I'm not saying it's right. But somewhere along the way, probably 20-25 years ago, sources began asking for anonymity. Now it's expected. That genie isn't getting shoved back in the bottle. It's up to you whether you trust that the reporter is getting the right sources.

Darrel "ai verata nikto" Plant@darrelplant.bsky.social · 2w ago

Sure. I’ve never worked for a newspaper, but I’ve been reading them for decades, and there are thousands of stories about journalists granting needless anonymity to spread some story a source wants out in the news. Let me tell you about a guy named Scooter Libby…

That's cherry picking. Read the entire story and ask, was it worth getting someone with knowledge of what's going on, or not. That's your call. But I'm telling you, you're rarely going get a sourc e on the inside of an important story to allow a reporter to quote them on the record. Not in 2026.

Andy@palmquac.bsky.social · 2w ago

What is the journalistic purpose of getting an anonymous team source to say “if they don’t want us, then that’s fine?” It is bad reporting that puts a thumb on the scale of a public process. It inherently makes the City Council look bad.

Tell me how that works. Read Jason Quick's story from Sunday or Bill/Shane's story from Monday and let me know how much information you'd have without granting a source anonymity.

Andy@palmquac.bsky.social · 2w ago

Then don’t quote them.

I have no idea what you do for a living, but you don't seem to have any idea about the world of journalism. People inside these stories simply are not going to allow their names to be attached to a quote or information. If you want to inform the public, you have to grant the source anonymity.

Darrel "ai verata nikto" Plant@darrelplant.bsky.social · 2w ago

Yeah, but it’s *sports* journalism.

Tom Dundon talks to @billoram.bsky.social in an Oregonian/OregonLive exclusive about Blazers' layoffs, differences between Carolina/Blazers franchises, getting a Moda deal done and more. www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...

Tom Dundon revealed: Trail Blazers owner opens up about layoffs, Portland politicians and ‘Jail Blazers’ | Bill Oram

The controversial billionaire says that fans have focused on "wrong things" as he takes over in Portland.

oregonlive.com

You can understand the situation and still have empathy.

Scott@clydes46.bsky.social · 3mo ago

This is business people. Hell I have been laid off from over five jobs in 40 years. Quit complaining and go find a better job. You never know what is out there until you are forced to.

Blazers lay off more than 70 employees. From our story: "The Blazers were one of the largest organizations in the NBA, an unsustainable reality considering they fetch the league’s lowest sponsorship revenue and rank near the bottom in ticket revenue." www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...

Blazers lay off dozens as new team owner takes over

The moves, which affected just over 70 employees, came seven weeks after Dundon, the Dallas billionaire, and his ownership group officially took over the franchise.

oregonlive.com

I'm not going to get into a back-and-forth on social media. It never goes anywhere. We have plenty of sources, close to the situation. Most decline to be revealed, for a variety of reasons. We have written many, many stories on the subject, and will continue to report.

Edan Krolewicz@edankrolewicz.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Every piece you have done has been vibes. No meaningful relocation analysis, no sources, no discussion of what a fair deal should look like for taxpayers, no discussion of what leverage the city has. Tom Dundon even contradicted your reporting on how easy it would be for him to leave.

Sorry to ruin your day, but Bill is still our (and my) sports columnist. Maybe try to better understand what BIll is writing ... he's never said Dundon's goal is to leave. But it's a tool if he doesn't get what he wants. And that is very much up in the air.

Rip City Not Rip Off@ripcitynotripoff.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Seems @billoram.bsky.social has been demoted by the Oregonian for his clickbait journalism. Here Tom Dundon contradicts everything Bill has been writing about for months (that Tom’s main goal is leaving, and that it would be easy to do so.) www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...

@billoram.bsky.social kept the censor busy with this takedown of Portland's city council and their game playing with the Blazers' arena renovation. www.instagram.com/reels/DYTftp...

The Oregonian on Instagram: "Sports columnist @BillOregonian says that the threat of the Trail Blazers moving is real and we need to start treating it as such. Read more at the link in our bio. #Rip...

136 likes, 32 comments - theoregonian on May 13, 2026: "Sports columnist @BillOregonian says that the threat of the Trail Blazers moving is real and we need to start treating it as such. Read more at...

instagram.com

I'm aware, but it also depends on how much leverage the city and owner have. In this case, Dundon holds most of the cards. There are several cities that will open their wallets wide and build Dundon a nice, new arena.

Docmancometh@docman.bsky.social · 4mo ago

1. It is extremely common for tenants to pay for leasehold improvements. And I’m not suggesting the city should pay nothing. But cities/states are broke and I’m tired of seeing them lay down for the billionaire owners and the millionaire players to get richer and richer.

That is your right. But you better stand there and hold the door open for a lot of other people. The Blazers are a community asset that people living in a metropolitan city want. Lose the Blazers, are you're going to lose a lot of folks.,

Docmancometh@docman.bsky.social · 4mo ago

2. I’ve been a blazer fan for 50 years and if they try to take 600M from me and my fellow taxpayers, I’ll hold the door open so they can get the hell out. Terrible misuse of public funds.

2 questions: 1) The Blazers do not own the building. Should Dundon put money into the renovation of a building he does not own? 2) Would you be willing to live the fallout if the public money wasn't provided and the Blazers left Portland? Because there will be big-time fallout.

