

by Quik_Baller on Apr 10, 2009 9:20 AM PDT up reply actions 4 recs

Fatty, nice to see you hate someone besides Greg Oden.

by MiledAnimal on Apr 10, 2009 3:37 PM PDT up reply actions

he's always hated martell and outlaw

and ‘hate’ is not too strong a word

ignacio

by ignacio on Apr 10, 2009 5:24 PM PDT up reply actions

do you find it weird

that when you buy a replica jersey, you have to get one that is 4 sizes larger than the man that is 2 feet taller than you?

dinasour type of guys choir boys

by mittsabishy on Apr 10, 2009 11:39 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

he was a beast in that preseason game against sactown

who would have though he’d be out for the season? hopefully next year nate will draw up a special rudy lob to martel play.

by appel82 on Apr 10, 2009 8:13 AM PDT reply actions

I thought you were posting a thank you letter.....

from Nicolas Batum.

Merci Mr. Webster for getting hurt and jumpstarting my career and keeping me out of the D league.

Ciao

by kikifromdowntown on Apr 10, 2009 8:45 AM PDT reply actions

With reference to a few posts in this thread...

Blazersedge: where couch potatoes go to vent their frustrations re/ their unsatisfying lives. What could be more pathetic than kicking someone when he’s down—especially someone who has worked as hard as Martell Webster?

Hopefully, Martell won’t let this kind of thing bother him in the least. Why should it? This time next season Martell will be back doing what he loves to do, and getting paid fantastic money for doing so. Meanwhile, the guys taking cheap shots at him today will still have those pathetic, unsatisfying lives.

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

by hurryup09 on Apr 10, 2009 12:39 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

are you calling Fatty a "couch potatoe" because he is, well, fat?

Fatty seems like a good, productive member of society. (Maybe he has a thyroid problem, or is obese due to genetic reasons.)

I agree that Martel deserves respect for what he has accomplished and shouldn’t be judged based on a choice to draft him by somebody else. If you want to throw stones, throw them at Paul Allen and John Nash. Martel didn’t have control over that decision and shouldn’t be criticized for it.

At the same time, why do you have to call Fatty a “couch potatoe” with an “unsatisfying life”?

by tominrehab on Apr 10, 2009 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions

First, I didn't single out Fatty

He was one of four or five guys who were using a “thank you Martell” post as a forum for taking cheap shots at…Martell (the day after his season was shut down). As for Fatty, I doubt a guy with that handle would get bent out of shape by being called a couch potato.

And by the way, the singlar of “potato” is spelled without an “e.” You’re not only mispelling “Martell,” but you’re adopting the famous Dan Quayle spelling for “potato.” Just pointing this out…

Oh, one other thing (not directed at you, Tom): Batum’s emergence isn’t necessarily a bad thing for Martell. Next season Batum might be the Blazers’ starting three and Martell the “instant offense” three off the bench. But many fans suspected that would be Martell’s eventual role anyway. Batum’s early emergence—yes, thanks to Martell’s injury—only made it less likely the Blazers will go out and acquire a starting three.

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

by hurryup09 on Apr 10, 2009 4:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Do we even know if "tominrehab" is really named Tom?

I hate him more than some Blazers fans hate Kobe. I wish I could have punched him at Blazers Edge night.

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by tominhawaii on Apr 10, 2009 8:24 PM PDT up reply actions

tell us how you really feel

by tominrehab on Apr 10, 2009 8:44 PM PDT up reply actions

That would get me banned

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by tominhawaii on Apr 10, 2009 8:59 PM PDT up reply actions

Please do it

by tominrehab on Apr 10, 2009 9:04 PM PDT up reply actions

I wish you really were in rehab

Because we could have this talk over drinks.

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by tominhawaii on Apr 10, 2009 9:07 PM PDT up reply actions

That's a good idea actually... let's call truce

Next time you’re in Portland, let’s sit down and have a drink. You are the original “Tom” on here and I have to respect and admire that. There’s no reason to have a petty rivalry. We’re all friends here. I wish I would have stopped by to say hi at The Agency during BE Night. Next time, friend, next time.

by tominrehab on Apr 10, 2009 9:38 PM PDT up reply actions

you admire him because his name is tom.

that’s just weird.

