Why is Dishonesty so Openly Tolerated?!

I think it’s a little premature to be making accusations. Not to mention the fact that, until LMA signs his contract, we have no idea if he’s going to sacrifice less to continue to play in Portland. He has said he wants it resolved quickly, which could be code for “The sooner the Blazers offer me a max contract, the sooner I’ll sign”.

Much like contract negotiations in any other arena of business, people have changes of heart. While I don’t agree on going back on your word, lots of things can play into situations like these. In this case, Hedo isn’t necessarily thinking of getting a championship ring. And that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Obviously his wife and child’s happiness – and as a result his own – are put first. If they’re happier getting more money and living in a city that better suits their needs, more power to them.

On a side note – from what I heard, Toronto didn’t contact Hedo immediately, and only did so after it was publicly noted that Portland was heavily pursuing him. He also may have had his mind set on a larger, east coast team and didn’t receive a decent offer from one until after he received, and accepted, Portland’s offer.

All in all, I doubt it was done out of maliciousness or deceit (a la Carlos Boozer). I suspect he’ll get a hearty booing when he comes to Portland, but its hard to be too upset.

if you lie to me, you are killing a part of your soul.

It’s the exact same thing with someone like Manny Ramirez, and that crap is tolerated as well. Well said.

welcome to reality. Nothing wrong was done. Circumstances changed, as did his decision. Every single person here would’ve done the exact same thing Hedo did. It’s the next 5 years of HIS life.

How would your wife react if you blamed your decision to renege on an oral contract on her?

How do we know that there was ever a solid verbal commitment by Hedo? Has that been reliably reported somewhere?

Zero intention of signing with the blazers.

But good luck on that one. Corporations get more free passes than real people. No one at corporations are really liable for the corporation’s misdeeds, unless that person can be proven to have criminally instigated the act. No one is culpable for their actions and the power of those institutions increases.

As the power of the corporations increases we become an increasingly capitalist society (and probably less democratic) where profit rules and greed ensues, not honesty or mutual respect. Is there any wonder the messages our society hears and sees are not honest?

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/28816321/the_great_american_bubble_machine

that a verbal agreement was as good as a signature. Now take in mind that I am glad that we didn’t sign him, but Finding people that can be taken at their word is becoming a hard thing to find. Let us change that trend with the players that we want on our team and in our own lives. Teach your children, grand children, nieces, nephews, neighbors, whoever, that when you say you are going to do something, you follow throw.

It may sound like preaching but it needs to be said.

Thank you current Blazer team, And all of those who kept their word.

Loved your posting.

How I long for the days when ethics was more than an empty word, hand-shake deals were prevalent. and most people truly tried to “do the right thing”.

 BTW, I think #7 could be one of those people.

I rant at the world for its lack of honesty. When someone is honest they get raked over the coal for not being politically correct. Most people give in an just start saying what they think people want to hear. I too find this very offensive. Most of the good things that have happened to me in my life happened because people thought I was honest. Most bad things have, at their essense, lies. I remember a fighter for civil rights saying, “If the truth sends me to hell, then I am hell bound.” How many of us can stick to something like that. No many probably, but we can try.

I wonder if the people who say that the value of a verbal agreement would be golden if they made it have ever sacrificed anything major to keep their “honor”. If not it’s just too easy to say that you would. Maybe they have, those people I respect.
  Good point above also, the reason this time between open negotiations and signing exist is for players and team to feel out the market.
    But Yeah, it would be a great world if we were all perfectly moral.

in the non-sports world. To Turkey-glue it up, say you get offered a job you like in Beaverton and take it. A day or two later, a company you recently interviewed for calls and offers you a position in downtown Portland (which you would prefer to work in) that pays you a little more. You don’t like the role/company quite as much but the location and salary are better. I don’t think it’s that rare that someone would call the place they initially accepted a day or two later (even in some cases after they start) and say they are taking a different job. I know a couple people that have done or experience it and it’s not such a huge deal.
The difference in a salary raise for someone making 30-40k is obviously a lot different than a 50-53M contract, but i think the moral element is fairly similar.

I agree to an extent. Look at the fictional movie Jerry Maguire, handshakes, verbal commitments, deals in principal just don’t cut it. There was a time when a handshake deal for most people would of been as binding personally, as a signature on a contract, but I think unfortunately we no longer live in those times.

When it comes to inner personal motivation the truth is we might never really know Hedo Turkoglus reasons for making an about face.

Anyone or everyone can disagree with me, because I have no basis to know outside of personal instinct when I heard Turkoglu talk. My probably biased opinion is Turkoglu never really intended to sign with The Blazers. Or that we were the second choice that he was going to use first. What did he have to lose? At the time it looked like Toronto wasn’t going to pony up the big money, if they don’t he signs with Portland and makes LOTS OF MONEY. If he feigns interest here, he spurs Toronto if serious to make a move. That’s what happened. Then his first choice comes back into play and he makes even more money. That, I don’t blame him for doing.

However, if he ever said, or communicated that it was a done deal, that he was going to be a Blazer and THEN backed out….while “legal” and accepted I think it still is sleazy.

I’ll get over it, I’m getting over it. But in the end Hedo just wasted our time and I’m not so sure he didn’t know that was what he was doing from the second he landed in PDX. Acceptable business in todays world? Probably…but I don’t like it.

And I would submit that America’s increase in dishonesty and immorality directly correlates to its decrease in world stature.

I hope someday we’ve had enough, and once again emphasize things that are truly important (such as humanity and compassion rather than accumulating money and power), but I wouldn’t guess that day will be coming anytime soon.

How much loyalty was shown to Fred Jones?

Taking the spirit of that rule, that means there is a league rule that no binding agreements can be made yet. Therefore, whatever Hedo said was by definition not a binding agreement. Therefore he cannot have broken any promises.

how are culture has all taught us to speak and think like lawyers. Pretty soon, the signatures at the bottom of people’s posts will be required to include a disclosure. I will concede the point that it was a media report that Hedo “agreed” to sign with Portland. It was also a media report that a Blazer insider called his backtrack a “renege.” Having said that, it is possible that the media reports are actually incorrect. And in that case, mea culpa. I agree with you, Superfan. Thanks for the post. Good behavior starts at home. And as we expect our Blazers to stay out of jail, we expect the team to act with integrity, and should expect the same from our free agents.

If you want someone to blame and have a hard time placing the blame on Hedo, you can always point the finger at his agent, Lon Babby. BTW, Lon’s client list includes the following NBA players:

Tim Duncan
Ray Allen
Shane Battier
Luke Ridnour
Tony Battie
Luke Walton
Bruce Bowen
Brandan Wright
Grant Hill
Morris Almond
Malik Rose
Adonal Foyle
& Hedo

Apparently, in this circumstance, that was not the case. For example, did Hedo receive some form of compensation for his “promise?” I doubt it. If that was the case, Hedo was not bound by his statement. That does not make him a liar.