Attendance

["R. Bentz Kirby" <bocelts@usit.net>]

The AP estimated last night's attendance at 2000.  It may have been 2500
or so really.  That was about it.  For those who watched it on tv, there
was a row of steps that came down just behind where Pervis was sitting.
If they ever showed a shot of the crowd that included the three rows at
the top of those steps, and you saw a shot of a bald guy, with three
children and he was wearing Celtic stuff and yelling at Steve Jaffe,
that was me.   I just hope that Jaffe gives us that many calls when we
are at home, cause he was all Charlotte last night.  If I would have
been Pitino, I would have gotten at least one technical on me.

I don't know how Dan got his information last night, but I agree that if
we had Pierce on the floor, he might have made the difference down the
stretch.  And defense really hurt, when we closed the gap and you could
see the momentum about to swing our way, we couldn't get an easy basket,
and they could.

Toine needs to get over this prima donna thing.  He fusses with the
refs, holds the ball and won't give it to them, whines when he doesn't
get a call, pouts on the bench during time outs, etc. and ends up with a
T because the refs just got tired of his act.  If he plays like this at
home, I can see why he brings out the boo birds when he doesn't play
well.  Not that there is an excuse for booing your own player at home,
but he needs to grow up, quit expecting the game to revolve around him,
and the respect from the officials will come.  Even on a bad night like
last night, his physical talent is evident.  As I am typing this, I am
thinking, man, could they get John Havlichek (sp?) to come in and give
Toine tutoring on attitude and sportsmanship.  If Toine would approach
the game with John's attitude, the calls would come.  And he is getting
mauled inside and should be getting the calls.  I mean, my God, Coleman
got 8 free throws, Miller gets 9 and Toine gets 0?  No wonder he was
frustrated and clearly he is on some kind of unspoken, "don't give Toine
the call list", but he has to change that with his attitude.  The refs
simply aren't going to give it to him as long as he thinks it is his
world and all revolves around him.

But, the strange thing was, his play wasn't selfish as he made some nice
passes and generally did not force shots.  It was his attitude with the
refs that was very obvious.

I also like the caption to the photo in the State paper, that Coleman
"slips" his way between two Celtic players.  "Bulls" his way, "shoves"
his way, "batters" his way, but not slips!!!

--

Bentz Kirby
bocelts@usit.net
http://www.public.usit.net/bocelts/