Canzano Creates a Firestorm (plus updates)

I think this has to do with it being the dead of the off season and there is nothing else Blazer related to talk about.

I like the use of curmudgeonry, though

for the better off dead reference..

Are just trying to find negative stories.

-read Canzano. Look at the byline. Say to yourself, “Oh, Canzano wrote that.” Move on.

I’ve had the opportunity to meed Canzano in person a couple times, and I have to say that he is a very normal person. However, he does take a viewpoint in his writing that tends to rub a lot of people the wrong way.

Honestly, I’d have to say that based on my experience I must be biased, but I just see no reason for the flaming hatred I detect from the majority of Bedge people.

On all of this tho, slow and quiet offseason league-wide for the most part… He has to write about something, and is there really something wrong with playing Devil’s advocate?

That the offseason is no fun for us, especially now that we’re not rebuilding. I’m a fan, not an agent or lawyer or manager. My job is to buy some overpriced popcorn and a black and red shirt, get whatever lower-300 level tickets I can afford, and scream my head off for my team. I’m supposed to be yelling “Did you see that?!” when Oden dunks somebody’s face off or Bayless gets a steal or Roy puts in a miracle shot.

All this contract stuff feels at odds with what I want as a fan. Sure, I care enough about my team to read this stuff and form an opinion, but will it mean anything after the first tipoff? Not to me, as long as my favorite players are still here and putting on a good show.

Canzano writes like we’re all in his business and want to buy in to some grand idea or take sides on an issue (even if there is no issue to take sides on). Reading this latest article made me very glad to be one of those people sitting in the 300’s and stomping my feet, not in a box taking notes or calculating salary cap numbers. I don’t WANT to invest myself in taking sides or deciding how many millions a kid younger than me should get. I don’t want to be a logical analytical spectator, I want to be a fan and enjoy everything about the Blazers. Period.

I understand why he writes this stuff, hell what else can you do when you have papers to sell and there’s no real news for a week or a month? I won’t attack him for doing his job but I think the days of sports writers making a living off negative off-court Blazers stories are over. If he wants to keep throwing matches and waiting for something to catch fire we’ll shake our heads at him during the summer, ignore him when the season starts, and he’ll be back to attacking Mike Bellotti by the end of October.

Is in my blood and I for one thought the column was amusing. Not journalism, for sure, but amusing and raises an interesting point, which is what columns are for in the first place. It was meant to spark discussion. Clearly it did that. I myself am not an NBA fan. Right now, I do like the Blazers; I like how they’re behaving, I like the family feel of the team. However, the only reason I really got into the Blazers in the first place was because of Brandon Roy. With Spencer and Jon both playing for the King’s, I follow the Kings now too. However, unlike the Blazers [currently], the Kings are not a team I can get behind.

Canzano’s piece made sense to the casual reader. It was a point that needed to be addressed. Good for him.

And I do agree with the comfort sentiment from Dave’s column on B-Roy this past weekend. However, I think in many ways it compares and parallels to the Canzano piece. Go figure.

the credibility of Oregon live to put this garbage out there. Let’s talk about the Bayless article Jason Quick wrote. A great piece where Bayless finally says what he really thinks.

Ah man I love that movie. Oh and I love me some Dave posts.

Thanks for your insight Dave. I hope this Roy contract situation gets resolved soon though.

Go Blazers

Also so what if Brandon Roy is offended and wants to go somewhere else when he’s 30. I hate this small-time mentality that Portlanders can’t get rid of. It makes me feel dirty. New Yorkers are laughing at you.

I, for one, am very happy to see the vitriol.

Normally, I agree with Dave: in discourse, we owe the common courtesy of avoiding ad hominem attack and otherwise degrading the discussion with insults, flames, etc.

However, I think there’s an alternative side to that coin. It is this: at what point does a columnist write so execrably that one no longer concerns oneself with common courtesy?

For example, I try to be polite to people I meet in the supermarket. But if they haven’t bathed in weeks, are shouting obscenities at people, and sneezing on the produce, I no longer feel I need to be courteous.

In the court of public opinion—of which journalists and columnists alike must take part—I believe there is a point where the writer essentially is no longer worthy of having his premises coureously disagreed with.

I think Canzano is the very definition of that.

Instead, we refuse to read him. At that point, I think it’s perfectly appropriate to cast one’s vote in comments on blogs and any other forum of simply saying things like: “Canzano is an idiot and I no longer read him under any circumstances.”

Just like people vote with their feet and vote with their dollars, they may also vote with their comments. I see the nasty vitriol in the comments section essentially like so many “votes” against having to deal with a columnist who constantly—as someone pointed out above—caters to the lowest common denominator.

