Re: Philly

["pmaurice" <damekmo@teleport.com>]

Very nice post Mark. Full of love. Very impressive. I have to say that I no
longer have the same feeling about this rivalry. Perhaps it's because I've
lived on the left coast for so long now. But I really have no great feeling
for the Sixers anymore. Now...about this post. Any love for the coach?
Nothing big. Maybe just a kiss on the cheek? Anything?

And one last thing about the dreaded "selfish" word. We've discussed it
before. Is it possible that Jalen Rose is actually a more selfish player
than our beloved Antoine? Is the world spinning in the wrong direction? From
the Detroit News:


Notebook
Thomas-Rose tension is brewing in Indiana


By Chris McCosky / The Detroit News


   LOS ANGELES-- It is hard to get a clear read from this distance, but it
sure seems like there is a rift in Indiana between Coach Isiah Thomas and
Jalen Rose.
   The most recent evidence came last Thursday. Rose scored the Pacers'
first 10 points against Houston and made six of his first seven shots.
   He got promptly benched for his troubles. He sat out most of the second
and third quarters and ended up playing 28 minutes of an overtime victory.
   Thomas would say only that he wanted, with his team down 11 in the middle
of the game, his best defenders and rebounders on the floor.
   Rose was in full pout and played poorly when put back into the game in
the fourth quarter.
   "I try to tell you guys exactly how I feel, but I don't know what to
say," Rose told reporters afterward. "I'm being honest with you. I really
don't know what to say about this scenario. Sometimes your cup is half-empty
and sometimes it's half-full."
   What appears to be happening is, Thomas is trying to break down his young
star, trying to get him to play more within the structure of the team.
Thomas continually points out that the real star of the team is Reggie
Miller, and that Rose, after Thursday, had fired up 150 more shots than
Miller.
   Rose, though, continually presses to do more. He wants the ball in his
hands. He wants the offense to run through him, whether it be at small
forward or point guard.
   Thomas wants him to stop worrying about his offense and start
concentrating on defending and rebounding -- never Rose's strong points.
   "He's got to decide which is more important, winning the championship or
the perception of other people," Thomas said. "I've told him he needs to get
thicker skin."
   You don't want to overly dramatize this, but what seems to be brewing
here is a serious clash between two strong-willed people. The success of the
Pacers could very well hang in the balance."


Paul M.