509 just as I started my contribution I saw yours, so to avoid plagiarism I shall quote direct to you: "Anything concerning the Blazers is certainly not the best use of my time - right now (or anytime)." Well played, Charlie
If many of the remaining 81 Blazer games go the way last night's did, it may be just as well that those of us on the central Oregon coast don't get "Rip City TV" or whatever this latest incarnation of "BlazerVision" is called. Supposedly, it's on Spectrum's Channel 187, but that channel doesn't exist on our system.
I don't know how many other rural areas are similarly ignored as far as TV access goes. One would think that the team would at least like its telecasts to be available within the western half of the state, but Blazer management probably doesn't even care about little things like that.
We were able to see the game on NBC Sports Bay Area, where the announcers all but ignored the Blazer players. It would have been nice to know something about the newer and younger Blazer players, but there were too many Warrior highlights to spend time on players who seemed to be little more than cardboard cutouts on defense.
The Blazers have always been my first sports love since the early 1970’s. It just angers me how bad and how big of a punch line they have become. It’s just sorry and sad.
Thank goodness for football!!! I’ve replaced the NBA for the NHL. At least until the Blazers are sold to someone who cares about the team and the city. Blazers fans deserve better!!!
Clearly you don't live in Boston. Or Milwaukie. Or even L.A.--which has TWO NFL teams and TWO BIG 10 teams--where the Lakers come within 100 bodies of FILLING their 20,000 seat arena every game.
Clearly you don’t know the NBA. Back when the NBA was a good product, arenas with smaller teams like Portland were filled up. Big city teams will always be full/close to full.
Hopefully, if the fans stop showing up, the local media only gives them the bare minimum coverage, and sponsors start dropping them, then maybe, just maybe, things will begin to change. 🙏🏀
I absolutely do not feel bad for fans who continue to enable Jodie Allen and Bert Kolde to continue play "Weekend at Bernie's" with the rotting dead corpse of the once proud franchise that they murdered. I can wait 3 days for a resurrection, but I can't wait through multiple years of tanking that aren't going to pay off with any reasonable level of on court competency, let alone winning, in the foreseeable future.
I was a rabid Blazer fan from the start of the franchise in 1971. I had season tickets for several years starting in the mid-80's, until Blazer management pissed me off with their demonstrably contemptuous treatment of season ticket holders. When the Rose Garden opened, they hawked season tickets requiring a 4 year contract under the premise that the bargain would be no yearly price increases. Well after a year or two, they were selling individual game tickets for the same price I was paying, and giving those buyers, free hot dogs to go with it.
During the lockout year, I didn't send in the payment for the season tickets. when the lockout ended in February, I got a call from the Blazers office and they said I hadn't remitted my payment for them. I said I wasn't going to. They said, "You have a contract with us for them. I said, "YOU have a contract with ME, and you have breached that contract by not providing me the product I am due under that contract at it's usual and customary time". They never disputed it any further.
I did continue to watch the Blazers on TV and attend an occasional game after that. I was still an avid fan of the team, if not so much it's management.
This year I am now officially OUT. I actually attempted to find the game on my TV, with no success, and I am sure as hell not going to pay a separate streaming app charge for the drek that they are trying to pass off as NBA basketball. I have to admit, I wasn't motivated so much to keep trying to figure out how to get the opening game. After seeing the results of the opener, I thanked my lucky stars I actually didn't find a way to watch it.
The gist of it is, I officially no longer give a crap about the Blazers.
Until the Blazers are sold I am OUT and will not waste my time in any way shape or form on them. Until then, this is the last time I will expend the effort to post a comment on the Blazers as a subject of your substack publication or on any other social, or anti-social, media site.
I wonder how many other previous long time rabid fans, are now irrevocably DONE with the Blazers until they are sold? I'd bet it's more than a few.
Goodbye Blazers. Yet another one of life's amusing diversions destroyed by greed, callousness, and incompetence.
I love the Weekend at Bernie’s comparison. Because it fits!!! I’ve only watched one quarter of one game in the past two seasons. They truly are unwatchable. Most of the NBA is unwatchable. I’m 59 years old and still work. I will not part with my hard earned money to watch the crap the Blazers are throwing out there and have the nerve to call a team. It’s insulting, especially at NBA/Ticketmaster pricing. I wouldn’t buy or wear a t-shirt or hat. I’d be afraid of being laughed at.
