Re: BosGlobe: Peter May's game report

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

Peter May has an axe to grind.  Most Knick games are ugly, it is the type
of ball they play. It's an effort to beat them no matter how much better
you may be. They have a coach more driven than Pitino. We did have many
chances to close them out but like Clyde Frasier say's "the Knicks have a
knack at making games close" Peter May may have some points but usually one
can pick a game apart. In this case we get another win no matter how, they
won't all be pretty. I remember many games in the Bird era that weren't
pretty to watch. 

At 02:39 PM 11/13/99 +0100, you wrote:
>I'm not saying he's making any stuff up, but Peter May's Knicks game
>report chooses to emphasize all the negative things the Celtics did
>against the Knicks last night and goes on to make a litany of excuses on
>behalf of the opponent.
>
>Just in case anyone might be impressed by Boston's defensive efforts, he
>blames the Celtics victory on "a negligible effort from New York" and of
>course "not to mention the grace of the NBA schedule (....) it didn't
>help that the Knicks had to play the night before in Minneapolis, as
>tough a turnaround as there is in the Eastern Conference." At least
>twice he uses the word "lucky" to describe the win, blaming it on "some
>truly abysmal play by the Knicks."
>
>He even takes the side of the Knicks on the key Adrian Griffin steal:
>"Asked about the play, the classy Houston said, 'On a play like that, it
>has to be pretty obvious for a call to be made, especially late in the
>game.' He said he was nicked. Latrell Sprewell, eavesdropping, said, 'It
>was all wrist. I had a good view. It was all wrist.'"
>
>I just find this so weird. Like I've said, why does May bother to
>continue covering the NBA if his only agenda is to spread negativity
>about the Celtics and portray every victory essentially as a matter of
>dumb luck, or the indifferent play and lack of talent of our opponents.
>I find it hard to believe a casual fan could read this article and come
>away enthusiastic about a young, understaffed Celtics team that has so
>far defeated three teams (Toronto, Charlotte, Knicks) with a combined
>12-3 record so far against the rest of the league.
>
>It's fine to be critical as a fan. Being critical makes me feel a little
>smarter, less naive. Plus it is kind of our job as fans to wring our
>hands and be fatalistic about our Boston sports. But it's another thing
>entirely to use a public forum to trivialize the Celtics' efforts and
>achievements this year, to undermine their morale and even methodically
>plant dissension (the Pitino/Antoine feud was essentially Globe
>generated), and to haughtily spin it like only an idiot
>basketball-know-nothing would support and appreciate the current team or
>it's "hated" star.
>
>The Celtics are young and most of the players are pretty used to losing.
>Losing is easy and even fear of losing (a facet of wanting badly to win)
>is a hard habit to break. You fear losing as a player, you lose. Last
>year, a two game losing streak amid a tough upcoming schedule might have
>blown up into a 4-14 collapse. This year, the Celtics are "bad news".
>Both teams were shorthanded or gimpy last night, yet the Celtics showed
>a lot of determination to win ugly last night against the NBA
>championship finalists. Give them credit, Peter May Queen, you gumby
>freaking douche bag!
>
>Joe
>
>*****
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