The Lock Out And The REAL World.

by Ilikeemall on Oct 28, 2011 5:04 PM PDT

Today we find out that the Millionaire Professional Basketball Players and the Billionaire Owners of the franchises they play for have once again broken off talks over just how many dollars of BRI the players should get and a few "system" issues. This is one common mans view of this Lock Out...

I am a huge Blazer fan and have been since the beginning of the team. As regulars know I am an emotional, dedicated fan who thinks Brandon Roy should be a Blazer for life even if there is an amnesty clause. I also still believe that Greg Oden has tremendous potential and was the CORRECT choice in the draft with the information available at the time just like Sam Bowie was back in the day. I don't question and distrust Paul Allen, I don't hate Nate McMillan because his offense is too slow pace and I love Travis Outlaw AND Steve Blake because they were members of the team I love...Not because I am ignorant but because I save my distrust, hate and second guessing for REAL problems in the world... of which there are many.

Two weeks ago I was LOCKED OUT! After 5 years of working 60 hours a week and surviving a very rough economy... And after the last two years of record sales (I was the Sales Manager)... I was fired because the owner of the business I worked for couldn't control his personal spending. His greed and disregard for me and my family are a REAL problem for me!.. NBA Basketball and My Portland Trailblazers are a distraction from these REAL problems and I feel betrayed and insulted by these rich by any measure, spoiled, petty little people. Do they realize how totally shallow and unnecessary they really are to REAL people?.. Do they understand that they are not curing disease... or solving world hunger... or bringing about world peace... THEY PLAY A GAME!!!... Even though I love Brandon Roy and LaMarcus and We$ and GW and Nate and support Paul Allen in his decisions the truth is that they are ALL being ridiculous and forgetting that if it wasn't for guys like me... and the rest of BE... there would be no THEM!

Sorry about the rant but this whole thing is surreal to me. If these guys want some real problems all they have to do is keep this foolishness going and eventually guys like me... with REAL problems... will just give up and turn to Beaver or Duck basketball. They're cheaper...closer...and playing for the right reason!

Tweet Comment 15 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I'm sorry about your job

Best wishes in finding a new one in a timely manner.

"But if Ding Dongs and prime rib were the path to NBA pivot stardom we'd all be wearing the uniform." -Dave

by douglast on Oct 28, 2011 5:47 PM PDT reply actions

Oops...

Thank you douglast… (reply failure).

Don’t get me wrong I really, really want Blazer games to watch…and soon. I just have to think that there are a lot of people in much, much worse circumstances then I am, that are getting pretty sick of this lock out and many that are on the verge of leaving and not coming back…

#7... GO BLAZERS!!!

by Ilikeemall on Oct 28, 2011 5:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Thank you!

#7... GO BLAZERS!!!

by Ilikeemall on Oct 28, 2011 5:52 PM PDT reply actions

Oh, the irony...

“I was fired because the owner of the business I worked for couldn’t control his personal spending. His greed and disregard for me and my family are a REAL problem for me!.”

And then you attack the players?

I sure hope you don’t vote.

by Corvallis, OR on Oct 28, 2011 6:05 PM PDT reply actions

Actually if I attacked anything it was the lock out...

…which I believe was started by the owners and in reality think it’s both sides fault.

The fact that you are comparing voting to this labor dispute speaks volumes to me. Voting is REAL and affects real issues… The NBA is a game!.. A distraction…

Thanks a ton for your comment and “support” though.

#7... GO BLAZERS!!!

by Ilikeemall on Oct 28, 2011 6:20 PM PDT up reply actions

To be clear, I hope you find another job soon,

but I couldn’t help but see you blamed your owner for the very same thing the NBA owners did through no fault of the players, and yet you’re not advocating for the players the same way you’re advocating for yourself.

And yes, if you are capable of that sort of cognitive dissonance, I truly hope you don’t vote.

by Corvallis, OR on Oct 28, 2011 9:40 PM PDT up reply actions

Wow

your insulting this guy REALLY? Theres a big difference in these situations, this poor person didn’t have the option to still make millions of dollars!! His only option is to hope to find a new job, with a family to provide for this is pretty stressful!!!

These players aren’t being asked to find new employment or to struggle to take care of there families there being asked to take a paycut and still make millions and millions of dollars!!!! Look I love basketball too but this is just a GAME!!! This guys right there not curing cancer here!!!! There are thousands of people out there who can’t even find a decent job due to business downsizing and layoffs and these guys are fighting over how many millions there going to make!! perhaps your the one that shouldn’t vote!!! lay off this guy!!!!

by NC Blazer fan on Nov 5, 2011 8:56 AM PDT up reply actions

Thank you for the support NC...

I appreciate it.

Perspective is an interesting thing huh?..

#7... GO BLAZERS!!!

by Ilikeemall on Nov 5, 2011 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm sure the owner didn't offer him a 50/50 split first

Good luck to you llikeemall. I hope everything works out for you despite the set back.

by poorwebguy on Oct 30, 2011 7:39 PM PDT up reply actions

Sorry to hear about that, that sucks

I think on a macro level, this is something the NBA should be aware of. Lots of fans are suffering through the economy, and even those fans/corporate entities that are humming along have cut back (case in point, my employer cut the sky box to a time share last year). If fans find other ways to spend their limited entertainment dollars like you mentioned, or simply say to heck with the NBA in response to this labor mess, the league is going to feel that in the wallet for years.

Best of luck finding a new job, keep your chin up, point to the record of success you’ve had – there are a lot of employers who are snapping up good people who were caught in crap situations, I hope that’s the story for you.

Kevin Durant won me over when he went Rocky IV on Russia this summer.

by blazeraddict on Oct 28, 2011 7:19 PM PDT reply actions

Thanks blazeraddict..

I appreciate the kind words.

#7... GO BLAZERS!!!

by Ilikeemall on Nov 5, 2011 4:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Look on the Bright side

if you’re good at sales, you can get a job anywhere. A good salesman can always find work. Start researching companies that you want to work for and start bugging them for an interview.

by Docproc on Oct 28, 2011 10:01 PM PDT reply actions

Thanks

#7... GO BLAZERS!!!

by Ilikeemall on Nov 5, 2011 4:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Every day the lockout has continued, and I've been pulling out body hair.

Now, I am hairless from to my toes up to my eyebrows and want a Chalupa. Welcome to Portland!

by Kevlar Rocket on Oct 28, 2011 10:08 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

The Real World

If we are all so sure that the NBA is separate from “The Real World,” then why are we reading this blog (or posting to it) at all? If “the real world” is such a vastly different (and more “real”) place, then shouldn’t we be changing that world instead of criticizing the players (or even the owners). I think the real issue is that this is the real world; we have a few owners making decisions that affect the much larger population of players, managers, ticketsellers, et al, and fans. Because the incomes involved are so high, some of us think that should negate the larger issues: the freedom to maximize your skills and talents and the freedom to work where we choose. The players don’t write their contracts. The owners do. For the owners to turn around and claim that these contracts are the problem is the ultimate in hypocrisy. If one fastfood company made some poor management decisions, no one would expect the rest of the fastfood companies to institute changes to save that company.
Again, if the NBA isn’t “The Real World,” then ignore the NBA and spend your time (and mental energy) in that real world, wherever it may be.

by Jackalope 66 on Nov 20, 2011 8:46 AM PST reply actions