I remember the complaints from season ticket holders in the 90’s and early 2000’s. They are repeating their mistakes of the past.
As for Paul Allen, he made plenty of mistakes in regards to the Blazes as well. Some of his front office choices were suspect, which resulted in a lot of bad contracts. Mr. Allen was no saint. His hires and attitude alienated a lot of Blazer fans over his tenure. He was aloof. So is his sister.
Worst of all of Paul Allen's sins was he screwed the entire creative work force, and fandom of the music industry with $#$$^&&!!#!!!! Ticketmaster. Screw Paul Allen for eternity.
That’s right!!! I forgot Paul Allen owned Ticketmaster for awhile. Which, essentially has become legalized scalping. With Ticketmaster the only one making out. Go figure!!!
And then going through the double security to get into the game seems like going through the Airport security settings. No thanks I will reluctantly watch the games at home.
NBA? Miama Dolphins sign QB Tua Tagovailoa for $53 MILLION a year, $167 MILLION guaranteed, and eight minutes later he has his 50th, and perhaps final, concussion. Maybe that's a bit wrong. Or the Dodgers signing a small Japanese starting pitcher for a $THIRD OF A BILLION, GUARANTEED, and 90 innings into his first season his arm gives out. Maybe that's a bit wrong. And college football is awash with a billion dollars to PAY "students" to play sports. Maybe that's a bit wrong. Hmmm...is there a theme here?
Paul Allen, who if he had held onto his Microsoft stock, his estate would be worth hundreds of billions today. Now, that estate is just a piker compared to Phil Knight, at $40B, or moreso, Jensen Huang, worth over $100B. Hard to imagine those type of resources: Elon Musk money. It lets one do whatever one wants, FU money. If he left his estate to his sister, then that was Paul's option. Others, like Warren Buffet, think big inheritances destroy the character of the inheritee(s). I think Warren is right, like he is on so many things.
like Buying up competition, raising prices, keep piling on profits. If Buffet is making so much money, why do his insurance companies continue to raise rates and his Power companies expect customers to pay for the company's legal obligations??? Buffet's public persona is far different than his true business ethos.
Does anyone think that Billups deserves to be mentioned on par with the names of Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell. Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan etc.
Hope for a metaphysical miracle in which Queen Jody and the bunch of cling-ons are replaced by some that won’t SPAM Paul’s billions and will want to win.
The best thing the Blazers can do for this team, this community, and everyone involved is sell to Uncle Phil. This franchise lacks direction and leadership. Should never have gotten to the point for Dame to leave. Anyone know why Jody won’t sell?
Knight is 86 years old. The number of NBA seasons it would take to make the Blazers competitive again within the construct of NBA draft, free agency, marketing, etc. is more headache than he deserves at his age. He would be wise to avoid listening to any chatter from people who want to spend other people's money.
Portland is a city with a culture of low expectations. especially regarding major league sports. The current Blazers organization seems like a good fit. Though I wish it were not so.
The nostalgia for the few good Blazers years in the past is a lubricant for older fans. That container is now running almost empty. For younger fans, the Blazers are giving them nothing to care about. In normal times it is a recipe for a relocation to another city and a fresh start. I don't think the ingredients are here for a fresh start, even with an ownership change.
Maybe it's time we just let them go? Either the franchise, or from our consciousness.
Right, for a non scholarship player, there really is a commitment because academics would have to be first priority, even if the FB requirements are the same as a starter. (The non-scholarship players probably don't make the roadtrips and thus save quite a bit of study time) What do the 3rd string and above players do during the 'run-throughs'?
There are a lot of NBA franchises that have had success and have gone through rebuilds. All it takes is for strong leadership and direction to come in to turn things around. It will take time, but it’s no reason to just uproot the team. Look what Ryan Smith is doing in Utah. Great example of how much of an impact the right owner can have. Dude is passionate about the Jazz, has made some great changes for the organization and brought in an NHL team. Ownership matters and Portland is owned by a trust fund…no wonder they’re at the bottom of the league…Phil Knight is an Oregonian, he cares about this state, and the impact this team has on the community. Can’t help but think part of the reason he wants the team is to help keep them here. The dude cares, which is more than we can say for where it’s currently at.
