Re: Bird on Wing to Boston

["Adam Litchy" <allitchy@cland.net>]

OK, I've just about had it with everyone seemingly (myself included) trying
to find consolation prizes' for ML.  "Well, maybe he can still be coach. 
Well, lets not just dump him.  Wah wha wahh"  Lets stop crying, and feeling
sorry for this guy.  

He is being paid very well, to do a JOB.  That's right a JOB.  His job is
to win games, to bring the Celtics back to Championship form.  He is not
doing this, so CUT HIM LOOSE.  He maybe personable, he maybe well liked by
his players, but let's face the facts.   He can not coach.  You can not
tell me that the Celtics do not have enough talent to win more than 12 (or
13 or whatever abysmal number we have) wins in this watered down league. 
That is utter bull$#$#.  Bring in a real coach, not sum guy from PR who
thought coaching would be neat.

As for his GM duties, he has made some all time boners.  Some one listed
them recently with the "You decide" tag line.  And my judgement is that he
has failed miserably.  The Walker deal was great but I'm convinced it was a
fluke.  And It wouldn't look so good if Dallas had not imploded. His
failure to clear out the dead wood is unexcusable.  Look at what Riley did
in less than a year.  If he had not been screwed over by the league office,
he would have Howard down there too.  And Miami would be a legitimate
contender for the title.  It can be done, you just have to have the brains
and balls to do it.

I've also seen the miserable coach-players love him syndrome on every
level.  My little brother's coach is horrible, and yet his players would
"go to war for him" and defend him.  My brother's team could have one a
state title easily, and I'm not over exagerating, if they had simply had a
knowledgable coach.  When Players hear the criticism of ML, it simply
galvanizes their support of him, and an" us against the world mentality" is
the result.

Who out their can honsetly say that they would rather have ML over Bird and
Pitino?

Adam Litchy
- ----------
> From: jan crocker <pravda@tiac.net>
> To: celtics@igtc.com
> Subject: Bird on Wing to Boston
> Date: Wednesday, March 26, 1997 6:07 AM
> 
> 
> 
> I woke up this morning to great news. San Antonio wins and Dallas takes
> another lose (they are on an Eastern death march swing).  The best news
of
> all is I'm convinced that Bird is coming back to Boston after reading
Peter
> May's article
> "On Basketball: Bird is feeling caged." You can read it
> at:http://www.boston.com/globe. Go to the sports section from there.
> 
> 
> Here is a bit of what was written and some comments:
> 
> Bird states that:
> 
> ``I couldn't put a percentage on it, but I am probably as
>   close as I've ever been or ever will be'' to getting back
>   into the game, Bird said. ``If it's not next year, then soon
>   I will be doing something. Retirement is for people over
>   65. I'm too young for this.'' (Bird turned 40 last Dec. 7.) 
> 
>   ``I'm getting edgy. Whether it's the front office, or
>    coaching, or even assistant coaching, I want to get
>    involved. I used to sleep eight or 10 hours a night when I
>    played. Now I get by with five, which gives me five more
>    hours with nothing to do. I've got a lot of free time.'' 
> 
> This certainly sounds like Larry's ready to dive in head first and get
his
> hands dirty. I just can't believe that Gaston would sit on his hands and
let
> Larry fly the coup and feather some other NBA owners nest. Gaston has to
> pull the trigger on this pronto.
> 
> May and Bird go on to say:
> 
> The inner workings of
> the organization have at times left him utterly frustrated.
> He often talks about the unending layers of
> decision-makers. He thinks there are too many yes men
> and wouldn't hesitate to do what he felt needed to be
> done. 
> 
> ``I am not afraid of making a decision like that,'' Bird
> said, referring to in-house changes. ``If I came there, or
> wherever I do go, I will make it. I would move them or
> get rid of them. Everyone has to be held accountable.
> With the Celtics, I wouldn't go in there and work with
> some of the people they have. There are people there
> who have to be held accountable for what they do.'' 
> 
> He continued, ``Now people are going to read that and
> say, `Oh sure, he's coming to Boston,' and there's no
> question that the Celtics will always be my first choice.
>  But I'm not going to step on anyone's toes or back-door
>  anyone. Paul has told me I can have a role. And I think I
>  can bring something to the table. At least I hope I can.
> But I don't know what the state of mind of the Celtics is.'
> 
> I like the idea of Bird moving into the front office and cleaning house.
> It's the present host of characters that's helped bring us to the sorry
> state we are in now (outside of our position vis a vie the draft). Larry
> would kick some butt and send a strong message to the players that he
won't
> tolerate anything less than 100% or your out the door. 
> 
> As far as ML is concerned it's clear that Larry doesn't want to be Brutus
in
> this deal. But it's clear he want's in. Why not make Bird the GM and let
him
> keep Carr for the upcoming season as his coach. With our picks and
changes
> implemented by Bird directley effecing the product on the floor it would
be
> time to put up or get out for Carr. If ML falls short of his promise to
> bring the Celtic's back to the playoffs next season Bird would have every
> right to show him the door and not feel badly by doing so. It would also
be
> fair to Carr to give him a shot with a full and youthful squad.  Don't
read
> me wrong here I would like to see him out of the picture but if a
compromise
> is needed to get Larry here so be it.
> 
> I'm a twenty yeaar season ticket holder and have been a Celtics fan all
my life.
> I was there for the Wicks and Rowe years and remember the feeling when
Bird
> came to town. The great feeling of hope and rebirth. You just knew things
> would turn for the better. Look what happened. Please let history repeat
> itself. Bring back Larry Bird now!!!!
> 
> JC