RE: Tommy is getting critical

[Dan Forant <dforant1@nycap.rr.com>]

This could all turn around for Walker. He could start playing some good
round ball once Pierce, and especially Fortson get's here. If he doesn't
there's no hope for him to get the fans back. Walker did get side tracked
playing out of his inside position because Pitino fussed with his offenses.
Pitino did more to mess Walker up than anyone. Walker should pony up and
buy the house a drink and start out fresh with the fans. Let's see 16,000+
fans times a few bucks a pop would be tip money for Toine. I'll drink to that.

At 02:12 PM 12/22/99 -0500, you wrote:
>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 
>	-----Original Message-----
>	From:	Cecil Wright [SMTP:cecil@hfx.eastlink.ca]
>	Sent:	Wednesday, December 22, 1999 1:55 PM
>	To:	Berry, Mark  S; celtics@igtc.com
>	Subject:	Re: Tommy is getting critical
>
>
>	----- Original Message -----
>	From: Berry, Mark S <berrym@BATTELLE.ORG>
>	To: <celtics@igtc.com>
>	Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 1999 2:14 PM
>	Subject: Re: Tommy is getting critical
>
>
>	> Cecil wrote:
>	>
>	> "I think his lack of a more impressive rebounding statline can be
>	> attributedto the emergence of Adrian Griffin who has done a fine
>job as a
>	> rebounder,as well as bringing an educated all-round game to the
>fore. It
>	> appears thatthe stat driven will make a case based upon whatever
>stats
>	they
>	> want to use.Battie, to a small extent, and Pierce when healthy,
>would also
>	> contribute onthe boards."
>	>
>	> This is true, and I'll turn it around to make a point I've finally
>come to
>	> believe this season: Antoine is a classic example of a guy who put
>up big
>	> numbers on a terrible team because he was allowed to.
>	>
>	> We didn't have any reliable scorers, so he shot and scored a lot.
>We
>	didn't
>	> have any other rebounders, so he ended up with a lot of rebounds.
>Now, we
>	> have other scorers and rebounders and Toine isn't getting the
>number of
>	> shots he used to get.
>
>	*That's right Mark.  And there should be nobody to blame for this
>since the
>	team did stink.
>
>	Unfortunately, his efficiency hasn't gone up. He isn't
>	> taking better shots, just fewer. He isn't a 10-rebound a game
>player on a
>	> good team. He is what he is: An inefficent 19 ppg, 6 rpg player
>who isn't
>	> nearly as good as any of us thought he was. And he certainly isn't
>worth
>	> the maximum salary. (BTW, argue the merits of a Hughes trade if
>you will,
>	> but Hughes is locked up for three seasons beyond this one at
>Pierce
>	money.)
>
>	*I don't blame Toine, or any other athlete, for getting the best
>contract
>	they can get.  I can't even put Hughes in the same sentence as
>Pierce or
>	Toine.
>
>
>	> And, to answer Paul's question as to whether Toine has been
>selfish or
>	> uncoachable this season: Whether he has or hasn't, the perception
>is
>	there.
>	> People see a guy jacking up 25 shots to get 20 points, hear about
>him
>	> skipping voluntary minicamps and coming to camp out of shape and
>they form
>	> their own opinion. Even the most ardent Toine supporters must
>admit,
>	> employee No. 8 isn't going to get anyone's vote for Employee of
>the Month.
>	>
>	> Mark
>	>
>
>	*Neither is Forant's new buttboy, Ron Mercer.  He has been jacking
>it up
>	frequently.  I am a Toine supporter who recognizes he has weaknesses
>to
>	improve.  I think he is taking steps to make improvements, like his
>free
>	throw shooting for example.  (Hope I didn't just jinx his ass)  But
>he IS
>	respected by his mates and when he's on the bench, I don't think
>we've seen
>	a bigger cheerleader since, dare I say it, M.L.
>
>	I'm telling you all, when Pierce and Fortson are healthy, Toine will
>be the
>	biggest benefactor.  And I hope those who have been quick to slam
>him will
>	admit that they were a little hasty in their criticism.  I know
>there is one
>	cranky New Yawkah who won't be courageous enough to make such an
>admission
>	though.
>
>	Cecil
>	
>
>