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How the L*k*rs became the lakers - thank you, Albus Dumbledore

I've always (well, since I first saw someone else do it) referred to that team down south as the L*kers (or even They Who Must Not be Named.) . I've even gone so far as to replace both vowels as one might do for profanities : L*k*rs. I thought it was funny (well, still do – considering them profanities or obscenities) but I'm changing my tactics.

 

I recently decided to re-read the Harry Potter series and at the end of the first book, Harry, although previously calling Voldemort by name, switches to “You-know-who” when talking to Professor Dumbledore. Dumbledore chastises him and says, “Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.”

 

I know it isn't fear of the team that causes us to not write their name, but I've decided that by changing their name we are giving them importance they do not deserve. The asterisk(s) actually draws attention to the name. I now choose to not give them that added attention. From now on I will refer to them as the lakers ; lower case because they are unworthy of upper case – just a generic team.   Many people don't use caps properly so I think this will slip by unnoticed.  I did consider writing it in a smaller font, but again, that would more likely to draw attention.

 

For me the L*k*rs are dead; may the new lakers long be unworthy of attention.




Comment 91 comments  |  13 recs  | 

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You mean BACK TO BACK WORLD CHAMPIONS, of course...

"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal

by timbo on Sep 9, 2010 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions  

It's funny that Lamar Odom could be the only world champion on the Lakers

"Listening to the media only increases your odds of failing at whatever you are doing" - Mark Cuban

by Norsktroll on Sep 9, 2010 4:34 PM PDT up reply actions  

The NBA champ is the de facto world champ

until the day arrives that any sane basketball fan could entertain even a shred of doubt that the NBA champ would crush the champ of any other league in the world in a seven-game series.

by MiledAnimal on Sep 10, 2010 11:05 AM PDT up reply actions   1 recs

To me, the world champion in any team sport is a national team, not a club team.

"Listening to the media only increases your odds of failing at whatever you are doing" - Mark Cuban

by Norsktroll on Sep 10, 2010 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions  

but in your opinion, would the NBA champ any given year beat the world champ?

Since I know you watch a lot of international ball.

You can measure skill and talent with your eyes, but productivity is shown through statistics.

by austinpwnz on Sep 12, 2010 10:10 PM PDT up reply actions  

Lamar Odom being with a Kardashian bothers them

Because she isn’t even the hot one.

If what I just commented turns out to be wrong, please delete from all memory.

by NBAstard on Sep 8, 2010 11:37 AM PDT reply actions   2 recs

yeah

I was pretty disappointed by Odom’s choice out of the 3.

Adam Morrison has more rings than Lebron, Bosh, and Wade combined?

by shaqfor3 on Sep 9, 2010 12:06 AM PDT up reply actions  

Duuuuuuude. Watch the show.

You wouldn’t want to date the other two.

by Z-Bones on Sep 9, 2010 9:21 AM PDT up reply actions  

Personality

matters too. Hers is halfway bearable.

by Z-Bones on Sep 9, 2010 9:22 AM PDT up reply actions  

it's not about fear

it’s about keeping conversation clean, and this is a word that we are offended by, not frightened by.

by sparks89 on Sep 8, 2010 12:41 PM PDT reply actions  

Why be offended by the name of a sports team

Quite ridiculous. Because they have a history of winning?

The game was delayed for over 15 minutes with 5:07 left in the second quarter after France's Nicolas Batum, who plays for the Portland Trail Blazers, dunked and twisted the rim. Officials scrambled to put a new rim on the basket and reattach a net.

by 420Phenom on Sep 8, 2010 4:26 PM PDT up reply actions  

Because it is a crass word.

In Bayless I trust.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>

by staylost on Sep 8, 2010 4:58 PM PDT up reply actions  

try LA Clankers, LA Fakers, LA Clanksters, LA Flakers.

I quite enjoy calling them the Clankers (Or any other name mentioned above) to all of my friends that love LA (I live in SanDiego).

We all know what K*be did in Colorado to that girl. Dear Lord, please let whatever team that plays the LA Clankers beat them to oblivion. Amen.

by Pritchslap on Sep 8, 2010 5:25 PM PDT up reply actions  

It's not that they win a lot.

It’s HOW they win. They have absolutely no class.

The L*kers are used to winning, and when they lose, their whining is deafening. They think any season in which they don’t win a championship is a wasted season. And when they win, they have this enormous attitude that says “We’re better than you and you know it.”

