Portland, Can You Spare A Dime?
The AP, along with KGW and KOIN, are reporting that Paul Allen has been asking various political heavyweights if they might be willing to fork over some tax dollars to help offset the costs of running an uncompetitive basketball team. Supposedly, Allen has already talked to Governor Ted Kulongoski, and has plans on talking to Portland Mayor Tom Potter in hopes of getting some relief from a supposed 100 million dollar shortfall Allen's lackeys have projected over the next 3 years. One of those lackeys, Lance Conn (who is a disgrace to the name Lance), is quoted as saying that "all options are on the table" regarding bring the Trail Blazers back into fiscal solvency. The conventional wisdom is that Allen might be considering moving the team if the state doesn't agree to kick in, but I have my doubts as to whether the NBA would let such a thing happen. Some coy statements by Allen during the Super Bowl media day, coupled with moves that seem to be focused more on cost cutting than on competitiveness have fueled rumors that Allen is fixing to sell. These new developments certainly won't assuage those rumblings.
Of course, this is a seemingly common tactic used by NBA owners when they get tired of losing games and large amounts of cash all at the same time. It seems more than a tad unsavory for one of the richest men in the world to go begging for handouts from a state that is battling serious budget shortfalls in education and social services, but I guess guys don't become billionaires by having shame. According to the AP, Allen's dealings have lost more than 12 BILLION DOLLARS over the last decade. You know what that means Paul? You're a shitty business man. Why would the state or the city of
I love the Blazers as much as anyone, but screw public funding. If Paul wants to save some money, switch to one-ply toilet paper on the cruise liner. Blazers management has run this team into the ground over the last 5 years, and now Allen wants a bailout because his incompetent staff has given out terrible contracts, drafted not-ready-for-prime-time high schoolers, and fails miserably at running the largest venue in the state? Not on your life chubs. When you run shop like a drunken sailor, you deal with the hangover yourself.
posted by Lance Uppercut @ 6:09 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Amen Brother!
Lance Conn and the team at Vulcan are friggin' idiots. Lance is also in charge of Charter Communications and has overseen that stock's fall from $4 to $1.
What is Allen thinking? Conn has no real business background, cable background or sports background. He's an ex-dot commer who's only idea is to hire more and more of his cronies from AOL's sinking ship.
"Conn" obviously did a real sales job to get his current job. But it's Allen's fault for hiring such a putz.
Good stuff anon. You've inspired me to do some digging into Mr. Conn's background. Most dot.com'ers were just lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, albeit a short period of time.
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