Merged: Blazers control of media content....

Well, we must admit, he was saved from himself yet again when Chandler Parsons decided to sign elsewhere. Add that to Hibbert et al and we have someone who knows how to evaluate college talent but can't get free agent signings right to save his life.

 

Comcast just got the Blazers to re-up on a big deal with them...you're either naive or have never worked in business if you didn't expect the Blazers to demand more control over the product as part of the reason they returned.

The Blazers, like every other NBA team, are a business and frankly can choose to run it however they wish. I don't know if they have improved recently, but you don't have to look further than the 10's of articles written about OKC during the Durant days to see that the lid they keep on their players and the media's access to the them to see something worse than NO trying to control some of the narrative out there.

We all know what it's like in this small market, the narrative and perception of the team is WAYYYYYYY more important to the Blazers than to a team like say the Lakers or the Spurs. To be honest, the media has brought this on themselves. For years Quick and the Bald-Faced Fuck ran amok digging up every small story they could to get clicks/reads rather than writing quality content. I like Ropp and Suke, but I think the Blazers are 100% within their right to want to control the narrative in this environment.

 

This Blazers management team has done a better job alienating fans than anything else.

 

I'm not an Isaac and Suke fan but their show is by far the best and most listenable in this market. Compare it too Canzano's crapfest on 750.... I haven't found that they have an agenda against the Blazers. Suke has some interesting stories about Steve Patterson.... but who didn't that guy rub the wrong way?

As for the current Blazers from office.... is there friction and discontent? (raises arms)

 

It works that way with the Lakers as well. The broadcast teams all have side radio gigs on ESPN 710. And they always joke about how far they can criticize the Laker management in fear of losing their job. The Lakers are very protective of their brand as well.

My main question is with all of Neil's "influence" how does Canzano still have a job? Come on Neil get it done! And why would CSNNW hire Quick after the oregonian let him go?

 

Those guys are TERRIBLE. Now if they can get rid of Jaynes, Talkin' Ball might actually be worth watching.

 

Agree 100%!

 

To muzzle him?

 

"Public Relations" is a two way avenue. One direction GMs try to control damage. In the other, they try to spin information to make themselves look better. That is part of Olshey's job. On both counts, I believe he has failed.

When Olshey first took on the GM job, he was very accessible. He was smooth and won me and many other over. Then things got quit. It was not long before we only heard from Olshey when he introduced a new player and gave his "we got the player we wanted speech"..

Olshey started to ignore both the media and the fans. He built a wall. He has hidden behind that wall for so long now that I no longer feel any connection to him. He is just some guy that sports $600 haircuts and wears suits that cost more than my pickup. I do not relate to him at all now.

Olshey is supposed to be the "Public Relations" guru. In contrast, that was supposed to be Rich Cho's weakness. In the short time Cho was our GM, I felt more of a connection with him than I have with Olshey's much longer tenure.

As far as Olshey taking care of the coaches and players. I can see that is probably true with Stotts, but not sure about the players. Managers are judged on how much of a personnel turnover they have. A certain amount is expected, but at some point too much turnover is an indication of bad management, especially when that turnover involves the more senior people/players.

Think about this. How many Blazer UFA have re-signed with Olshey? Not RFA, Olshey holds a trump card, just UFAs. I can not think of one, can you? I hope you can because it makes Olshey look very bad if we can not. His senior players are leaving, and often without a goodbye. That does not look like he has taken care of the players.

 

Didn't Aminu sign here because of his past relationship with Olshey?

 

Good point, but not what I was trying to ask.
How many UFA on the Blazer's roster re-signed?
Aminu may not have known what he was getting into here in Portland.

 

How many UFA have the Blazer's signed in 40 years? Does it really make Neil look bad?

Edit: Ok I just saw your last post. But even if we are talking about our own UFA's ......who have we wanted besides LMA?

 

Just off the top, ROLO. Probably NBA 6th man of the year before and after being a Blazer, J. Crawford.

Edit: To be fair, I believe Crawford left about the same time Neil was hired as GM. Not sure Crawford's leaving is on him.

 

That was a bad year when Roy was forced to retire and McMillan lost the team. I think that Crawford was put in a really tough spot trying to fill in for Roy when his makeup is more suited to sixth man. He says that he doesn't have hard feelings towards the fans or city though:

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...amal_crawford_has_moved_on_from_forgetta.html

 

True, but I don't think that was about the City as much as it was about the state of the team and looking for greener pastures.