RE: Billups

[Ken Kokubo <kk@harvard.edu>]

>But of course, most important is heart and if already Billups=B4 attitude
>is questioned, that is a big problem. If he is working hard, two seasons
>is about the time you can spend on him.

I think this is the main reason why most people (at least me) like Billups.=
 Every interview I've seen with him and every non-playing thing he does has=
 really impressed me. I know that ultimately what he does on the court is=
 the bottom line. But he isn't complaining (at least publicly), he seems to=
 be interested in trying to learn (Pitino and staff are the ones who need to=
 decide this though), he seems to be a natural positve role model (there are=
 those who do things for others because of their position, and those who do=
 things for others because they want to and they are in a position to do so.=
 He seems to be the latter).

He has shown flashes of serious talent, he is a good shooter, and he has had=
 some really nice defensive stretches.

Maybe Pitino should have started with him playing only 5 minutes a game. Who=
 knows. I'm willing to wait. I was a teenager in the 80's but my most rabid=
 fandom came when Reggie joined the team. I loved watching him grow into an=
 All-Star. I really look forward to each game again now to see how they are=
 doing. And even though Billups has had some serious downs. I'll be patient=
 for a year or 2 or even 3. I know Reggie's situation was totally different=
 but it took him a while too.

Walker's got to learn to pull back a little, Mercer's gotta learn to push a=
 little, Billups has to learn enough not to have to think about it, McCarty=
 just has to calm down, and Travis just has to learn how to gain weight but=
 keep the speed.




Ken Kokubo
UIS/Harvard University
617.496.8151