Really enjoyed this conversation with Chris. Give it a listen.
Chris MannixNEW pod with @billoram.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
Профиль
Bill Oram
Профиль VivelyColumnist at The Oregonian. Lucky enough to write about sports for the newspaper that made me love newspapers.
I am a columnist. Having an opinion is literally my job.
johnnybutlerIs @billoram.bsky.social going to be an opinion piece writer or a journalist? We need real answers on this going forward. You can’t claim that a person you’ve never met or had a single interaction with is just cast off as a reincarnation of “jailblazers” basketball. Write facts or don’t write.
To be clear, my opinion on the arena deal hasn't changed at all. Get the deal done with public funds or lose the Trail Blazers. I'm just acknowledging it isn't going to go over well in this market in this political climate.
Don Baldwin, Everyday Anti-fascistOne thing that must be acknowledged is the lightning speed with which Tom Dundon made @billoram.bsky.social do an about face. www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
Meanwhile, things are sailing right along in the public bodies of Portland, Oregon. www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
Portland mayor lambasts critics of Moda Center deal as county questions investmentTensions about the future of the Moda Center ignited Tuesday, as Portland Mayor Keith Wilson ripped outspoken skeptics of a potential pricey arena makeover while some Multnomah County leaders question...www.oregonlive.comHow did Tom Dundon get an arena deal done in Raleigh, North Carolina? What can Portland learn from those negotiations? Allow me to introduce "Mayor Ass." www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
How Raleigh got an arena deal done with Tom Dundon — and why it’s so hard in Portland | Bill OramNorth Carolina officials provided $300 million in public money to renovate the home of the Carolina Hurricanes in 2023.www.oregonlive.comTom Dundon has had one of the noisiest and most tone-deaf arrivals we’ve ever seen in the NBA. But The Dundon Method has undeniably worked in the NHL. Why? And can it eventually translate to Portland? From Raleigh: www.oregonlive.com/sports/2026/...
‘Give it some time:’ Inside Tom Dundon’s NHL success amid Trail Blazer uncertainty | Bill OramIn Portland, the cost-conscious Dundon's arrival has been a shock to the system. In Raleigh, some say his NHL ownership has been a shock to the heart.www.oregonlive.comTo give a sense of how your elected leaders view the role of sports in your city:
mitch (he/him)bill oram should not write about policy or anything related to the expenditure of public money. stick to the Sports as Americana folksy beat
Or — and hear me out — more than one thing can be happening in an organization at the same time.
Certified BlazedGreat way to distract all the eyes focused on the owner burning the franchise to the ground 👍
Tiago Splitter’s “probably not” was more than just a tease. The Trail Blazers are open to the possibility of Damian Lillard returning this season — possibly in this series against the Spurs. www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
The Blazers’ playoff run is writing its own story — Lillard’s return could rewrite it entirely | Bill OramLillard still has many steps to clear before he can return to action, but sources say him joining the Trail Blazers this season is not off the table.www.oregonlive.comTom Dundon is gonna have to pony up for a charter back to San Antonio. The Blazers won't go away quietly in this series. www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
Trail Blazers’ fans needed a break from ‘El Cheapo’ Tom Dundon. Scoot Henderson delivered | Bill OramWho needs a T-shirt when what you get instead is a chance for the Blazers to actually win the series against San Antonio?www.oregonlive.comAnymore, if someone mentions Scoot Henderson in the same sentence as Victor Wembanyama it’s to highlight what Scoot has not achieved. As Scoot finds his footing in the NBA, Portland’s first-round matchup with the Spurs can be a reconsideration of all that. www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
How confident is Scoot Henderson? He still thinks he should have gone No. 1 over Wemby | Bill OramVictor Wembanyama was always the probable pick to go first in the 2023 draft, but with one performance in Las Vegas, Henderson made them think twice.www.oregonlive.com41 points, a dozen assists and the game-winner, all on a night everyone agreed he didn’t quite have his best stuff. That’s what superstars do. Welcome to your moment, Deni Avdija. www.oregonlive.com/sports/2026/...
www.oregonlive.comThis was the season Deni Avdija became an All-Star. Tuesday may have been the night he became a superstar. Column from the Valley of the Stunned: www.oregonlive.com/sports/2026/...
Deni Avdija was already an All-Star. Play-in win was his superstar moment| Bill OramIn the NBA there is a distinction between an All-Star and a bona fide, price-of-admission superstar. Avdija may have just moved into the second group.www.oregonlive.comThe expectation in NBA circles is that Trail Blazers’ owner Tom Dundon plans to try to hire a coach far below market value. What that means and why I think it sets the wrong tone for his franchise: www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
The Blazers are going to need a head coach. Will Tom Dundon pay for one? | Bill OramPortland's coaching conundrum could be a big opportunity, but few believe the franchise's new owner will swing for the fences.www.oregonlive.comIt’s uncomfortable around here when the Blazers aren’t any good. And the last four years have sucked some of the soul out of the franchise — if not the city. Friday vs the Clippers felt like a step toward restoring that. Column: www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
www.oregonlive.com32 teams. Eight bowl games. A New Year's Day championship. How the eclectic creator of Big League Chew aims to fix the College Football Playoff — and why he believes his 101-word plan will work.
www.oregonlive.com