Paul Pierce

["Juddy" <norine@together.net>]

Hi, all
    I have to say this - I've felt since Paul Pierce first came to the Celtics that he was the type of guy who really fits my idea of a Celtic and I've seen all the greats since the mid 50's.  When I heard about what happened I felt absolutely devastated.  You cannot argue with the attitude he's showing - and I, for one, would be very upset were he traded.  He's one of the few reasons I'll still be watching this year to see if they can make the Celtics a proud team again.  To me, he's a building block, not a throw-away.  
    As we've seen by at least two posts I've read, people are turning away from basketball and, to a degree, all professional sports because of the greed, the demands to be in a good climate, etc.  That sort of attitude is not what made the Celtics great - and until the attitude changes, which it will have to if professional team sports is to survive, all players on all teams should think about it.  If the fans can't afford to see a game while these guys are making more money than most CEOs and if the players have no respect or consideration for those fans, they will not be making millions of dollars a year.  Even those of us who can seldom get to games because of our location in relationship to where our team plays don't get free games.  Television for most of us is no longer free, nor is it cheap.  
    I used to hear lots of talk around and about concerning  the Celtics and basketball in general - not any more - on the face of it, it would seem nobody cares any more.  I know many once loyal fans who have given up entirely, some because the Celts have been so lousy for so long and they've run out of patience, and many others for the same reasons I stated above.  Sorry to run on, but that's part of the reason - there's just too much money going to the players and too little output by many of them to justify it.  Pierce's determination to come right back to the team is a bright light in an otherwise dull world of selfishness.  And he's the reason I'll still be watching this fall.  If he's traded, I very well might not be.  I don't see the point.
Dorine