RE: the Indy stuff

["Michael Griffin" <mgriffin@rillc.com>]

Larry mostly backed up his trash talking and a healthy percentage of players
trash talk - probably just playground put down type stuff.  You can't
compare trash-talking with the gyrations that Larry Johnson and Walker do.
Doing the wiggle looks immature and that is why you can count on your
fingers the number of players who do stuff like that.  I may not matter but
I do care.  If I were the owner of the Celtics I would want my team to at
least appear like they know they are good instead of going through some
gyration when they hit some shot (uh....you're getting paid 7M/year...aren't
you supposed to be that good?) which not only shows up the other team but is
on videotape for everyone else to see.  It also shows the lack of maturity
and that is why it matters.  Kobe Bryant even at 18 didn't moonwalk 5 yards
after a tomahawk jam.  He knows he is that good and expects to do that.

Granted Antoine is good and he has toned it down from his first year but he
did do the wiggle this year at least a couple of times - something that
shouldn't have been done at all given the fact the team was lousy throughout
and Walker, in particular was mediocre the first half of the season.

It's probably just me but I prefer players that carry themselves in a mature
manner and respect the game and represent the team as best they can.  That
is why I really like players like Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Mariano
Rivera in baseball, Loved Dan Marino, Barry Sanders in football and Larry
Bird, Reggie Lewis, Grant Hill in bball because they all treat/treated the
game with respect and never looked like some adolescent out there trying out
for the New York City Breakers dance team.

If I'm Red Auerbach I call up Walker and tell him - hey, you're not at
Kentucky any more you're now a Veteran so kill the wiggle.




> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul and Celinda Bauer [mailto:celtics@hot-shot.com]
> Sent: Monday, May 01, 2000 5:09 PM
> To: mgriffin@rillc.com
> Cc: celtics@igtc.com
> Subject: Re: the Indy stuff
>
>
> First of all, when was the last time you saw Walker does is
> "wiggle."  Second,
> Larry didn't wiggle but he talked trash constantly.  Both are
> meant as put downs
> of your opponents.  Verbal or physical displays...whats the
> difference and who
> cares!!!
>
> Michael Griffin wrote:
>
> > Problem is that the majority of Celtics fans don't want a
> five-year plan,
> > they expect to make the playoffs next year just like they
> (myself included)
> > did last year and the year before that.  I thought Pitino would work his
> > magic but like Gary Steven said when Jimmy Johnson let him go
> (editors note:
> > I'm a huge Miami Dolphins fan and Gary Steven was the offensive
> coordinator
> > under Jimmy Johnson for his first three years before being let go before
> > last year), "you can't make chicken salad out of chicken sh**."
> >
> > When you have a roster with Ellison,Barros and Minor chewing away at
> > valuable cap space its no wonder the Celtics are $ conscious.
> The financial
> > moves they have made have been terribly questionable over the last
> > half-decade.  The draft picks have not been good returns on
> investment (jury
> > still out on Walker and to a lesser extent, pierce).  Walker
> will need to
> > have an all-pro year next year to validate keeping him - I'd
> move him in the
> > right deal.  I think the thing that sticks in my mind is that
> "wiggle thing"
> > he does.  A nose-to-the-grindstone player would never do that.
> Larry never
> > did that and no other Celtic ever looked that foolish for just
> making some
> > shot.  Anyone see Larry Johnson make his rediculous "L" sign
> with his hand
> > after hitting a "bank" shot 3-pointer yesterday.  Does the L stand for
> > Lame,Ludicrous,Looks Rediculous or just plain loser?.  A little
> trash talkin
> > and fist pumping is fine but when you have to do an endzone dance that
> > extends to your side of the court, that personifies a "me
> first" attitude.
> > I know Walker is only 23 but I guess you do have to wonder if
> those things
> > ever change.  He didn't seem to do it as much this year but I recall him
> > still doing it (never mind that he didn't really have a reason
> to do it for
> > the first 50 games).
> >
> > That is why I'd probably be in favor of a Van Horn for Walker
> trade because
> > Van Horn seems "bring it" each game and not be concerned as much about
> > personal stats.  I don't think Majerus ever had to console Van
> Horn after a
> > game in which Utah won but Keith had an off-night (unlike
> Walker having to
> > be "consoled" by Pitino).  You know it is funny but last year it was the
> > same talk - we have to get better in the off season, another year of
> > cohesiveness but how many teams will keep a team together?
> Maybe 4 players
> > max?  We have a starting off guard who average 30 minutes/game
> and less than
> > 5 points (Cheaney?), Griffin down the stretch played 20 minutes
> a game with
> > almost no contribution although I realize he played 500 games last year.
> >
> > More ramblings but I do hope that our current roster is turned
> over by 50%.
> > (The six to go: Barros, Ellison, Overton, McCarty, Cheaney,
> Battie, Kenny,
> > Pierce or Walker if right deal comes along).  Fortson will probably go
> > regardless
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Berry, Mark S [mailto:berrym@BATTELLE.ORG]
> > > Sent: Monday, May 01, 2000 2:05 PM
> > > To: 'mgriffin@rillc.com'; 'celtics@igtc.com'
> > > Subject: Re: the Indy stuff
> > >
> > >
> > > Michael,
> > >
> > > If your definition of "bonafide superstar" is Tim Duncan, then you're
> > > right-there are no bonafide superstars in this draft. Of
> course, if there
> > > were, no one would trade away that pick anyway.
> > >
> > > Every year we hear about how bad these drafts are, and every year
> > > there is a
> > > Vince Carter or Antonio McDyess (taken in the Joe Smith draft and
> > > traded-for
> > > Brent Barry and Rodney Rogers). The key is identifying who those
> > > players are
> > > and being bold enough to make your move for them. Stromile Swift
> > > is a great
> > > example. Now, I don't know how good this kid is, but if the Celts'
> > > braintrust is as sold on him as they seem to be, then be bold. It
> > > might cost
> > > you Pierce, but at some point you have to trust your
> evaluators enough to
> > > make that kind of move. Don't trade up just to do it, but if
> > > there is a guy
> > > there you believe will be great, and you have a chance to deal
> > > for him, you
> > > have to do it.
> > >
> > > On Pryzbilla: I've seen him play a little here in Big Ten country
> > > and he is
> > > far, far better than Big Country. This kid is a long, lanky, but
> > > sturdy 7-1
> > > with a knack for blocking shots. His offense is coming
> around, but he'll
> > > never average more than15 points per game. I believe he'll be
> a fast riser
> > > come draft time and go in the top five. He'll almost certainly
> > > last no later
> > > than Jersey's pick at 7.
> > >
> > > I do agree that if you stay at 11, you have to consider all
> > > options for the
> > > best player available-including the high schoolers. I don't
> think Darius
> > > Miles, the one prepster to come out to this point (I think he declared
> > > today), will be around at 11, but you never know how things will go in
> > > workouts. But you're right Michael, the kids are much more attractive
> > > alternatives now that they're locked in for five seasons.
> > >
> > > Makes for interesting discussion.
> > >
> > > Mark
> > >
>