Gaston

[JASPINDLER@aol.com]

Everyone seems to think that Gaston is a major fly in the ointment for the
return of the franchise to greatness, and the Bird/Pitino team.  Based on
what I have read, heard, and seen, Gaston only cares about making money.  He
does not interfere in the day to day operations of the team; currently he
lets ML run the show, for better or worse.  A much worse scenario would be if
Gaston were meddling with the situation.  If Gaston believes that keeping ML
will result in lower profitability and market value for the team, and that
bringing in LB and possibly Pitino will increase the profitability and market
value of the team, then he will do it.  The only question in my mind is one
of style.  He could choose to just fire ML and publicly humiliate him, or he
could choose to find a role for him and gently move him out of the way.  My
belief is that this is exactly what the plan is, otherwise ML would not be so
outwardly secure in his current role.  One other possibility to consider here
is that Gaston's long term intention is to sell the team, and that ML's long
term intention is to be a part owner.  If this has any element of truth in
it, then likely the Bird move will play out, and Pitino would be a better
possibility.  ML would likely be sitting with some pretty attractive stock
options (remember that the Celtics are publicly traded), and these options
would become increasingly more valuable as the teams fortunes improve.
 Everybody wins, everybody gets what they want, and of course ticket prices
will rise and the house will be packed.  Stay tuned..................