'True Zag Fans' have it backward

Gonzaga has always done a great job with public relations. But this time they have outdone themselves.

On Thursday, the Bulldogs lost their third straight conference game, a 73-71 loss at home to St. Mary's. The Zags are slowly slipping down the WCC ladder, and a loss at home is normally a surefire disappointment. But you wouldn't know it based on the reaction.

"Mark Few knows how to coach!"

"Gonzaga played as good of a game as possible."

"I really like this team."

"Few can coach at any level! He's amazing!"

"We are constantly at the top of the WCC, what is there to complain about?"

This isn't an isolated incident. It happens game-in and game-out. And I finally realized:

The Zags have reverse support.

At least it seems that way. Gonzaga is the only Division-I team I know that sees more optimistic support for coaches and players when they lose than when they win.

After wins, fan commentary and chatter will be about topics ranging from player rotation problems, to strategy, to matchups. But after losses, it's all cheers praising how lucky Gonzaga fans are to have a coach like Mark Few and a team that has seen so much success in the past 10 years.

It's the perfect situation for the program. They can either win games, or use their past wins as a built-in insulation for criticism following losses.

Unfortunately, it's also bred a flock of Zag fans who have become so mindlessly devoted to the team that they forget about the importance of criticism. And it has reached the point where any sign of disappointment from a fan will result in their commitment being questioned.

If you're not with us, you're against us.

After Thursday's loss to St. Mary's, several Zag fans took to the Internet to vent their frustration with the result, and with the choices made by the Gonzaga coaching staff. Those that dared to express dissatisfaction were met with sharp words about whether they "truly" supported the Zags.

"I'm disappointed. Once a Zag, always a Zag."

"Here come the bandwagoners."

"We have the best coaching staff in America."

"We're finding out who the true Zag fans are tonight."

It's that last type of statement that is the most intriguing. The mindset from some is that the Zags' loss will weed out those who support the team and those who are on the bandwagon. Whoever criticizes the team or the coach after the loss, or whoever doubts the postseason resume of the Zags, or whoever says the outlook is bleak, will be exposed as a fraud, not a "true Zag fan"

And that's completely backward.

Since 1999, when the Dan Monson-coached Zags burst on to the scene with an improbable trip to the Elite Eight, Bulldog fans have suffered an inferiority complex, but it only developed through good intentions.

Gonzaga is a small, private Jesuit university tucked away in the Inland Northwest. Its basketball team doesn't belong to a major conference, and doesn't get the major recruits. National pundits and analysts never give teams like that credit, and never say they have a shot at greatness. Even after the Elite Eight run and the subsequent success over the next few years with Dan Dickau and co., Gonzaga was simply viewed as a Cinderella squad that would eventually flame out.

Zag fans took that personally. The small community of supporters rallied around their team, stuck with them, and proudly voiced their love of the team. It didn't matter what those critics in the media said, these were our Zags, and we know how great the really are.

But then the years passed, and the Zags became stuck on a plateau. Win a big game or two during the regular season, win the conference, lose early in the tournament. Year after year after year, since 1999. That's when a small minority of fans started to question why the program couldn't get over the hump to elite status.

But many Zag fans, still so accustomed to protecting their team, jumped all over that. They had seen their small team reach success despite overwhelming odds and plenty of doubters. So the instinct to defend the Zag honor kicked in, even if the people they were defending it from were their fellow fans.

They point to where the program was in the '80s and '90s, and the success it has now achieved. They point to Mark Few's winning percentage. They point to the numerous WCC titles and NCAA Tournament appearances. And all along, they cry "you should be thankful a small school like this can reach these heights! If you are a true fan, you would appreciate what you have!"
Here's the thing about "true Zag fans." They are appreciative of what they have. That's why they want the team to do better, and not be stuck in a 10-year plateau.

Gonzaga has a rabid fan base; some of the most knowledgeable fans in the country. But even the most knowledgeable fans know that criticism is important.

At its very essence, sports is entertainment. And if something is no longer entertaining, or has grown stale, then its OK to wish for changes. It just means you are passionate about it, and want it to reach its highest potential.

