Portland went overboard early in retiring numbers...I mean, Larry Steele, Lloyd Neal, and Dave Twardzick? really? Eve Lionel Hollins and Bob Gross are too much Roy doesn't deserve it. Not only because he had a short career with limited success (as far as I can tell he isn't in the Blazers top-10 in any category), but he treated Portland like shit after he left
This is something that people on here say all the time and it drives me nuts. WHO do we look bushleague to and why the fuck should I care. Forum geeks like you guys in Philly? Really? People said after the riots….Portland looks like a 3rd world country…..To WHO? People in Detroit and Cleveland? who gives a shit what people think our franchise looks like. Totally understand why B shouldn’t have his number retired, but I for one believe he deserves it. Fuck whatever they think.
I like that Ring Of Honor idea. Like they have in Football. Then add a Hall of Fame placard next to those who have achieved it like Walton, Drexler, and Ramsay.
But Clyde got us to 2 nba finals and was widely considered the 2nd best player in the league for a couple years. Some thought he was as good or better than Jordan until Jordan put all that talk to rest in the finals.
Of course. Same as Bill Walton and Clyde Drexler: it doesn't matter what happened after he left, what matters is what he did on the court.
I get your point for sure. I guess my bigger point is: Who do we come off as bush league to? Other fans? What impact does it have on the success of our franchise moving forward? Do you think it impacts our ability to get free agents?
Players like this is why I feel the Rose/Moda Garden/center should have a ring of fame as well as retired jerseys. Roy belongs in a ring of fame no question.
For me, whether it looks bush league and to whom isn't so much the question, it just is bush league. I mean, why would his number be retired? Because he was a bright spot following a dark time in Trail Blazer history? Because he was a borderline All-Star? Will we retire LaMarcus? Basketball-wise, he deserves it much more. What about Sheed? Pippen? It seems silly. It's also interesting to me how little Portland seems to matter to B-Roy, which sort of compounds the embarrassing aspect... Even though I think it's bush league and embarrassing all on its own, who else might think it's bush league? Practically everyone: the public, other owners, players, the national media, small children, etc. If you don't have high standards, you're an amateur, no, ie bush league? Most importantly, it devalues the entire ritual of jersey retirement, devalues the future and past jerseys up there, turning it into a participation trophy.
Portland matters to B….. he is just a real laid back chill dude. Just like LA was. People take that the wrong way sometimes.
I said that wrong. I don't care how others perceive our team. It feels bushleague to me as a fan of our team, is what I should have said. The guy just wasn't great enough in the short period of time while he was great and didn't lead the team to enough success during that time to justify retiring his number and if we did I would feel like it just points out the lack of true greatness we've had as a franchise. That was my point.
Appreciate your opinion and perspective for sure. I'm still struggling to understand who it devalues it to and why that matters. To you? To the player? To other NBA fans? I don't think Terry Porter would be upset if Roy's number is retired. I don't think Dame will feel less special when his number is retired because there is a #7 in the rafters. If they don't retire #7, that is fine too. My opinion of Porter, Roy, and Dame will be unchanged by it.
It’s almost like they knew…this isn’t happening again in our lifetimes so might as well celebrate these guys while we are all alive.
Tomorrow. Does Dame’s number get retired? Hasn’t won anything…never an MVP…only reason we wasted a bench spot (Blevins) for three years…reason Stotts is gone (ok, that was just for shits and giggles) but you get my point. Roy? Dame? Aldridge?
Is there a 2nd team Jersey retirement? I’d go for that love Roy one of my favorite just didn’t play long enough to retire a jersey