Ann on LB

["Greg Odegaard" <gmodegaa@longvred.rmc.com>]

Of all things in our Sunday paper this bit showed up in the Ann Landers
column;

Dear Ann Lander:
I hope you have enough nerve to print the letter because the person I am
complaining about is an American hero.  His name is Larry Bird.  He made
his name as a player on the Boston Celtics, and is now coaching the Indiana
Pacers.  This is what happened.

During the pre-season, the team's plane was scheduled to leave for a game
at 4PM.  Two of the players, Travis Best and Dale Davis, were nowhere to be
found.  The stairs had been pulled up, and the plane was just about to take
off.  Suddenly, one of the players who was on the plane and looking out th
window yelled, "Travis and Dale are out there on the passenger cart. 
Somebody should tell the pilot to lower the stairs."  Larry Bird shouted,
"No way.  It's after 4PM.  Those guys are tardy.  They'll have to go
commercial."

I was shocked when I heard about this on TV.  How could a guy be so mean to
his own players? It just doesn't make any sense.

-A former Larry Bird fan


Dear Former Larry Bird Fan:
Did you say "mean"?  Sorry, I don't agree with you.  I believe Larry Bird
showed a great deal of courage when he left those late arrivals standing on
the tarmac.  He taught them a lesson they needed to learn.  You can bet
your life they will never be late for a team plane again.  And neither will
the players who witnessed this extraordinary example of disciplinary
action.  Call it being "mean" if you want, but in my opinion, it was a
demonstration of strong character.  Way to go, Larry!



Too bad the Warriors and the NBA can't leave Sprewell on some runway in a
South American backwater.  The response to his behavior I thought was best,
was for the Warriors to keep him on the roster and let him rot on the end
of the bench for 2 years.  He gets paid, but would suffer none the less,
and have to "play" for PJ.  Obviously they could use the cap space.  I
think it is time for PJ, the Warriors and the league to step and press
formal criminal charges on Srewell, for this obvious criminal act.  That
might get his attention.