Brian Grant has Parkinsons??!?!!

I had no idea. He was my favorite Blazer of that era. His balltes with Karl Malone in the playoffs will always be some of the most intense games in Blazer history.

10 months ago Docproc 37 comments 10 recs |

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Dang you got me be five minutes

The NBA: Where Amazingly Bad Officiating Happens.

by The Roybot on May 18, 2009 1:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

anyways

Its an amazing story. I’ve always loved him.

The NBA: Where Amazingly Bad Officiating Happens.

by The Roybot on May 18, 2009 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

best of luck to the "Rasta Monsta"

by jksnake99 on May 18, 2009 1:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

sad news

he was one of my favorites growing up. he always went hard. let’s hope he can control the Parkinson’s and continue to live a full life.

JAH

by abetterbomb on May 18, 2009 1:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

oh man

I love the guy.
I wish nothing but the best to him.

by Falcao on May 18, 2009 1:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Sad news

seems like the worst stuff always happens to the best people. The Rasta Monsta is a true warrior and we will all get stronger because of this.

by Escrote on May 18, 2009 1:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Hopefully now he'll not be a recluse.

I’d love to see the Blazers get him back and involved with the team again. He was by far one of my favorite players during his tenure.

"Respect everyone, fear no one." -TP

by Arby on May 18, 2009 1:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

According to the article I read

His avoidance of the spot light was because of the tremors.

That is a real bummer for him, especially as young as he is. It is such a challenging disease.

by T$ 225 on May 18, 2009 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I understand that

but he was avoiding it because he didn’t want to have to explain it. Now that he’s out and vocal about it, he doesn’t have anything to “explain” or be embarassed about.

"Respect everyone, fear no one." -TP

by Arby on May 18, 2009 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

well that sucks

best of wishes Brian. I hope he really gets it under control and lives life to the fullest.

by GreatOden'sRaven on May 18, 2009 1:52 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow

He came back to portland, that’s awesome.

I remember meeting him during a friends bachelor party and the guy was HUGE! Friendly though and willing to shake hands with blazer fans.

Loved the guy as a player. Hard worker that did the dirty work. Was sad to see him leave.

"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.

But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html

by ratbastird on May 18, 2009 2:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Sad, but another inspirational story

He was always a great guy on and off the court that would fit perfectly on this team we have now a decade later. I hope it gives Brian a new sense of purpose to be active, teach younger people and become a spokesperson for this cause – maybe even follow in Ali’s footsteps on a smaller scale. People need to be aware that it can afflict anyone, even the most massive trained and healthy people.

My grandfather had pretty severe Parkinson’s, but at an old age starting at 70+ so it’s one of the things I have in the back of my mind to live life while still hoping it either doesn’t come early or preferably never/there is a cure to slow it down then.

P.S.: And again the Oregonian loses out on a great topic

by Norsktroll on May 18, 2009 2:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Darn

Trading Brian was the final straw that [almost] totally severed my relationship with the Blazers. I hadn’t known he’d returned to Portland until he was introduced the night of the Duckworth tribute. Glad he decided to go public – the more publicity a disease gets, the more money that will be generated for research. Go Brian!!

by jorga on May 18, 2009 2:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, when he left, I became truly disillusioned with the team.

Even my sister, who hates basketball, remembers him. She saw this story and pointed it out to me.

by BlazerGal on May 18, 2009 6:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't blame the team for trading him...

It was going to be tough to continue finding minutes for him and Sheed. In hindsight, they probably should have traded Sheed.

Anyway, I wish Brian Grant and his family all the luck in the world. It’s unfortunate that such a young person has been burdened with this disease.

by erastus25 on May 19, 2009 4:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Very sad that he's got this terrible disease, but there's plenty of great things here.

First of all, I was a big time Brian Grant fan as a teenager, and going into my college years. Even when the team had a collection of some of the biggest thugs around, there were always guys like Steve Smith and Brian Grant you could look to and point out as really quality people. So I love that he felt the connection to Portland and came back here to live.

When it comes to things like this, you don’t want to think to worst and you don’t want anyone else to either. But that’s the kind of thing that can trap some people in their own made prisons. His willingness to address this topic publicly and be open about it is the best thing he could have done, if for no other reason than for him to feel comfortable and normal. I really hope we see more of him around town, and hopefully we’ll see more of him on Blazer broadcasts in the future as well. I’d love to see him get a chance to share his perspective on the current team.

Good luck, Brian! We’re all rooting for you and we’re all so glad to have you back!

Yes! Yes! In the face!

by LeafHawk on May 18, 2009 2:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

really?

collection of some of the biggest thugs around

thug (thŭg)
n.
A cutthroat or ruffian; a hoodlum.
also Thug One of a band of professional assassins formerly active in northern India who worshiped Kali and offered their victims to her.

