GOOD TO HAVE THE LIST BACK

["Dorine" <norine@sover.net>]

Guess you don't miss something until it's not there, right?  Have been
getting the list so long it was like losing an old friend.  Was very happy
to see it back on late today.  Thanks, Paul.

Just read the excellent article Ray posted - never know what to call someone
with a name like “way of the ray”, sorry if that's not right.  Anyway, the
article was excellent. I agree it's not about color - think these words from
the article are very true -

Gomes, who is white, theorizes the Bruins' captain hasn't been criticized
      about his move because he's been around longer than Walker, and has
      nothing to prove to fans.
      ``I don't agree that it's a cultural thing,'' said Gomes, who is from
      Taunton. ``It doesn't matter if you're white, black or purple. If
someone
      does a dance that's in the joy of the moment, and the team's winning,
      that's OK. If it's done with arrogance, or to taunt, that's what
bothers
      me.

Many times last year, Walker wiggled or jumped on tables at very
inappropriate times.  The fans have not forgotten that.  It will take time,
and alot of winning, and some more maturity shown by Antoine before they
will.  That act would play alot better in LA than in Boston, that's also
true and we all know that.  In Boston all teams have tough acts to follow.
When they had the big win, Antoine was pumped, and rightfully so, and the
wiggle was fine, but I drew the line on the jumping on the table bit,
myself, because it was as though he was taking all the credit. Granted, they
could not have done it without him in that particular game, but believe it
or not, I would have admired it more had he not jumped on the table.  He was
eating up the attention after some very bad nights - also understandable in
one so young, but it was still a team effort.  And, it was rubbing it in to
the visiting team.  There's that element, also.  I also admit it probably is
a generational thing - I admire the Russell type more than the Antoine type,
like it or not - I admit it and don't apologize for it.

Maybe some of you can understand this analogy a little better.  Paul Pierce
waves at the crowd to get them going.  He has the enthusiasm too, but he
shows it differently.  I just liked Pierce from the beginning and I didn't
like Antoine.  Has nothing to do with his talent or the fact that he's a
very important part of this team.  I like what he can do on a basketball
floor and I admire the obvious work he's done to improve his image this
year.  Having said that, I still don't like him.  I can't explain that any
better, and only hope that as time goes on I will learn to like him.  It
might help if I could understand half of what he says in an interview.  Rick
didn't do this young man any favors when he appointed him Captain of this
team.  He was not, then, up to the task.  At the very least there should
have been co-captains.

I don't like being called a “basher” - who does?  As fans, we have every
right to criticize the players if we want to, and to praise them, too.  Even
I admit it's not fair to not like someone whom I don't even know - and not
like me, really - but I can't explain it any better than I have.  Maybe it's
because Rick has protected him and always given him special privileges.  I
know that has something to do with it.  The one who bears the weight of my
wrath now is not Antoine, but Pitino.  Maybe he needs to stop treating these
players like children, and stop yelling the whole game long.  I also
question the roster moves he makes.  I think perhaps Ellie was right - give
the current team time to get some experience and not mess with the
chemistry.

Whatever, I've had my say, and thanks for reading this, if you managed to
get all the way through.  Sorry for the long post, folks.

Dorine