Re: The Truth Hurts

["Shawn Niles" <shizzjr@hotmail.com>]

I think that this was a horrible article by Michael Gee. IMO, he is the 
worst sports writer in the city of Boston. 90% of the time he is negative. 
Anytime he says something positive, he is quick to follow it up by saying 
how some negative point will override it. Michael Gee should be fired 
immediately. He serves no purpose except to try and depress people.

Shawn


>From: Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>
>To: celtics@igtc.com
>Subject: The Truth Hurts
>Date: Thu, 02 Aug 2001 13:29:10 -0400
>
>Best article by Michael Gee in a long time.
>
>http://www.bostonherald.com/sport/sports_columnists/gee08022001.htm
>
>
>  Even with duo, C's behind 8-ball
>by Michael Gee
>
>Thursday, August 2, 2001
>
>Precious few people are unhappy upon receipt of $85 million. Paul Pierce
>was no exception to the rule yesterday.
>
>``I'm a little nervous,'' Pierce said. ``This is one of the biggest days
>of my life.''
>
>Courtside at the FleetCenter, the Celtics swingman then signed his
>six-year contract extension with a signature larger than John Hancock's,
>suitable for autographing the basketball Pierce had brought to the
>ceremony.
>
>The person who spent the $85 million was cheery, too.
>
>``This is a great day for the Celtics,'' declared general manager Chris
>Wallace. ``With Paul and Antoine Walker, we have our two cornerstones in
>tow for a long time to come.''
>
>Pierce's signing was a foregone conclusion. The NBA labor rules designed
>to limit salaries and inhibit player movement (in that order) made it
>certain the Celtics would offer him all the money they could, and that
>Pierce would accept the same.
>
>``He's our free agent,'' Wallace said.
>
>True. It's also undeniable that Walker and Pierce are going to be the
>Celts' foundation for the future. As they go, so will the team.
>
>``In this league more than any other,'' Wallace said. ``You're only as
>good as your best players. Look at the Lakers. They win because
>Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant are the league's best duo.''
>
>Right again, Mr. Wallace. Walker and Pierce are surely the best Celts.
>Thanks to the league rules, they'll stay that way for many seasons. The
>Celtics are strongly discouraged (to the tune of multimillion dollar
>fines called a ``tax'') from paying more megabucks for that rebounder
>and point guard they could also use.
>
>But the GM's ``Yahoo!'' is another observer's ``Hmmm.'' After all,
>Walker and Pierce have already been the two best Celtics for the last
>three seasons. Their record as franchise-building superstars has been,
>to be polite, mixed. Shaq and Kobe they ain't.
>
>It's not that Walker and Pierce lack the talent to be mutually
>supportive superstars. On occasions, especially in the second half of
>last season, they've actually done so. Such serendipity remains
>sporadic. After a combined eight seasons in the NBA, neither man has
>ever participated in a playoff game. That doesn't buff up a
>cornerstone's resume.
>
>Still, at least the Celts have potential cornerstones. Pierce has the
>ability to be among the league's top seven or eight scorers each year.
>Walker remains a disjointed compendium of talent that might yet unite
>into a consistent All-Star. After the constant chaos of the Pitino Era,
>perhaps an era of David Stern's enforced stability will help Pierce and
>Walker grow awesome together.
>
>If that happens, the Celtics will become a playoff team. That's
>progress.
>
>But it's all the progress they're likely to see.
>
>Eastern Conference champs? Highly unlikely without a reliable inside
>force. NBA champs? The C's are more likely to win the Stanley Cup.
>
>Look at last year's Eastern titlists, the 76ers. First, Allen Iverson
>went from tremendous but troubled talent (sound familiar?) to runaway
>MVP. Then, Philly traded for Dikembe Mutumbo. And they still didn't get
>a sniff of the Lakers in the finals.
>
>The NBA's labor laws have destroyed competition for the foreseeable
>future. Teams can't acquire critical masses of All-Star talent (under
>the current rules, Dennis Johnson would never have joined the '80s
>Celts). They can only improve when their stars get better. Since half
>the NBA's teams have no stars, they also have no hope.
>
>The Celts have a little hope, which is better than none. But there won't
>be a new NBA champion until O'Neal gets old, bored, or both.


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