[Hindi ṭhag, perhaps from Sanskrit sthagaḥ, a cheat, from sthagati, sthagayati, he conceals; see (s)teg- in Indo-European roots.]
thug’ger·y n., thug’gish adj.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Pretty UncAlled for . . .

Sophia

Though patience be a tired mare, yet she will plod. - William Shakespeare

Roses are red
violets in bloom
Sophia’s in love
with Nicholas Batum
-Bow4Meow

by BlazerFan1 on May 18, 2009 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Really?

by Sabonis4Ever on May 18, 2009 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

REALLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?

REEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?

(head cocked sideways)
:O

Sophia

Though patience be a tired mare, yet she will plod. - William Shakespeare

Roses are red
violets in bloom
Sophia’s in love
with Nicholas Batum
-Bow4Meow

by BlazerFan1 on May 18, 2009 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdE4FIYSmk8

by Sabonis4Ever on May 18, 2009 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think your missing a couple of alternate defenitions that could be the reason for your confusion.

by Escrote on May 18, 2009 2:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ok, maybe it wasn't a collection of them....

But there were certainly some players who did some very thuggish things. And you will NEVER convince me that Bonzi Wells isn’t a thug. It well never happen. Don’t even try……..serious.

Yes! Yes! In the face!

by LeafHawk on May 18, 2009 3:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I even think Bonzi secretly grew up in New Dehli.....

Yes! Yes! In the face!

by LeafHawk on May 18, 2009 3:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Blazer nation has his back

I try to help with everything," Fernandez said. "If the coach says go rebound, I go rebound. I work for the team.

""If I'm playing this game to get media and attention, I shouldn't be here," Aldridge said. "I'm here to play basketball, and do what I can do to help this team win."

His stare became blank. It was apparent he was back in that place, on the Rose Garden's logo, picking up Aaron Brooks as the crowd nervously roared.

by Dragonage on May 18, 2009 2:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Bless his heart

i <3 him one of my fav blazers of all time

Though patience be a tired mare, yet she will plod. - William Shakespeare

Roses are red
violets in bloom
Sophia’s in love
with Nicholas Batum
-Bow4Meow

by BlazerFan1 on May 18, 2009 2:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Hopefully h can turn this into a positive

I remember when he organized to get Portlanders (and especially the African-American community) to register as bone marrow donors here in Portland. If he can raise more awareness than anything is possible.

Brian Grant was one of the few Blazers of that era that maintained a positive public image. Yeah he wasn’t perfect but he was always happy to help out in the community and that is what we really care about.

If the Blazers and Brian Grant can work together to generate public support, then perhaps something positive can come from this.

by Docproc on May 18, 2009 2:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I loved Brian Grant

by Sabonis4Ever on May 18, 2009 2:37 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Bad deal

I lost a friend to this several years back but the treatment situation has improved quite a bit since then

by southern oregon on May 18, 2009 2:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

My favorite player back then..

Hes a cool guy.. too bad about that but best of luck to him.

This year is NOT a building season!!

by collectiveshane on May 18, 2009 2:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Brian Grant has and will always be one of my all time favorite Blazers.

When I was in, maybe 3rd grade, we made pen cups for Father’s Day. On the one I made for my dad, I wrote Brian Grant #44 ALL over it. I don’t really think he was a big fan, but I sure was. The thing is still being used to this day, ten years later.

Best of luck to Brian. I hope to see him doing some things with the Blazers.

by Roybot on May 18, 2009 3:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Brian Grant

That truly sucks about Brian Grant having Parkinson’s. He was – and is – one of the great ex-Blazers, someone who embodied the "good guy" principles upon which the current team is built. I wish him the best in what must be a trying situation. Very glad he moved back to Portland.

Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.

by TTRocks on May 18, 2009 3:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Good luck BG

was my favorite when I first became a blazers fan.I loved him when we played Utah in the playoffs “Rasta Monsta vs Rogaine”

by Pickerind on May 18, 2009 4:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

As I said elsewhere

Grant and Sabas were the only two Blazers I truly liked of that era and I cried when we traded him…

Proud member of Duck nation!

by skywaker9 on May 18, 2009 5:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

NO NO NO!!!

This will not stand! I can accept a playoff loss. I’ve even accepted playoff losses to the Lakers. But I will not accept this. We, the people of BlazerNation and our collective will, faith and positive spirits will do everything to help Brian fight this.

"Are you going to bark all day little doggy? Or are you going to bite?" Mr Blonde

I don't like country music, but I don't denigrate those who do. And for the people who do like country music, denigrate means "put down."
—Bob Newhart

by StumptownRon on May 18, 2009 9:15 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs