C's In No Hurry To Re-Sign Battie/Fortson

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

Pitino says Fortson's a legitimate 6-8....

      Boston Herald 

      C's in no rush on Fortson, Battie
      by Steve Bulpett 
      Sunday, October 10, 1999
      All is quiet on the Celtic contract front. The club is kicking around 
      extensions for Danny Fortson and Tony Battie, but it wouldn't be 
      surprising at all if nothing gets done before next summer.
      The two are entering the final years on the old rookie wage scale and have 
      until Oct. 31 to sign extensions.
      ``I'm sure we'll talk,'' said Rick Pitino, who's leaving the negotiations 
      to general manager Chris Wallace. ``It's Arn Tellem (who's the agent for 
      Fortson). He's best buddies with Chris, so I'm sure they talk all the 
      time.
      ``But there's no rush right now, because we intend on signing both players 
      and we're in the driver's seat. We know that. There's no urgency on their 
      behalf and no urgency on ours.''
      Asked if he thinks finances will be an issue here, Pitino said no.
      ``We're talking about legitimate contracts,'' he said. ``We have things 
      budgeted in. Both players and both agents know we want them in this 
      organization, so it'll all work out.''
      Wallace isn't under any pressure to get things done before the regular 
      season.
      ``It's an exploratory situation right now,'' he said. ``We're putting some 
      things together to see if they fit and see if anything can be done before 
      the deadline.
      ``But I don't see it as a killer if things don't get done now. I wouldn't 
      read anything into it as far as a lack of interest on our part. We want to 
      keep both these players.''
      Pitino is getting an eyeful of Fortson, who is back practicing after 
      twisting an ankle Thursday night.
      ``I'm shocked at the size of Danny Fortson,'' Pitino said. ``I coached 
      just down the road from him when he was at Cincinnati, and I always 
      thought of Danny as 6-6. But he's a legitimate 6-8, and he's a mountain of 
      a man.
      ``He and Vitaly (Potapenko) go after it every day and they never say a 
      word. They're both strong, mean guys. It's like watching Bill Laimbeer and 
      Rick Mahorn.
      ``Danny also has a surprising touch, which I didn't realize,'' Pitino 
      said. ``He's got a very nice jump shot and he's got soft hands. And he's a 
      hellacious rebounder.''
      While he liked his roster, Pitino isn't about to say the Celts are through 
      making moves.
      ``Oh, I'm never going to make that statement again,'' he said, smiling in 
      recollection of the abuse he's taken for past proclamations. ``What I say 
      at the time is 100 percent truth. It's what I believe at the time.
      ``It's almost like you get this new computer and you've got the hottest 
      thing out with all the modern parts. Then two months go by and you've got 
      to upgrade it. And we're going to continue to upgrade until the 
      championship arrives. We're always trying to upgrade, but I will say I'm 
      happy with this basketball team.''
      Antoine Walker is pleased with the new faces and Pitino's push to keep a 
      playoff commitment.
      ``It's hard to say, because it's on paper. But I like the moves,'' Walker 
      said. ``I know these guys as players and I know they can help us.
      ``And I'm glad (Pitino) has that confidence in us. He has that confidence 
      in his coaching ability and in his players. And when you look at the 
      Eastern Conference, we match up with teams a lot better.''



      The Celts will hold an open practice at the Civic Center in Portland, 
      Maine, Oct. 17. Tickets are free, but fans must get them from one of the 
      three Shaw's supermarket locations in Portland.