Jarrett misses Portland

We didn't replace Jack with Bayless so much as we replaced Jack with Rudy. I think Rudy has made the most difference to our team this year, more than GO (who could have been replaced by Joel) and more than Batum (who could have been replaced by Travis).

I never understood the Jack Hate. He wasn't happy here but he was the only guy on the team who would take it to the hole. It doesn't bother me that he wasn't an All Star--he never half-assed it on the court. If I'm in PDX when Indy comes to town, I'll give him a cheer for three years of playing hard in the Scarlet & Black.

 

I agree - no booing Jack (or any ex-Blazer )at the RG. It's classless and cowardly. Portland fans are better than that. Guys who played here and worked hard deserve our thanks. I won't be in the stands for the Indy game, but if I was, I'd be on my feet clapping when Jack is introduced/enters the game. Not every player is a superstar, but that doesn't mean they deserve ridicule, hatred and scorn.

I'm sure one of the things Jack, and other former Blazers, love about Portland is the intelligent, supportive fans. That's the image we want to perpetuate.

BNM

 

JJ was a vary cool guy! I wish him the best.

 

I plan on going JJ a good hand when he is introduced. I will support any player who played hard for the team, and that is what he did.

 

Tell that to the asshats that booed Zach last year. I know Z-bo had a somewhat tumultuous run in PDX, with his share of "Jailblazer" esque moments, but I was really disappointed that people jumped on him last year when the Knicks came to town.

 

And, to the idiots that booed Kevin Love at the Minnesota game last month. Nothing like getting booed in your hometown debut. I was embarassed to be there for that.

As far as Zach goes, he had his share of off court troubles, but he did play hard and made himself a better player. He came back from microfracture surgery to have his best season as a pro his final year with the Blazers. I sat behind his brother Roger on a flight to Indianaplois the day after Zach was traded to the Knicks. I told him to wish Zach well and thank him for his hard work and effort while in Portland. I even told him I hoped Zach would make the all-star team in the East.

BNM

 

I would have booed Kevin Love, but that's only because he went to the wrong HS.

Nah, I'm proud of anyone from LO who makes it to the big time, even if they were Lakers.

 

As for booing Zach, that just allows us to point out everyone who outsources their thinking to John Canzano. Zach Randolph was the only legitimate NBA starter on this team for three years. If we want to be dissatisfied with the losing that went on, blaming our best player seems an odd place to focus that frustration. For all of his off-court flaws, the guy signs his big contract and then works his ass off to come back from MF. I wasn't a fan of his game or his personality, but he worked hard and was a hell of a pick that far down in the draft.

 

I don't give a shit about Kevin Love. He plays on the enemy now, and never played as a Blazer. Why should I give a rats ass about him?

 

Well, if you're so indifferent about him, I guess you weren't one of the ones booing him, were you?

None of the other Minnesota players were booed during the player introductions. They all received a smattering of polite applause (which is the norm at the RG) - but Love was booed loudly by a very vocal and immature minority. He was also booed in the same boorish manner when he stepped to the FT line. Such unprovoked behaviour is classless and completely unnecessary.

So fine, please continue to not give a rat's ass about him. Just please do so in a manner that doesn't reflect poorly on the rest of us.

BNM

 

Booing Zach was one thing, I expected that to happen, as people just didn't like him towards the end. What was more annoying to me was him getting booed every time he touched the ball. That seemed uncalled for. That's reserved for Kobe types. Zach is not on that level, never was, and never will be. If you don't like aplayer and want to boo him, that's fine. People don't like Love and booed him. Oh well. Didn't like Zach, fine. It was the every time that really bothered me.

 

I'd boo Love and Ainge (I boo Ainge always, its personal). They are Oregon ex-pats that deserve booing. Obviously you don't know the history.

 

always wanted the rockets to draft Jack instead of Head........

 

You may take that view. But as a fan, I view it as my responsibility to recognize when something is getting into an opposing players head, and grind on that as much as possible. It is commonly known in the NBA that younger players often react to crowd noise adversely. It gets in their heads. Now, I know I am not the only fan out there that notices this. Many of the fans noticed the boo's were affecting his game, so people start pouring it on. When ever he touches the ball. Our goal is to get the Blazers to win. It's not personal. It's not over the line. It's part of being a fan and doing what little you can to get the team a home win. If anything, it is somebody like you sitting in your hands, is what I call classless. Fans like you should go watch Indiana games, where the other night, the game on the line against LA, with LA going to the line, the fans were sitting there, quiet. Letting the player shoot his free throws in peace, and harmony.

 

Actually, I do. Love went to UCLA, a much better basketball program with a better coach, rather the the University of Nike and Ernie Can't- after Nike screwed him over as a 16-year old kid for attending the Reebock ABCD Camp so he could test himself against Greg Oden and OJ Mayo. Can't say I blame him. If I had the chance to play college basketball anywhere on a full ride scholarship, I would have chosen UCLA (or Duke) over the U of N anytime.

So, when he comes to Portland he gets booed by all the Duck homers. At least I didn't hear anything about death threats to his cell phone of "fans" screaming WHORE!!!!!!!! at his granny and little sis this time and throwing stuff at his family members. So, maybe the Blazer fans that booed him are a tad less crass and classless than the Duck fans that embarassed themselves and the university when he played in Eugene (and destroyed them, BTW).

BNM

 

Believe me, I don't sit quietly on my hands at the games I attend. I am extremely loud. But, while I am rabid at supporting my team, I'd like to think I have a little bit of class and decency.

I don't buy your excuse. He was booed when he was introduced. How could the "fans" know they were getting in his head before he even stepped on the court for the opening tip-off.

And, yes it was personal - which is why it was offensive. These are the same "fans" that left death threats on his cell phone and screamed WHORE!!!!!! at his grandmother and little sister when UCLA played in Eugene. That's about as personal as it gets.

BNM

 

Good riddance. Exiling Jack is one of the best moves this team has made.

 

As a former Philadelphian I take every opportunity to boo that I get...all the better that most of the time around here it's the other team. As a kid I spent a lot of time booing the Phillies.

Anyways, I booed loudly at Love and will do it again. I also boo Blaze when he misses those lame trampoline dunks.

For the record, I will cheer Jack when he comes.

 

If Love had gone somewhere like Duke or UNC, the reaction would be much different. The Wooden era is long gone. UCLA is just another Pac 10 school now. Do you honestly expect the fans to be happy that the best local prospect in years went to a rival school? He would have been booed just as loudly if he had gone to any other Pac 10 school.