Re: Latest Celtics Conspiracy Theory And What Cleveland May Do With The Celtics Pick

[damekmo@teleport.com]

>Can somebody please explain why Paul Gaston would even want to criticize
>Pitino publicly?

I could be wrong, but here's how I see it. Gaston didn't "want" to
criticize Pitino publicly. This never would've come out if Holley hadn't
interviewed ML. The question was asked, and ML answered it, voicing
Gaston's concerns. Why shouldn't Gaston and ML be close enough to talk
about the situation. Gaston knows that ML is loyal. ML proved it. I can
believe that ML was echoing Gaston's disappointment in Pitino. Gaston
expected progress, he paid a lot of money for it, he didn't get it. Did
Gaston tell him to go public? Probably not. Did he tell him not to?
Probably not. I still don't see what the problem is with this whole thing.
Pitino got paid a ton of money and given almost total control of basketball
operations to win, at least to show some progress. He didn't. The
organization is disappointed. Why not? Pitino is on notice that this isn't
going to happen again, and ML has informed everybody that Gaston cares
about winning a championship...not about Pitino's feelings. If he doesn't
show some progress next season....he's gone.

>Gaston hired him, and gave him an extremely long and
>lucrative contract, with near total control of the team.  Why would Gaston
>want ML Carr, of all people, saying these things in public?  Wouldn't that
>reflect poorly on Gaston and his judgement?

This was viewed universally as the perfect move! Nobody....nobody thought
that hiring Pitino was a mistake! If this doesn't work out, nobody is going
to question Gaston's judgement. Hiring ML was obviously a mistake. Was
hiring Pitino an obvious mistake...and who said so at the time? If this
doesn't work out, maybe you can say that Pitino fooled everybody...but you
can't blame Gaston for falling for it.

Paul M.