Porter, Drexler, Kersey, Williams, Duckworth. The greatest starting 5 ever.

by Bib Fortuna on Sep 10, 2010 6:24 AM PDT up reply actions  

we hates them

and…we envy them

isn’t that always the way?

as Dave said in the podcast, the 1990-1992 had that same swagger. It’s not a bad thing to watch (and get caught up in) when it’s your favorite team

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Sep 10, 2010 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions  

that, and it's a result of bandwagon fans

there are always those people

You can measure skill and talent with your eyes, but productivity is shown through statistics.

by austinpwnz on Sep 12, 2010 10:10 PM PDT up reply actions  

i call them the * *****

"My love winks, she does not bother / She knows too much to argue or to judge"

by DrivetheLane on Sep 8, 2010 12:46 PM PDT reply actions   1 recs

I read Harry Potter before I joined BE

And it’s also the reason I don’t use the asterisk. Also it’s a pain in the butt. I have enough trouble spelling as it is, I don’t need to do it on purpose.

#52

by tominhawaii on Sep 8, 2010 2:08 PM PDT reply actions   2 recs

LOL!!!

Checc my swagga
CP3 NAHHHHHHHHH we got ARMON

by in~ur~fizace on Sep 9, 2010 7:46 AM PDT up reply actions  

Somehow I thought this post was going elsewhere

From the title I expected to hear the story of how the lakers were stolen from the good fans in Minnesota by the evils of Hollywood (ala Clay Bennett fashion). Sadly this is not so.

Anyone who is bored in the time of basketball abyss, please write the story of teams and there travels across the land to their current resting places. There are many teams to choose from. I’d find that interesting; more so than whose second rounds picks have been turned down by Chief Cho for Rudy.

by NWfan on Sep 8, 2010 2:20 PM PDT reply actions  

I expected to hear the story of how the lakers were stolen from the good fans in Minnesota by the evils of Hollywood

Ditto. L*A L*kers. Utah Jazz. Stop the insanity. The Indy Colts is also wrong but at least Baltimore got it right and didn’t call their hijacked NFL team the Browns

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Sep 8, 2010 4:19 PM PDT up reply actions  

I believe the Cleveland fans

successfully lobbied the NFL to keep that b*st*rd Model from stealing our team’s name too (at least that’s how I perfer to remember it.)

"Better, not good, but better." - Herb Brooks

by DucRider on Sep 14, 2010 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions  

I might give the Kings a try.

The game was delayed for over 15 minutes with 5:07 left in the second quarter after France's Nicolas Batum, who plays for the Portland Trail Blazers, dunked and twisted the rim. Officials scrambled to put a new rim on the basket and reattach a net.

by 420Phenom on Sep 8, 2010 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions  

Kp.......

whoa now.

The game was delayed for over 15 minutes with 5:07 left in the second quarter after France's Nicolas Batum, who plays for the Portland Trail Blazers, dunked and twisted the rim. Officials scrambled to put a new rim on the basket and reattach a net.

by 420Phenom on Sep 8, 2010 9:01 PM PDT up reply actions  

it's a conspiracy!

You can measure skill and talent with your eyes, but productivity is shown through statistics.

by austinpwnz on Sep 12, 2010 10:11 PM PDT up reply actions  

Good idea!

lakers. I like it. I also spell K0be with a zero.

My favorite teams are the Blazers and any team that is playing the Lakers.

by OCBlazerFan1 on Sep 8, 2010 3:10 PM PDT reply actions  

I have never understood why people don’t just call them the Lakers.

by jksnake99 on Sep 8, 2010 4:18 PM PDT reply actions  

Because it’s fun to call them something else?

GOP in HD

by 22baylor on Sep 9, 2010 8:01 AM PDT up reply actions  

yes, mostly this.

it’s more a joke than anything else. for me anyway

"My love winks, she does not bother / She knows too much to argue or to judge"

by DrivetheLane on Sep 9, 2010 8:40 AM PDT up reply actions  

I'm going to rec my own post off the recommended list

Because I fully believe in what you are saying.

Rec.

The game was delayed for over 15 minutes with 5:07 left in the second quarter after France's Nicolas Batum, who plays for the Portland Trail Blazers, dunked and twisted the rim. Officials scrambled to put a new rim on the basket and reattach a net.

by 420Phenom on Sep 8, 2010 4:24 PM PDT reply actions  

Oh and

Death to the Lakers & that LAtrine of a town that represents everything wrong n evil in America.

