Re: Dan Shaughnessy on ESPN Radio

[jmc@ptc.com]

Jim McMaster <mcmaster@sweng.stortek.com> said
> Theresa Lee said:
> > He's been beating this drum all season (actually, maybe for two years).
> > It's clearly personal since he never makes a mention of any improvements
> > he's seen, any winning streak that the Celtics may be on (he'd downplay it
> > as luck). I think Pitino clashes with Dan's style and since most sports
> > writers think they rule this town, someone has to go and it's not going to
> > be Dan.
> 
> For what it's worth, he does the same thing to Dan Duquette.  Yes, DD has let
> Clemens and Vaughn go, but has taken an old team with little talent and few
> prospects and built one that has made the playoffs something like three of
> the last five years.  Apparently, he does not treat the media as kindly as
> they would like.  In Shaughnessy's eyes, that makes him an incompetent.

I wouldn't even call the letting go of Clemens and Vaughn that bad.
They were asking for tons of money, and Dan didn't feel they were worth
that much.  Letting Clemens go gave him the money to sign Pedro
Martinez, who has now passed Clemens in ability and is getting better
while Clemens gets worse.  Vaughn had a horrible first year in
Anaheim.  The mood in the clubhouse was much better in the first year
with no Vaughn or Clemens, and I don't think that's a coincidence.
Pedro and his brother set the tone now and it's all smiles, fun and
latin music.  Dan D has made some great moves this offseason, too. 

Oh, but this is a Celtics list!  The point is, Rick Pitino and Dan 
Duquette know how to tell who's overvalued and who's undervalued, and Dan
Shaughnessy doesn't, and that's why Dan S is a bitter writer and Dan D
and Rick P are happy GMs.  By the end of 2000, as the Celtics and Red Sox
consistently prove him wrong, more people will see Shaughnessy for the
arrogant, ignorant, cynic that he is.

> Just treat Shaughnessy as he deserves...ignore him.

Couldn't agree with you more there, Jim!

Jon Mc