J-Speaks: "Rip City Loses" Tranformational Owner

He was a transformational figure in the business world, as a philanthropist and in professional sports. He got a perfect score on his SAT and got into Washington State University. After two years he dropped out to work as a programmer for a company called Honeywell in Boston, MA near Harvard University where he convinced a fellow Pacific Northwest native to start a tech revolution that has become a major part of our world. Earlier this week, the nation and the Pacific Northwest suddenly said goodbye to a man who showed how you can change the world with a great idea, a foundation of people who share your vision and have the integrity to never be bigger than those you are surrounded by. 

On Monday Paul Gardner Allen, the longtime owner of the National Football League’s (NFL) Seattle Seahawks; the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Portland Trail Blazers and the Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Seattle Sounders passed away after complications of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He was 65 years old. 

Allen who began the computer revolution as the co-found of Microsoft with former Harvard student Bill Gates was diagnosed with Stage 1-A Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1982, that was successfully treated through radiation therapy and a bone marrow transplant for several months as well as through a bone marrow transplant. His non-Hodgkin’s was diagnosed nine years ago, which was also treated successfully until it resurfaced earlier this month. Allen was never married and had no children. 

“My brother was a remarkable individual on every level,” Jody Allen, Paul’s sister said via a press release. “While most knew Paul Allen as a technologist and philanthropist, for us he was a much-loved brother and uncle, and an exceptional friend.”

“Paul’s family and friends were blessed to experience his wit, warmth, his generosity and deep concern. For all the demands on his schedule, there was always time for family and friends. At this time of loss and grief for us-and so many others-we are profoundly grateful for the care and concern he demonstrated every day.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said that Allen was a “valued voice” that helped “The Association” expand and strengthen its footprints across the globe. 

He added in a press release about the 30-year owner of the Trail Blazers “Paul Allen was the ultimate trail blazer-in business, philanthropy and in sports.” 

“As one of the longest-tenured owners in the NBA, Paul brought a sense of discovery and vision to every league matter large and small. He was generous with his time on committee work, and his expertise helped lay the foundation for the league’s growth internationally and our embrace of new technologies. He was a valued voice who challenged assumptions and conventional wisdom and one we will deeply miss as we start a new season without him. Our condolences go to his family, friends and the entire Trail Blazers organization.”

Born on Jan. 21, 1953 in Seattle, WA, Allen attended a private school in the Pacific Northwest where he be-friended a gentleman by the name of Bill Gates, whom he a common enthusiasm for computers. 

The two would turn that enthusiasm into a programming language interpreter called “BASIC,” which would eventually become “Microsoft” and began a computer revolution that not only made Allen and Gates billionaires a thousand times over, but eventually connected all of us to the point that we a computer to do everything from purchasing the basic of life like food and clothes; sending a message via text or e-mail and even connect or re-connect with people we had not spoken to in years. 

To bring the kind of impact Allen had on cyberspace into context, he had a hand in ESPN as nearly a quarter of a century ago his company Starwave designed and ran the original ESPN.com website. He and his M Slade team certainly can take a great deal of pride in as he has seen the “World Wide Leader in Sports” digital presence grow over the years. 

“Allen was only 65 years old when he died but we were lucky to have him as long as we did. The entire NBA community mourns his passing,” host of ESPN’s “NBA: The Jump” Rachel Nichols said on Tuesday.  

Allen would go on to become one of the greatest business men on the planet creating Vulcan Inc. which oversaw his diverse business activities and philanthropic efforts-from his ownership of the Trail Blazers and Seahawks to his conservation projects like the Great Elephant Census and business ventures like the Seattle Cinerama. 

In 1988, Allen purchased the Trail Blazers from California real estate developer Larry Weinberg for $70 million. Under Allen, the Trail Blazers held a 56.2 winning percentage, making the postseason 19 times, with and two appearances in the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls in five and six games respectably. 

Prior to their season opener on Thursday night versus four-time Kia MVP LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on TNT, the edge of the court was painted PGA with a Rose and all the players wore patches with the same letters on their jerseys that they will do for the remainder of this season in honor of their owner. 

He was instrumental in the development and funding to build the team’s current home court the Moda Center, that opened in the 1995-96 season. Allen purchased the formerly named Rose Garden on Apr. 2, 2007 and stated that this was a major milestone and a positive step for the franchise, which according to Forbes in 2015 was ranked No. 12 of the 30 NBA squads at a value of $940 million. 

To honor Allen, three-time All-Star lead guard and First Team All-NBA selection for 2017-18 Damian Lillard before tip-off of Thursday night’s tilt versus the Lakers sported custom made sneakers that had a guitar on the front of the shoe with “RIP Paul Allen” on the side. 

