>>>
>>> BLAZERS FANS IN SHOCK THIS WEEK AFTER FAN FAVORITE JUSUF
NURKIC BROKE TWO BONES IN HIS
LEG LATE IN THE GAME MONDAY
NIGHT.
NIGHT.
NIGHT. AS
NIGHT. AS THE SHOCK WORE OFF, AN
OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FROM
PLAYERS AND FANS SHOWING JUST
HOW CONNECTED THE RIB CITY
FAITHFUL TRULY ARE.
TONIGHT, TRAIL BLARESS
PRESIDENT CHRIS MCGOWAN JOINS
US TO DISCUSS HOW THE TEAM AN
OUR COMMUNITY RALLIED AFTER
NURKIC'S INJURY.
NURKIC'S INJURY. >>> THE NCAA WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT
COMES THROUGH PORTLAND THIS
WEEKEND WITH THE DUCKS PLAYING
IN THE FRIENDLY COP CONFINES
OF THE MODA CENTER.
FROM KGW NEWS, THIS IS STRAIGHT
TALK WITH LAURAL PORTER.
>> HELLO, WELCOME TO STRAIGHT
TALK.
TALK.
TALK. I'M
TALK. I'M LAURAL PORTER.
WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF SPORTS
NEWS THIS WEEK IMPACKING
PORTLAND AREA FANS SO WE HAVE A
SPORTS THEMED STRAIGHT TALK
THIS WEEK.
THIS WEEK. FIRST, RIP CITY STUNNED.
THE BOSNIAN BEAST, JUSUF
NURKIC, OUT FOR THE SEASON
AFTER SUFFERING A LEG INJURY
DURING MONDAY NIGHT'S GAME.
THE OUTPOURING OF FAN SUPPORT
HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING.
WE'LL TALK WITH CHRIS MCGOWAN
ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS FOR FANS,
THE TEAM AND THE PLAYOFFS.
THEN, A LITTLE LATER, MARCH
MADNESS IS UPON US AND GAMES
ARE HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN
OREGON.
OREGON.
OREGON. THE NCAA WOMEN'S REGIONAL
FINALS ARE BEING HELD THIS
WEEKEND AT THE MODA CENTER.
THE PARTNERSHIP THAT BROUGHT
THE TOURNAMENT HERE HAS BIG
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.
THAT IS AHEAD.
FIRST, LET'S TALK ABOUT FAN
FAVORITE JUSUF NURKIC AND THE
ROAD AHEAD FOR HIM AND THE
BLAZES ARE.
BLAZES ARE. WELCOME BACK TO CHRIS MCGOWAN.
>> NICE TO BE HERE.
>> A COLLECTIVE GAP WHEN JUSUF
NURKIC WENT UP ON THE REBOUND
AND CAME DOWN.
I KNOW YOU WERE TRAVELING.
HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE
INJURY.
INJURY.
INJURY. WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION?
>> YOU'RE RIGHT.
I WAS TRAVELING.
I WAS GETTINGIED TO GET ON A
PLANE AND FLY BACK FOR
PORTLAND.
PORTLAND.
PORTLAND. I WAS FOLLOWING THE GAME ON
2013.
2013.
2013. IT
2013. IT WAS A CLOSE GAME SO I WAS
INTENTLY WATCHING IT BEFORE WE
TOOK OFF.
TOOK OFF.
TOOK OFF. I GOT A TEXT FROM MY DAD WHO
WAS WATCHING ON TV WHO SAID
THERE HAS BEEN A BAD INJURY.
I THEN SAW IT ON TWITTER.
IMMEDIATELY JUST SHOCKED AND
SICK TO MY STOMACH BEING JUST
FELT HORRIBLE.
FELT HORRIBLE. OBVIOUSLY FOR JUSUF AND FOR THE
TEAM AND I WAS NOT THERE AND
GETTING READY TO BE ON A PLANE
AND FELT HELPLESS BECAUSE I
WASN'T HERE WITH THE STAFF AND
FANS.
FANS.
FANS. >>
FANS. >> HOW IS THE WORSE TAKING IT.
>> THE STAFF IS DEVASTATED.
YOU WORK ALL SEASON AND
SOMETHING HIKE THIS HAPPENS.
SO A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER,
EVERYONE WAS A LITTLE BIT DOWN.
IT IS OUR JOB TO RALLY AND
REMAIN POSITIVE AND WE STILL
HAVE A SEASON TO FINISH AND
PLAYOFFS AND FANS TO TAKE CARE
OF AND ALL THAT TYPE OF STAFF.
I'M PROUD THEY'VE DONE A REALLY
GOOD JOB OF RALLYING AND
UNDERSTANDING WE HAVE TO LOOK
FORWARD AND FIN, THE SEASON
STRONG.
STRONG.
STRONG. >> WE HAVE SOME REACTION
BECAUSE PLAYERS, COACHES, FANS,
OF COURSE, WERE STUNNED.
SO WE HEAR FROM DAMIEN LILLARD
RIGHT AFTER THE INJURY.
>> SEEING SOMETHING LIKE THAT
HAPPEN TO HIM PERSONALLY, YOU
NEVER WANT IT SEE FA FOR YOUR
FRIEND OR TEAMMATE.
>> I GOT REALLY EMOTIONAL
STANDING UP THERE IN THE STANDS
THINKING ABOUT THAT.
HE IS A GREAT GUY AND EVERYBODY
JUST LOVES HIM.
>> THIS IS SO SAD.
IT WAS HIS LIFE LONG DREAM AND
IT BREAKS MY HEART.
BREAK MY HEART.
>> I FEEL BAD FOR YOU GUYS AND
FOR NURKIC.
FOR NURKIC. I'M SURE HE IS REALLY UPSET
RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW. >> WE WERE AT AN EMOTIONAL HIGH
AND TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN AND THE
WAY IT DID, YOU COULD SEE THE
CROWD THE GRAVITY GOT SUCKED
OUT OF THE GYM.
>> IT IS CLEAR THAT PEOPLE CARE
ABOUT THE PLAYERS, NOT JUST AS
PLAYERS BUT AS PEOPLE.
AND THE FAN REACTION HAS BEEN
OVERWHELMING.
OVERWHELMING. WE HAVE VIDEO OF PEOPLE LEAVING
LETTERS AND CARDS.
ONE FAN EVEN START A GOFUNDME
AND IN LESS THAN 48 HOURS, HE
RAISED $10,000 TO PUT UP A
BILLBOARD THAT TELLS NURKIC HOW
MUCH PORTLAND LOVES HIM.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THIS
REACTION?
REACTION?
REACTION? >> I MEAN IT ALWAYS SURPRISES
YOU IN THE MOMENT BUT IT
SHOULDN'T BECAUSE WE HAVE
AMAZING FANS.
AMAZING FANS. THEY ARE SUPER CONNECTED WITH
EVERYTHING WE DO AS AN
ORGANIZATION.
ORGANIZATION. OUR FANS LOVE OUR PLAYERS AND
OUR PLAYERS LOVE OUR FANS BACK.
I'VE BEEN IN SPORTS 25 YEARS
AND IT IS THE BEST RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN FANS AND TEAM THAT I'VE
EVER BEEN A PART OF.
THAT IS THE REAL POWER . IT
DIDN'T SURPRISE ME BUT IT HAS
BEEN GREAT TO SEE.
I THINK IT IS HELPFUL FOR JUSUF
AND IT HELPS EVERYBODY.
>> HE MADE HIS FIRST PUBLIC
STATEMENT ON INSTAGRAM.
HE THANKED THE FANS, THE
TEAMMATES, THE BLAZERS
ORGANIZATION, THE DOCTORS FOR
THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT AND
LOVE.
LOVE.
LOVE. HE
LOVE. HE SAID HE IS GOING TO WORK
HARD IN HIS RECOVERY TO GET
BACK HEALTHY ON THE COURT AND
HE WILL BE ROOTING THE BLAZERS
ON.
