Re: Bird the Hick

[mberry@journalink.com (Mark Berry)]

          What a mean-spirited post. Can't anyone leave the Boston
          Celtics organization and still be a friend?

          Bird wanted to beat the Celtics. I compare it to a
          brother-brother relationship. You love the person more than
          anyone else, but if you're playing basketball, checkers or
          gin rummy, you want to beat him more than anyone else. Bird
          probably feels the same way about the Celtics.

          Does he harbor hard feelings? Probably, and in many ways,
          rightfully so. The Celtics pushed him out of the picture to
          make way for M.L. Carr. How do you think that made Bird
          feel? He saw the team he loved being torn apart by a guy who
          had no idea what he was doing and no one in the organization
          would listen to one of the franchise's greatest players.
          They wanted him to cash a paycheck and keep his mouth shut.
          Bird wanted input.


          And he hardly inherited one of the NBA's best teams. The
          Pacers finished under .500 last year and missed the
          playoffs. Now they have the best record in the Eastern
          Conference. The only significant change is Bird, who
          replaced another guy who is a pretty fair coach, Larry
          Brown.

          Give the guy some credit. He's doing a great job. And don't
          criticize him for not coming to Boston and blowing smoke up
          your --- about how good the Celtics are doing. He's moved
          on, and we all should be thrilled that he's so happy.

          Mark



          (Personal to Dan: BIRD MAY BE A HICK, BUT YOU'RE AN IDIOT.)