Why would anybody thin THAT? Good grief. They've been very well supported here for 55 years. There isn't a "fan" or "city" problem -- there's a problem with the management of the team. You don't relocate a team just for that reason.
If you are Seattle would you buy a washed up bundle of mess or would you rather start brand new as an expansion team and have a better say in drafting a new team? Which cost more a new franchise buy in fee and subsequent infrastructure costs or the Blazers 'as is'.
Is it possible ownership wants it to be a miserable experience to move the team? Or does Allen enjoy looking out at pleading fans and inflicting pain? Absolute power corrupts absolutely?
Not sure there's a move available. Seattle and Vegas are pegged as expansion options. The owners won't cannibalize those. Boston needs to get sold. Then, Portland.
A couple things; Blazers are bad and need to be sold asap. Trying to hunt down how to watch the Blazers on katu 2.2 is a hot mess and not worth even trying.
It’s just not seamless and not worth the trouble. Are all home games broadcast on this format? I thought all Blazer games were just on the standard ABC KATU channel this year.
" I thought all Blazer games were just on the standard ABC KATU channel this year."
So did I, because that's how it was advertised leading up to the game. Saw the "2.2" listed in the paper so eventually figured it out and tuned in via my antenna for a couple of seconds to check it out, then went back to YouTube, as I long ago quit caring about or watching the Blazers.
They are on Charge/KATU 2.2 so just click your remote up one more on the channel on your remote. If you are on KATU 2 then click up one more channel with your remote and you will find Charge/KATU 2.2...I had no problem at all.
You have to scan your digital tuner tv. However, if you have already scanned 2.1, then 2.2 should follow, unless you edited/deleted a lot of the weird extra channels. Since digital subchannels are not familiar to a lot of folks, they may not know the process of scanning and re-setting channel selection. Also from time to time channels change signal strength and subchannel carriers. Also, for some reason, "translators"--localized rebroadcasting transmitters may not have all subchannels available. (technically speaking each subchannel may transmit its own bandwidth and signal strength, may be digital, but not HDTV signal). Of course, I assume everyone know we are talking about over the air signals received with a proper digital antenna.--not cable. As far as I know cable and satellite tv are not required to carry KATU's subchannels.
That's correct. I have the digital antenna that needs to be scanned/updated from time to time. Thank God that's what I have because I'm able to watch Kraken games on the KGW subchannel.
Why don't the just put the games on a main channel, either KATU itself or something like whatever channel the CW or another semi-independent station is on? Not that it's unusual for the current Blazer management, but ... as the saying goes .... this sounds penny wise and pound foolish
Two obvious things first: 1. The team needs to be sold NOW. I can’t believe the NBA is allowing it to be so drawn out at this point. Shame on Jody Allen/Bert Kolde, AND Adam Silver. 2. Billups has zero business coaching this team. This team needs an experienced coach who can really get the best out of this young squad.
As for the broadcast, I really enjoyed being able to watch a Blazers broadcast finally. Set up my digital antenna, scanned for channels, tuned into 2.2, got a great picture, and watched the game. Beats Root Sports. It may take a little bit, but people will figure it out. I do hope that with the change in January to the old Univision station, I’ll be able to use my YouTubeTV which currently has that channel.
2.2 is the "Charge" KATU subchannel. Currently watching "CHIPS". I do suggest in light of the team's performance that a change to channel 2.3 is in order. that is "Comet"--a science fiction channel.
I used an amplified indoor HD digital antenna (flat rectangular antenna with a connected coaxial cable that goes into the back of the TV and a power cord into an outlet). They are available on Amazon for $15 - $30. If you haven’t scanned for TV channels recently, do that, because it can make a difference. Move the antenna around a bit if you are having issues. I’m about ~40 miles to the south of the TV antennas in Portland, and with minor adjustments, all the Portland TV stations come in well.
