Day: Blazers Coach Nate McMillan Dodges NBA Lockout Questions

by Ben Golliver on Oct 31, 2011 9:21 AM PDT in News

James Day of StatesmanJournal.com humorously writes that Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan was flanked by a public relations staffer at a recent high school event and answered every NBA lockout question by talking about the community.

We tried to find out what is going on by participating in a "media interview" with Blazers coach Nate McMillan on Friday at McKay High School in Salem. McMillan was on hand to congratulate students for their improvement in state test scores.

With a club public-relations executive at his side McMillan took every NBA-related question directed at him by Statesman Journal reporter Bill Poehler and answered with how important it was for him to be out in the community celebrating the success of students such as those at McKay.

Poehler was duly impressed. McMillan, he said, had stayed on message to a degree he found staggering. Discipline wins the day, as Gen. Stonewall Jackson used to say.

I believe Jackson also famously said: "By controlling your turnovers you give yourself extra bullets."

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter

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Humorously Writes?

Isn’t Poehler and The Statesman Journal just being obnoxious? They know, or should know McMillan can’t answer questions about the lock-out, and isn’t present to answer questions about the lock-out. So asking questions about the lock-out, just to “humorously” sit back and comment on McMillan “dodging” the questions? Seems moronic and childish. If my commentary on The Lock-Out could result in upwards of a Million Dollar fine? I think I’d stay on message to a degree that people would find staggering. If the media insisted on continuing to ask me questions that they should know I can’t answer? I wouldn’t find that humorous, I’d find it unprofessional and obnoxious.

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

by Krang on Oct 31, 2011 9:54 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs

Hey, the Blazer game on Thursday is on TNT.

by signal_lost on Oct 31, 2011 10:32 AM PDT reply actions

Both teams played hard..

by 1ofthe7 on Oct 31, 2011 10:35 AM PDT reply actions

Poor coach Nate

dude hates the political part of his job. I kind of really like that about him.

by moflow on Oct 31, 2011 10:36 AM PDT reply actions

McMillan = classy

Sounds like his response was note-perfect, PR flack nearby or not. Even if Coach could talk about the lockout, he was there to support the kids, and he remained focused on that mission at all times. Like the kids want some out-of-town minor celebrity to hog up their spotlight with his personal business?

"You can pretty much flip a coin to see which Portland team will show up: the dark-horse world-beaters or the mixed-up eggbeaters" - Dave

by conspirator5 on Oct 31, 2011 2:53 PM PDT reply actions

To Nate McMillan's credit, his buttoned-up style works well when he has to be tight-lipped about something.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Oct 31, 2011 4:09 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Shoot.

I’d dodge questions as well. Look what happened to what’s his name in that other conference. That was a large fine.

All that bulls*** a** calls they had out there, you've all seen that s***, you saw them calls. The cats are flopping all over the floor and they're calling that s***. That s*** ain't basketball out there, it's all f***ing entertainment. You all should know that s***, it's all f***ing entertainment

by Rasheed's Lament on Nov 1, 2011 3:35 AM PDT reply actions