Jim Baker: Media Needs To Stop Kissing Pitino's Ass

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

Well said, Jim....

      Boston Herald 

      C's prospects a tough question
      by Jim Baker 
      Tuesday, November 2, 1999 <snips>
      Here comes the tipoff of another NBA season tonight with Celtics-Raptors 
      launching the C's all-cable era on Fox Sports New England at 8 and TNT 
      starting Turner's 80-game lineup with 76ers-Spurs at 8 and Lakers-Jazz at 
      10:30.
      Naturally, we're seeing and hearing the usual hope-springs-eternal pap 
      about a Celtics team that's been mired in hard times since the Larry Bird 
      era - continuing through the M.L. (More Lottery) Carr regime that was 
      marked by owner Paul Gaston's infamous opening-day salvo: ``Let's face it: 
      Our team stinks.''
      The big media-related question about the C's now is not whether local 
      on-air and print types will extend their super-long honeymoon with 
      president/coach Rick Pitino, entering its third season. To be sure, they 
      will.
      But the question is, if the 1999-2000 Green begin to lay eggs at boxcar 
      prices - as their predecessors did under Carr and Pitino - when will the 
      Ricky romance be over? And just who might jump ship?
      It certainly won't be Tom Heinsohn or the pleasant, wide-eyed Eric Frede, 
      who warms up FSNE viewers with ``Celtics Central'' and a pregame, then 
      closes with a ``Celtics Prime-Time'' post-mortem. It's for sure that 
      Willie Maye won't harpoon him. Heinsohn saves his invective for referees 
      who have the gall to call fouls (or even traveling) on the Shamrocks. 
      Pitino can do no wrong in their eyes - as one might expect on the team's 
      rah-rah channel.
      It also won't be Bob Lobel, who not only has a vested interest - hosting 
      Pitino's weekly show Sundays on Ch. 4 - he clearly admires the coach. All 
      viewers had to do during the season debut was watch Lobel when Pitino was 
      talking. He looked at the $7 million-a-year man (plus 35 grand per speech, 
      which his players turned off for free last season) as if he's his hero.
      Howard David, who provides a smooth call with a big voice and returns on 
      WEEI tonight, has been candid at times, but hey: The Pitino pack imported 
      him at Spencer Ross' expense. He'll be grateful and so will Cedric 
      Maxwell, who still sounds as if he spends game nights head-scratching.
      No, it won't be those golly-gee print reporters who gather 'round the 
      great god Pitino after losses and can't seem to ask him one challenging 
      question. The good news here is when NESN's Fox Sports Net fare moves to 
      FSNE on New Year's (NESN landing ESPNEWS), the Pitino-at-the-podium show 
      will vanish. Gosh, you'll have to dial in the Fellowship of the Miserable 
      house (WEEI) to hear his spin - before good buddy Ted Sarandis takes over 
      and spins most everything but Pitino's pasta sauce.
      Among tube folks, I'm afraid your hopes for telling it like it is - if 
      Pitino's team bombs again - rest with Gene Lavanchy at Ch. 7, Mike Lynch 
      (Ch. 5), Frank Mallicoat (Ch. 56), Tom Zenner (Ch. 25), perhaps a daring 
      soul at NECN or their teammates. These folks have no known business tie to 
      Pitino.
      Zenner might want to take on Pitino to dash the image of a nice 'n' easy 
      but knowledgeable newcomer that those walking-encyclopedia promos gave 
      him.
      What Zenner and the others should consider, if the C's falter again, is a 
      comparison to Patriots coach Pete Carroll. How do you think this guy must 
      feel, having winning seasons since his arrival but hearing himself ripped 
      and roasted (with his job on the line after each defeat) while Pitino, who 
      has continued the C's 1990s tradition of bombing (so badly that no TV 
      station would carry his games), gets more romance. While Carroll gets 
      mugged, Pitino gets hugged. It's incredible.
      But wait: Maybe the Celtics will snap out of it. Maybe none of the 
      admirers will have to bite the bullet and jump ship. Maybe Jersey Red will 
      surface with a few wins (brace yourself!). Pitino is a good coach. Maybe 
      success will be his choice this season.
      But if not, can we have a little candor, please?