The game was delayed for over 15 minutes with 5:07 left in the second quarter after France's Nicolas Batum, who plays for the Portland Trail Blazers, dunked and twisted the rim. Officials scrambled to put a new rim on the basket and reattach a net.

by 420Phenom on Sep 8, 2010 4:28 PM PDT up reply actions  

I meant publicly with Hollywood & their obsession with glitz, glamour and stars

Not privately the way the Federal Reserve & Wallstreet are bending the US over.

The game was delayed for over 15 minutes with 5:07 left in the second quarter after France's Nicolas Batum, who plays for the Portland Trail Blazers, dunked and twisted the rim. Officials scrambled to put a new rim on the basket and reattach a net.

by 420Phenom on Sep 8, 2010 4:44 PM PDT up reply actions  

rim shot!

Nicely played Miled One…

by Visionary2 on Sep 8, 2010 8:05 PM PDT up reply actions  

Well, I commented in the JD a couple of days ago

my resolution to refer to the Miami team only as the heat all year (in response to their insistence that their team name be all in capital letters), so I can relate to your conviction and applaud it. In fact, I’m surprised that Jerry Buss doesn’t demand that his team name be all in capital letters as well….

That being said, it’s not an issue of fear for me. The issue is that the LA team is, IMO, simply not deserving of their name. First of all, there’s no logic behind it. Why is the other LA team not the Braves? Because they changed their name to better reflect the area that they moved to. The number of lakes in LA is probably less than the number of jazz clubs in Utah.

Secondly, I’m a graduate of LOHS. Yeah, the real Lakers. The emotional turmoil I went through in 2000 when I had to root for the Pacers to beat the L*kers……

All of this to say that, for me, it isn’t about fear. It’s that they don’t deserve the name, thus I have difficulty associating a fine and wonderful team name with that team from LA….

by Storyteller on Sep 8, 2010 5:04 PM PDT reply actions   1 recs

Regarding the Heat

I’m with Bill Simmons on this one. From now on, refer to them as;

Dwayne Wade & His Miami Heat

or

Dwayne Wade’s Miami Heat

The game was delayed for over 15 minutes with 5:07 left in the second quarter after France's Nicolas Batum, who plays for the Portland Trail Blazers, dunked and twisted the rim. Officials scrambled to put a new rim on the basket and reattach a net.

by 420Phenom on Sep 8, 2010 5:15 PM PDT up reply actions  

I was going to post that exact thing

I love that. Dwyane Wade (he spells is Dwyane instead of Dwayne, it drives me nuts) and his Miami Heat. Bahaha. Suck it, LeBron.

You can measure skill and talent with your eyes, but productivity is shown through statistics.

by austinpwnz on Sep 8, 2010 6:23 PM PDT up reply actions  

I'm with a Bill Simmons reader in calling them the Miami Nazgul

"Listening to the media only increases your odds of failing at whatever you are doing" - Mark Cuban

by Norsktroll on Sep 8, 2010 10:22 PM PDT up reply actions  

I like this.

GOP in HD

by 22baylor on Sep 9, 2010 8:02 AM PDT up reply actions  

It sorta works

Since they’re all chasing rings.

"My shoulder is OK. And away we go." -- Nic Batum
"wang-dang diddly wubba SPROING wow-wow" -- Dave

by DonkeyShins on Sep 10, 2010 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions  

now if there was only a way

to lure them into the Columbia River gorge…or better yet Hell’s Canyon on the Snake R

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Sep 10, 2010 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions   1 recs

Why is the other LA team not the Braves

Exactly. When the other L*A team moved west from Minneapolis they should have nicknamed them the “Smog”

And I’ve always thought that the “Tabs” would be a good name for the NBA team that plays in Utah

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Sep 8, 2010 6:53 PM PDT up reply actions  

Weren't the Clippers

 originally in San Diego?

number of lakes in LA is probably less than the number of jazz clubs in Utah. and the number of Grizzlies in Memphis, although there probably weren’t too many Grizzlies in Vancouver either, but at least it made more sense there.

You know, if Vancouver got another NBA team we’d have an I-5 rival again…

by jorga on Sep 8, 2010 10:34 PM PDT up reply actions  

Buffalo Braves

the franchise came into the league with Portland and Cleveland, then migrated to to sunny San Diego in ’78 but left their nickname behind

Randy Smith was setting NBA iron man records long before there was AC Green or…Andre Miller. But Bob McAdoo is the best-known former BB. Dr. Jack took the team into the playoffs for 3 straight years before leaving for Portland and the lure of coaching Walton

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Sep 8, 2010 11:06 PM PDT up reply actions  

Perhaps

The Los Angeles Irony?