The closer you are to Portland, the better it will work. If you are further out, look to see if any of the stations have a translator antenna in your area. The FCC has a good map for channels and what you should be able to receive in your location: https://www.fcc.gov/media/engineering/dtvmaps
An "amplified indoor HD antenna" is the key. I have a Terk brand which you can find at Best Buy and other locations. Mine is a flat rectangle 13 x 10 x 1/2 inches. Originally purchased it when my cable vendor was having a carriage dispute with a local station, so I went with the Terk and the over the air signal until the dispute was resolved. Hook it up and scan for over the air signals.
I went to my first game in the early 80’s with my dad as an elementary school kid. I’ve loved the Blazers ever since. I don’t think I have ever seen an opening night of Blazers Basketball with such little enthusiasm. The opposite of love is apathy, that is what I feel about where things are with the blazers now. I just don’t care anymore until the team is sold and we have ownership that will care and will demand excellence.
1. Paul Allen never knew how to create a championship team. He thought he could simply buy a championship team, never understanding that character and cohesion matter. Weinberg, Glickman and Jack Ramsey understood wat it takes to win. Not Allen. For Allen, the team was an indulgence that he did not know how to handle. His ignorance of the cap speaks volumes. And so does SPAM.
2. You have written extensively about the disaster that is Jody Allen and her willingness to be a (horrid) caretaker. We have gone from clueless to despicable
3. The fans deserve better. But as long as they continue to show up, Jody has no incentive to let go of what makes her feel important and funded. You infer that there is value to this team (an 18 win season?). Why anyone would want to fork over the serious money for tickets, food and parking for this basketball sh*tshow utterly escapes me.
4. The idea that that the shoes Kolde wears could be a harbinger of softness toward Knight is a prayer in search of a deity. That's how low the expectations have fallen.
I think Paul Allen was like a rich kid who desperately wanted to make his new toy work, but didn't know how, and hired the wrong people to do the job. Jody Allen could care less about the toy beyond her self-importance.
Wait, isn’t the opener tonight? So, that was real? Was hoping it was just a nightmare but it was just more of the SOS we’ve been watching for three years now. This team - this franchise - have become impossible to watch. I know they will win a few but watching them stumbling around last night gave me visions of 0 and 82.
Hahahahahahahaha great joke, 18? Damn that generous. Let’s flush this turd and really go after one of the worst seasons ever. Don’t change anyone on this team and let’s go after the 1972 - 73 76ers record of 9 and 73. We have the talent to pull off a 8 and 74 record maybe even a 7 win season. I would watch that for sure, it would bring back the magic. Give us a season to cheer, maybe put up a card board cut out of Jodi and every time they win they have to remove a piece of clothing from the cut out. No one would want to see that so they would just lose. We could change the team name to failblazers and it would be true to life.
The Oregon Ducks are SPKM. There are legit parallels with Paul Allen trying to buy a ring for the Blazers and Phil Knight spending billions trying to buy a ring for Oregon. The Blazers reached the NBA finals in 1990 and 1992 and came up empty both times. The Ducks played for a NC in 2010 and 2014 and lost. There are things money can't buy.
JC, after the game you asked us to sum it up in three words. The answers that immediately came to my mind:
Why bother watching?
Waste of time
This is sad
Very disappointing start, even for a team that had low expectations.
509 just as I started my contribution I saw yours, so to avoid plagiarism I shall quote direct to you: "Anything concerning the Blazers is certainly not the best use of my time - right now (or anytime)." Well played, Charlie
If many of the remaining 81 Blazer games go the way last night's did, it may be just as well that those of us on the central Oregon coast don't get "Rip City TV" or whatever this latest incarnation of "BlazerVision" is called. Supposedly, it's on Spectrum's Channel 187, but that channel doesn't exist on our system.
I don't know how many other rural areas are similarly ignored as far as TV access goes. One would think that the team would at least like its telecasts to be available within the western half of the state, but Blazer management probably doesn't even care about little things like that.
We were able to see the game on NBC Sports Bay Area, where the announcers all but ignored the Blazer players. It would have been nice to know something about the newer and younger Blazer players, but there were too many Warrior highlights to spend time on players who seemed to be little more than cardboard cutouts on defense.
The Blazers have always been my first sports love since the early 1970’s. It just angers me how bad and how big of a punch line they have become. It’s just sorry and sad.
There were a number of people who didn't know it was opening night. That was sad.
It’s football season. NBA has been a dead product for years now.
