Sports Column

Randolph keeps the grief coming

On Sports

By dwight jaynes

The Portland Tribune, Mar 27, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (75 Reader comments)

RANDOLPH

We learned a lot last week about Zach Randolph, the Trail Blazers and even some of the team’s fans.

First, of course, there’s Randolph. Some people are wondering what the big deal is after reading our online story about what he was up to during his “bereavement leave.” But I think Randolph’s actions finally may have sealed his departure from the Blazers.

Just to recap, Randolph was granted the leave last Monday after a cousin of his girlfriend was shot dead in Marion, Ind.

On Tuesday night, the Blazers were playing Washington at the Rose Garden – and Randolph was spotted at 11:30 p.m. in a strip club on Northeast Columbia Boulevard.

It was just a brief stop and he was on his way to the airport to catch a red-eye, Randolph reportedly told a club official. Well, OK. But I doubt it, because according to a travel agent and the Blazers, the last late-night flight headed toward the Midwest departs PDX at 11:04 p.m. There isn’t another one until after 6 a.m.

And I guess, too, his $106 tab doesn’t indicate any time spent in the place, merely his generosity in buying a round for the house during his “brief” stay.

Understand, please, I’m not saying Randolph should be in any trouble for being in a strip club – that’s between the guy and his girlfriend, who is probably used to it.

Those places seem – and I’m sure Commissioner David Stern is so proud of this – to have become the No. 1 hangout for NBA players.

The whole point is, I think Randolph betrayed his coach and his team – even if he was, instead, at the opera or a chamber music recital.

There was little question that when Nate McMillan was contacted by Kerry Eggers of the Portland Tribune on Friday, the coach had no idea Randolph was still in Portland on that Tuesday night. Randolph had had two days to leave for Indiana by then.

If the guy’s in town but his mind isn’t right and he can’t play, shouldn’t he still be on the bench supporting his teammates, rather than supporting Portland’s stripper economy?

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