"My shoulder is OK. And away we go." -- Nic Batum
"wang-dang diddly wubba SPROING wow-wow" -- Dave

by DonkeyShins on Sep 10, 2010 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions  

Wading Pools

If uniforms were required to represent the team name, some organizational titles lend themselves to possibly attractive designs … for the Lakers, I came up with little wading pond shaped tutus.

"Hope is a thing with feathers
that perches in the soul" Emily Dickinson

by RandyinParadise on Sep 8, 2010 5:23 PM PDT reply actions  

The LA dried up riverbed

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Sep 8, 2010 6:54 PM PDT up reply actions  

I'm with you.

I always thought it was just as cheesy as people referring to the Blazers as the “Zers.”

by Stryder9 on Sep 8, 2010 5:51 PM PDT reply actions  

Am I the only one under 35 who can’t quote Harry Potter?

Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company.

by jenstcy on Sep 8, 2010 9:23 PM PDT reply actions  

Nope. I only watched the movies, but haven't read a single book of the series. And won't.

"Listening to the media only increases your odds of failing at whatever you are doing" - Mark Cuban

by Norsktroll on Sep 8, 2010 10:20 PM PDT up reply actions  

Norsk can't read

He communicates purely through interpretive dance.

"My shoulder is OK. And away we go." -- Nic Batum
"wang-dang diddly wubba SPROING wow-wow" -- Dave

by DonkeyShins on Sep 10, 2010 1:12 PM PDT up reply actions  

dude, Norsk has someone who dances all of BE for him?!

I WANT ONE

You can measure skill and talent with your eyes, but productivity is shown through statistics.

by austinpwnz on Sep 12, 2010 10:21 PM PDT up reply actions  

FWIW

Jorga is quoting Harry Potter and she’s over 35.

Republicans are liars, Democrats are hypocrites, they are both bought and paid for by corporations. Grrr.

by shenanigans on Sep 8, 2010 10:53 PM PDT up reply actions  

Not at all

I doubt either of my teen grandkids could quote HP. It’s an individual thing, not a generational one.

by jorga on Sep 9, 2010 6:45 AM PDT up reply actions  

I haven't read the books or watched the movies.

Solidarity man. We’ll get through this.

You can measure skill and talent with your eyes, but productivity is shown through statistics.

by austinpwnz on Sep 12, 2010 10:21 PM PDT up reply actions  

9 3/4 's right...

  All I know is when the team that shall not be named is on television the L shaped scar on my forehead starts hurting.

  Also I have it on good authority Kobe speaks Parseltongue…at least when he is in Colorado.

"Mother Nature started this fight, I think it's about time we ended it!"

by Krang on Sep 8, 2010 9:48 PM PDT reply actions   1 recs

rec!!

My favorite teams are the Blazers and any team that is playing the Lakers.

by OCBlazerFan1 on Sep 9, 2010 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions  

I wish you wouldn't curse on this site !

    That word/name is also a VILE curse word to Blazermaniacs !!!

       COINCAST & The Team Formerly from Minneapolis (TTFFM) SUCK !!!!!

It's GO time !

by walkoff41 on Sep 8, 2010 10:27 PM PDT reply actions  

I was born and raised in the great state of Oregon.

Fresh out of high school my very first road trip had Phoenix as its destination.
Running out of gas in LA my buddy and I pulled up to a 7-11 where 2 police cars were parked. We went in and asked where we could find the nearest gas station.
So we were in 7-11 about 5 minutes at the most. When we came out we noticed someone had tried to steal our gas and my gas cap was gone, nowhere to be found.
YES, WITH THE POLICE RIGHT THERE.

So I’ve always thought of LA as a big pile of crapola and it doesn’t matter what name you want to call it, that’s what LA will always be to me.

‘Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
      Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
      What’s Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
      Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
      Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
      What’s in a name? that which we call a rose
      By any other name would smell as sweet;
And that which is crapola, still stinketh by any name.

Romance me with that Roy rainbow shot which took flight from way beyond the arc and sailed so high that before it came back down to earth sealing the victory, it kissed the rafters and said "You're mine baby."

by Blazer1342 on Sep 9, 2010 6:54 AM PDT reply actions  

Ok, so I’m a little predisposed.