Let those votes roll in; let the nasty vitriol spill! I want a new columnist… one that I actually want to and care about reading. Not one that constantly agrees with me but one who doesn’t exploit little old ladies, socioeconomic envy, class politics, and sensationalization.

So—for the record:

John Canzano is an embarassment to the journalistic profession. (And no, I did not read his latest column but I enjoyed reading the nasty vitriol about it.)

So I sent him a sympathetic email. He responded in a kind of weird way, essentially bragging about his thick skin and experience in taking heat. I realized then and there that he WANTED the negativity—that stirring it up was his modus operandi.

Dave essentially says that Blazer fans shouldn’t decend to Canzano’s level by attacking him. Sure, name-calling isn’t a classy response to Canzano’s manipulative, disingenuous writing. But in addition to rebutting Canzano’s arguments, I think it’s perfectly appropriate to point out why he’s making them. That is, that Canzano is an insincere, self-aggrandizing controversy-hound whose only agenda is high ratings and, ultimately, a job in a media center.

Even a few “personal” attacks—e.g., pointing out what a poor writer Canzano is and what a shrill, yip-dog voice he possesses—seem in bounds to me. That’s mainly because, despite what Canzano told me in that long-ago email, he’s extremely THIN-SKINNED. And if we have to put up with his annoying—and even destructive—presence in our midst, the least we should be able to do is sting his fragile, over-inflated ego.

It’s hard for fans to stomach quoates like this. It’s like Spree sayiong he needs 10 mill a year to put food on his table.

It’s a priviledge to own the Portland Trail Blazers. I’m grateful for Paul Allen and wish him well if he is ill, but I don’t feel for his financial situation. As a pastor, I see people hurting and struggling on a daily basis, especially in this economy. Is it inhumane to suggest that whatever financial issue is preventing B-Roy from getting a fifth year is relative to Paul Allen and not to those of us who don’t crack Forbes annual lists?

I confess there are aspects of how businesses/franchises operate that are over my head. I don’t contend our payroll turn into the Knicks’. What I do know is that there are a lot of diehards out there in Blazerland like my wife and I were able to afford to go to 5 Blazer games last year, sitting in the 300 level. I also know that B-Roy means more to this city, during this time, than merely playing 2-guard for the Blazers.

It’s the definition of a no-brainer.

What he delivers is mindless controversy. He’s a idiot provocateur and deserves nothing but scorn for his low-road approach to sports commentary and for his XXXXL ego.

John Canzano creates firestorms wherever he goes. That’s his job.

It’s the faux-“voice of the common man” tone he adopts — it’s condescending as hell. Not much of what he says is outrageous (and, in this case, he’s merely ringing the same warning bells we all are over that “Paul Allen can’t afford to lose money on this team” B.S.)

But he writes as though he’s the conscience of the city. Please, sir. You’re a hired hand, by some accounts a capable one. And if the “Sacramento Smog” (or whatever their paper is called) offered more money, you’d go there, and write agonized columns over how the Kings are betraying the soul of your beloved burg.

That’s the cause of the vitriol, I think. Canzano’s a relative newcomer, and writes as though he’s been a PDXer since before AuCoin signed the bottle bill. It’s a patently transparent pose, really forced — and since The O doesn’t have a place for comments on the paper’s editorial choices, people vent their annoyance on Canzano’s reply section.

..is that Roy and LA have the same agent. If you run up to Roy, get down on your knees and throw a 5 year max contract at him, what happens when that same agent has negotiations from LA? Aren’t you now, as a franchise, in a position of weakness with your #2 core guy?

This is something John has failed to write about and puts into question his journalistic integrity. I’m starting to wonder if a career at US Magazine is in his future. John Canzano has done a good job guaranteeing I won’t read anything else he writes. His article isn’t constructive or informative all. He is literally whining on our behalf. The trouble is, most of the Blazer’s fan base aren’t even remotely as worried as he is. It’s almost like he’s delusional and just trying to create a story so people will care about him. He’s writing an open letter from all of us, without our premission. He needs to stop doing that immediately. I was listening to 95.5 “The Fan” this morning on the way to work. Those knuckleheads were doing the same thing. Playing the audio from Roy’s UW interview where he says “50/50” and milking the story for all it’s worth.

Just stop. This is a business as much as it is a team with players we all love.

* * *
Were I going to write the same column, trying to speak for the fans and warn the team to toe the line, I would focus instead on the recent comment by Vulcan exec Tod Leiweke to the effect of “Paul Allen should not have to subsidize a team to play in Portland.”