Thank goodness for football!!! I’ve replaced the NBA for the NHL. At least until the Blazers are sold to someone who cares about the team and the city. Blazers fans deserve better!!!
Good outlook. And the NHL still tries, unlike the NBA.
Well played again; and in the last few minutes they SKATE TO THE GUN! Charlie
Well played Es, Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilson agree with you ("Pardon the Interruption" ESPN). Charlie
Goodam spell corrector! That is Wilbon!
My name makes fun of bias espn.
Clearly you don't live in Boston. Or Milwaukie. Or even L.A.--which has TWO NFL teams and TWO BIG 10 teams--where the Lakers come within 100 bodies of FILLING their 20,000 seat arena every game.
Clearly you don’t know the NBA. Back when the NBA was a good product, arenas with smaller teams like Portland were filled up. Big city teams will always be full/close to full.
In Wisconsin it's Milwaukee. Los Angeles also has 13 million people, about 6 times the size of Portland.
Hopefully, if the fans stop showing up, the local media only gives them the bare minimum coverage, and sponsors start dropping them, then maybe, just maybe, things will begin to change. 🙏🏀
They didn’t create a flashy ad campaign to hype what’s clearly a bad product. So telling.
Thanks John, your obligatory coverage of the Blazers, opening game, is met. No more articles until she sells. I don't care........
I hear you. I wanted to like it. I really did. But I didn't. I left feeling bad for fans who are faced with high prices for an inferior product.
They said we should expect “up-tempo basketball.” Apparently, they were referring to the opposing team.
I absolutely do not feel bad for fans who continue to enable Jodie Allen and Bert Kolde to continue play "Weekend at Bernie's" with the rotting dead corpse of the once proud franchise that they murdered. I can wait 3 days for a resurrection, but I can't wait through multiple years of tanking that aren't going to pay off with any reasonable level of on court competency, let alone winning, in the foreseeable future.
I was a rabid Blazer fan from the start of the franchise in 1971. I had season tickets for several years starting in the mid-80's, until Blazer management pissed me off with their demonstrably contemptuous treatment of season ticket holders. When the Rose Garden opened, they hawked season tickets requiring a 4 year contract under the premise that the bargain would be no yearly price increases. Well after a year or two, they were selling individual game tickets for the same price I was paying, and giving those buyers, free hot dogs to go with it.
During the lockout year, I didn't send in the payment for the season tickets. when the lockout ended in February, I got a call from the Blazers office and they said I hadn't remitted my payment for them. I said I wasn't going to. They said, "You have a contract with us for them. I said, "YOU have a contract with ME, and you have breached that contract by not providing me the product I am due under that contract at it's usual and customary time". They never disputed it any further.
I did continue to watch the Blazers on TV and attend an occasional game after that. I was still an avid fan of the team, if not so much it's management.
This year I am now officially OUT. I actually attempted to find the game on my TV, with no success, and I am sure as hell not going to pay a separate streaming app charge for the drek that they are trying to pass off as NBA basketball. I have to admit, I wasn't motivated so much to keep trying to figure out how to get the opening game. After seeing the results of the opener, I thanked my lucky stars I actually didn't find a way to watch it.
The gist of it is, I officially no longer give a crap about the Blazers.
Until the Blazers are sold I am OUT and will not waste my time in any way shape or form on them. Until then, this is the last time I will expend the effort to post a comment on the Blazers as a subject of your substack publication or on any other social, or anti-social, media site.
I wonder how many other previous long time rabid fans, are now irrevocably DONE with the Blazers until they are sold? I'd bet it's more than a few.
Goodbye Blazers. Yet another one of life's amusing diversions destroyed by greed, callousness, and incompetence.
I love the Weekend at Bernie’s comparison. Because it fits!!! I’ve only watched one quarter of one game in the past two seasons. They truly are unwatchable. Most of the NBA is unwatchable. I’m 59 years old and still work. I will not part with my hard earned money to watch the crap the Blazers are throwing out there and have the nerve to call a team. It’s insulting, especially at NBA/Ticketmaster pricing. I wouldn’t buy or wear a t-shirt or hat. I’d be afraid of being laughed at.
I remember the complaints from season ticket holders in the 90’s and early 2000’s. They are repeating their mistakes of the past.
