Re: Rasheed

[bird <birdwl@earthlink.net>]

> From: Douglas342@AOL.com
>
>     Does anyone happen to know the Blazers' record in the games in which
> Wallace was ejected?  In which he got only one T?  Could there be a
> motivational aspect to this behavior?  Red was well known to have gotten
> himself booted a few times to light a fire in the team.

I don't know the actual numbers -- if someone does, I'd like to see 
them, too.  But, living in PDX and having friends who are Blazer fans 
(they're not _bad_ people, you understand, just misguided ...), I can 
tell you that the perception is that when Wallace gets tossed, the 
Blazers lose the game.  The perception is that Wallace _costs his team 
games_.  I don't know about him just getting one "T", nor do I know if 
this perception would be confirmed by the stats, but I suspect it would.

The Blazer players, in the local media (YMMV), want Rasheed to take a 
more active role -- i.e. being the go-to guy late in big games.  Can't 
be that guy when you're suspended from the game, or your personality is 
such that you just "want to fit in" or "be one of the guys" -- that is, 
not be a leader.  That's what they say about him, anyway.

As for the fans, generally the feeling is that Wallace is immature and 
something of a crybaby, and many are fed up.  (Take that for what it's 
worth.)

As for it being motivational, this isn't the scene in "Hoosiers" where 
Gene Hackman wants to get Dennis Hopper more involved in the team and 
off the booze, Doug.  This is about a guy who has legitimate trouble 
keeping his cool on the court.  His coach would like him to keep it 
together on the court.  His fans would like him to.  His _teammates_ 
would like him to.  Many times over the last season (and the season 
before), he hasn't.  In fact, I believe he set some sort of record ... .

Regards,

(The Celtic "Tird",
  Celticus "tirdius")
mailto:celtictird@yahoo.com