But blind, fanatical devotion to that entertainment is not OK, especially when it turns into lashing out against those who disagree with the status quo.

Admitting the Zags won't reach the Sweet 16 this year doesn't make you less of a fan. Commenting that the coaching staff has inadequacies doesn't make you less of a fan.

And at the same time, burying your head in the sand and never acknowledging that things are going wrong doesn't make you a better fan.

It's time for the "true Zag fans" to understand that.

Greg Oden: An epilogue

If nothing else, Greg Oden's career has been good at putting Blazer fans through the emotional wringer.

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When the Trail Blazers won the 2007 NBA Draft Lottery, and essentially the rights to draft the coveted big man, it was absolute, pure joy in Portland.

We cheered. We danced in our living rooms. We held rallies in downtown Portland to welcome our newest hero and to celebrate the return of Rip City.

It marked the start of a new era, the beginning of great things for the franchise after years of disappointment.

After all this time, Oden was the final piece of the championship puzzle. This was our time.

We all eagerly awaited the future success that seemed just over the horizon.

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When Oden went down with season-ending surgery before his career even began, we were shocked. How could this have happened? Why now? What does this mean? Fans were in complete disbelief, and angry that all of our optimism would now have to be put on hold as the Blazers try to recover from such a devastating blow.

I remember pounding my fists and cursing. This was supposed to be the beginning of our glory days! It isn't fair to us, the fans! Why do we have to continually suffer?

We just finished going through years of mediocrity. When will this disappointment end?

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When Oden finally did make his debut in the fall of 2008, our anger turned to frustration.

Briefly during training camp, when it was announced that Oden would finally see the court, we were excited. Finally, it begins now.

But it was our expectations that were to blame when we were so bewildered by the start of Oden's playing career. He could barely run or jump, let alone execute a low-post move. He often looked lost on defense and tried to force things on offense.

This was not the same guy we drafted. We've waited this long, and this is what we get?

Sportswriters called his performance "underwhelming." And fans were left scratching their heads. Was this just the immediate byproduct of his surgery? Does he just need time to recover?

Will we ever see the real Greg Oden?

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When the fall of 2009 rolled around, fans were ready for anything from Oden.

And suddenly, that joy from 2007 had returned.

Oden was delivering on the basketball court. His points, blocks, rebounds, assists and field goal percentage were all up. Finally healthy, Oden was anxious to show the world what he could do on the basketball court.

For fans, it was a wake up call. This is why the Blazers drafted him, for performances like this. Coming off several injuries and seeing him make this improvement was a sign that he was just starting to tap into his potential as a powerful basketball player. Fans knew that he was only going to get better from here.

But the best laid plans...

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When a freak injury broke Oden's kneecap and forced him to miss the rest of the season, it was the moment Blazer fans stopped feeling sorry for themselves, and felt sorry for Oden.

We saw what he was capable of. We saw the hard work he put into his return to the court. This latest injury was not this kid's fault, and he did not deserve another setback in the face of all he had done.

Fans started to put aside their petty notions that their fandom was cursed, and faced the realization that this was a young kid going through about a traumatic of a career as you could ever imagine.

Seeing the work of the past months and his inspired early season play derailed like this, it made Oden human in our eyes. This was real. This wasn't TV, or NBA 2k9. This was our brother who was in pain.

Throughout Oden's early career and the injuries and surgeries that accompanied it, Blazer fans always had a sense of "Why us?"

This was the moment were we finally asked "why him?"

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But when it was announced that Oden would need season-ending surgery again, even before he came back from his previous season-ending surgery, Blazer fans didn't feel sadness.

We don't feel anger, frustration, confused, or scared.

We feel numb.

It's almost as if we have been desensitized to the injuries, the surgeries, the rehabilitation, the apologies, the promises, all of it.

Oden's status has always been the cloud over the Blazers. Sometimes we've seen dashes of sunlight. Other times, when it's rained, it's poured. But Blazer fans don't want to keep looking at the clouds anymore wondering if we're going to get a good day.

Oden's career has given us the highest of highs. I'll never forget the optimism and enthusiasm that followed Draft Day 2007, the feeling of hope. We'll always hand on to that moment.