As for Paul Allen, he made plenty of mistakes in regards to the Blazes as well. Some of his front office choices were suspect, which resulted in a lot of bad contracts. Mr. Allen was no saint. His hires and attitude alienated a lot of Blazer fans over his tenure. He was aloof. So is his sister.
Worst of all of Paul Allen's sins was he screwed the entire creative work force, and fandom of the music industry with $#$$^&&!!#!!!! Ticketmaster. Screw Paul Allen for eternity.
That’s right!!! I forgot Paul Allen owned Ticketmaster for awhile. Which, essentially has become legalized scalping. With Ticketmaster the only one making out. Go figure!!!
And then going through the double security to get into the game seems like going through the Airport security settings. No thanks I will reluctantly watch the games at home.
The smart fans like my bro-in-law gave up their season tickets.
$169M payroll + “I didn’t think one guy on our team played well.” = all that’s wrong with the current state of professional basketball
Amazing
Paul's money. Not theirs.
Yup
NBA? Miama Dolphins sign QB Tua Tagovailoa for $53 MILLION a year, $167 MILLION guaranteed, and eight minutes later he has his 50th, and perhaps final, concussion. Maybe that's a bit wrong. Or the Dodgers signing a small Japanese starting pitcher for a $THIRD OF A BILLION, GUARANTEED, and 90 innings into his first season his arm gives out. Maybe that's a bit wrong. And college football is awash with a billion dollars to PAY "students" to play sports. Maybe that's a bit wrong. Hmmm...is there a theme here?
Yup
Paul Allen, who if he had held onto his Microsoft stock, his estate would be worth hundreds of billions today. Now, that estate is just a piker compared to Phil Knight, at $40B, or moreso, Jensen Huang, worth over $100B. Hard to imagine those type of resources: Elon Musk money. It lets one do whatever one wants, FU money. If he left his estate to his sister, then that was Paul's option. Others, like Warren Buffet, think big inheritances destroy the character of the inheritee(s). I think Warren is right, like he is on so many things.
Hold the stocks... go long... lesson is clear.
like Buying up competition, raising prices, keep piling on profits. If Buffet is making so much money, why do his insurance companies continue to raise rates and his Power companies expect customers to pay for the company's legal obligations??? Buffet's public persona is far different than his true business ethos.
Well played Bob, "Corporate America "(rules!). Charlie
Blazers organization is a bucket of crap. Billups is not HOF material unless being a ‘darn good player’ qualifies him.
Does anyone think that Billups deserves to be mentioned on par with the names of Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell. Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan etc.
Welllll, apparently John does😀
Hope for a metaphysical miracle in which Queen Jody and the bunch of cling-ons are replaced by some that won’t SPAM Paul’s billions and will want to win.
Think there's a real issue with Paul's money still fueling the mismanagement.
It’s immoral to say the least
As far as I can tell, morality and business these days have nothing to do with each other.
The best thing the Blazers can do for this team, this community, and everyone involved is sell to Uncle Phil. This franchise lacks direction and leadership. Should never have gotten to the point for Dame to leave. Anyone know why Jody won’t sell?
Agree on Phil. He would win.
Knight is 86 years old. The number of NBA seasons it would take to make the Blazers competitive again within the construct of NBA draft, free agency, marketing, etc. is more headache than he deserves at his age. He would be wise to avoid listening to any chatter from people who want to spend other people's money.
Portland is a city with a culture of low expectations. especially regarding major league sports. The current Blazers organization seems like a good fit. Though I wish it were not so.
The nostalgia for the few good Blazers years in the past is a lubricant for older fans. That container is now running almost empty. For younger fans, the Blazers are giving them nothing to care about. In normal times it is a recipe for a relocation to another city and a fresh start. I don't think the ingredients are here for a fresh start, even with an ownership change.
Maybe it's time we just let them go? Either the franchise, or from our consciousness.
Well played Back; and Uncle Phill is probably pretty busy with the Ducks right now.
Charlie
I just tell people when I visit their state “we don’t have pro sports in Oregon”.
Wrong. We have Oregon Duck football. We (Knight et al) pay our college athletes a professional salary to win.
Not everyone is paid.
