Given the SFC’s agenda and purpose to unite sports fans seeking a better future - a seat at the table when important decisions are being made in back rooms – the title of this article might indicate a predictable story about how Portland Trail Blazers fans can’t watch their games on TV despite Comcast’s promises to the state of Oregon regardless of a recent FCC ruling which prohibits withholding sports programming such as the aforementioned Blazers games which Comcast NW continues to do in the region.

While SFC will not rest until this agregious practice has ceased, SFC-Portland Chair Sarah Moon is reporting that many Blazers fans are reacting strongly to rumours that GM Kevin Pritchard might go the way of his ally and Assistant GM Tom Penn who was fired less than a week ago. According to Moon, Pritchard is as much a fan favorite as Brandon Roy. 

As the playoffs near, there remains some uncertainty as to the future of the front office alignment. After all the ups and downs the organization has been through on the court in the last decade and a half, Blazers fans want to be able to count on the team to return to post-season play for many years to come in the stacked Western Conference.

While the SFC won’t get caught up in rumours concerning the players on the court, the management in the front office, or ownership in the box, we will focus on all those Blazers fans who are barred from watching the games on TV due to the deal with Comcast. Many are still left without access to the games throughout the state of Oregon.

Comcast has broken the law, and more important to many Blazers fans, they’ve broken their promise. At the outset of the deal with the Blazers, Comcast vowed to share the games with competing media companies so their fans could watch the games in any region across the state. Outside of a few instances, this has not occurred.

The fans will not stand for it. It’s amazing the type of fan base we’ve tapped into by launching SFC-Portland. Blazers fans have wasted no time in starting their own petition to send a message to the team’s ownership following the firing of Asst. GM Tom Penn.  

We applaud their social activism, and request that you join our efforts to make a difference for sports fans in Portland and across the region.  

Visit the Facebook and Twitter pages to become a fan and follow what the Local Chapter is doing about the issues that affect sports fans.

Also, don’t forget to sign the petition to demand your Blazers games today. Many are still without TV access, and deserve it. Promises have been made. Let’s see to it that they are kept.