Re: Jim O'Brien

["Cecil Wright" <cecil@hfx.eastlink.ca>]

Hey there Bentz,

I feel your pain.  It was this incessant kind of negative harping which
drove me to put Forant in my kill file.  I don't mind if someone doesn't
like a player.  Lord knows I have several favorite whipping boys myself.
But none of them play for the Celtics.  Some of us call ourselves "fans",
when in reality, we should be calling ourselves "critics" for that is what
some of us truly are.

Blaming Pitino or Walker is en vogue, regardless of the outcome.  And until
Toine stops wiggling and increases his field goal percentage, free throw
percentage, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks, those who are the most
vocal critics, will not let up.

Pitino guided this team back from an enormous deficit tonight and they were
in a position to win the game if Kenny's shot had fallen.  But he will not
be given any credit for it.  He will be scorned because they lost to a team
without Iverson and Ratliff.  The Miami victory will have faded into
oblivion and great delight will be taken when the culprits sit down before
the keyboard.

Like Paul said in another e-mail.  It's the good vs evil thing that they
love to play up.  Griffin and Pierce are good.  Toine and RP are evil.  You
see, they make alot of money, therefore, the expectation level is
astronomical, but only for them.  Battie, who has been called "El Busto" by
more than just Dan Issel, has been superb of late.  But he will receive few
accolades from those who have berated his play earlier in the season.

I ask the question; do the naysayers want him and Toine to do well?  Or do
you prefer to relish the weaker performances so you can have something to
gloat about and someone to whom you can attach blame?

Cecil

----- Original Message -----
From: R. Bentz Kirby <bocelts@usit.net>
To: Josh Ozersky <josh_ozersky@yahoo.com>
Cc: <mdynon@ix.netcom.com>; Celtics List <celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 04, 1999 10:35 PM
Subject: Re: Jim O'Brien


> Amen to that.  That is what I am saying.  Why doesn't someone start the
> Criticize the Celtics, management and coaches list so all those that
> love to find something wrong can do so without bringing the negative
> vibes to this list.  I guess since we lost tonight, we will really hear
> the "boo" birds on the list.  Maybe I am just tired or something, but
> this seemingly endless flow of criticism has gotten to me.
>
> I will admit though that Pitino is human and makes mistakes.  But this
> team is .500 and I would not have thought that they would be.  When you
> look at the players, we really can't expect more than that.  I mean,
> Purvis is our best center.  If they win 41 games, it will be a great
> improvement and better than what most coaches could do with this
> talent.  And despite our comments, I am not so sure that we could do
> much better in the talent pool.  Maybe Duncan will lose his mind and
> sign with us next year!
>
> Josh Ozersky wrote:
>
> > Amen.
> >
> > --- Mike Dynon <mdynon@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> > > That's who took over for Pitino last night. His
> > > title is Associate
> > > Coach. The Assistant Coaches are Lester Conner, John
> > > Carroll, Andy
> > > Enfield and Kevin Willard. For the record, Pitino
> > > did praise them in the
> > > post-game interview, saying "I have the utmost
> > > confidence in Jim O'Brien
> > > and the entire staff."
> > >
> > > Mike Dynon
> > >
> > > P.S.  Someone recently asked whatever happened to
> > > list member Kim Malo?
> > > Perhaps she just grew tired of the rampant
> > > negativity on this list. Case
> > > in point: after last night's satisfying, crucial,
> > > payback win over the
> > > top team in the conference, this morning's posts
> > > express no joy in
> > > victory. That's so predictable, and so regrettable.
> > >
> > >
> >
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> --
>
> Bentz Kirby
> bocelts@usit.net
> http://www.public.usit.net/bocelts/
>
>