Casey Jarman of the Willamette Week has an excellent profile of Portland Trail Blazers veteran forward Kurt Thomas, which touches on his path to the NBA, his reputation as an enforcer and his desire to play rather than sit on the bench. ------------------------------------- "When I first came into the league, the game was a lot more physical. There was a lot more contact, which was allowed. I definitely miss those days. It was just a lot more fun. I think that’s how the game should have always been played." In New York, Thomas quickly gained a reputation as a bruiser and a loose canon. Though he was ejected from only six games in seven years, he was criticized in the press for being unable to control his emotions. He says there was never ill-intent behind his trash-talking and hard fouls. Even a reminder that soon-to-be Hall of Famer Reggie Miller called Thomas "a punk" doesn’t make him bristle. "Great scorer," he deadpans of Miller, before laughing. "Reggie talked a lot of trash, but he backed it up on the court.... The thing is, I don’t hold grudges. I can beat the crap out of you on the court and we can still go out and get a beer after the game." ------------------------------------- -- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter