barfo

I'm not sure it is completely fair to blame Bob for this. Paul Allen is cutting back everywhere. Vulcan laid off a large number of people in the last couple of months, and Bob has NOTHING to do with Vulcan so far as I know. Fact is, Paul's businesses have almost all been in the toilet the last couple of years, and he's decided not to lose so much money. Bob was doing what Paul wanted when he was running the Blazers. Even if they'd been run like the Clippers, Paul would still be in the same boat today, and would still be looking for things to cut. Bob is merely the symptom. Paul's over-optimism, and the lousy economy, are the disease.

barfo

barfo

Right. Loss of jobs is good for the economy, because it creates jobs. Suurrre it does.

I'm sorry Talkhard. Higher unemployment does not cause lower unemployment, no matter what they say on the radio.

barfo

jackiejackal

bintim70

When you lay off guys like Pete Pranica and keep those punks on the team , any one of whom makes more money than the money saved by laying off these 88 people, you can not have my respect.
Lay off the little people......happens everywhere.....just ticks me off.

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Out posted by everyone since 1999.

trifecta

I too hate to see anyone lose their job because this simply isn't a great environment to be unemployed.

However, I am tired of the radio guys (mainly) making such a big deal out of this. It is simple economics. Perhaps 40 years ago, this would be discussion worthy - back in the days of the pension and life-time employment but these days it happens to everyone. There is no loyalty on either side. If an employee sees a better opportunity, he/she jumps at it. That's great but on the opposite side, when a company sees its business receding, they have every right to trim the payroll.

Ask Intel, Credence, Tektronix, Xerox, Nike, ATT, Qwest or any number of small business's. This stuff unfortunately is part of a healthy overall economy.

I know some Blazer employees and truly hope that they remain gainfully employed but lets face it. If they are truly talented people, they will find a good new occupation.

Storyteller

But when you layoff Stoudamire, Patterson, Wallace, Wells, etc. you save a grand total of....

$0.00

I'm not saying it's fair, I'm saying it's reality.

I feel for those who were laid off - I really do. I know what it's like not to be employed in your career field. That's been MY reality for nearly two years now. But I've taken other jobs here and there. I've survived. I haven't prospered by any stretch of the imagination, but my life has gone on. And you know what? I've actually manged to enjoy the life that God has given me!

Of course, I am working hard to see that I get back into "career" mode instead of "just working to get by" mode. In fact, I have a big interview in Michigan in 10 days. And I hope and pray that those laid off by the Blazers get interviews themselves for other jobs - and soon!

It's sad that Patterson, Hubert, et al. are forced to take this drastic action. But the reality is that these 88 people might not have had a job with the club in the first place had the Blazers not spent like fat cats the last few years.

Trader Ed

it just sickens me that in this day and age a bunch of spoiled athletes makes many many many millions of dollars.... mostly due to genetics and a little luck.. some even on hard work...

its a huge amount of money.... even at $1 mill.... many of us will nto make that in our life time. let alone 1 year

and due to mismanagement by our club, many people hired for jobs have no jobs at all.... its dusguting to me that the money htey will pay for luxury tax alone would have employed those 88 people for 13 years...

roughly $52 mill over / $4 mill they save this year...

and that severence pay package could have been a lot more.. considering they just fined Damon $250,000 in one day.

I really really hate layoffs. I am sure everyone does. Business needs to think ahead and plan ahead more carefully. In busniess Risk is risk.... but in the NBA its less of a risk. Especaily with the leagues growth lately....

I do understand the need to cut back... but I think it could have been handled better, even if they had been planning for a few months now. They are going to pay a huge amoutn in tax, and have indicated they may believe Sabas comes back.. if they do nto figure it out soon. They may pay $7 mill for nothing... another huge amount lost....

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Heart, desire and hustle! Its the fire within that makes a champion.

runbmg

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