In its purest sense I agree with Mr. Leiweke’s statement. I’m not one of those folks who believe a town is entitled to a professional sports team no matter what the circumstances. You can’t ignore or fail to support a franchise and then expect it to be there at your convenience whenever you decide you need it. Businesses just don’t work that way. If you don’t eat at your favorite restaurant for three years you can’t complain when they shut down. You don’t have a God-given right to eat there. It is fueled by your patronage. Its owner has a right to bail out if that patronage isn’t sustained.

However my memory is not so short as to stand on that point of order entirely. If you’re going to talk Portland Trail Blazers patronage in the past few years you also have to mention the organization’s culpability in its decline. History here runs farther back than March 1st, 2007 when Mr. Leiweke’s name was formally associated with the franchise. In the years just preceding—within recent memory of all but the newest fans—this very organization didn’t just kill the golden goose, they bludgeoned it, stuck a slotted spoon it its ear, crushed its larynx, flushed it down the toilet, plunged it back up, put it in a pink polka-dotted dress, and set it on fire while playing Miley Cyrus records backwards. The relationship between the Blazers and their fans is passionate right now, but that’s still new. If Mr. Leiweke wants to remind us of our financial responsibility as fans I have no problem with that. But he would also do well to remember that the team is yet on probation and that’s part of what’s making people so nervous about this Brandon Roy situation.

The Blazers are the cheating husband who, having humbly repented and declared his intentions to work faithfully on the relationship, has been taken back by his spouse. That would be us. As long as I can see you’re committed to the relationship I am more than happy to forgive and forget. You don’t even have to be perfect. You just have to show a clear desire to field the best team possible and to have a care for the community that surrounds it. But if you want to pull out the “inadequate fan” card or you want to start complaining that expenses are exceeding revenues…too soon, my dear. It’s the team’s first year back in the playoffs. It’s the team’s first year without a major negative story breaking. This is like the husband complaining about not getting enough nookie the week after the affair is disclosed. Frankly that kind of statement makes me itchy. It brings up the specter of power struggles that can only end in, “I’m not supporting you anymore!” and “We’re considering moving to another town then!” You don’t want to go there? Then don’t go there. Field your team, make the moves necessary to make them a contender, take skillful and full advantage of your revenue streams, and then come talk to me if it’s not enough. Don’t be thinking a new goose is going to give you platinum omelets when that burnt pink dress smell still hangs faintly in the air.
* * *

He gets paid to stir the pot. Rightfully so.

What he’s doing is sending a message. Why are the Blazers shortchanging Roy?

He’s in all essence the cornerstone and a max contract guy. Canzano is actually writing a very obvious column and making sure its said.

Put it this way, if Roy does end up leaving the team? How livid are you going to be? Nobody even wants to think about that possibility. He’s a perennial all-star and team leader from here on out. There are plenty of teams out there who would sign Roy in a heartbeat.

rec for referencing one of my adolescent touchstones in “Better Off Dead”. Nice.

Imagine how you would do business as Roy’s agent. No, seriously, try it:

Agent to Roy: Ok, let’s go get 5 years max.

BLAZERS: We can offer 4 years.

Agent to Roy: Ok, they’re just posturing financially. We’ll get what we want. Just be patient Brandon. This is what happens in an economy like this. Teams are tightening their belts and want to make sure future negotiations have room for discussion. But rest assured, they want you back and we will eventually get 5 years max.

..and that’s the truth right there.

When was the last time a team had to negotiate a contract extension for it’s two most important players with the same agent? Please, please please stop forgeting about this important and fairly rare fact.

   Everyone needs to cool off though. I think a lot of Blazer fans are “cranky” because this summer hasn’t unfolded as dynamicly as they had hoped. I think a lot of people have projected ahead for a long time to this summer with the cap space with dreams of some monumental, big bold sports nation grabbing headline. That hasn’t happened and a lot of people just aren’t patient enough to wait and see what does happen. So many fans are thin skinned right now.

   As far as Canzano’s article I think a lot of people misunderstood it, and didn’t like it. I also think a lot of people understood it, and didn’t like it. People being indignant or insulted by the idea of a one year contract for fans were imo taking it way too seriously. Wade through “how” Canzano was saying it, and “what” Canzano was saying is that fans need to continue to hold this team accountable for actions on and off the court. Which I think most fans are onboard with, unfortunately in light of McMillans 1 year signing and contract negotiations with Brandon unresolved, I think Canzano was trying to be a little too clever with his analogy. Blazer fans as a whole aren’t up for much criticism of self right now.

So far it’s been a long summer. I think this is nothing. It’s John being John and Blazer fans being Blazer fans. Hopefully all this turmoil will evaportate this October/November with the first Oden dunk.

It got even better as I scrolled through the comment-carnage and found this Zen Gem:

Posted by BlazerBuddha on 07/12/09 at 1:01AM
Blazers32, idiot. LMAO. Canzano can defend himself, as can i

What a Buddha.

