Re: The Next Dynasty

[opi@unesco.org]

Thanks for this post, Mafioso. It's one of the rare posts that makes me think
twice about strong convictions/hunches I have about our Celts.

Bias was special. He was as camera shy and humble as a great athlete could be (in
retrospect, probably too much of a follower). Once on a basketball court, he'd
exhuberantly kick out his leg up to his shoulder on a rebound like Russell, could
shoot the midrange jumper and slam dunk like a taller version of Michael Jordan,
rebound with a vengeance as consistently as a young Buck Williams. I remember
reading that he was the first two-time ACC player of the year (although I'm
surprised Ralph Sampson, Sam Perkins or James Worthy, Phil Ford, David "Sky"
Walker etc. never achieved this honor before him).

No question Bias was an instant NBA Slam Dunk contest favorite as a rookie, back
when the best players would still put their reps on the line for that showcase
event. The Gerald Henderson for Len Bias swindle seemed like just another in a
long line of awesome Celts moves, rather than the first dark cloud in this
present 13-year run of bad luck. Who knows, maybe we are in the process of
stringing together another run like that (Montross and Samaki for Antoine Walker,
Ron Mercer for Lotto Pick X plus Danny Fortson). It sure isn't as clear cut and
obvious as it used to be, though.  Then again, I guess it never really was. No
doubt, if we had an Internet Celts list back in 1970, you would have heard from
opi@unesco.org saying: "What!? We wasted a top three draft pick on a 6-8 redneck
center who has never even played on national tv? How are we ever going to win a
twelfth banner??" :-)

Happy Holidays,

Joe

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Mafiaso316@aol.com wrote:

> I totally agree with you. I've been following the Celt's since the early part
> of the 70's and just see this as part of an upward spiral like it has been in
> the past.  The only thing that made it take longer was the deaths of Lenny
> and Reggie.  Just think where we could have been if those two hadn't
> succumbed to that low life addiction (still controversy to this day).  I was
> already a grown man when Lenny died and it was the first time I actually
> cried when I heard the news, Larry said it best when he said it was the
> cruelest thing he had ever heard.  It was even worse when Reggie when down as
> I was stationed in North Dakota at the time.  I met Reggie when we both in
> high school and was ecstatic when he became a Celtic.  I had to take leave to
> attend his funeral and then it was when I realized it was going to take a
> long time for the healing to begin and for the team to get back to the Past
> Days of Glory.   So what I'm saying folks is that we been through some tough
> times but we will be back, that is a given, but we need to show more patience
> and stop ranting about Rick and how he must go and how Antoine sucks and
> trade him now while his value is high.  These guys are young and just a
> couple more additions and nobody is going to want to play them.  Well, time
> to end my tirade.  I bleed Celtic green and will never give up them and I ask
> that you all be the same.
>
> Mafiaso316