The Oregonian edits its way into a corner

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In an editorial on Sunday, The Oregonain's editorial board produced a unique bit of writing that offered more than a few ways to differ with its understanding of the Rose City's NBA franchise, and the role it plays within capitalism.

Those are the key points of Monday's episode of Sporting Oregon.

Here's the written version.

The Portland Trail Blazers are for sale, and the echo of Seattle's move to Oklahoma City in 2008 is, apparently, still within the ears of the editorial board because it brought that up as a key reason for writing what ended up being essentially a letter to any future owner of the Blazers that the paper would support public funding for improvements to the Moda Center.

Portland got referred to as a "small market" team, and the Moda Center is the oldest arena in the NBA in terms of not having had any major overhaul.

So, whoever steps up and buys the Blazers, they'd be more than tempted to take the franchise to another city - most likely Las Vegas, where it would definitely be successful. That's the logic of the editorial.

At a rough valuation of more than $3.5 billion, not just anyone is going to be able to buy the team as was the case in 2006 when Clay Bennett bought the Sonics for $350 million. That's the Clay Bennett of Oklahoma City, who had the idea to get locals in Seattle to pony up funds for a new arena or he would move the team from the No. 13 media market to the No. 47 media market because he wanted it that way being from Oklahoma City.

So, that's what happened. The size of the media market had nothing to do with the Sonics moving, the owner's passion did. And, the Thunder - the new Sonics, won the league title this season.

Portland fans have been dealt a crappy hand with team ownership for many seasons, but that's something truly out of the hands of ticket purchasers. The NBA is entertainment, and it provides that whether games end with a win or a loss.

Portland leaders should get on the NBA with regards to team records and the name, much like happened with the Cleveland Browns when that NFL franchise moved to Baltimore in 1995.

Baltimore, having lost the Colts to Indianapolis in 1984, could not get an expansion franchise because the nearby Washington Redskins' ownership under Jack Kent Cooke did not want another franchise so close. But, then Cleveland owner Art Modell saw the opportunity, and moved his team - Jack Kent Cooke be damned.

Cleveland leaders, though, saw the value of the NFL franchise and threatened to sue due to stadium leases and season ticket-holders, and the NFL essentially gave the team a future expansion franchise. And, equally as valuable, the city retained all the rights to the Browns franchise in lieu of no lawsuits - name, history, etc.

Portland leaders should get the NBA on record for its understanding of the value a franchise in the Rose City has - more than $3.5 billion - and that the fans have made it so valuable, and they are connected to the team name and its records. So, any rich person/group that wants to buy and move the Blazers is only going to move the franchise - it's not moving the "Blazers" and their history. That's staying here.

How to get Adam Silver to say something like that? Well, that's something for public leaders to get into, well ahead of giving away any dollars for Moda Center upgrades. But, that's a good win for any leader in an era when the public needs good wins like this.

The Blazers are staying in Portland regardless of whatever some very wealthy person wants to do with the franchise.

And, what of Phil Knight? The Oregonian editorial pointed to his public statement he's no longer interested in owning the team, but that's just a statement. People can be lobbied. Here's a statement that the public should lobby Knight to be interested in owning the team. That would be a statement The Oregonian could make - "hey Uncle Phil, we want you to own the team."

So, there's some differences in direction between two media outlets with regards to the Portland Trail Blazers.

The major outlet: The Oregonian, is telling any potential incoming owner that it's totally behind public funding of any upgrades that might be needed to the Moda Center in order for the franchise to stay in Portland.

The very minor outlet: oregonsports.com, is telling the world through it's primary columnist that the NBA should respect the team's fans by acknowledging the franchise name, colors, records, etc., are fused with the city and would not be moving anywhere should a new owner decide that's what they wanted to do. And, in doing this, the franchise might just become more valuable to the one key person who Portland wants to attract as an owner: Phil Knight. That would be a pretty cool community victory, getting the NBA to commit to Portland, and having that commitment link up with Uncle Phil.

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