NBA on TNT sideline reporter Kristen Ledlow in a report during the game said that Lillard, the shoes were designed by Kickstradomis Customs. 

Before the game, Ledlow spoke with the creator Salvador Amezcua who Lillard reach out to one day prior to the start of the Trail Blazers season to communicate the vision and inspiration of the design that he wore on Thursday night, which took just a couple of hours to complete the customization. The shoes were shipped overnight to Lillard in time for their tilt versus the Lakers. The design of the shoe was an homage to Allen’s life and love of music, which was why there was the electric guitar on the front top of his shoes. 

Lillard via Instagram @Dame_Lillard said on Monday, “At a loss for words. RIP to a great man…much love and respect!”  

His backcourt mate CJ McCollum via twitter @CJMcCollum said, “You made the world a better place and changed the life trajectory of so many. Deepest condolences to your family and loved ones.”

Former Trail Blazer, now San Antonio Spurs’ All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge said of his former boss via twitter @aldridge_12, “Paul Allen will never be forgotten. He was a great owner, an amazing leader, and a truly wonderful person. I’m forever grateful that we got to share so many great moments together. His passion and dedication will be deeply missed. My heart goes out to his family and friends.” 

In 1996 Allen dipped his toe into the pro sports landscape again when he purchased the Seahawks from former owner Ken Behring, who threatened to move the team to Southern California. Just like he vowed to keep the Trail Blazers in Portland, OR despite the market size of the city.

“I’m not sure anybody else in this community would have done what [Allen] did,” former Seahawks minority owner Herman Sarkowsky told The Seattle Times back then about Allen’s move. 

To bring into context the impact Allen had on this NFL franchise, the Seahawks had only made the playoffs just four times in 20 seasons. After purchasing the squad, the Seahawks reached the postseason 12 times in 21 seasons, reaching the Super Bowl three times and capturing the Vince Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl XLVIII versus Hall of Famer Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos on Feb. 2, 2014, defeating them 43-8. 

As of August 2014, Forbes, which has called the fan base of the Seahawks one of the “rabid in the NFL” valued at $1.33 billion dollars. 

As involved as Allen was in his business endeavors as a sports owner and business titan, he always made time to give back not just his money but his time. 

Eight years ago, Allen pledged when he passed, he would donate a majority of his fortune to philanthropic causes when he became signatory of “The Giving Pledge. 

Since the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, which was established to administer a portion of his philanthropic contributions, more than $2 billion has gone towards the advancements of science, technology, education, wildlife conservation, the arts and community service. More than $494 million of that money has gone to over 1,500 nonprofits.  

The computer revolution produced three giant names in Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Paul Allen. All three dropped out of college and all three changed the world we live in. Above all, this trio showed us how you can super wealthy, super smart and super involved in making the world a better place. Also, that you can be super humble and show that everyone that works for you has value. That their voice and ideas should be at least heard and if it is good enough listen to. 

On Monday, the professional sports world and the business world lost a legend who showed us that having faith in something, putting in the work to make it a reality and bringing in people who respect and will put in the work to make that vision a reality makes us all better. Paul Allen was one of a kind and it will not be the same not to see him at courtside at the Moda Center for Trail Blazer games or at Century Link Field where the Seahawks play. 

“It was always sort of startling to me to be at Portland Trail Blazers game, particularly in the playoffs and you could look over and see Paul Allen, and it’s just jolting” longtime sports columnist and co-host of ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption” Michael Wilbon said on Tuesday. 

 “Someone who meant this much to so many different cultures, subcultures in America, in the world would be sitting there courtside at a game.”

Information and quotations are courtesy of 10/15/18 www.nba.com story “Long-time Portland Trail Blazers Owner Paul Allen Dies at 65;” 10/16/18 3 p.m. edition of “NBA: The Jump” on ESPN with Rachel Nichols; 10/16/18 5:30 p.m. edition of “Pardon the Interruption” on ESPN with Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon; 10/16/18 7 p.m. edition of TNT’s “NBA Tip-Off,” presented by Autotrader with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal; 10/18/18 10:30 p.m. contest between the Los Angeles Lakers versus the Portland Trail Blazers on TNT’s Premiere Week, presented by Autotrader with Marv Albert, Chris Webber and Kristen Ledlow; 10/16/18 9 p.m. edition of Showtime's "Inside the NFL" with James Brown, Boomer Esiason, Phil Simms, and Ray Lewis; www.nba.com/games/20181018/LALPOR#/recap by Anne E. Peterson, sports writer of “The Associated Press;” https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Allen; and https://m.facebook.com/Kickstradomiscustomz.