Talking Points 3/12

1

We feel your pain, Gerald Wallace.

It’s no fun getting blindsided.

The Trail Blazers forward returned to Charlotte on Friday to play against the Bobcats team he was the heart of for seven seasons.

In the days leading up to the game, Wallace said he was blindsided by the trade and hurt that the Bobcats traded him.

Now, on a purely basketball level, it’s silly to be hurt by a trade. Especially a veteran should understand that loyalty is a non-factor in the business of basketball.

But on a human level, Wallace’s disappointment is understandable.

When an employer dumps you, it stings for a while. For Blazers’ fans, though, this shapes up nicely. If Wallace plays with a chip on his shoulder, figure it helps Portland.

2

The Pac-10 basketball tournament is a joke.

Not the basketball. Anyone who watched Thursday’s Washington-WSU shootout was certainly entertained.

Trouble is, not many people see it. The Staples Center is mostly empty — even when L.A. teams are playing. And the 8:30 p.m. start time for the last game of the day certainly isn’t being watched by NCAA committee members east of Vegas.

Here’s our solution: In the Pac-12 next season, have the regular-season champion host the tournament. The atmosphere improve with more fan interest. Better, regular-season games — now meaningless — will gain a measure of significance that might make us pay attention to college hoops before March.