ON.
ON. WE
ON. WE TALKED TO A DOCTOR ABOUT HIS
INJURIES.
INJURIES.
INJURIES. THEY ARE NOT TREATING HIM
PERSONALLY BUT SAID IT'S TOUGH
BREAK FIGURATIVELY AND
LITERALLY.
LITERALLY. IT WILL TAKE A LOT OF REHAB.
CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT HOW HE IS GOING TO WORK
WITH THE TEAM AND HIS FUTURE
WITH THE TEAM?
>> TERRY SAID IT THE OTHER
NIGHT.
NIGHT.
NIGHT. HE
NIGHT. HE IS STILL A VERY VITAL MEMBER
OF OUR TEAM OBVIOUSLY GOING
THROUGH AN INJURY.
I'M NOT A DOCTOR BUT I KNOW
NURK PUT IT ON THE LINE EVERY
NIGHT FOR OUR FANS.
YOU COULD SEE THAT WHEN HE WAS
PLAYING YOU KNOW HE IS A
TREMENDOUSLY HARD WORKER
BECAUSE HE IS PLAYING AT THE
HIGHEST LEVEL.
HIGHEST LEVEL. HE WAS DOMINATING GAMES FOR THE
LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
IT WAS REALLY FUN TO WATCH AND
HE SAYS IT THERE.
I HAVE NO DOUBT HE WILL DO WHAT
HE NEEDS TO DO TO GET BACK ON
THE COURT.
THE COURT. HE WILL HAVE ALL THE SUPPORT HE
NEEDS.
NEEDS.
NEEDS. HE
NEEDS. HE WILL WORK HARD AND WE'LL GET
THROUGH IT AND HE WILL BE BACK
ON THE COURT EVENTUALLY.
>> HE DOESN'T FACE FREE AGENCY
I THINK I READ UNTIL 2022 SO HE
HAS A LONG FUTURE.
AND HE IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD.
>> YEAH, SO YOUNG.
THESE ARE YOUNG GUYS AND
THEY'LL WORK THEIR TAILS OFF TO
GET BACK.
GET BACK.
GET BACK. >> THE BLAZEERS ARE CURRENTLY A
ROAD TRIP.
ROAD TRIP. THEY SAID NURK WAS DOING WELL.
THE TEAM WAS FOCUSED.
LET'S LISTEN TO THE COACH.
>> WE ARE STILL A LITTLE DOWN
ABOUT JUSUF BEING OUT.
WE KNOW THIS ROLLS ON AND YOU
GOT TO BE PREPARED NOT ONLY FOR
THE BULLS BUT FOR THE REST OF
THE SOAP.
THE SOAP.
THE SOAP. >> THEY WENT TO BEAT THE BULLS
THAT NIGHT 118-98.
THEY ARE SPURRED ON BECAUSE
THEY HAD A FACE TIME CALL WITH
NURK ON THE CELL PHONE FROM HIS
HOSPITAL BED.
HOSPITAL BED. I'M SURE THAT HELPED THEM AS
THEY WENT INTO THE GAME.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. IT GAVE THEM A LITTLE BIT OF
ENERGY.
ENERGY.
ENERGY. THEY ARE PLAYING ON THE ROAD
AND THAT WAS A GREAT RESULT FOR
THE FIRST GAME BACK.
>> THIS TEAM IS RESILL CREPT.
WE HAVE EVEN IT BEFORE AND
MAYBE OVERSHADOWED WAS THEY
MADE THE PLAYOFFS.
THEY CLINCHED THE PLAYOFFS FOR
THE SIXTH SEASON IN A ROW.
>> WE ARE LUCKY.
WE HAVE GREAT GUYS LED BY
DAMIEN.
DAMIEN.
DAMIEN. HE IS A GENERATIONAL PLAYER.
WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE
HIM.
HIM.