Romance me with that Roy rainbow shot which took flight from way beyond the arc and sailed so high that before it came back down to earth sealing the victory, it kissed the rafters and said "You're mine baby."

by Blazer1342 on Sep 9, 2010 6:56 AM PDT up reply actions  

My first impression of LA

was formed when, in 1977, I traveled up and down the Pacific coast to find a new home. I had left the Buffalo area (yes, erstwhile home of the Braves) and had come out west to make my living as a bass player. I checked out Seattle, Portland, Eugene, Bay Area, and LA.

In LA, I knew some guys who had steady gigs and I was offered a job, and while I was sitting in a bar in Redondo Beach mulling it over, it unexpectedly began to rain. At the time, California was in the midst of a terrible drought (I found this link if anybody is interested), but about five minutes after this freak storm hit everybody in the place was complaining about the weather. That was my “aha moment”, my epiphany, when I realized those people were completely loony. There was no WAY I was going to live down there.

I ended up staying in Eugene and have been here ever since, except for about nine years when I lived in Berkeley and thereabouts. Turns out I actually LIKE rain. And although I’m pretty sure that Woody Allen correctly deconstructed the LA psyche in Annie Hall, I nevertheless have some good friends and relatives down there now, so it’s difficult to harbor a very deeply chauvinistic attitude toward LA any more. The lakers, though … they really suck.

#52

by CatMan2 on Sep 13, 2010 11:14 PM PDT up reply actions  

LA Story

with Steve Martin is pretty good too.

"Better, not good, but better." - Herb Brooks

by DucRider on Sep 14, 2010 11:30 AM PDT up reply actions  

great story!

Romance me with that Roy rainbow shot which took flight from way beyond the arc and sailed so high that before it came back down to earth sealing the victory, it kissed the rafters and said "You're mine baby."

by Blazer1342 on Sep 15, 2010 2:36 AM PDT up reply actions  

I like it.

I’ve been starting to recognize the Beat LA chants and the calling the lakers a curse word is an admission of inferiority. That’s not good.

On the other hand, writing L@kers will get you banned straightaway from forum blue and gold so it clearly gets under their skin a little. I suppose some laker fans are so insecure that any comment like that will get under their skin (cue Bill Simmons).

I’m with you Jorga, lakers it is.

Republicans are liars, Democrats are hypocrites, they are both bought and paid for by corporations. Grrr.

by shenanigans on Sep 9, 2010 7:06 AM PDT reply actions  

if it's worth doing

it’s worth doing to L*ker fan

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Sep 9, 2010 8:44 AM PDT up reply actions  

Lxkers.

GOP in HD

by 22baylor on Sep 9, 2010 8:03 AM PDT reply actions  

I think we all can agree

that the lakers are all slytherins.

by Sangre on Sep 9, 2010 1:22 PM PDT reply actions  

Except Steve Blake

who is obviously a hufflepuff.

by Sangre on Sep 9, 2010 1:23 PM PDT up reply actions  

Well, I've always typed in lakers in lower case, and kobe as well.

So, I agree with your premise.

I will run naked through the streets if Oden wins the MVP this season...happily.

by xedubx on Sep 9, 2010 1:47 PM PDT reply actions  

For old folks

You can also call them ‘Minneapolis’.

"My shoulder is OK. And away we go." -- Nic Batum
"wang-dang diddly wubba SPROING wow-wow" -- Dave

by DonkeyShins on Sep 10, 2010 1:10 PM PDT reply actions  

I think we need less Laker hate on here

I mean they are my back up plan to ensure the South Beach Heat don’t taint basketball with their spoiled brat super team concept… Can you think of anything worse for small market teams than the brat pack winning next year? I mean we have already had issues with Paul and Anthony this summer wanting to go to big market super teams… If the Blazers dont win it all, the Lakers remain our best chance at smacking those kids back into reality.. If the Basically, if the Heat don’t win it all next year they are the laughing stock of professional sports, (thus making other stars think twice about following in their footsteps) if they do win it all, it will put a even more significant stranglehold on small market teams

"At 49, I can say something I never would have said when I was a player, that I'm a better person because of my failures and disgraces." -- Bill Walton

by MischiefPortland on Sep 12, 2010 6:25 AM PDT reply actions   3 recs

it's funny

the L*kers attempted their own all-star team when they signed Payton and Malone to ridiculously low FA contracts, but then they were defeated by the Pistons, a few years back

and now team K*be is being held up as the vanguard of NBA team play?

