http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/argus/lawrence_kreifels/index.ssf?/base/ columnist/1061501902326360.xml Lack of moves may be Blazers' smartest move 08/21/03 The criticism is starting to surface regarding the new Portland Trail Blazers dice rollers, Steve Patterson (President) and John Nash (General Manager). Blazer fans see every other team in the league wheeling and dealing while their team is remaining stagnant at best. The natural response is that the Blazers are moving dangerously close to lottery land. But this is the same team that was criticized left and right for bringing in too much talent. The Blazers have been saturated with washed up players for so long, it's going to take years to recover. Half the team is overpaid while the other half is underplayed. Looking at the list of off-season additions in the fierce Western Conference, Portland remains the only team with a blank space. But the team's biggest addition is its subtraction. While the Blazers say good-bye to what little brains the team had (Scottie Pippen, Arvydas Sabonis, Chris Dudley and Antonio Daniels), now is the time for Bonzie Wells, Zach Randolph and Qyntel Woods to show what they're made of. With the blockbuster deals going on around the league, nobody is going to pick the quiet Blazers to do anything next season. But I say look out for this team. Assuming Rasheed Wallace is out and that the team will get an above-average, veteran leader for him, this team will have a nice mix of youth and experience. Assuming Wallace stays, he's in a contract season and the selfish jerk is going to want to showcase his talent for the rest of the check writers around the league. Look for him to have a career year. Either way, this team will find a way to make the playoffs. Beyond that, don't get too greedy. Wells, Randolph and Woods will need to have All-Star seasons for it to happen, but I think Wells and Randolph are up to the task and Woods just might get caught in their wake. The rest of the West is the Blazers' biggest worry. It's getting harder and harder to find a bad team. You have to pencil in Sacramento, the Lakers, Dallas, Minnesota and San Antonio into the playoff picture. Beyond that, there's Portland, Phoenix, Houston and Seattle probably fighting for spots 6, 7 and 8. Look for Portland to keep its playoff streak alive. How the mighty have fallen. Nothing against high school football coaching but this is ridiculous. Funny, but ridiculous. Fired University of Washington football coach Rick Neuheisel has volunteered to coach quarterbacks for Rainier Beach High School. "He's going to add an incredible knowledge of the game for our players and coaches," Rainier Beach athletics director Dan Jurdy said . "It's like having a professor teach your coaches and players. This man loves football." Oh yeah, and he's a gambler, a liar and a backstabber. Jurdy said Neuheisel approached Beach coach Mark Haley about volunteering. "I was surprised," Haley said. "It wasn't an everyday phone call." Neuheisel was fired as UW's head coach last month for betting thousands of dollars in neighborhood gambling pools during the past two NCAA basketball tournaments, and -- according to UW athletics director Barbara Hedges -- for not being forthcoming when first questioned by NCAA investigators. Neuheisel's lawyers have indicated they will sue UW, but they have yet to do so. While Neuheisel will get his share of ribbing in the press over his latest career move, imagine the slam-bake had Rainier Beach given him a polite, "Thanks, but no thanks." Readers can reach Lawrence Kreifels at 503-214-1121, or e-mail him at [email protected]. --

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