HIM. HE
HIM. HE IS INCREDIBLE ON THE COURT,
EVEN MORE INCREDIBLE PERSON OFF
THE COURT.
THE COURT. HE IS JUST SUCH A GREAT LEADER,
ONE OF THE BEST I'VE EVER SEEN
IF NOT THE BEST.
THEN TERRY, YOU JUST SAW
FOOTAGE OF HIM, ONE OF THE BEST
HUMAN BEINGS I'VE EVER BEEN
AROUND.
AROUND.
AROUND. HE CARES ABOUT EVERYONE
INCLUDING THE PLAYERS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE
IN THE ORGANIZATION AN WHEN YOU
HAVE GREAT PEOPLE AS PART OF
THE ORGANIZATION, YOU REBOUND
FROM THESE TYPES OF REALLY
UNFORTUNATE INSTANCES AND
REALLY, REALLY GLAD THAT WE
HAVE TERRY AND DAMIEN AS PART
OF THE BLAZERS.
>> AND PLAYOFF TICKETS GO ON
SALE SOON?
SALE SOON? >> YEAH, THEY'RE GOING ON SALE
TOMORROW ACTUALLY, I THINK.
SO PLAYOFFS ARE RIGHT AROUND
THE CORNER IN A COUPLE OF
WEEKS.
WEEKS.
WEEKS. CANT WAIT.
CANT WAIT. I KNOW OUR FANS WILL BE CHARGED
UP.
UP.
UP. I
UP. I KNOW OUR PLAYS PLAY PLAYERS
WILL BE CHARGED UP.
WE HAVE EIGHT OR NINE GAMES TO
FINISH THE REGULAR SEASON.
>> THE FANS ARE LOYAL.
I WAS READING THAT TICKET SALES
ARE AMAZING HERE.
WE ARE KIND OF A SMALL MARKET.
TICKET SALES DON'T REFLECTION
HOW SMALL A MARKET WE ARE.
>> WE ARE A SMALLER MARKET THAN
SOME OF THE BIGGER ONES OUT
THERE.
THERE.
THERE. BUT HISTORICALLY THE FANS
SUPPORT MERE IS INCREDIBLE.
WE'RE ALWAYS TOP FIVE IN THE
NBA WHETHER IT'S WEEKNIGHT OR
WEEKEND, OUR FANS ARE THERE
SUPPORTING THE TEAM.
THEY ARE LOUD.
WHEN THE TEAM IS WINNING,
THEY'RE THERE.
THEY'RE THERE. AND EVEN WITH THE TEAM IS NOT
WINNING, THEY STILL SUPPORT US.
WE ARE REALLY BLESSED TO HAVE
SUCH A PASSIONATE FAN BASE HERE
IN PORTLAND.
IN PORTLAND. >> I WANT TO GET YOUR OPINION
ON THE PLAYOFFS.
I AM NO EXPERT BUT FROM THE
SPORTSWRITERS I'VE OTHER THAN
READING, THEY SAY THE OTHER
CENTERS ARE GREAT BUT THEY
DON'T HAVE THE SAME
PHYSICALLALITY AND EXPERIENCE
THAT NURKIC HAS AND THEY SAY IT
WILL BE TOUGH ON DAMIEN LILLARD
AND HE COULD FACE THAT SAME
AGGRESSIVE TRAPPING WE SAW LAST
YEAR AGAINST THE PELICANS WHEN
THE BLAZERS WERE SWEPT IN THE
FIRST ROUND.
FIRST ROUND. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOUR
OPINION IS.
OPINION IS. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THE
BLAZERS TO MOVE INTO THE SECOND
ROUND WOULD HAVE WE HAVE A
REALLY GREAT TEAM AND A LOT OF
GREAT PLAYERS ON THE TEAM.
WE'RE CLOSE-KNIT AND YOU CAN
SEE BY PLAYING THE OTHER NIGHT,
WE HAD A GAME AFTER AN
UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT AND WE
WON.
WON.
WON. I
WON. I THINK WE'LL HAVE A GREAT SHOT
IN THE PLAYOFFS.