Right, for a non scholarship player, there really is a commitment because academics would have to be first priority, even if the FB requirements are the same as a starter. (The non-scholarship players probably don't make the roadtrips and thus save quite a bit of study time) What do the 3rd string and above players do during the 'run-throughs'?
There are a lot of NBA franchises that have had success and have gone through rebuilds. All it takes is for strong leadership and direction to come in to turn things around. It will take time, but it’s no reason to just uproot the team. Look what Ryan Smith is doing in Utah. Great example of how much of an impact the right owner can have. Dude is passionate about the Jazz, has made some great changes for the organization and brought in an NHL team. Ownership matters and Portland is owned by a trust fund…no wonder they’re at the bottom of the league…Phil Knight is an Oregonian, he cares about this state, and the impact this team has on the community. Can’t help but think part of the reason he wants the team is to help keep them here. The dude cares, which is more than we can say for where it’s currently at.
Or just move the whole deal to Seattle, where is probably belongs?
Why would anybody thin THAT? Good grief. They've been very well supported here for 55 years. There isn't a "fan" or "city" problem -- there's a problem with the management of the team. You don't relocate a team just for that reason.
If you are Seattle would you buy a washed up bundle of mess or would you rather start brand new as an expansion team and have a better say in drafting a new team? Which cost more a new franchise buy in fee and subsequent infrastructure costs or the Blazers 'as is'.
Is it possible ownership wants it to be a miserable experience to move the team? Or does Allen enjoy looking out at pleading fans and inflicting pain? Absolute power corrupts absolutely?
Not sure there's a move available. Seattle and Vegas are pegged as expansion options. The owners won't cannibalize those. Boston needs to get sold. Then, Portland.
I think Winnemucca Nevada would be the most apropos site for a Blazer move. Change team name to Desert Rats.
Very well played, Charlie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtyjY6VjF9Q
Are you NOT entertained?
A couple things; Blazers are bad and need to be sold asap. Trying to hunt down how to watch the Blazers on katu 2.2 is a hot mess and not worth even trying.
Hearing some really bad things about the antennae situation and 2.2
It’s just not seamless and not worth the trouble. Are all home games broadcast on this format? I thought all Blazer games were just on the standard ABC KATU channel this year.
" I thought all Blazer games were just on the standard ABC KATU channel this year."
So did I, because that's how it was advertised leading up to the game. Saw the "2.2" listed in the paper so eventually figured it out and tuned in via my antenna for a couple of seconds to check it out, then went back to YouTube, as I long ago quit caring about or watching the Blazers.
They are on Charge/KATU 2.2 so just click your remote up one more on the channel on your remote. If you are on KATU 2 then click up one more channel with your remote and you will find Charge/KATU 2.2...I had no problem at all.
You have to scan your digital tuner tv. However, if you have already scanned 2.1, then 2.2 should follow, unless you edited/deleted a lot of the weird extra channels. Since digital subchannels are not familiar to a lot of folks, they may not know the process of scanning and re-setting channel selection. Also from time to time channels change signal strength and subchannel carriers. Also, for some reason, "translators"--localized rebroadcasting transmitters may not have all subchannels available. (technically speaking each subchannel may transmit its own bandwidth and signal strength, may be digital, but not HDTV signal). Of course, I assume everyone know we are talking about over the air signals received with a proper digital antenna.--not cable. As far as I know cable and satellite tv are not required to carry KATU's subchannels.
That's correct. I have the digital antenna that needs to be scanned/updated from time to time. Thank God that's what I have because I'm able to watch Kraken games on the KGW subchannel.
If you have Xfinity, games are on 302 and 1170. No antenna needed. Why didn’t the Blazers or Xfinity just say this???
Why don't the just put the games on a main channel, either KATU itself or something like whatever channel the CW or another semi-independent station is on? Not that it's unusual for the current Blazer management, but ... as the saying goes .... this sounds penny wise and pound foolish
Two obvious things first: 1. The team needs to be sold NOW. I can’t believe the NBA is allowing it to be so drawn out at this point. Shame on Jody Allen/Bert Kolde, AND Adam Silver. 2. Billups has zero business coaching this team. This team needs an experienced coach who can really get the best out of this young squad.
