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IN S ID E
The Week ¡n Review
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This page
Sponsored by:
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Fred Meyer
What's on your list today?,
L ocal N ews
Blazers Hire New GM
First Asian-American to hold NBA position
S ustainability
X
pages 4-5
O pinion
pages 6-7
ENEEPIAINMENT
pages 9-12
C lassifieds
H ealth
page 13
pages 14-15
F o o d
page 20
New Trail Blazers general Rich commented not just on his several players,
manager Rich Cho says while qualifications but on who he is
"Portland's definitely come a
he's impressed with Portland's as a person," Blazers president long way, but I think there's
youth and depth, the team is still Larry Miller said in a statement, room for improvement," Cho
lacking the piece that will bring "He is well known for his ability said.
the city another championship, to co n n e c t g e n u in e ly w ith
Michael Bom, Portland's di-
Cho, who spent nine seasons people. Rich will be a great fit rector o f NBA scouting, and
as an assistant general manager for our organization and for Chad B uchanan, director o f
with the Oklahoma City Thun- Portland. He is an executive on college scouting, took over GM
der, was introduced as the Blaz- the rise and we're thrilled to duties while the search was on.
ers' GM on Monday. He
The Blazers made an
re p la c e s
K evin
offer for U tah re ­
Pritchard, who helped
stricted free agent
usher the team out o f
W esley M atthew s,
the Jail Blazers era sev­
but have otherw ise
eral years ago but was
been quiet in recent
ultimately dismissed last
w eeks.
month.
B la z e rs
coach
Cho, a Northwest na­
Nate McMillan said
tive and the first Asian-
he got to know Cho
American general man­
when both o f them
ager in NBA history, said
were in Seattle.
that under his watch the
"A fter talking to
Blazers will be "process
Rich I called some
oriented and methodical
friends and everyone
in our approach."
said pretty much the
" C h a ra c te r, team - Rich Cho was nam ed Trail Blazers General
same thing, that this
work and accountability Manager Monday. H e’s the first Asian American
guy is ready for the
will be three o f our core general manager in NBA history.
o p p o r tu n ity ,"
values," he said.
McMillan said.
The Blazers also considered have him as a Trail Blazer."
T hunder general m anager
former Cleveland Cavaliers GM
Terms o f the contract with Sam Presti was certain Cho
Danny Ferry and former Miami Cho were not disclosed.
would be a competent GM.
Heat GM Randy Pfund before
Pritchard, who had been with
"He's got a lot of versatility to
settling on Cho, 44, who joined the Blazers since 2004, was fired his skill set. He's going to put in an
the Thunder as an intern when by Allen just hours before the incredible amount of work and
the franchise was based in Se­ NBA draft. It was never made he's going to think things through
attle.
clear what exactly precipitated and be very analytical about how
Cho interviewed with Blazers the dismissal.
he approaches decisions," Presti
owner Paul Allen, the billionaire
Pritchard built a promising said. "I just think overall he brings
co-founder o f M icrosoft, last young team around guard Bran- a nice balance and he's going to
week in Helsinki, Finland. Allen, don Roy, who was chosen the do wonderful."
still traveling in Europe, said in league's rookie o f the year be-
During ¿jis time in Seattle,
a statement: "Rich has depth o f fore becoming a three-time All- C ho w o rk ed c lo se ly w ith
character, a foundation in busi- S tar. P ritc h a rd w as also a Microsoft to develop a compre-
ness and legal matters and a staunch supporter o f 7-foot hensive player evaluation sys-
knowledge o f the game o f NBA center Greg Oden, the top pick tern. A member o f the Washing-
basketball that will help our team in the 2007 draft who has been ton State Bar, he also served as
get even better. He is part o f the plagued by injuries.
a vice president in charge of
new generation o f NBA execu-
During Pritchard's tenure the legal affairs for the SuperSonics
fives."
Blazers also returned to the play- from 2005-07, handling issues
With a law degree and also a offs after a five-year absence, including licensing agreements
background in engineering, Cho but they were unable to get past and employment contracts,
has gained a reputation for his the first round for the past two
Cho, who also has worked at
expertise with the salary cap seasons.
Boeing, received his engineer-
and the collective bargaining
-Portland, which won the NBA ing degree from W ashington
agreement. He's also got scout- championship in 1977, went 50- State. He attended law school at
ing experience.
32 last season even though the Pepperdine.
"Everyone I spoke to about team was dogged by injuries to
The A sso c ia te d P ress