Re: The Messiah May Be Resurrected

["Dan Forant" <dforant1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

LB won't be included in decisions with this group. The word gets out fast.
Bird is not a compromiser. He's no match for Magic Johnson in the business
world. Not that we know all, but I don't see any team beating on his door
for help. When you burn bridges, it's hard to get across.

DanF

----- Original Message -----
From: "James A. Hill" <jahill@leasingservice.com>
To: "Celtics (E-mail)" <celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 11, 2002 12:17 AM
Subject: Re: The Messiah May Be Resurrected


> I just can't see the new guys giving the keys to Bird and walking away, at
> least until the economy turns and start ups are more interesting again.
> Maybe they would bring him in if he agreed to involve them in decisions.
>
> I can't see Bird letting anyone else override his decisions.  He has a
> history of pissing on superiors in print when he disagrees with their
> decisions.
>
> These guys made more money then Bird by making their own decisions.  Why
> give Bird the chance to turn the fans against them as leverage to get what
> he wants?  The downside is lower then the upside is high.  Why take that
> risk?
>
> Of course this was Vescey reporting, so Bird's group is likely ahead
> anyway.....
>
> <Jim
>
>
****************************************************************************
> **************************
> Peter Vecsey mentions in the Post today, that the Rob Johnson/BET
> Group is now favored to be awarded the Charlotte franchise.
> If that happens, Larry Bird is on the outs once again, looking
> for another franchise to call his own, or at least take under his wings.
>
> The opportunity could be there for the new Celtics ownership to score
> a slam dunk of  public interest and managerial skill by reintroducing
> themselves to Larry, whom they spurned during their first week of
> quasi-ownership.
>
> Compared to Yes Man/Crappy GM Chris "Thank God we lucked into Paul
> Pierce
> and ML Drafted Walker" Wallace, Bird would be a vast improvement.
>
> And a vast improvement is needed, as difficult franchise maneuverings
> await
> whomever the GM is after the season, when new ownership moves out
> salary, to avoid the effects of the luxury tax. Something that they are
> almost
> certain to do, after overpaying for the franchise by tens of millions of
> dollars.
>
> As we've seen with the Red Sox ownership and their exile soon
> of Sean McDonough, new ownerships that overpay for franchises, will seek
> to
> trim expenses and increase financial liquidity anyway they can.  And
> the new Celtics management won't be an exception. They are not going
> to pay a luxury tax and lose out on the rebates and escrow amounting to
> millions of dollars.
>
> So, I'd much rather have Bird making the call on whatever trading
> decision they
> agree upon, with AntoineWalker being a prime candidate to be dealt, and
> whatever
> draft choices are involved. Goodness knows, we've seen Christopher screw
>
> up enough draft picks to last a lifetime.
>
> And from a Media/Public Relations standpoint, Bird is a  perfect fit to
> run
> interference for new ownership, when angry Media and Fans have Gaston
> Flashbacks,
> after new ownership deals off someone of value, to avoid paying the
> luxury tax.
> Ray