BlazerCaravan

Exactly. Unless you're the #1 (not even #2) at your position, you're replaceable.

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The kids are all right!

It's_GO_Time

It must be tough for you to remain a Blazer fan given the clearly stated agenda of the Blazers to not just seek out talent but character as well. Your preferance of talent being the top priority with little consideration to character runs contrary to the Blazer philosophy. I know it frustrates me at times.

Personally, I happen to weigh more heavily on the side of talent and "just win baby win" mentality, but can appreciate some balance and not just turning a blind eye to character.

At some point do you get tired of hearing Zach's name associated with criminal investigations or is always who cares kind of thing?

crandc

Actually, I am not a liberal.

Facts are stubborn things, Iwatas.

Fact #1: A poll taken only about a month ago showed that those who call themselves fundamentalists are far more likely to say that women who are raped are to blame, that they "asked for it". In fact, among fundamentalist Christian ministers, a full 75% believe that women who are raped "asked for it". So much for religion, specifically Christian religion, being a determining factor of how one views violence aginst women.

Fact #2: Rape is not confined to any "subculture". Rape is a function of a number of factors, including status of women, individual and group attitudes towards women and power relationships. In wartime, invading armies are more likely to rape than defending armies. Slavemasters are notorious rapists and have been long before slavery in the US. And African American men are no more likely to be rapists than other American men.

Fact #3: I did not say Islam is particularly respectful of women. I did say that Olajuwon at least lived by his faith - do not touch a woman not your wife - when those who claim Christianity did not. So that being a "bible thumper" does not equal treating women with respect.

Fact #4: An international study in 2004 compared a number of life and social issues in countries defined as secular (where there are large numbers who consider themselves atheist/agnostic and where those who are personally religious for the most part consider it a personal matter and believe the state should be secular, where the personal religious beliefs & practices of leaders are considered irrelevant) and those defined as religious (where the large majority of population are religious, where public policy has strong religious basisi and where leaders are expected to publicly observe the dominant faith). Among other things, the study found that crime is lower in secular countries and that in those countries women have made much greater strides towards equality.

Finally: not a fact, an admitted "I don't know". I don't know what Zach Randolph's personal religious views are. I don't know what his taste in music is. I don't know what kind of family he hails from. Do you? Or are you just assuming because it fits your stereotype?

I certainly know that there are many in society who believe strongly in gender (and racial and religious and sexual orientation and national origin etc.) equality. Are you one of them, iwatas? (They are rarely found among the very religious, although there are exceptions.) I never blamed "men" generally. But look around. Clearly despite all the gains women have made this is still a male dominated society, women are still seen as less than equal. And sex is most definitely a commodity. As long as those two things exist sexual violence will continue. To blame it on rap music is not only false, it is ridiculous. Who raped women before there was rap?

HispanicCausinPanic

Yeah...........what He Said!

barfo

For those keeping score at home, this thread is now the 7th most viewed thread ever in the Blazer forum. Only 700 more views and it'll pass the Kobe rape thread for 6th place.

barfo

The Sebastian Express

Rape is about power. To ever blame it on the victim is ridiculous. It has always been about power, it will always be about power. It is one of the single most humiliating and degrading things that can happen to a person, and when you humiliate and degrade someone, you gain power over them.

tradetheo

Jesus, how ****ing hard is it to stay out of trouble? I don't care if he did it or was a witness, he is at fault. if something happened, he needs to stop it and be an ADULT or not put himself in that position. He is not like everybody else, he is a celeb who woman will use to get money out of by doing whatever is necessary. Not all woman, but a lot of woman will do this sort of thing. He needs to quit being so idiotic and naive, pull his head out of his butt and think. There's no excuse this time for him, he has got to go. We need to get rid of the image not only for the blazers but for the game of basketball. The nba is just full of idiots right now who use their background for an excuse to do stupid things. I don't care if you're black and grew up in the ghetto, your mom still taught you right from wrong right? Think!

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roll it up, light it up, smoke it up, inhale.....exhale.....


"who diss? "
crazy alice


"ughhhh, yeahh huh!"
riley martin


"chickie chowmaine!"
crackhead bob.

HispanicCausinPanic

For us newer people, could you list the top 10 viewed threads ever. That's very interesting to me.

barfo

Sure, but you can check for yourself. Up at the top of the screen in the Blazer forum main page, where it lists the members currently viewing the forum? Look just to the left of that, and there is a section titled "Display Options".

Set these options:

Sorted by: Number of views
Sort order: decending
From : the beginning

Then click the 'show threads' button there.

barfo

Kmurph

Actually, no it had nothing to do with that...I just thought that it is an interesting debate regarding the "Zach is a follower" crowd, many of whom believe that if Miles presence were removed, then Zach would become this model citizen...and those who think (like me) that Zach is just a problem child, and that his issues and flirtations with breaking the law and team rules are a result of his poor character and not the nefarious influence of the evil Dr Darius....


Well I can't say I am surprised by your "talent is all that matters" approach to NBA players...you have been spouting it for quite awhile now....All I CAN say is that I completely disagree with your opinion, and that it is just that type of mentality (talent trumps character) that lead the Blazers into this abyss in the first place...

I know...you disagree with that premise....and IMO your just plain wrong in your assesment...Zach is not Michael Jordan level talent...hell, he isn't even Allen Iverson level...He is a decent player on a lousy team...the guy hasn't even been an All Star..and IMO he isn't worth the trouble that he ROUTINELY seems to court.....

A criminal mastermind? Hardly, but I cannot deny (or ignore) his ability to be around the periphery of trouble...living vicariously through his "posse" so to speak...I equate it to getting drunk with your buddies, buying their drinks, having a grand time, but letting your "boys" drive your car home...b\c when the cops pull you over...He goes to jail, and you walk away unscathed...but hey, you had a hell of a good time , right?

Guys like that find themselves in trouble sooner or later...I would rather see the Blazers be ahead of the curve here, and deal him before he does screw up and the Blazers are left holding the bag...

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Quit the Webster hate

barfo

The list doesn't actually make a whole lot of sense, in terms of importance of topics.

1) Telfair and his pillowcase gun
2) Shareef traded (not) to NJ
3) Davis & Dickau traded for Van Exel
4) Sheed traded
5) What do posters do for a living?
6) Kobe is a rapist
7) Zach is maybe a rapist
8) Redd to Blazers rumors
9) Sheed wins championship after trade
10) Should we draft Bargnani?

barfo

Samuel

Once again, partisan banter hijacks another thread. Thanks Zach!

BlazerFanFoLife

Wait what did Zach do wrong. LETS JUST WAIT FOR THE POLICE REPORT. OR ATLEAST AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON WHAT REALLY HAPPEND.

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BlazerFanFoLife - Aim

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