WE HAVE A GREAT LEADER IN
DAMIEN.
DAMIEN.
DAMIEN. HE DOES AMAZING THINGS EVERY
NIGHT.
NIGHT.
NIGHT. HE
NIGHT. HE WILL HAVE A GREAT PLAYOFF
AND I THINK WE CAN SURPRISE
SOME PEOPLE.
SOME PEOPLE. THE NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM FROM
MY PERSPECTIVE.
MY PERSPECTIVE. >> I HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE PAUL
ALLEN THIS SEASON.
HE PASSED WAY JUST A CUPFUL
DAYS BEFORE OPENING SEASON.
HIS INFLUENCE ON THE TEAM, ON
THE ORGANIZATION CAN'T BE
OVERSTATED.
OVERSTATED. IT WENT FAR BEYOND YOUR TYPICAL
OWNER.
OWNER.
OWNER. TELL US SWAT IMPACT WAS THAT
PAUL ALLEN HAD ON THE
ORGANIZATION AND ON YOU, CHRIS.
>> OBVIOUSLY, SHOCKING.
WE'RE STILL, TO BE HONEST,
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
MOVE FORWARD.
MOVE FORWARD. HE WAS SUCH AN INTEGRAL
PRESENCE FOR OUR ORGANIZATION.
IT IS RARE TO HAVE OWNERS THAT
ARE THAT INVESTED IN THE TEAM
AND I MEAN HE WAS AT EVERY
GAME.
GAME.
GAME. HE
GAME. HE WAS AT MOST OF OUR ROAD
GAMES.
GAMES.
GAMES. SO
GAMES. SO JUST LACKING THAT PRESENCE
HAS BEEN REALLY TOUGH.
FOR ME PERSONALLY, HE WAS SUPER
SUPPORTIVE, AMAZING TO WORK
FOR.
FOR.
FOR. ALWAYS WANTED TO DO THINGS THE
BEST SO HE GAVE US TONS OF
RESOURCES TO SOURCES TO RUN A
GREAT ORGANIZATION.
GREAT ORGANIZATION. HE WAS EXTRAORDINARILY FOCUSED
ON FAN EXPERIENCE.
ALL OF HIS QUESTIONS WERE LIKE
HOW CAN WE TREAT OUR FANS
BETTER.
BETTER.
BETTER. WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE DAY
BETTER ARENA.
BETTER ARENA. FOR ME, TO HAVE AN OWNER LIKE
THAT, IT IS AN AWESOME
EXPERIENCE AND I CHERISH THE
SEVEN YEARS I GOT TO WORK WITH
HIM.
HIM.
HIM. >>
HIM. >> HIS SISTER HAS TAKEN OVER
OVERSEEING THE ESTATE AND SHE
WANTS TO CONTINUE WITH HIS
VISION.
VISION.
VISION. BUT I'VE READ REPORTS THAT SAYS
SHE IS NOT THAT INTERESTED IN
THE TRAILBLAZERS WATCH DOES
THAT MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF THE
TRAILBLAZERS.
TRAILBLAZERS. >> THOSE REPORTS ARE WRONG.
SHE IS SUPER INTERESTED IN THE
TRAILBLAZERS AND THE SEAHAWKS.
SHE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE
NOT ONLY TO PAUL BUT THE
IMPORTANCE THESE TEAMS HAVE IN
THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE AND
HAS A VERY VESTED INTEREST IN
-- THE TEAM IS NO FOR SALE.
WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH HER
AT THE HELM.
SHE IS SUPER INVOLVED AN
HELPFUL.
HELPFUL.
HELPFUL. THESE TRANSITIONS ARE REALLY
TOUGH BUT IT HAS BEEN A LOT
SMOOTHER KNOWING SHE WAS
INVOLVED AND SHE HAS BEEN GREAT
OVER THE FIRST SEVERAL MONTHS
SINCE PAUL PASSED AWAY.
>> HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU THAT
THE TRAILBLAZERS WILL REMAIN IN
PORTLAND?
PORTLAND?
PORTLAND? >> SUPER CONFIDENT.
WHERE WOULD THEY GO?
I DON'T THINK THEY ARE GOING TO
GO ANYWHERE.
GO ANYWHERE. >> I THINK FANS WILL BE GLAD TO
HEAR THAT.
HEAR THAT. >> THEY ARE THE PORTLAND TRAIL
BLAZERS.
BLAZERS.
BLAZERS. >> AND THE 50th ANNIVERSARY
NEXT SEASON OF THE STORIED
FRANCHISE.
FRANCHISE. DO YOU HAVE PLANS?
YVES A BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR
SEVERAL YEARS ALREADY.
IT WILL BE AN INCREDIBLE
CELEBRATION WITH OUR FANS.
WE HAVE A BUNCH OF INITIATIVES
CELEBRATING THE HISTORY OF THE
ORGANIZATION.
ORGANIZATION. WE ARE LAUNCHING A 50th
ANNIVERSARY WINE.
ANNIVERSARY WINE. PLAYING A GAME AGAINST DENVER
AT THE VETERANS MEMORIAL
COLISEUM.
COLISEUM.
COLISEUM. WE'LL BE WEARING SPECIAL
UNIFORMS, SPECIAL FLOOR.
THAT IS A LOT THAT GOES INTO A
50th ANNIVERSARY AND I THINK
OUR FANS WILL REALLY ENJOY THE
RIDE NEXT YEAR.
>> YOU HAVE A LOT OF SEASON
TICKET HOLDS ARE THAT GO ALL
THE WAY BACK TO THE BEGIN, TO
1970-71679.
1970-71679. >> WE DO.
>> WE DO.
>> WE DO. IT IS GENERATIONAL AND IT IS
FUN TO BE A PART OF THAT.
YOU HEAR SO MANY DIFFERENT
STORIES ABOUT GOING TO THE
GAMES WITH THEIR PARENTS AND
NOW THEY ARE TAKING THEIR KIDS
OR GRANDKIDS TO TRAILBLAZERS
GAMES.
GAMES.
GAMES. IT
GAMES. IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN A
PART OF MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES IN
THIS COMMUNITY FOR MANY
GENERATIONS.
GENERATIONS. IT IS AN HONOR TO BE A PART OF
THAT.
THAT.
THAT. >>
THAT. >> DO YOU HAVE A FINAL MESSAGE
TO HEAVE WITH OUR VIEWERS AND
FANS.
FANS.
FANS. >>
FANS. >> GET READY FOR THE PLAYOFFS.
HACK IN THERE AND THANKS FOR
YOUR SUPPORT.
YOUR SUPPORT. I KNOW OUR PLAYERS REALLY
APPRECIATE T I KNOW EVERYONE
THAT WORKS IN THE ORGANIZATION
REALLY APPRECIATES IT.
AND PLAYOFFS WILL BE HERE
BEFORE WE KNOW IT.
GET READY TO COME AND CREATE A
GREAT ENVIRONMENT AT MODA AND
WE'LL DO SOME GREAT THINS.
>> FOR PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO
SEND CARDS AND LETTERS TO JUSUF
NURKIC, CAN YOUSON THEM TO THE
BLAZES ARE ORGANIZATION AT ONE
CENTER COURT, SUITE 200.
THE ZIP CODE IS 97227.
ADDRESS THEM TO NURK CARE OF
THE TRAIL BLAZERS.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU WEARING
RED.
RED.
RED. >>
RED. >> I
RED. >> I DID JUST FOR THE BLAZERS.
>>> COMING UP, FROM PRO HOOPS
TO COLLEGE BASKETBALL.
COMING UP NEXT, OREGON IS GOING
WILD FOR MARCH MADNESS WITH THE
WOMEN'S NCAA REGIONAL FINALS
TOURNAMENT HAPPENING THIS
WEEKEND AT THE MODA CENTER.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT AND