ABM

Paxil

Another "out team should lose money just because our owner is a Billionaire" rant. It is sad but this seems to be a prevailing attitude that will push the Blazers out of town... and if that happens... I won't blame Paul Allen... I will blame Portland. Other cities are itching to get their hands on a pro basketball team yet we still seem caught up in 'but our owner is a Billionaire!' argument. Funny thing is... if the Blazer's leave town... non-Blazer fans WILL be paying that 16-20 Million a year the city will lose just in the parking/ ticket taxes etc... I can see the soup Nazi from Seinfeld lining up now... 'NO BLAZERS FOR YOU!' and by the way... you have to pay for your nothing soup flavored with irony.

SodaPopinski

The Blazers aren't going anywhere. Their agreement with the city of Portland is ironclad. And it sounds like you think the city and its taxpayers should subsidize the Blazers, which I think most people strongly disagree with. What exactly are you proposing?

-Pop

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RipCity9

Seems like a rational argument to me. I too believe more of my personal wealth will go to the Blazers this season than his, a public subsidy would be helpful.

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"The Blazers will bounce on up to the top again, just like they have before. And when they do I'll be cheering for 'em as loud as anybody."

- Bill Walton

Dan

there are more ways to 'subsidize' the blazers than the battle cry of "taxpayers" you know.

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A Buddhist walks up to a hot dog vendor and says "Make me one with everything".

when will the loss of life end?

The world respects the power of our example, not an example of our power.

I'd like to say I made this, but I didn't

barfo

It's not a rational argument at all, assuming you believe in capitalism. If you are a Marxist and believe in "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need.", then you've got a point. Last I checked, you weren't a Marxist, but maybe you've changed?

Paul is rich, but that doesn't mean he can be forced to spend money on something he doesn't want to.

barfo

Paxil

Soda, the stuff I see being thrown out is a % of the tax money for hotels or restaurants in the area... stuff like that. It isn't like they are going to raise taxes to pay for the Blazers. It could also be in the form of a tax break to the company... much like what we dangle for incentives to bring new businesses in. Also, regardless of the agreement the Blazers have with the RG, if the team folds it would most likely be allowed to move. I also doubt anyone would buy the Blazers in their current state without the RG. I also don't think Paul Allen is bluffing... he will dump the team if there is not a way to get it to where it can break even. The owners of the RG don't seem to want to renegotiate anything either. All in all... it isn't sounding very likely to me that the team will stay. If the Blazers generate 20 million for the city, and they say... hey... it isn't working... we are out of here unless we can work out a deal where you only really get 10, would they just let them walk? End result is they'd get nothing... have even less money... we are talking the difference to Portland public schools of the entire sports program. By having that 'we don't have anything to give you attitude' they are risking the city falling into an even deeper hole.

Now... do I feel the Blazers will leave? Part of me thinks that is impossible... that somehow someway they will stay, but I don't see the solution that will allow that to happen yet.

Backboard Cam

I stopped reading right there. Waa waa waaaa, oh, poor small-town journalist has suffered. Boo hoo, thanks for writing about it.

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