interesting read (stolen from Eric's blog)
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CHICAGO - With the financial future bleak, the Portland Trail Blazers are looking at every possible way to save money. But General Manager John Nash made it clear Tuesday that Marion native Zach Randolph and his big-money contract would not be part of the purge.
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"It's good here, but I wouldn't be upset (if I got traded). I might go somewhere warm or to a winning team."
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most places where it's warm Zach, aren't places you could realistically be traded to. This is basically the same as saying "I want to play for the Lakers" when there's no realistic trade that'd make that possible.
Quote:
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"We've already trimmed our salaries way down," Nash said Tuesday prior to the Blazers' game against the Chicago Bulls. "Any and all of our players are eligible to be traded if it's in the best interest of the team. But there's no thought of trading Zach so as to address our financial situation."
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seems to me, and I might be wrong, they're implying something that Nash didn't say. They seem to be saying that Zach won't be traded..whereas Nash is saying that he wouldn't be traded BECAUSE of his contract, but could be traded.
Quote:
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The Trail Blazers' financial woes began in 1995 when Allen's company, Oregon Arena Corp., which owned the Rose Garden where the team plays, went bankrupt in 2004. Allen used his own money and $155 million in financing to build the $267 million complex. He was forced to hand the arena over to creditors.
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wait..what?? the financial woes began in 95??
wasn't that about the time the team was starting to make it's most money?
Quote:
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The new owners now receive all the revenue from luxury suites, club seats and courtside seats at the arena. Unlike many other professional sports teams, the Blazers received relatively little civic help in building the Rose Garden. Portland contributed $34.5 million in 1995 and nothing since.
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*ahem* Dear Portland...It wouldn't kill you to help us, signed "we've given you far more than you've given us, signed the Trail Blazers"
I'm still confused about the "since 95" stuff. I swear that the money issues didn't start untill about 2002ish, when the team really started to over-spend.