Patterson likes life after Blazers

Ex-president-GM stays in town, makes up for vacationless decade

By kerry eggers

The Portland Tribune, Jan 18, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (15 Reader comments)

CHRISTOPHER ONSTOTT / TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

Ten months after resigning from the Blazers, Steve Patterson has traveled with his family and done some consulting work. He says he and his family may continue to live here.

Those who figured Steve Patterson might ride the first rail out of town were wrong.

Ten months after resigning as president and general manager of the Trail Blazers, Patterson, wife Yasmin and their two teenage sons still live in Lake Oswego. They might even stay.

“The family likes it here,” says Patterson, 50. “There are a lot of people who want me to stay here. I’ve had some interesting business opportunities.

“We’ll see.”

For the first six months after Patterson left the Blazers, he traveled — sometimes with Yasmin, sometimes with the entire family. He ticks off the spots: Italy; Mexico; Texas; Colorado; Lake Tahoe; Sun Valley, Idaho; Bandon.

“It’s been great,” Patterson says. “It was 10 years without a vacation, literally. We decided to take six months and see a lot of fun places, including a lot of the state of Oregon.

“I really wanted to take some time off and get away from things. When you’re in a business like the NBA, it’s a 24/7/365 job. It’s been healthy for me to step out of it and get some perspective.”

The 6-5 Patterson weighs 195 pounds, 40 less than when he arrived in Portland in 2003. Stress?

“No,” he says with a laugh. He practices yoga and walks for exercise daily, skis and has paid closer attention to his diet. “My weight is where it should be,” he says.

Clashes with Vulcan staff

The last few months, Patterson says he has spoken about potential jobs with representatives of clubs from the NBA, NFL, NHL, Major League Baseball and professional soccer. He says he has done some consulting work for clubs in hockey, baseball and soccer.

“If the right situation comes up, I’ll take it,” he says. “I’m enjoying life as it is right now.

1 | 2 Next Page >>

Facebook	Digg	Del.icio.us
Newsvine	Stumbleupon	Reddit