The Blazers’ very own “Mount Rushmore”
You may have noticed that ESPN has been fiddling with this Mount Rushmore thing, trying to spark controversy with a list of four faces etched in stone that represent sports for each state.
ESPN.com columnist Scoop Jackson has taken it a step farther by attaching four faces to each NBA team — and here’s what he put together for the Blazers:
Billy Ray Bates, Clyde Drexler, Jack Ramsay, Bill Walton
Rationale: “Who is Billy Ray Bates?” you are probably asking. Ask anyone in Portland. Ask Brent Musburger, who lost his voice while at CBS calling his games. A player who probably should be replaced by anyone from Lionel Hollins to Brandon Roy, Bates to this day — nearly 27 years after his last game with the team — is still the most exciting player in Blazers history. His face represents the “I in team” side of the game.
I have to say this emphatically: No. No. No.
I don’t think Billy Ray Bates was the most exciting player in Blazer history. For everything he did, Clyde did it five times. Bates, for those of you who don’t know about him, was maybe the saddest Blazer story of all time. He had a talent for the spectacular, but wasn’t a sound player. I think the myth became bigger than the man and he was destined for a bad ending almost from the beginning (although he is now reportedly out of prison and living in the New Jersey area).
Walton, Drexler — they have to be there. Brandon Roy is the new face. And I have to say, Maurice Lucas should be considered. And for you old folks, Geoff Petrie would be in the running.
And funny how this works, but there’s another name just as tied into the Blazers’ history as any of the others — through good times and bad, the public face of the franchise for decades. That would be legendary broadcaster Bill Schonely — soon to be honored with Portland’s very prestigious (take a look at who has won it) First Citizen award.
But the reasons we have a comments section is for you to tell me what YOU think, so have at it.
(A tip of the hat to reader Douglas, for finding this.)
NBA, Trail Blazers | Dwight Jaynes | February 25, 2009
Bill Walton, Billy Ray Bates, Brandon Roy, Clyde Drexler, Dwight Jaynes, ESPN, Geoff Petrie, Jack Ramsay, Maurice Lucas, Mt. Rushmore of sports, Scoop Jackson
Terry Porter made so many big shots, and was as big a part of those great teams as Clyde, that he would have to be considered.
Billy Ray Bates is a joke.
Schonz has to be on that, he is an icon of the franchise for those who are 30+ years old
Maybe add Harry Glickman?
My picks:
Petrie (the first face of the franchise);
Walton (the face of the championship);
Drexler (the face of the new-era Blazers);
and Roy (the face of now and the future).
Hey baby, drink your milk.
I read that yesterday, and thought the same thing…Billy Ray Bates???? No way.
I’d say you go with Walton, Drexler, Schonz, and a blank rock section for future expansion. When they make it to or win another championship, we’ll commission that 4th spot.
Also, on the lower back side of the mountain, they should put Whitsett.
Kermit Washington to Billy Ray is still one of the best moments in Blazer history. But the Schonz or Dr. Jack way before BRB.
Gotta be Harry Glickman for the George Washington factor.
Glickman, Drexler, Walton and Schonely/Ramsey/Roy/Paul Allen.
I know this will be a little outside the box, but when I think Oregon sports, how about a Mt Rushmore with:
Clyde Drexler
Peter Jacobsen
Bill Schonley
Phil Knight
Odd list maybe, but having 4 Blazers or Blazer related employess is too easy. I think I could make an argument for Neil Lomax and Pokey Allen/Mouse Davis also.
Maybe my Oregon Rushmore wouldn’t mean as much to others from outside the state, but these are all people that come to my mind as shaping the way I view sports in my hometown.
I like Bruce’s picks…
How about the the Blazer’s Bizarro Mt. Rushmore?
Isaiah Rider
Ruben Patterson
Darius Miles
Bob Whitsitt
Hon. Mention: Bonzi Wells, Qyntel Woods, ‘Sheed, Sebby Telfair.
What about a spot for Greg “SamBowie” Oden ??
It should be the most prominent figure in each Blazers era. Those eras being the Champiblaonship era, the finals runners-up era, the Jail Blazers era and the current era.
Therefore the obvious figureheads whould be Walton, Clyde, Whitsitt, and Roy.
Scoop Jackson must be a screwball. Or thinks he is standup comic. but the other 3 are sort of logical, so maybe he is serious. but Billy Ray? He was here so briefly.
I won’t check any other list he made if he did that poorly for Blazers
Bruce has much better list.
The Schonz, Drexler, Dr. Jack Ramsey, and Harry Glickman. I don’t put Walton up there because he’s a d-bag. I mean he actually refused to play for us until we traded him, there’s no way he should even be considered for a spot amongst our greats. If anything, maybe Maurice Lucas should go up there, but I’d put BROY up before I’d even consider Walton.
I’d like to give a shoutout for…Stu Inman
I was a cameraman working for Blazer Broadcasting the night Billy Ray curled to the basket with one second remaining and caught the half court pass from Kermit to win the game. I’ve never seen the coliseum erupt like that. Sure, I saw Billy Ray out on the town with his “posse” and heard the whispers about his over-indulging in banned substances. There was a Billy Ray poster giveaway at the game one night and as he was about to exit, I asked him to sign my copy. He wrote, “To Barry from Billy Ray “Dunk” Bates #12.” Then he drew the number 1 and circled it by the signature. He was nice, polite, and accessable. I will always remember Billy Ray…And I still have that poster.
Every one forgetting Sidney Wicks?? He belongs on the Bizzaro list.
I sort of agree about Bill Walton not being in the 4. but have sort of forgiven him since he became Blazer supporter again later in life. and now seems to think well of his time here. He sure was face of championship season.
And Rick Adelman. I have him a short measure above Ramsey as Blazers best coach.
And no question about Stu Inman being a face of the Blazers. maybe we need 8.