Oden's career has given us the lowest of lows. Injury after injury after injury, never allowing Greg to fully show what he was capable of.

Greg, the team, the management and the fans all deserve better. Maybe in time, the memories won't seem so bad.

But as of right now, we just don't want it all anymore.

ADAM MORRISON'S DECISION - Live Press Conference Transcript

-MODERATOR: It's been two years of speculation. Two years of waiting. Two years of making the necessary transactions and possibly mortgaging the future of your franchise, but it's all led up to this moment.

Tonight, the wait is over.

We have waited patiently, eagerly grabbing at every morsel thrown our way. Now, we will finally be blessed with the privilege to hear the answer we've all been waiting for. Even the eventual return of Jesus Christ pales in comparison to this highly anticipated moment:

Where will Adam Morrison play basketball next year?

That decision will be made tonight - LIVE on the only station with enough clout to handle such a huge, momentous event in television history - Gonzaga University Television, GUTV.

Now, without further ado, here is the man of the hour - Mr. Adam Morrison!!!

(camera pans to Morrison sitting in front of a backdrop of downtown Spokane)

-MORRISON: Hello, and thank you all for coming.

First off, I want to address a rumor that's been going around the Internet saying that my teammate Jordan Farmar was sleeping with my mom. That's not true. It was only dry-humping. Moving on...

Before we begin, I want to thank GUTV for helping to air this press conference. Thank you for the opportunity and for sacrificing a day's worth of real reporting just to make a cheap buck.

There has been a lot of speculation as to who I will sign with, and it's been a very difficult decision. I mean, some teams have offered to put my face on every billboard in town, others want to give me my own TV show, and one wanted to give me my own private locker room with mirrors on every wall so I can see my reflection every day. I mean, how am I supposed to choose?

But this day has been a long time coming. Sure, I was the one who was delaying it, but whatever, I'm Adam Morrison, damn it...

But in that time, teams have been scrambling to clear the necessary cap space for the Veteran's Minimum Salary to sign me. Teams have given up years of winning and spat on their fans just because of the promise of luring me in this summer. I can't even begin to tell you how it feels to the the subject of such adoration.

...(sniff)...Sorry, I told myself I wasn't going to cry.

Anyhoo, when the Lakers offered me an extension - which I assure you, they did - I hemmed and hawed, and said that I ultimately wanted to wait to make my decision. I am grateful to the Laker organization for giving me an opportunity when no one else would, and helping me become the superstar I am today. Out of that respect, I am making a mockery of their loyalty on national TV. Again, read the nametag.

There were rumors that I would return to Charlotte where I began my career. There were rumors that I would head to the bright lights of the Basketball Mecca of Salt Lake City to play with the Jazz. There have also been rumors that I have been secretly plotting with JJ Redick and Sheldon Williams to form a super-team in Toronto.

But I realize that no matter what decision I make, people will be upset. I either publicly break up with the city that loves me in Los Angeles, or I piss off the entire nation by stringing people along for two years. I lose any way I go in this situation.

But this is about ME. My happiness, my life, my ego.

It's time to put up for shut up.

Today, I, Adam Morrison, am officially announcing that I will be joining ... The Vermont Frost Heaves of the Premier Basketball League.

I will now hold for your applause, and the Twitter overload that is about to occur...

...

...

...

...thank you.

To milk this even further, I officially announce WHAT POSITION I WILL PLAY at a press conference in September. That will also air on GUTV, sponsored by Apple Jacks (takes bite of cereal).

-(Inaudible question from reporter)

-MORRISON: Does this make me a prostitute? Maybe. But you never told me to stop. If you didn't like how I was handling this, why didn't you speak up and tell me to stop? That's right, because I'm a 2-time NBA Champion. So you all can suck it.

That's right, 2-time NBA Champion. That's why you're here, right? Because of my accomplishments? To report on someone who has made a quantifiable impact on basketball?

See, I know there's one other press conference going on today, but I know you're watching my press conference instead. I'm the one you want.

Because I have 2 rings.

What does that other guy have?

Has he even won a game in the finals? TWO RINGS BABY. My towel-waving and high-fiving were more effective than his jump shot.

