Lol -- no doubt, there are a ton of things that could change in the next 10 years. Just the fact that PA has wrestled with cancer twice now is proof of that. What a bummer if Jodi took control...
I hate to say it, but I'm simply going to enjoy the Portland Trail Blazers while I can and hope my suppositions are proved incorrect.
Easiest way to keep the Blazers in Portland forever - 1. Build the new convention center hotel on the waterfront where the old Red Lion used to sit. 2. Include a sky bridge from the new hotel to the MC. 3. Turn the MC into a casino.
Well, since Seattle is trying to steal an NBA franchise from Sacramento here, they are in the wrong, just as OKC was in the wrong in taking the Sonics from Seattle. Like I said, its not about this city or that city, its the uprooting of an entire fanbase. Bottom line is that Seattle doesn't have a team, should not be able to take away an existing team away if there is support and local ownership. Sure, if some Seattle investors want to overpay for the Kings...go ahead, but I agree with the Board of Governors in that they shouldn't be moved. I don't think any team should be unless there are no owners in the area who want to keep the team in the area whatsoever.
I'd lead the charge to Seattle with pitchforks and torches and burn that city to the fucking ground. The thing is, if the Blazers are halfway good there will be fan support and Portland will theoretically stand up. But yeah, I wouldn't trust the local government with any favors. This is essentially why I am against moving teams like chess pieces. Especially with loyal fanbases. For those that support moving the Kings to Seattle, you're simply advocating making the "rich, richer". Taking teams...like the Portland Trailblazers and simply just buying them because you have more money and moving them away and disappointing an entire city.
Yeah, I pretty much agree with that view. The only thing is that I don't think Seattle has any real alternative...if they want a team, they either have to take one from somewhere else or hope for expansion. Purely instinct, but I don't think expansion makes sense from a talent dilution standpoint and I wonder if the numbers make sense. Stern claims a lot of teams are losing money, so it seems like it would make sense to add more teams. Of course, it's never clear to me how much teams are really struggling. Stern always says they are before negotiating with the players and then makes everything seem rosy after the deal is done. One thing for sure, the whole thing is messy.
I think of Seattle the same way I think of Baltimore. For years after the Colts were taken from them, they held the moral high ground. After they stole the Browns from Cleveland, they were shown to be hypocrites. The difference is that the NFL does a better job planning expansion and mollifying their fan base than the NBA. Cleveland knew they were getting another team in short order.
Why would Paul Allen ever want to move the Blazers to Seattle? Its not as if he is adverse to traveling down here - he's all over the planet. Also, he owns the arena and is the only show in town. The city loves the Blazers. So from a business point of view, it makes little sense. And despite what you all apparently think, the guy is actually human. He gets how we love this team. Additionally, he is passionate about a few things, hoops being one of them. And, if the NBA won't approve the move from Sac, which used to have a rabid fanbase but does not really have that now, no way they would approve a move from Portland. Franchise / city stability is important to the league, clearly. Finally, given the latest Seattle news, you can bet they will get another team or an expansion team in the next five years. Blazers ain't going nowhere.
I am personally not talking about Paul Allen moving the team. I am talking about whoever he or his sister sells to moving the team.
From wikipedia: Personal lifeShe is divorced, and has two sons, Duncan and Gardner.[1] She was known as Jody Patton while married.[1]
I don't think Paul Allen is long for this world. Ten years, fifteen, then he's gone. His sister isn't interested in the team. There's no one not named Phil Knight that has any kind of money in this town. And advertising in Portland sucks ass. They can't even get naming rights for the Rose Garden. Filling the arena doesn't mean much. The television market means a lot. If they move to Seattle, you'll still get a TV deal down here, just like the Ms. And we've shown that we'll support a Seattle team. There aren't many Blazer fans in the Emerald City. I'm glad you're more optimistic than am I. I really hope you're right and I'm wrong.
Ken Berger @KBergCBS - Both sides have agreed to transfer ownership of the Kings from the Maloofs to the Ranadive group for $535 million, league source confirms.
If they kept the franchise in Sacramento, the Seattle group certainly could have bought it for more of they were so compelled. hoop fam
