Re: Tommy is getting critical

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

From: Berry, Mark S

> I hope you're right Cecil, and I admire your loyalty. As I've said, I was
> with you right up to this season, when I finally jumped ship. Aren't you
at
> all concerned, however, that the water is poisoned beyond repair for Toine
> here? He is hated by most of the Fleet crowd and I can only wonder how
much
> that disdain for him also causes the apparent disinterest in this team. Do
> you think fans (admittedly, not good fans) are having trouble avidly
> supporting the Celtics because they absolutely can't stand their "best"
> player?
>
> Mark


 I think all players want to be respected by their teammates first.  Most of
them recognize that a certain breed of fan is a very vocal complainer and
critic who have other stresses in life which they stretch to the sporting
arena and try to make other lives as miserable as their own.  Many fans are
too quick to forget the sacrifices made by the player for the sake of the
team, and as soon as the athlete has problems, they pounce on their prey
like a leopard on a warthog.  For example, remember when JoJo White's career
started to go down the drain?  It was largely due to  a problem he had with
his heels.  I believe he had bone spurs or something to that effect.  I was
in the Garden many times when fans would hoot and holler at him, calling him
names and dehumanizing him when his physical skills were obviously eroding.
They cared not that one of the reasons for this erosion was because he
played in his heyday, often when other players would not.  He did not want
to hurt his team by being out of the lineup because HE felt he had too large
a role to play in the success of his team.  He did not deserve to be booed
by Celtic fans, but .....

I have had the opportunity to speak to JoJo about this particular subject
and I know it hurt him deeply.  He also had some very cutting personal
opinions about some of the Garden regulars which I cannot put in print.  I
know that he can empathize with Toine, but he would never tell him to listen
 to the boobirds or their comments because then your team becomes weaker
when a player is playing for the sake of pleasing the crowd.  I asked him
why he would never dunk and he said that his job was to set up his players
and score some himself.  Not to humiliate the opposition or give them any
incentive to play harder against you.

Did the Garden faithful boo Larry or McHale when their games started going
south?

Cecil