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The Portland Trail Blazers begin a new NBA season with All-Star point guard Damian Lillard the sole holdover from last season's starting lineup. This summer, the basketball team lost LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews and Robin Lopez to free agency, and traded Nicolas Batum.
But the Blazers aren't the only team that must rebuild: So must the newspaper sports department covering them.
Oregonian columnist Jason Quick and photographer Bruce Ely—two of the cornerstones of The O's sports desk—both announced this month they're leaving the paper.
Ely will work for the Blazers organization, while Quick is headed to local Blazers television broadcaster Comcast SportsNet Northwest.
Ely declined comment on his move. Oregonian editor Mark Katches did not reply to WW's request for comment.
Quick says he's preparing for a steep learning curve as he moves to television.
"I'm really going to have to work hard to be good at this job," Quick tells WW. "This is a gamble for me because of their contract situation with the Blazers. But after talking to their management, I'm willing to bet on them and I'm willing to bet on myself. I think I can make it into a fun adventure."
But leaving The Oregonian saddens Quick, a 21-year veteran of the paper.
"At The Oregonian, we both agreed that I was not a good fit," says Quick. "It breaks my heart. I put a lot of myself into that company. But I think we can all see that it's not the same place."
Willamette Week