Excuse me while I pour a little more hot fudge on this delicious irony

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Sep 12, 2010 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions  

The difference being

The Lakers had already won 3 championships in a 4 year period. They added Malone and Payton to try and win one more before the team was broken up. Plus Malone and Payton were um oh yeah old as dirt and almost out of the League. Doesn’t compare to 25 yrs old LeBron, and 26 yrs old Bosh joining Wade in the prime of their career, cuz they can’t win a championship on their own.

by 17andover on Sep 12, 2010 5:56 PM PDT up reply actions  

Na, you got what i am saying wrong

Im not saying praise Kobe or the Lakers, they are what they are… What I mean is… if next year the Lakers win it all, it makes the concept of the young star leaving their teams for large market super teams look foolish, cause they still couldn’t win it. But if the Heat win it all next year, it reinforces the idea that many of the stars have right now which is the only cities worth playing in are New York, Chicago, LA, and South Beach… That isn’t good for small markets..

So ya… Lakers are our rivals…. But this year they might do us a favor and make the unloyal superstars look a little bit foolish for their decisions.

"At 49, I can say something I never would have said when I was a player, that I'm a better person because of my failures and disgraces." -- Bill Walton

by MischiefPortland on Sep 12, 2010 6:06 PM PDT up reply actions  

if next year the Lakers win it all, it makes the concept of the young star leaving their teams for large market super teams look foolish, cause they still couldn’t win it

I don’t think the Miami Nazguls are a 1 year experiment, so regardless if they win or L*A (or someone else) wins this coming June it’s not going to change how free agents will decide where they want to play. The big markets have always attracted the flashy FAs; the best way for the small markets to compete is to draft wisely, and keep their young star players happy and lock ‘em up to extensions, like OKC did this summer with Durant. The worst thing a small market team can do is overpay for a slightly above-average-replacement player. There were a lot of really bad contracts handed out this past July, and I’m not talking about Wesley Matthews getting the full MLE

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Sep 12, 2010 8:57 PM PDT up reply actions  

Malone and Payton were both way past their prime

and close to retirement. I personally hated Malone when he was in Utah and wasnt really sympathetic when he retired ringless. Anyway, its a lot different from getting two superstars in their prime.

Adam Morrison has more rings than Lebron, Bosh, and Wade combined?

by shaqfor3 on Sep 13, 2010 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions  

I feel a little sorry for Payton and Malone.

Joining the Lakers that year, only to lose to the Pistons because Kobe wouldn’t give Shaq the ball so he could score against the overmatched Ben Wallace, was like joining the crew of the Starship Enterprise thinking you were going to kick some Klingon butt only to discover that a transporter glitch had beamed you onto the evil, alternate-universe Enterprise where Kirk and Spock were trying to kill each other.

by MiledAnimal on Sep 14, 2010 12:47 PM PDT up reply actions  

Na, you got what I am saying wrong

Im not saying praise Kobe or the Lakers, they are what they are… What I mean is… if next year the Lakers win it all, it makes the concept of the young star leaving their teams for large market super teams look foolish, cause they still couldn’t win it. But if the Heat win it all next year, it reinforces the idea that many of the stars have right now which is the only cities worth playing in are New York, Chicago, LA, and South Beach… That isn’t good for small markets..

So ya… Lakers are our rivals…. But this year they might do us a favor and make the unloyal superstars look a little bit foolish for their decisions.

"At 49, I can say something I never would have said when I was a player, that I'm a better person because of my failures and disgraces." -- Bill Walton

by MischiefPortland on Sep 12, 2010 6:04 PM PDT reply actions  

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Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.

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It's pretty clear that the season is over already ;)
Double rainbow of sadness:

1) JBay is getting shorter
2) We never got to see him with a mustache

I miss you tiny raptor man.

via The Basketball Jones http://blogs.thescore.com/tbj/2012/02/09/things-of-note-for-february-9-2012/#more-34561
Blazers Broadcasters Mike Barrett and Mike Rice re-enacted NBA referee Scott Foster's controversial goaltending call on Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who was defending Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star forward Kevin Durant, during this week's edition of Blazers Courtside. Remarkably, no one was injured during the taping of this segment.

Original video of the play here. 
Quotes from the players and coaches here. 
The NBA admitting it got the call wrong here. 
Dave's  extended thoughts here. 
BlazersMakr's FanShot: Major Vegas action on OKC prior to tip here. 
Audio of Chad Doing of 750 AM The Game going HAM on Foster here.

OK, that should just about wrap up the goaltending discussion.

Courtside video via Blazers Broadcasting cameraman John Curry.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter
In 2008 Tim Donaghy indicated that Scott Foster was a ref that also fixed games
Blazers Owner Paul Allen Ranked No. 3 American Philanthropist In 2011

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As seen on www.trailblazers.com
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