The Blazers Are in Flames....

Trail Blazers Bonzi Wells and Eric Barkley are facing criminal trespass charges after they allegedly refused to leave the scene of a fight near a downtown nightclub.

Police were called after about 50 people gathered in a private parking lot across the street from the club at about 2:30 a.m. Thursday, said Sgt. Brian Schmautz.

Wells and Barkley shouted profanities at officers who asked them to leave, Schmautz said.

Wells, Barkley and two others were cited for criminal trespass, a misdemeanor that is punishable by a fine or community service.

They are scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 4.

 

More Jailblazers, eh?

(I'm sorry, I've just ruined this thread. Expect 0 replies immediately following this post)

 

Sorry Iron McFist.

 

*Gasp*

 

Actually, this is the article that appeared in ESPN insider 2 days ago. Let my opinion be known that Chad Ford is nothing more than a hack journalist who's depiction of the Blazers franchise & Blazers players is always filled with cynicism, information from bad sources (i.e. sources say "Wells wants out" (false), sources say "Kemp is missing" (false), and "no longer working out" (false)) and 15-year old humor.


9/7/2001 - From ESPN Insider -- Camp Wars, Today - The Portland Trailblazers: If only Derek Anderson were 8-foot tall, with blinding speed, a working knowledge of basic Latin, impeccable taste in clothes, a dead shot from halfcourt and a whiz in the kitchen.

Then the Blazers might have some use for him.

But let's not pretend that just because he can dribble without looking down that he can run the point for a perennial playoff team. That's Damon Stoudamire's job until, of course, Portland hires another Rod Strickland midway through the season.

But as it stands now, Anderson is a 6-foot-5 shooting guard, the former starter for a team that went to the Western Conference Championship series last season. He averaged 15.5 points in 35 minutes of play, slashing to the basket and pulling up for timely jumpers like any true sparkplug would on a team already loaded with talent.

Or did you think I was referring to Bonzi Wells, the Blazer's 6-foot-5 starting shooting guard, who averaged 12.7 points in 26.6 minutes of play, slashing to the basket and pulling up for timely jumpers like any true sparkplug would on a team already loaded with
talent.

And, no, Anderson cannot play small forward. Well, actually, he probably could. It has nothing to do with talent or physique. But then what would fellow newcomer Ruben Patterson do? I mean, he stands 6-foot-5, too, and started just the same for his former team. You remember Ruben, the defensive stopper for the Sonics who also managed to average 13 points, 5 boards and 2.1 assists in 27 minutes of play.

Or did you think I was talking about Scottie Pippen, the Blazer's starting defensive stopper at small forward who also managed to average 11.3 points, 5.2 boards and 4.6 assists in 33.3 minutes of play.

Certainly, you didn't think I was speaking of Rasheed Wallace, though he too spent some time as a swingman, spinning baseline for fall-away jumpers or slashing inside for finger roll after finger roll.

You already knew that he was a 6-foot-11 powderkeg of a power forward, one of the best in the league. He's even played in a few All-Star games, mind you. Just like the other two power forwards on the Blazer roster.

Or maybe you thought I was already referring to 6-foot-10 power forward Shawn Kemp, a former All NBA player who's spent all summer trying to get back to fighting weight to unleash a flurry of fall-away jumpers and finger rolls of his own.

Or maybe you thought I was already referring to 6-foot-11 power forward Dale Davis, former starter and All-Star for a team that went to the NBA Championship Series and the guy who grabbed more rebounds than anyone on the entire Blazer roster.

Camp wars? Try civil war.

Oh, wouldn't it be nice to think that the Blazers could actually combine their anticipated $113-millionl, luxury tax included, into one, cohesive, compatible team of complementary players who made it past the first round of the playoffs.

No one demanding more playing time, asking for a trade, wondering why he sold his soul and statistics for pieces of Paul Allen's silver. Are mercenaries supposed to have manners now?

But you probably already knew, or could guess, that of the 13 players on last season's Blazer roster (excluding the three that they drafted), 11 took a turn for the worst in the boxscore when compared to their pre-Portland numbers. We're talking starters to
bench warmers, veterans to youngsters.

Before becoming Blazers, they combined for an average of 11.17 points per game. After becoming Blazers, they averaged 7.32.

Brian Grant used to be a Blazer. He averaged 7.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game before leaving. As a member of the Miami Heat last season, he averaged 15.2 points and 8.8 rebounds.

Jermaine O'Neal used to be a Blazer, too. He averaged 3.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game before leaving. As a member of the Indiana Pacers last season, he averaged 12.9 points and 9.8 rebounds.

But, really, can you blame the Portland players if everybody on the team wants to play more, start more and shoot more? After all, that's how they got to be filthy rich Blazers in the first place.

If only the team didn't resemble a crowded theater after someone just yelled fire, the five exits labeled Starting Line Up.

If only first-round draft pick Zach Randolph was a couple feet taller, bulletproof, with a nose for offensive rebounds and a knack for finding the best Italian restaurants on the road.

Then he, too, might be able to hang around long enough to one day say that he sat on the bench with the greatest group of players never to win an NBA championship.