Anyone who says or implies that Roy shouldn’t get 5 years max because the economy is poor should have their head examined. Roy isn’t greedy. He’s one of the top 10 players in the NBA. Of course he deserves the max.

have their panties in a wad. JC wrote a column……..and once again, a good portion of the readers overreacted. What is new about this situation?

i hope roy sticks it to the blazers and doesnt sign and becoms restricted and asks for a trade and be like “im out, yall wanna play me like that, then peace im playing for the lakers.”

It’s simply the job of America’s #1 Sports Columnist/successful mid-market sports-talk radio show host to call out the powerful and put their feet to the flames.

And it doesn’t matter how innocuous the offense might be. The opening can be atom-sized. America’s #1 Sports Columnist must and will exploit it.

For it is, after all, July. And there is column space to fill.

I got in the face of Paul Allen the other day. Went right up to him and looked in his eyes, trying to read his soul.

I asked, “Where are you going with this, ‘Mister’ Allen? Is Brandon Roy really not worth a five-year contract?”

Allen looked nervous. And a little bit scared.

Can you say, cowering in the face of the spokesman for Blazer Nation?

You bet.

He swallowed hard.

Wiped. His. Brow.

And replied, “L-l-l-look, it’s just business. It’s just negotiations. We’ve got Brandon’s back.”

Really, Portland? America’s #1 Sports Columnist is going to throw it out at you for today’s 95.5 The Game fan poll question.

Do the Blazers have Brandon Roy’s back? Or are they stabbing him in the back?

Because they are playing a very dangerous game.

B-Roy can just walk if he doesn’t like what he’s being offered. I’ve told you: he says it’s “50/50” that he’ll come back to the Blazers at all.

Do Paul Allen and his Vulcans really want the blood of dashed championship dreams on their hands?

Because that’s where this is heading. And you should care.

At least, you should care enough to open a newspaper when America’s #1 Sports Columnist unleashes his next missive.

Learn to use paragraphs. Do you realize how annoying it is to read your thoughts one sentence at a time with space in between?

The sky isn’t falling. Brandon said 50/50 on the radio because his agent has told him that’s what he should say. Why would he say he’s confident? ..lol think about it. Come on guys. If you wanted 5 years max, and the Blazers were offering you 4, wouldn’t your agent tell you to sound unsure? Your agent sure as hell isn’t going to advise you to sound all happy and excited.

This is just dollars and cents. It’s pretty obvious that a large number of fans are venting with very little understanding of the sitatuion. If you don’t understand the world of sports contracts and agents, just don’t write at all. The people in this forum buying into Canzano’s stuff are making me ill. Brandon will get 5 years max. Let’s stop talking about it.

nothing more…nothing less. To his credit, he knows this and perpetuates it. The comments in his article and here only prove it.

To me, he’s a sideshow…sometimes entertaining…often annoying…but he serves his purpose. That said, since my expectations of him are fairly low, he rarely disappoints me…but only because I don’t really give him a chance to do so.

Remember, Canzano is as Canzano does…

What has Roy really done to get the max contract? Win a championship? Win a playoff series? How about play all 82 games? Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge B-Roy fan, and he should get payed. But I’ll need to see at least 2 of the 3 items mentioned above before I see him as a max contract player. There must still some questions in the Blazers brain trust’s mind about Roy’s ability to to them to the top of the mountain, or this would not be an issue.

As Blazer fans and readers of Canzano, its important to RELAX! Canzano is doing his job to stir the pot and play devil’s advocate. Read his stuff with a grain of salt. Often he’ll make a decent point or two buried in all the sensationalism. Take it as food for thought…or not. Just don’t take it personally as a Blazer fan.

That’s how you deal with people that love to stir the pot. If he were a poster on BE, we’d call him a troll. Since he works for a news organization though, we are devoting entire posts and even parodies of the guy? He’ll eat this up and it will boost his ego big time.

If you’re bored, watch some baseball. If you hate baseball like I do, go outside and take a breather. We are surrounded by beautiful country and summers here can’t be beat. This is why I used to love Portland fans. They had perspective. Now many have fallen into this reactionary pen of people that I thought was exclusive to irrational NY and Boston fans.

If you think the guy is a clown, you’re only doing him a favor by propping him up as some massive force that’s tearing the Blazers apart.

BFT = Blunt Force Trauma and that is how he likes it!

With the decline of Newspapers what is left but to Hit People no mater who they are with your words. JC makes news so he can have something to write about nothing more.

JC has become the JIM ROME of the BIG “O” newspaper !

A true "Legend In His Own Mind!