As for the broadcast, I really enjoyed being able to watch a Blazers broadcast finally. Set up my digital antenna, scanned for channels, tuned into 2.2, got a great picture, and watched the game. Beats Root Sports. It may take a little bit, but people will figure it out. I do hope that with the change in January to the old Univision station, I’ll be able to use my YouTubeTV which currently has that channel.
You got a great picture. A lot of people didn't. Maybe share your set up here?
2.2 is the "Charge" KATU subchannel. Currently watching "CHIPS". I do suggest in light of the team's performance that a change to channel 2.3 is in order. that is "Comet"--a science fiction channel.
I used an amplified indoor HD digital antenna (flat rectangular antenna with a connected coaxial cable that goes into the back of the TV and a power cord into an outlet). They are available on Amazon for $15 - $30. If you haven’t scanned for TV channels recently, do that, because it can make a difference. Move the antenna around a bit if you are having issues. I’m about ~40 miles to the south of the TV antennas in Portland, and with minor adjustments, all the Portland TV stations come in well.
The closer you are to Portland, the better it will work. If you are further out, look to see if any of the stations have a translator antenna in your area. The FCC has a good map for channels and what you should be able to receive in your location: https://www.fcc.gov/media/engineering/dtvmaps
Another good site for digital TV info: https://www.antennaweb.org
An "amplified indoor HD antenna" is the key. I have a Terk brand which you can find at Best Buy and other locations. Mine is a flat rectangle 13 x 10 x 1/2 inches. Originally purchased it when my cable vendor was having a carriage dispute with a local station, so I went with the Terk and the over the air signal until the dispute was resolved. Hook it up and scan for over the air signals.
I went to my first game in the early 80’s with my dad as an elementary school kid. I’ve loved the Blazers ever since. I don’t think I have ever seen an opening night of Blazers Basketball with such little enthusiasm. The opposite of love is apathy, that is what I feel about where things are with the blazers now. I just don’t care anymore until the team is sold and we have ownership that will care and will demand excellence.
Several observations:
1. Paul Allen never knew how to create a championship team. He thought he could simply buy a championship team, never understanding that character and cohesion matter. Weinberg, Glickman and Jack Ramsey understood wat it takes to win. Not Allen. For Allen, the team was an indulgence that he did not know how to handle. His ignorance of the cap speaks volumes. And so does SPAM.
2. You have written extensively about the disaster that is Jody Allen and her willingness to be a (horrid) caretaker. We have gone from clueless to despicable
3. The fans deserve better. But as long as they continue to show up, Jody has no incentive to let go of what makes her feel important and funded. You infer that there is value to this team (an 18 win season?). Why anyone would want to fork over the serious money for tickets, food and parking for this basketball sh*tshow utterly escapes me.
4. The idea that that the shoes Kolde wears could be a harbinger of softness toward Knight is a prayer in search of a deity. That's how low the expectations have fallen.
.
In reality, Paul was a lot like his sister, is my memory
I think Paul Allen was like a rich kid who desperately wanted to make his new toy work, but didn't know how, and hired the wrong people to do the job. Jody Allen could care less about the toy beyond her self-importance.
Wait, isn’t the opener tonight? So, that was real? Was hoping it was just a nightmare but it was just more of the SOS we’ve been watching for three years now. This team - this franchise - have become impossible to watch. I know they will win a few but watching them stumbling around last night gave me visions of 0 and 82.
JC, I say 24 wins.
Hahahahahahahaha great joke, 18? Damn that generous. Let’s flush this turd and really go after one of the worst seasons ever. Don’t change anyone on this team and let’s go after the 1972 - 73 76ers record of 9 and 73. We have the talent to pull off a 8 and 74 record maybe even a 7 win season. I would watch that for sure, it would bring back the magic. Give us a season to cheer, maybe put up a card board cut out of Jodi and every time they win they have to remove a piece of clothing from the cut out. No one would want to see that so they would just lose. We could change the team name to failblazers and it would be true to life.
The Oregon Ducks are SPKM. There are legit parallels with Paul Allen trying to buy a ring for the Blazers and Phil Knight spending billions trying to buy a ring for Oregon. The Blazers reached the NBA finals in 1990 and 1992 and came up empty both times. The Ducks played for a NC in 2010 and 2014 and lost. There are things money can't buy.
Another editorial on PK and the Ducks by a real expert.