Re: The NBA Grind

[Danny Fung Yee Lim <dlim@utkux.utcc.utk.edu>]

I don't know about that. I guess it depends on your perspective on
coaching the all star team. I think it is intended more as an honor than
as an obligation. Ideally, one should have the choice as to whether one
would like to accept the rewards of excellence. But having said that, I
do recognize how important it is for him to accept the job. If not for the
further promotion of the game, then also taking into account the fact that
were he to be given the freedom to skip the game, then why are the
players obligated to attend? What I am trying to say is that whether he
attends or not should not be a reflection on his character. - Danny 

On Thu, 29 Jan 1998 cmcarthur@kkya.com wrote:

> You left out one thing.  Bird gets millions of dollars to coach in the NBA. 
> He gets plenty of time of in the summer.  Frankly I think the least he could
> do in return for the kind of life the fans have allowed him to live is coach
> a damn all-star game.
> 
> If he thinks this is too onerous a burden, then he should get a cushy 50
> hour a week 50 weeks a year job like the rest of us enjoy.
> 
> I understand that Bird dislikes the all-star game because it is not about
> winning, and I respect that, but he was being spoiled and selfish in
> wanting the time off and I think in the end he realized that.
>