Canzano: Tom Dundon using a tired playbook
Is he trying to get you to break up with him?
It’s occurred to me more than once that Tom Dundon might be trying to get Trail Blazers fans to break up with him.
It’s the oldest manipulation trick in the playbook. Create friction. Foster distance. Break down communication. Poison the relationship and gaslight. Make Portland fans so frustrated and angry with you that they throw their hands up, stop showing up, and play the role of bad guy, ending the relationship themselves.
Do you miss Paul Allen?
Mark Warkentien, a former assistant general manager with the Blazers, told me numerous times that fans would miss Allen after he was gone. Warkentien gave me the “Portland fans don’t know how good they have it,” speech more than once.
Paul spent on his NBA roster. He sprung for T-shirts. His NBA staff threw lavish sponsor parties and always reached for the tab at events. I heard stories about Allen pulling out the electric guitar in front of staffers on his yacht — Tatoosh — and playing as if he were Jimi Hendrix.