You just don't want to admit it, but being here, listening to me, actually makes more sense.

As crazy as it sounds, right now, based on everything I've done, I, Adam Morrison, am more deserving of worship and constant adulation than LeBron James.

So I'd like to conclude this press conference with a statement to everyone out there who followed my every move:

You're welcome.

Shock, but no loss for words: fans react to Pritchard firing

In the grand scheme of things, Kevin Pritchard was simply an NBA GM. There are 29 others in the NBA, and in the end, it's only a management position. If the guy puts a talented roster on the floor, then everything's gravy and the fans are focused on the on-court product. If the team is constantly awful, then the guy gets fired.

Kevin Pritchard helped rebuild the Blazers into a solid team on the rise during his tenure as GM, but the way he did it - through a unique sense of openness - endeared him to the fans unlike any other NBA General Manager.

At a rally in downtown Portland after the Blazers selected Greg Oden first overall in the 2007 NBA draft, fans responded to their GM with chants of "Pritchard! Pritchard! Pritchard!" It was a moment you would never expect for a member of the front office, but one that was deserving after the moves that Pritchard has made and the way he had done his job.

But three years later, on Draft Day 2010, Pritchard was given the axe; fired by owner Paul Allen for reasons that are still unclear.

And Blazer fans are, for lack of a better term, pissed.

I've never seen a fan base so taken aback by the dismissal of a front office executive. Tonight, friends of mine have been sharing their thoughts on Pritchard's firing, through Facebook, Twitter, text messages, and more.

The overriding feeling: why did this happen?

-Geoff Ziemer, the author of The 300 Level and my former mentor with the Franklin Post, responded to Facebook with the most disgusted (if slightly hyperbolic) reaction: "THE SKY IS FALLING. KP FIRED. You make me sick Mr. Allen. You better share with the media WHY this came about."

The last part I agree with wholeheartedly. The media cannot let this pass by without doing their job and continuing to ask the right questions.

-Anthony Mcfeters asked what we all have been asking throughout the duration of this mess: "I am so confused.... why is Pritchard fired?! He has without a doubt saved this franchise from a management standpoint."

-My brother Justin Sandberg had to come home from work to this ugly situation: "Leave it to Paul Allen to fuck things up for everyone." His night was probably completely ruined, especially with the trade of Martell Webster.

-Mark Nelson provided the only laugh tonight through this exchange on Twitter:
Me: The Portland media should camp outside Paul Allen's house until we get answers.
Mark Nelson: He'll sick the robotic Richard Simmons on them.

-Kevin O'Brien from Remember '51 gave me perspective on what other fans around the country probably think of the Blazer organization: "The fact that you guys fired a top-10 GM (perhaps even a top-5) shows how big of an ego Paul Allen has." Time will tell just how big of a negative impact this will have.

-Faris Tanyos predicted that Pritchard would be fired after the draft, but never imagined it would happen the day of): "Paul Allen is insane. I'm in complete shock."

-And Bill Christensen could only feel sympathy for the man who lost his job for reasons seemingly unknown: "I'm sorry Kevin Pritchard. I as a devout Blazer fan, I am extremely sad to see you go. THANK YOU for getting this franchise back on its feet and I am sorry that 'someone' lost their minds and let you go."


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Pritchard is gone, and judging on how fans in Portland respected him, I'm sure they won't stop talking about this for a very long time.

Meet Your Longshot NBA Draft Prospect: Matt Bouldin

Matt Bouldin was the unlikely superstar during the latter half of his career at Gonzaga.

During his time as a Zag, there were teammates who scored more, who were faster, who were more emotional, who were better ballhandlers, passers and shooters. Bouldin was not spectacular in any one area. But he was solid in every area.

And as it turned out, that made him the perfect type of player for Mark Few's system of college basketball. When Bouldin's senior season rolled around in 2009 and the more one-dimensional stars had left the Kennel, it allowed Bouldin to take the reigns and utilize his multiple talents as the star.

In the world of Gonzaga basketball, Bouldin was just about as perfect of a player as you could ask for.

Unfortunately, that may end up being his undoing in the NBA Draft.

