Holley

[Joe Hironaka <j.hironaka@unesco.org>]

Micahel Holley let's loose some pretty good zingers.

(...)Gaston has reportedly told his coach he sees good things in the
near future for this team. Pitino said he believes things are close,
too. He said that a few days after a story linked him with the coaching
vacancy at the University of Miami. He was said to have lengthy (six
hours) and harmless exploratory talks with the school's athletic
director. Six hours of exploration. Who searches that long? Lewis and
Clark?

According to Pitino, Gaston told him ''that the future is now'' and that
he wanted Pitino's staff to be ''very aggressive'' in an attempt to turn
the sad Celtics into winners. The Celtics haven't won as many as 40
games since 1993, which makes them one of three NBA teams, along with
Vancouver and the LA Clippers, in that category.

When the Celtics begin shopping Saturday, they will be like ambitious
teenagers shopping at the mall. They will see a lot they like, but won't
be able to come up with enough cash to get what they want.

So now they flail about, trying to be aggressive as the owner requested.
It is the kind of aggression that inspires parents to install safety
locks on windows. It's the kind of aggression that inspires parents to
put viewing blocks on televisions. They do it because they are concerned
about what their children will do with free reign.

As Pitino sat at the long table, a mural of Larry Bird was draped behind
him. The Celtics legend is one person who can change the direction of
this organization. Other than that? Prayer.