FW: I'm sorry for the abuse you've gotten

[OzerskyJA <OzerskyJA@cmog.org>]

This is my letter to Holley, which I couched in civil language
in order that he might read it and the message.  I really do 
think he's being kind of irresponsible writing this kind of thing.
More fuel to the fire of the chowderheads, but that's my own 
personal thing.  Anyway, this was just from me to Holley, so 
I felt I could speak a little more freely on the subject.  I'll send
any response, should he make one.

Josh Ozersky	
Marketing Communications Specialist 
Corning Museum of Glass

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	OzerskyJA 
> Sent:	Friday, August 25, 2000 5:21 PM
> To:	'holley@globe.com'
> Subject:	I'm sorry for the abuse you've gotten
> Importance:	High
> 
> Dear Michael,
> 
> I'm sorry so many celtics fans have written you to say nasty things about
> your piece on Antoine this morning.  I think of you as a very knowledgable
> basketball writer, and I appreciate your presence at the Globe as the only
> counterweight to all the middle-aged white guys who think that basketball
> died the day Larry Bird retired.  But that having been said, you really
> are
> hurting your credibility as a basketball columnist by giving such
> one-sided
> perspectives -- as one-sided in their way as the jeremiads of Peter May or
> Phil Mushnick.  Antoine may be the team's best player, but it's also
> obvious
> that he isn't committed to his craft the way his peers like Kevin Garnett
> are.
> Remember when Twon and KG were considered more or less at the same
> level?  KG worked on his game and his body, and Antoine has been satisfied
> to get by on talent.  OK, you've heard all this before.  But I bring it up
> to address
>  two points in your column:
> 
> 1)  It's not fair to paint Pitino as a villain for feeling less than
> confident in 
> entrusting his career and the Boston Celtics franchise to a player who
> won't 
> even condition himself over the summer.  Antoine basically plays his way
> into
> shape during the season, which is one  reason why he gets so many shots 
> blocked, why he has no explosion on his layups, and why he finds himself 
> playing shadow defense, despite a monstrous competitive spirit and
> fabulous
> anticipation.  You make it sound as if Pitino's remarks at the five star
> camp 
> were purely malicious, but in fact every Celtics fan knows that Antoine
> hasn't
> brought up his skill level much, other than for short spells of good
> decisionmaking, and that he doesn't have a physique remotely comparable
>  to players like C-Webb, Duncan, and other guys who have built on their 
> natural talent.  (Paul Pierce is just as bad about his body, which is why
> Vince
>  Carter, who he is better than, has left him in the shadows.)
> 
> 2)  The thing about the Lakers was really beyond the beyonds, as they say.
> 
>  Just who was it that Jerry West offered the celtics for Antoine?    And 
> how are we to blame because West thinks highly enough of him to offer -- 
> who?  Derek Fisher?  And what makes you think that Toine would fit in as 
> the 3rd option on any team?
> 
> 3)  (i know I said two, but this is important).  You know as well as
> anybody 
> how much Pitino would like to acquire a better starter to compliment
> Antoine,
> and how handicapped he is by the cap.  But you can't very well blame him
> for 
> wanting to trade Antoine, and then turn around and say he's not trying to 
> improve the starting five.  He wouldn't take less than a marquee talent
> for 
> Twon, that much is clear by now.  
> 
> The bottom line with Antoine is that he has
>  a huge financial commitment from the organization, all-star-caliber
> talents 
> around him in Pierce and Anderson, and a good supporting cast.  We all 
> know what he can do when he shows up to play.  He's in no position to
> bitch
> about not being surrounded by better talent until he does something with
> his 
> own.  
> 
> 
> I think a lot of us like Antoine as a person and a player, but you have to
> 
> at least make some mention of these 800 pound purple elephants of facts.
> Until you do, you are going to squander your own reputation, and give a
> lot of chowderheads and rednecks ammo against you and other sportswriters
> of color, whom are often accused of being too uncritical.  Peter May and
> his ilk have enough support as it is.  
> 
> Wishing you the best,
> 
> Josh Ozersky
> 
> Josh Ozersky	
> Marketing Communications Specialist 
> Corning Museum of Glass
>