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TMS
Posts: 60684
Alba Posts: 617
Joined: 5/11/2004
Member: #674
USA
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this article has him signing a 3 year extension...not a 5 year one like stated in the article above: http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1096459475252200.xml Making good with Ratliff
Blazers officials reward the veteran center's actions on -- and off -- the court with a three-year contract extension
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
JASON QUICK
After determining that Theo Ratliff was too valuable on the court, and too indicative of what they stand for off the court, the Trail Blazers on Tuesday signed the dynamic defensive center to a three-year contract extension.
Ratliff, 31, will make $46 million over the next four seasons according to his agent, Joel Bell, and the Blazers said they are confident the 6-foot-10 center will continue to be the NBA's premier shot blocker and one of its top defenders.
"We think he is in the prime of his career," general manager John Nash said.
For the third time in the past four seasons, Ratliff led the NBA in blocks after recording a career-high 307 (3.61 a game), including a staggering 4.41-block average in the 31 games he played with the Blazers after being traded from Atlanta in February.
He almost single-handedly lifted the Blazers' pathetic team defense -- which stagnated at or near the bottom of nearly every league category -- to respectability, helping drop opponents' scoring average (from 93.7 to 89.3 points a game) and shooting percentage (45.9 to 43.6 percent) after arriving.
In the process, his blocks electrified what was becoming a morose following at the Rose Garden. His nickname, "The Rattler," became a catchphrase, and for every block, the Rose Garden speakers blared a snake rattle. A "Block Party" section kept track of his blocks with placards taped to the rafters, and fans often returned with a plastic rattle -- a game-day giveaway -- to shake after every block.
"He brought this energy and enthusiasm that filtered throughout our team, and pretty much throughout the city, because it didn't take long before everyone was talking about Theo and what he was doing on the court," coach Maurice Cheeks said. "He just changed our team defensively, so much so that it was amazing."
Team president Steve Patterson said Ratliff's history of community service and his character also were factors in the team endorsing such a lengthy and lucrative commitment. After Patterson was hired last summer, the team drafted a 25-point pledge to its fans, which included a promise to value character over talent.
"He is the kind of guy the entire community can be proud of," Patterson said. "He represents all the best in professional sports, and we want him to be one of the building blocks of this franchise."
Over the summer, while finalizing the purchase of a home in Portland, Ratliff played host to a reading celebration for kids at the Police Activities League, spoke at teammate Damon Stoudamire's summer camp and presented a $13,350 check to Doernbecher Children's Hospital on behalf of Northwest Ford Stores, which donates $50 for every Blazers dunk.
"It's important for me to be out in the community, especially if it involves kids," Ratliff said. "They have always been a passion of mine."
Ratliff, who was set to enter the last year of his contract this season, at $10.9 million, said he told his agent to negotiate an extension because he was convinced that Portland was the place for him, and his family, which includes his wife, Kristina, and four children.
"Portland is somewhere I wanted to be, and they have made it possible for me to be here," Ratliff said. "The fans have embraced me as much here as at any place I have ever been. It has been a breath of fresh air seeing the people showing the love and commitment to the organization and the team."
The extension has given Ratliff financial security he once feared he never would have. Three years ago, Ratliff had a career-threatening hip injury that forced him to miss 79 of 82 games. In 2000-01, he missed 28 games with a broken wrist; in 1999-2000, he missed 25 games with ankle problems.
All of those injuries, Ratliff said, can be traced to his being diagnosed two years ago with having the early stages of osteoporosis, a disease in which bones become brittle and subject to fractures.
Ratliff became involved with American Longevity, a mineral supplement company, that he credits for his last two injury-free seasons. The company, which signed Ratliff to a 10-year endorsement contract, features a sports energy drink -- Rebound Fx -- with Ratliff's picture on the bottle. He also takes daily a series of four pills to boost calcium and essential fatty acids and a gelatin that promotes cartilage growth.
"Without this product, I wouldn't be getting this contract," Ratliff said.
And without Ratliff, the Blazers wouldn't be feeling as secure about their future. so basically, this article says he signed a 3 year extension for ~$35 million! that's too much for him imho...let POR have him if that's how much they want the guy...the Knicks would have never had a shot at him if he was so happy in POR & the Blazers were prepared to give up that much annually (~$12 million per!) After 7 years & 40K+ posts, banned by martin for calling Nalod a 'moron'. Awesome.
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9/28/2004 8:08 PM
damn! 