Joe FreemanofThe Oregonian checks inwith some local bar owners that cater to Portland Trail Blazers fans to estimate the damage caused by the ongoing NBA lockout. -------------------------- "The value of the Blazers team to this community is measured in the millions," said Drew Mahalic, CEO of the Oregon Sports Authority. "Their absence will, quite frankly, be devastating to the Portland regional community in that it impacts so many different businesses when they play." ... Should the season be wiped away, [Blitz Ladd assistant manager John Martin] estimates the bar would lose between $160,000 and $240,000. Twenty-seven people work at Blitz. If the lockout stretches into January, Martin said, the bar will be forced to cut between six and 10 jobs. ... "If we lose an entire season, I worry about every sports bar in this town," [Spirit of 77 manager Tim] Davey said. "I've tried to think of an analogy, but there really isn't one. It's like comparing us to a wine bar if an insane bacteria crushed the Northwest and killed all the grapes and suspended the supply of wine. That's the best I can come up with. And even that would have to be an international epidemic to compare to this." -------------------------- -- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com |Twitter