Docmancometh@docman.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Blazers are F’d with this guy. 600M in public money? How stupid do these billionaires think we are? I guess we’ll find out how stupid.

There's no pretense with new Blazers majority owner Tom Dundon. Are you the hard-ass everybody says you are? “I think so,” he said. Dundon was in LA for his first day in this position, and talked to The O's @billoram.bsky.social www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...

Tom Dundon levels challenge to Trail Blazers as he takes over as franchise’s owner | Bill Oram

The hard-driving owner of the Carolina Hurricanes says, "I'm not flexible about my standards."

oregonlive.com

BREAKING: Oregon State athletic director Scott Barnes is retiring. He spoke to The Oregonian/OregonLive today. www.oregonlive.com/beavers/2026...

Popular local TV outdoors journalist Grant McOmie passes away. He had a career that spanned nearly 5 decades, mostly at KGW and KATU. www.oregonlive.com/entertainmen...

Wayne Tinkle took out a half-page ad in the Sunday Oregonian, thanking Oregon State fans for the experience and wishing incoming MBB coach Justin Joyner good luck. Class to the end.

@billoram.bsky.social digs in on Oregon State's MBB hire, what needs to happen next, and the uprising from a vocal section of the fan base about AD Scott Barnes' future. www.oregonlive.com/beavers/2026...

WCC MBB coaches had a nice parting gift for Gonzaga in its final year in the conference. The only Zag to make the first/second team or honorable mention was Graham Ike. That list includes 23 players. This is a team that went 28-3. That is some level of pettiness.

I can see that. But the Texas Tech deal was made under previous conditions, i.e. the former Pac-12. The Texas Techs are never coming back to Corvallis unless there is a radical change to OSU's conference situation.

Doug Ricks@dougricks.bsky.social · 5mo ago

I don't think it's running to refuse to play under the terms that UO has forced itself to operate under. I'm honestly more excited for Texas Tech at Reser than I would be for the Ducks.

It's not always going to be like this. If that were the case, then sure, end it now. But it's not. Oregon's power will wane at some point. Meanwhile, if OSU has any hope to get back in the Power mix in 2030, it cannot run from anyone. It has to prove it is worthy of any challenge.

Doug Ricks@dougricks.bsky.social · 5mo ago

This framing is exactly why the game should not continue. Until 2024, this was a game between rivals. UO decided to end that and deign the likes of Rutgers and Illinois as more "worthy" competition on a regular basis. A rivalry cannot exist where one team is desperate just for the matchup.

That was the deal it made with itself when Oregon went to the Big Ten. It's meant to partially offset its half share of annual revenue from the Big Ten.

Doug Ricks@dougricks.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Why does UO "need" 7 home games? Please explain.

The body bag games.

Goney@realjmw.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Right out of the Dee Andre’s playbook. Go on the road to a “big school,” get steamrolled, take home a bag of cash.

You’re right. It’s more profitable to travel and collect a check (forget about the plane, hotels, groceries, and semi to haul gear) instead of selling tickets for a home game. Everyone should play 12 road games!

Jared Shurtliff@jaredshurtliff.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Tickets? It’s the year of our lord 2026 and you’re talking about tickets? The name of the game is money and who can make the most (tv money obviously). GTFOH with tickets. You cover this game, you don’t get to pretend that purity and tradition still exist.

Then we’re back to the 70s and 80s. Again, you think people are paying for season tickets with 4 Pac 12 games, Idaho and New Mexico at Reser?

Jared Shurtliff@jaredshurtliff.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Beavers can make more by scheduling a road game in the SEC, or against a legacy B1G school.

They won’t come to Corvallis. If they’re looking for a game, they’ll want OSU to travel.

Docmancometh@docman.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Hah! I’m not an AD. Start with teams in the top 10 that need to fill out their schedule with a group of 5 type non conference game.

Please name these fish that are willing to come to Corvallis with similar cache to Oregon.

Docmancometh@docman.bsky.social · 5mo ago

OSU doesn’t need Oregon, there are many other fish in the sea. However, I need the Civil War and Oregon to salvage something good out of the college football mess.

In a home and home? No you can't. How do you see season ticket sales faring with 4 Pac-12 home games, Idaho and New Mexico? Texas Tech and BYU might be the last P4 schools to visit Corvallis in a while. Ole Miss will almost certainly buyout its trip to Reser. OSU needs Oregon, plain and simple.

Dam Beaver@dambvr.bsky.social · 5mo ago

I disagree. We can get pay day games elsewhere. The ducks need the game to try to make themselves look better after abandoning the conference for a pay check. We don't need to pad their schedule with a glorified home game that let's their fans tell us 'we always root for you' ...

I second this.

Bill Oram@billoram.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Much more reasonable! Like I said, I think your view is shortsighted and makes you a prisoner of the moment. OSU needs the Oregon game. Sorry, but it’s true.

The Oregonian/OregonLive has an opening for a reporter to cover all aspects of the women's sports scene in Oregon, including WNBA expansion franchise Portland Fire. If you know anyone who might be interested, pass on the link that is attached. www.reportforamerica.org/newsrooms/th...