Mike and Mike are OUT? Same with 'Tone.

Isn't he around 75? Not that he wouldn't still do the job but at some point, everyone moves on.

If somehow Calabro were the choice, whether he did Seattle games or not, that is an improvement. There is a reason he does national games and he has been offered jobs with other franchises but just doesn't want to leave the Northwest from what I'm told. I can see them also trying to go younger, more social media savvy and a fresh but familiar face like bringing back Abbey Chen.



Regardless of who it is, I can see them trying to appeal to a broader and younger market while plenty of cache' to maintain and expand the corporate entities.....that just today's NBA.

 

Why does it matter if the person is from Seattle? If they are good, they are good regardless of their past residence. I don't think the vast majority of Oregonians/Portland residence has any hatred for Seattle. Seattle's a great city. The Seahawks are the most popular NFL team/most fans in the Portland metro area! Did we hate Brandon Roy because he is from Seattle? Do Blazer fans hate Gary Payton because he is the greatest player in Sonic's history? Nope. The only Seattle hate I ever hear or read is from a small number of people on this message board.

 

I haven't heard Payton, but the others would be fine. I mean is Steve Smith, Brent Barry or Greg Anthony better than Rice? I'm not really sure they are. Walton is obviously brilliant, but I'd actually be somewhat disappointed if it were any of the other guys. They obviously have a lot of knowledge, but do they have the humor to entertain me?

 

Fuck Seattle

 

Honestly, living in Seattle, I have only heard people say nice things about Portland. They don't know you hate them.

 

Look, if it's a Seattle guy they feel they need to fill the play by play spot, then fuck them, but whatever.

Honest question though. Is there an NBA team, or team in general that doesn't have one of the franchises notable players as it's color guy?

 

Payton is a pretty funny guy. The others, not so much. Maybe walton because he says really weird shit

 

You guys need to forget Walton. He is great in small doses, but come on, he is HORRIBLE for two hours. Especially if your team happens to be losing that night. They go from the best team ever to set foot on a basketball ....to the worst team ever .....in the matter of minutes. I sat through enough of his Pac 12 games the last few years to experience that. I had to mute him every time. He never stops talking long enough to let anyone else talk, and the majority of the time it is not about basketball. Think about that for 82 games.

Speaking of Pac 12 games, by far the best duo I have heard in years during the tournament was Calabro and Don Maclean. DM would never leave SoCal, and I am not advocating him for the Blazers, but they are excellent.

 

Thanks for that. I guess it shows there just aren't many franchises that hire color guys that don't have some serious ties to the team.

The more I think of it, PJ would be a welcomed addition. He was a pretty amusing guy, with a lot of fun stories. I know he lives in the Seattle area, so that fits in with the a-holes running the Blazers. However, he is 67, so I'm not sure that would be the best move

 

You think the new announcers will sell the item of the game better than Rice?

 

I don't think Bill's health will allow for him to travel with the team for 41 road games so we can throw that idea out pretty quick.

As far as former players, can you guys think of articulate dudes in our history who can actually commentate on games? And even if they CAN, will the guys actually WANT to? I can't think of a single one who might be worth it. Maybe Pippen or Smitty? I doubt either would be interested. Smitty even has a national gig and is entrenched in ATL as is.

CJ is primed for that position in 15 yrs. But until then, we should be ok with the likes of Brent Barry (who is pretty damn good tbh).

 

It cracked me up how Rice would talk about the item and how he liked it if he could get it for free. No way he was paying those prices for that stuff given his notoriously short arms around picking up any check.

 

Exactly why he is brilliant. Color guys need to be entertaining. I don't need to hear about about some guy spacing the floor properly. I can see that because I am watching the tv. I need to hear how Bird and McHale lost their minds on an LSD trip before game 3 of the finals or shit like that. I need to hear how a botched inbound pass is one of the 6 worst inbound plays in TrailBlazers history. I need to hear when Dame makes a good pass that he is one of the top PG's in not only the NBA, but in the vast universe our minds can't yet comprehend.

To me, that is a color guy. Make me laugh and be knowledgeable. Tell me stories. Be that guy.

 

Have Bill do the home games. Lots of teams have rotating announcers

 

For the record, I wasn't serious about Roy and sheed. It just sounded hilarious to me.

 

When was the last time you sat through a whole game of his? Are you watching a lot of Pac 12 games in Texas?
It is really fun to hear him....at first. Maybe he would tone it down with the Blazers, but if you think his shtick is the same as it was back in the day with Snapper.......you would be wrong. I guess if he adapted he would be all right, but in his current form......no way.

 

Absolutely and also absolutely not. Rice was horrible at the spots but so bad he was great!