The Blog Heads for Atlanta
posted: 7/23/2006 at 10:50 PM
No, I haven't been traded. Not yet, anyway. But, I did want you to know that Monday morning I'm flying to Atlanta to watch Zach Randolph and Jarrett Jack workout with Blazers assistant coach Bill Bayno, and strength coach Bob Medina. Blazers TV producer Scott Zachry, and associate producer Jeff Curtin are going with me. Those two were the reason we had such great stuff from Las Vegas at summer league.
We'll be shooting video of the workouts and will be interviewing both Zach and Jarrett. We'll try and get stuff back to the web site as soon as we can. I'll be blogging from Atlanta late Monday night, and then again on Tuesday night. We return home on Wednesday, so it's not a long trip, and that's just fine with us. I hadn't even totally unpacked from our Vegas trip and we're off again.
Some of you may know this, but one promise Jarrett made to his mother when he decided to leave Georgia Tech early and make himself eligible for the NBA Draft, was that he would return to get his college degree. He's working on that right now, and he's got some final exams this week. So, we'll be talking to him about his studies and will have an update on that for you as well.
Brian Wheeler will sit in for me Monday night on our radio show,
Courtside Monday Night, presented by L.A. Weight Loss. I will be on the show in the 7 o'clock hour live from Atlanta. It should be a great show. Raef LaFrentz will lead off the lineup at 6:15. The guys will then have Mike Kahn, from Fox Sports.com on to talk about, among other things, the situation with the Sonics in Seattle. Nate McMillan, who's in Las Vegas with Team USA, will hopefully join the guys at the top of the 7 o'clock hour to discuss how that's going. A lot of you e-mailed me wanting updates on that, so we're trying to get Nate for the show. He has said he'll make every effort to do it, but their schedule is very busy in the evenings following the workouts during the day. I'll be on at either 7:05 or 7:20, depending on if we get Nate on the show.
I've also been getting questions about Sergio Rodriguez. We talked about Sergio during our Las Vegas trip, as he joined us for one day before flying back to Spain. I can tell you that his contract with Addeco Madrid has been bought out, and that he now has a fully-executed NBA contract. In short, that means he'll be a Trail Blazer next season. That's just become official in the past few days. Addeco Madrid had to clear the check and advise FIBA the release was in place. They have now done that. So, I hope that clears up some of those questions. I talked to Sergio in Vegas and he told me how excited he is to be coming to the NBA, and how much he is looking forward to being a Trail Blazer. I know some of you who have written me are sold on his abilities, and they will be on display next season for the Blazers. That's great news.
So, again, I'll be talking to you from Atlanta for the next couple of days. Zach is apparently looking very, very good, and that's one of the big reasons we're going down to the Dirty South. Bayno, who's known as one of the best player development coaches in the business, has been thrilled with Zach's progress. I'll have a first-hand account for you.
I also want to mention that Saturday I took part in a terrific charity golf event at Langdon Farms Golf Club. Blazer Dan Dickau, and player personnel director Kevin Pritchard were there, along with me, Rice, Wheels, Antonio Harvey, and Bill Schonely. It was the Caddies 4 a Cure event, put on by Ryan DuChene of Nike Golf, and Justin Marquart. There were some big-time celebs there this year, including George Gervin, who I had the pleasure of dining with on Friday night at the Tiger Woods Center at Nike. It was a fabulous dinner, and the emcee was my friend Ian Furness from 1080 The Fan. He did a great job, as always. It's a great charity these guys have put together. I encourage you to check out their web site.
Click here for that. This was the third annual event, and it's truly a grass-roots effort by these guys. Just wanted to mention that, and to thank Ryan and Justin for their efforts. You guys are the best and we were all truly blessed to be a part of it.
Okay, again, listen for the radio show tonight at 6 o'clock on KXL-AM 750 in the Portland area, and kxl.com if you're outside the area. If you miss any of the interviews, I'll post them on this blog late Monday night. Talk to you later.
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Pritchard had time for golf? I thought he already took his 15 minute break for the summer. I hope he brought his cell phone. You know, when making the incredibly grand premature leap that KP could somehow find himself as the next blazer GM, i often wonder who would replace him as Director of Player Personnel.
Thanks for the update on Sergio. It's good to get that news from a trusted source. Realgm mispelled Aldridge as Albridge three times in the same story they had breaking down our draft night. For some reason, i don't exactly feel compelled to rely on what i hear from there.
Sounds like a great show is lined up for tonight. I think Raef is probably the most underrated change to the roster so far this off season. I'm really interested as to what he'll have to say.
Of course, the show-maker would be to have Nate give us an update on Team USA. So, i'm really hoping you can make that happen. Our coach is one of the biggest studs in professional sports. Anytime you can get him on, it's a definite plus.
As for your trip to Alanta, i'm intrigued. You get paid for this? Wow, i used to think Quick had the best job in the world, but i'd have to say, now, he comes in way behind you. Don't think you're getting any sympathy for your job woe of not being able to fully unpack from a trip to Vegas before heading off to Atlanta. Really now, Mike.
Hey MB,
Enjoy the heat of Atlanta.
Ian maybe your friend, but I'm not sure if he did a "good job as always"...unless his radio show is pure shtick (which I know is common among radio shows. Just do things to get ratings).
Good to hear Zach is doing good, BUT...we've heard this before about other former Blazers who weren't the sharpest tools in the shed. Last year Travis worked out with Kobe (or whatever it was), and didn't show any evidence of that.
I hope Zach is working out, but I'm not going to put the cart before the horse. Zach has to show the improvement during the season before I get excited that he's working out during the summer. That means playing smarter defense, and smarter on offense.
And no offense to Zach, he hasn't really shown the cognitive ability to do that for long stretches of time.
Hey Mike- did you guys at Oregon.live blazer forum get a blowout from the california servers that shredded myspace? I am now unable to post though I can read the forum, from here in KC. Does anyone have an answer or theory for me? did I get bounced? Was I NOT supposed to post my blog site on the forum? Others have. Im new but now Im befuddled too!
thekansagonian@mchsi.com
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