That's my point, it is a business. And for whatever reason the Blazer organization thinks it is their job to tell other businesses how to run their business. I don't care about this email other than I think it hurts the Blazer public image and might cost them in trade negotiations. But whatever, not my money or my problem. My reponse was if someone threaten me on a business level, that would be my response to them. And I would think other business owners might have the same response to Allen. I know the Cavs owner did and behind close doors I'm guessing the majority of owners felt the way the cavs owner did.
Facts aside, litigation can have a tendancy of dragging on and on and on... which jacks the expenses up and up and up. That's what I was getting at, not that Paul Allen would actually win. Who knows if we even sue, but they have my blessing if they do -- Hey that rhymed! Come on, that's just unfair. You really think that's what they're doing?
When did I say always? And I'll have you know that I have had attorney fees paid for three times. So either I have a really good lawyer or it's not that hard. It depends on the circunstances and the type of lawsuit.
I don't think that was what they were doing. Agree with you that it hurts the public image, although that may be very temporary. I don't see why it would hurt them in trade negotiations. As you say, it is a business. barfo
Yeah, it's a business. Miller made a business decision. WalMart makes business decisions all the time. Sometimes, they look bad to the public, yet they often make money for the business. What do you think WalMart prefers: making big bucks and is so-so public perception, or is breaking even and has good public perception? They prefer to be making money. And if you agree the NBA is a business, you'd agree that the Blazers are trying to make money. This move, if successful (however unlikely it is) could earn Portland more money than they might lose from it.
Really? You would invite a lawsuit? Again, remember, Paul Allen gave up on this franchise once before. Perhaps this all is a way to get him back to Seattle with the Blazers? I couldn't blame him at this point if this is the support he gets from the Blazer "fans". The Comcast disaster fits right into this scenario.
Why does Portland care about public perception? Our fan base is not that of the Lakers. We fans don't come and go, blowing to and fro with the wind. If you're a Blazers fan, you're a Blazers fan tried and true. That's not a knock on Lakers fans (being a Lakers fan is a knock enough in and of itself), it's just the nature of a team that has a smaller, yet solid fan base, versus a large-market team, much like the Yankess or Red Sox, that has a following that swells when it's successful, and shrinks when it's not.
I don't know what the heck the Blazers were doing, but we already know how it was recieved by one owner, the league and the union (not well). So if you receive this email explaining the rules of your business and if you cross them this business will sue you (clearly an implied threat of don't mess with us) . . . and then this business calls you to discuss possible business deal . . . what would your response be. And mind you GMs in pro sports have some of very big egos.
The Jailblazer era and the lottery era that followed point to the contrary. Our image was a wreck and that played a part in attendance dropping waaay down, although I'm sure our record played a bigger part. It doesn't really matter, since the point is that fans did leave, and now they've come back again, just like every other fan base.
And sometimes . . . in fact often . . . people make bad business decisions. Blazer put out this email and Miles gets signed within 24 hours . . . good business decision?
I didn't invite the lawsuit . . . I responded to a threat (again behind close doors because I don't bring myself down to the level of opposing business). If a lawsuit ensues, so be it. But I won't stand for someone telling me my business and how to run it.
I agree to some extent. A move like this is going to cause fewer fans to leave the Portland fan base than it would other fan bases because Portland fans are move passionate and commital than many other fan bases. You're either a Portland fan, and your not. And i just can't see this current situation as being the type of issue to cost Portland fans. Sure, some are likely to disagree with it, but Portland stiff-arming a guy like Miles hardly seems like the situation that alienates its' fans.
Alright, I'm done ( I hope). I'm a huge Blazer fan and hope the Blazers destroy Memphis next time they play. This is a chat board so I'm giving my gut feeling on a Blazer move (that hits close to home). I know I got emotional and didn't mean to piss anyone off. Peace
Mark Cuban? He said he'd do the same thing. The league said they would honor the contract and that Miles had cleared waivers. Both are facts. The "Eastern GM" added his own commentary to derive intent. The union kind of threw me here. What they basically did was support a player making $9 million a year for doing nothing (Miles) over supporting an active player who now has one FA window shut down (one less team active in the FA market). Stupid move by Hunter, IMO.
Never said it was a good business decision, and I said either in this thread or another that it's not how I would have handled it. But like you acknowledged, the NBA is a business. I'd like to think that those within the Blazers organization are more capable of running an NBA franchise than you or I, so I trust their business decisions more than I would trust yours or mine in running an NBA franchise.
Well compared to the NBA and Paul Allen . . . it is basically a foodcart. Just trying to bring a buinsess owner perspective to the topic . . . but my business is no where near the level of the NBA . . . so maybe I'm way off on this and NBA owners are simply shrugging their shoulders saying business as usual.
How do we know? We've only heard from a few sides who were outraged against the email. There are more franchises we've heard nothing from. For all we know, these organizations could be nervous about the Blazers' move. In this case, it'd appear it's a smart move by the Blazers.
