Re: A bostonherald.com article from cecil.wright@justice.gc.ca

["Cecil Wright" <cecil@hfx.eastlink.ca>]

As I said, I don't often agree with Callahan and share Jim's disdain for
Dennis and Callahan and those kinds of hype-me shows.

My concern is over the possibility that Pierce cannot believe that any other
teammate may be in a better position to shoot.  I am glad that he wants to
be the player who takes the pressure shot.  That is a strength and a
testiment to his gumption.  But the fact that a play was not diagrammed for
him to get that shot should not be viewed as a slap in his face IMHO.  As
Obie said, he thought PP would be doubleteamed and less likely to get a good
shot off.  Whether or not that is actually what happened is immaterial if he
is to be the coach.  That is my point I guess.  Obie has done pretty well by
Paul thus far and I would have felt better if Paul had just shut his mouth
for the sake of team harmony.  I am not saying that the applecart is upset
because I don't believe it to be true.  But they have just come off a tough
loss where they battled the Sickzers and the Refs in the last few seconds.
I empathize with his frustration but just don't want the rest of the guys to
get pissed off either.

Though the shot went in to win their series, should Shaq have been upset
that Jackson did not diagram it for him?

Cecil




----- Original Message -----
From: "bird" <birdwl@earthlink.net>
To: <Celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2002 1:57 PM
Subject: A bostonherald.com article from cecil.wright@justice.gc.ca


> > From: <cecil.wright@JUSTICE.GC.CA>
> >
> > Comments:
> > I don't often agree with Callahan on everything but he has a point in
> > this article.
>
> Well, he's a got a point, but I'm not sure I agree with it.  I mean, if
> his overall point is that Pierce ought to subvert his ideas for the team
> to the coaches, I think that's obvious, and perhaps he's correct in
> pointing out some of Pierce's more flamboyant faults.
>
> But maybe not.  I mean, I don't care when or if Walker wiggles, and I don'
> 't really mind that Pierce pisses off Corie Blount.  Who gives a rat's ass
> about Blount anyway?  He'll have plenty of time to think about how his
> feeling were hurt on the court over the summer.  Callahan wants to make it
> seem as if Larry Bird only trash-talked after he won many titles and
> awards, but the guy probably talked smack in driveways in Indiana, fer
> cryin' out loud.  This writer doesn't like it that Pierce had the temerity
> to say "sweep, sweep!"?  Hard to believe.  What's he supposed to do, ask
> Allen Iverson politely if he would care for another free throw like the
> Grey Poupon commercials?   And the whole comparison with Scottie Pippen is
> weak.  I mean "the only difference is that Pierce went back out on the
> floor"?  Kind of the crux of the whole issue, isn't it?  Kind of the
> defining difference between a player expressing frustration over not
> having the play called for him, and a player who sulks and refuses to go
> play because the play wasn't called for him.  And so he shouted something
> at the end of the game, and told a reporter he was pissed off about it.
> This *could* be a major deal and the beginnings of a serious headcase like
> Callahan seems to think, but I've got a feeling it's just
> ultra-competitive Pierce wanting the do the best and most that he can.  If
> he didn't want it, he wouldn't be Paul Pierce.
>
> Like Tammo, I'm reserving final judgement.  Too many variables, not enough
> information.  I bet, though, that in less than a week, this is all
> forgotten.
>
> I don't expect much from sportswriters (though Bulpett often exceeds
> expectations, he just may turn out to be a big cut above the usual), but
> both the timing of the article, and the intensity with which he pursues
> this perceived fault of Pierce's is unfortunate.
>
> Bird