Bouldin may end up becoming a victim of the same system that made him look great in college. Playing in the WCC, you need a player who has good court awareness, who can control the tempo of the game with the ball in his hands. Teams in the conference aren't overly athletic, but they make up for it with scrapiness and good decision-making. A player like Bouldin can see the openings in systems like that and use his skills to take advantage. He never had to overpower, outshoot, or run past a team on his own; only wait for the openings and operate with a surgeon's precision.

But the NBA is about raw athleticism, which makes up for any lapses and closes those openings quickly. Someone like Steve Nash can take advantage of situations because he is an excellent passer with incredible court vision. Someone like Brandon Roy isn't overly athletic, but he can control the tempo of a game simply because he is a great scorer.

Believe it or not, in the NBA, having one or two great skills can be more effective than having 3 or 4 good skills.

Bouldin is hoping to be the exception to that rule.

For more perspective on the Gonzaga guard's outlook, I've turned to former Gonzaga Bulletin colleague Ben Pearson, who now writes a blog called The Left Coast Bias:

The NBA Draft is all about raw players with potential rather than proven players with experience. In other words, Matt Bouldin gets the short end of the stick at a critical time in his career. After a successful four-year career at Gonzaga, there is a very good chance Bouldin will not hear his name called on June 24th.

There is not a college coach in the country that wouldn’t have wanted Mr. Bouldin on his team. He has a high basketball IQ, good work ethic, and is an unselfish player. He took the traditional path by staying in college all four years with his role increasing each year. He answered by raising his scoring average each season, but that’s not always enough in the eyes on NBA GMs.

Bouldin is an all-around player, but in a way that is his problem. He is skilled in so many areas, but he doesn’t do any one thing great. There are many players who exploit their one superior skill and end up having lengthy NBA careers because of it. Bouldin will need to carve out his niche to last.

Bouldin’s biggest asset to a NBA team would be his vision. He has the size to see over most point guards and has a great feel for the game, always knowing where his teammates are on the floor. Bouldin would play the point in the NBA, a position he never played at GU, but I don’t think the transition would be very difficult for him. He has always possessed the ball handling and passing skills of a point guard, but with Jeremy Pargo playing alongside him for three years, it never made sense to have the offense run through him.

There are people out there who claim that Bouldin can’t play against athletic teams. I was skeptical myself as well. I remember the Duke game in December in which he had more turnovers (5) than points (4) and I can’t forget that he ended his college career going 3-13 against Syracuse. I went back and did some research comparing his performance against BCS schools to how he did against small conference schools.

In 40 career games against BCS schools:
12.38 points, 43 FG %, 4.42 Rebounds, 3.25 assists 2.55 TOs

In 93 career games against non-BCS schools:
12.77 points, 48 FG %, 3.86 rebounds, 3.38 assists, 1.92 TOs

Those differences aren’t that alarming, but a five percent dip in field goal percentage is somewhat significant given the amount of games. Also his assist-turnover ratio is discouraging, especially since he would be handling the ball even more as a point in the NBA.

What doesn’t show up on the stat sheet is his defensive performance against these BCS schools. While Bouldin has some speed off the dribble, his lack of agility and lateral quickness is what will probably end up keeping him out of the draft. With Gonzaga match-up zone, Bouldin’s sub par one-on-one defense never was really exploited. But could you imagine Bouldin trying to stay in front of Derrick Rose or Rajon Rondo?

I think Bouldin could be a solid backup point guard in the right system. For example, I think he would be a great fit in Phil Jackson’s triangle offense (Jordan Farmar is a free agent). That being said, there are too many teams that would not have room on their roster for a player like Bouldin. His lack of athleticism, paired with the fact that he has never exclusively played the point, don’t bode well for him.

My thanks to Ben for helping me out. Go check out The Left Coast Bias, where Ben is doing some NBA Draft Previews of his own.

For Bouldin, it may have been the system at Gonzaga making him look like a superstar, but that's what you want for your team and star player - a perfect fit. While on the surface, Bouldin may not look like the ideal NBA player, under the right coach and the right system, he might just end up finding a place in the league after all.


For last season's installments of Meet Your Longshot NBA Draft Prospect, click here.