I wonder how many of the present broadcasters would watch every Blazer game after they were "retired".
Good for Rice, I'm glad he's doing well. After reading Egger's piece I am reminded of what a classless, two-bit, low-rent operation this franchise really is at the top: An anti-social, eccentric, weirdo owner. A robotic, tone-deaf president, a snake oil salesman GM, and a shadowy, dysfunctional umbrella corporation whose only function appears to be court intrigue and losing money. But hey, at least you can get Killer burger at the arena now!
It's good to hear that Rice is enjoying his new home. I still can't help but hear him in my head, whenever a game gets close, going on about his tooth.
You could argue he's been tone deaf with the way he treated the two Mikes. The fans never wanted those guys to get fired. I think it's clear their replacements have not been an improvement.
To some fans. But these are the same fans who bitched about Mike Rice when he was first hired in 1990, or hated on Pete Pranica when he first was hired and didn't like Barrett when he was first hired. But people gave them both time before they got used them and welcomed them. Not Pete though, he sucked no matter how long he was round. People settled for mediocrity in their announcers because they didn't know any better and also have made them both into martyrs now that they've both been fired from their jobs and are not allowing Calabro and Hurd into the fold. Hell, Brian Wheeler was vilified by people when he was brought in and now people love him. But it took a while.
Mostly just the way the firings of the Mikes was handled. Abrupt, cold, no sense that they should have been shown a little more grace. Don't get me wrong, I was no fan of their blind homerism, and their constant bitching about the refs probably contributed to a whole generation of Blazers fans who now believe the league is against them, but I just thought it was a bad look.
Barrett was quoted in an article I read somewhere (sorry, no link) saying that one of the things he regretted about the hoopla around his dismissal was that McGowan got a lot of flack for the move. I have the impression that the decision to remove the Mikes came from higher up the Vulcan food chain. Vulcan has perpetually been tone deaf with respect to Portland fans. Or just doesn't give a rip City about them.
The Mikes got paid for a full year to go fishing....they got paid to not work....that's a pretty good perk for getting fired. I like both guys personally but I think Calabro and Hurd are an upgrade and I definitely don't miss Tone with Wheels on the radio....Holton can be really good or not...he's still learning the flow with Wheels...Scott Lin and Wheels together doing the Orlando road game was the best play by play and color analysis team of the season in my view.
Tone was good for the dumb awkward things he would say. I haven't listened to the radio in a couple of years though unfortunately. Still not a fan of the new guys, but I don't think Calabro will be here much longer anyway, either through the Sonics coming back or retirement.
Which is why I pointed to the man at top. Allen is the root of this team's problems. Yes, he's loaded and seems willing to spend, but that's not the same as good management.
Glad to see he's doing well & landed on his feet. He's made enough $ that if he's careful he can be fine for life.
Good for Mike. If the Mikes were still here, I would still watch the games, even though I dislike the style of play.
I still wish they moved him back to radio rather than let him go, but he remains a great Twitter follow and has earned the house life. Good read, thanks for linking