Please, for the love of all that is holy, please stop using the following: "Book it.", "FTW", "Epic" & "Fail".

...no seriously--stop.

by nima on Apr 11, 2009 10:21 PM PDT up reply actions

sorry

I guess it’s weird, I don’t know. Here’s why I admire him: I’m a Tom and a Blazers fan. BlazersEdge is the best Blazers fan community on the internet. He was the first Tom to really stake a claim here. I wasn’t. Since he was here first, and thus wiser and cooler, I admire him.

by tominrehab on Apr 12, 2009 12:45 AM PDT up reply actions

Marty has butt!

Elizabeth had a partner and he had a rap from the cops, Him and Lenny Suckerpunch were just out Tooling around

by Lizzy Lowblow on Apr 10, 2009 3:33 PM PDT reply actions

i agree

marty has a tossable salad.

by tominrehab on Apr 10, 2009 3:49 PM PDT up reply actions

He's got buns hun

Elizabeth had a partner and he had a rap from the cops, Him and Lenny Suckerpunch were just out Tooling around

by Lizzy Lowblow on Apr 10, 2009 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions

he can crack walnuts with his rump

Momma.....der go dat man

by AllHailRoy on Apr 10, 2009 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Doin' a triple X throw down

Elizabeth had a partner and he had a rap from the cops, Him and Lenny Suckerpunch were just out Tooling around

by Lizzy Lowblow on Apr 10, 2009 4:41 PM PDT up reply actions

Its so big

It’s just so big
I can’t believe it’s so round
It’s just out there

Cuz you notice that butt was stuffed
Deep in the jeans he’s wearing
I’m hooked and I can’t stop staring

Elizabeth had a partner and he had a rap from the cops, Him and Lenny Suckerpunch were just out Tooling around

by Lizzy Lowblow on Apr 12, 2009 8:47 AM PDT up reply actions

I remember the preseason game against the Kings.

Martell looked fantastic out there, and he and Rudy already had really good chemistry. It’s a damn shame we didn’t get to see him again at the RG.

We’ll see you on the flipside Martell!

Hit it. Yes he did. Ohhhh yeah.

by Badalona Baddie on Apr 10, 2009 5:41 PM PDT reply actions

when you people

do a thank-you to a player who really deserves it in my opinion then i’ll give that player his dude.and for this comment is for hurryup09,when you can afford to put 2 nephews at $40,000 apeice then you can talk.until then you keep waving your martell&oden pom*poms.while real men take care of real men responsibilities thank-you so very much.

by fatty on Apr 11, 2009 8:49 AM PDT reply actions

cant u just let ppl love their team?

i feel like some of your comments belong on the o-live forum…..

honestly, this site is about homerism, there is not need for CONSTANT negativity….im sure some of your intelligent comments are appreciated, but not the negative ones on an appreciation thread…just dont read the thread, and dont comment,, stick to the trashing threads for that.

Rip City Baby...People have no idea what is coming.

Follow my twitter www.twitter.com/PDXBlazersFTW, @PDXBlazersFTW. Lots of random Blazer Posts from links I find around the blogosphere.

by lanepete on Apr 12, 2009 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions

I take it all back

Fatty, you’re not a couch potato venting his frustrations on hardworking athletes. You’re a “real man” venting his frustrations on hardworking athletes. A real man who writes illegible posts.

OK, I gotta get back to waving my pom poms, as I don’t have any “real man (men?) responsibilites.” Just a pair of underemployed stepkids & three grandchildren to help support and an exploding mortgage to deal with—all with a job that’s becoming part-time. (Of course, that makes me one of the lucky ones; in this economy, if you have any income at all, you should count your blessings.)

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

by hurryup09 on Apr 11, 2009 11:12 AM PDT reply actions