Rose Garden Usher Speaks Out About NBA Lockout's Effects

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by SlyPokerDog, Oct 25, 2011.

  1. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    A Rose Garden usher speaks out about the NBA lockout and its financial effects as well as the gag order imposed upon him.
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    So here I sit ready to expose how this NBA lockout affects the John Everyman, not just the millionaire basketballers and the billionaire owners. While the owners refuse to open their books to show where these massive losses are coming from, I am more than ok with opening mine to show how trite their complaints seem. The rich arguing with the richer is a bad look, especially with so much business, so many people’s employment and the overall image of the sport at stake. Get ready to finally understand the untold story of the arena worker.
    ...
    As you can see from the table, I don’t make much money. But the majority of the money I do make is a direct result of working Blazer, er, NBA sanctioned games. 56.49% of all earnings for me last year were basketball related income, which speaks to how much I (along with my fellow co-workers) depend on the NBA to have games play as scheduled. The main reason I decided to apply at the Rose Garden was because of the chance to work Blazer games. By the end of my first half year working at the arena I was granted the opportunity to be a part of their "Familiar Face Program," which I was awarded the section I work at for all 41 regular season games. I am able to request that same position right after the NBA schedules are released in August, and the only way I am in jeopardy of losing that position (as well as losing the ability to be scheduled for all 41 regular season games) is if I miss more than 3 regular games. The NBA, in my eyes, is job security to those working at the Rose Garden. Without that guarantee of being able to work those game shifts, I would be (and currently am) at the mercy of being scheduled (in competition with a few hundred other ushers) for the leftover events. No NBA games equals an inconsistent amount of shifts, which leads to inconsistent pay, which leads to increased difficulty in making ends meet.

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    His full blog with chart of his earnings here - http://ijustwriteright2.wordpress.com/2011/10/23/usher-confidential/
     
  2. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    Rose Garden Usher Reveals Name, Section Assignments

    On Sunday, a Rose Garden usher posted an essay about the NBA lockout's financial effects upon him and the gag order imposed upon him by his company.
    In a follow-up interview with Jake Langbecker of Charged.FM, the usher reveals that he is 23-year-old Portland resident Clement Uduk and that he is tasked with overseeing sections 102 and 103 during Portland Trail Blazers games.
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    "So I just thought that adding my voice to the discussion was necessary because nobody is talking about what's happening to us because we're not suppose to talk about what's happening to us, which is ridiculous," Udok said.

    He's not alone in his struggle and says he knows people that worked for the Blazers’ concierge team in the club level suites that have already been laid off as a result of the lockout.

    "They just waved them off and said hey, ‘don't say ****," Uduk said. "That's not right. I just don't feel that's right and that's what I wanted to comment on. If nobody's going to say anything, then nobody's going to know. That's why I wanted to tell my story."

    -----------------------------
    Also in the interview, Uduk responds to criticism of his post that appeared in the Blazersedge comments.
     
  3. EL PRESIDENTE

    EL PRESIDENTE Username Retired in Honor of Lanny.

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    [video=youtube;fuBGevbuQYs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuBGevbuQYs[/video]
     
  4. MarAzul

    MarAzul LongShip

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    What? You mean Paul doesn't take care of them???
     
  5. The_Lillard_King

    The_Lillard_King Westside

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    Got to give props to an usher that says screw the damn marching orders and speaks out. Probably going to lose his job, but he is showing that at least they don't own his ass.
     
  6. Charcoal Filtered

    Charcoal Filtered Writing Team

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    They did not own his ass before and am not keeping him from doing another job.
     
  7. The_Lillard_King

    The_Lillard_King Westside

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    When an organization tells you not to say anything public about your situation, just get screwed and shut up about it . . . sound controlling to me (like they own your ass :D )

    True that nothing stops him from getting another job, so he is free to do that. Just rubs me the wrong way to be told not to discuss your current situation with anybody . . . so basically you are screwed out of making a living until the lockout ends and if go public and tell people your screwed we will screw you twice as much by fring you.

    Those guys are "owned" in my book.
     
  8. Nikolokolus

    Nikolokolus There's always next year

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    Welcome to the unemployment line!!
     
  9. jlprk

    jlprk The ESPN mod is insane.

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    For those who didn't read it--he made $2800 take-home pay in the year since he graduated with a BA. He lives with his parents. His only job was as Rose Garden usher. 57% of the $2800 was from Blazer games, which paid him $34 per game. So if they don't fire him he'll only make 43% of it the next 12 months.

    Yet he has time to write giant long blog complaints. Boo hoo!

    I'd rather hear from the old white-haired guy in the picture. Probably a former wino who really needs the thousand bucks.
     
  10. Charcoal Filtered

    Charcoal Filtered Writing Team

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    I read the article after you posted the numbers jlprk. This guy needs to cry me a fucking river.

    How many people are waiting in line to take his job? I would imagine quite a few. Sounds like he is taking alot of frustration out on the NBA when it should be directed at what led him to believe getting student loans was a good idea if he could not earn anything with said degree.
     
  11. Nikolokolus

    Nikolokolus There's always next year

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    If all the dumb-ass old people would retire like they were supposed to there actually would be jobs for college graduates.

    /nuffsaid
     
  12. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    HAHAHAHAHA^ I love it Nik!
     
  13. MARIS61

    MARIS61 Real American

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    Realize NOBODY will EVER retire if SS is ended or privatized.

    Think what that will do to the job market.
     
  14. Nikolokolus

    Nikolokolus There's always next year

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    Best argument I've ever read for "youth-in-asia"
     
  15. 3RA1N1AC

    3RA1N1AC 00110110 00111001

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    logans run
     
  16. MickZagger

    MickZagger Well-Known Member

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    I've seen this kid around the RG. Tool!

    Its a minimum wage job, go find another.
     
  17. jlprk

    jlprk The ESPN mod is insane.

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    I want to read a blog written by the owners about their suffering. This new college grad is an unsympathetic character. Or maybe we could hear from some impoverished, sexually-starved Mexican whose income comes almost totally from the games. Denny must be hurting from this board's activity--he should blog about his sacrifices.

    Is there some way we can twist this thread into complaining about taxes?
     
  18. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    I'll bite. Got my property tax statement the other day. Value of the property went DOWN $15,000......... taxes went UP $500!!!!!!!
     
  19. jlprk

    jlprk The ESPN mod is insane.

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    They assessed your wife?
     
    MARIS61 likes this.
  20. jlprk

    jlprk The ESPN mod is insane.

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    Anyway, what I mean is, I feel for the working class, but this young guy blabbing on a blog isn't the most sympathetic character. Some of those other ushers look like they were hired off the street and I'd like to hear their stories. Even HCP is much more sympathetic, and he's far from poor.

    That's what I really meant, H. Can I call you H?

    I must depart to the sitting room while Chauncey fetches me my cigar.
     

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