Re: Just sit back, enjoy Celtics double feature

["Dan Forant" <dforant1@nycap.rr.com>]

Good points, just overblowing nothing I guess.

DanF
----- Original Message -----
From: <snoopy1@pig.net>
To: <Celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Friday, May 10, 2002 9:10 AM
Subject: Re: Just sit back, enjoy Celtics double feature


> At 09:26 PM 5/9/02 -0400, Dan Forant wrote:
> >Evidently Bird isn't a basketball man anymore. He had a taste of coaching
> >and that was it.
>
> Bird made it clear from the start he only wanted to coach for about three
> years.  Later, it became known that he'd developed some kind of heart
> problem (perhaps due to leaving so much of it at the Garden), that had
> ended up putting him on medication.  I believe that had he not left, he
> might well have died.
>
> >Gaston owns the team not Bird. Gaston can and will sell
> >when and if he wants. He is a cold hearted business man, successful.
>
> Absolutely true.  The problem is, it's generally accepted that the reason
> Gaston did not sell to Bird was because of the fact that Bird wanted to
buy
> the team.  The reliable word is that had another group made a similar
> offer, he'd have accepted it.  Given how the Celtics were doing at the
> time, that wasn't going to happen.
>
> >Now
> >looks like he's going to be richer with the Celts moving up in the world.
>
> If I was as terrified of spending money on the team as he is, I'd be
richer
> too.
>
> >What makes you think Bird could put a team together. He took over a team
> >ready for the nursing home. Never built one from scratch. It's all
> >hypothetical.
>
> Indiana was a team of perennial also-rans.  Larry built a coaching staff
> that relied heavily on Dick Harter and Rick Carlisle--remember those
> guys?  He used their experience as coaches to offset his own lack of
> coaching experience--and always gave them credit for that.  They narrowly
> missed becoming NBA champions.  Not bad for a "hyopothetical", hm?  After
> that tremendous season, the fans, management, and the team begged him to
> stay.  He couldn't, due mainly, we later learned, to his health.
>
> >Bottom line, the fans and players would be honored with Bird's presence.
> >Don't  think the players aren't wondering where he is. Hondo, Tommy H,
> >Russell and Cous will do for now. That's where the real green flows.
>
> The players know where he is.  He knows his Celtics history and cares very
> much for the team. It was a matter of personal pride that as coach of the
> Pacers, he never lost against Boston--that's how much respect he has for
> the Celtics.  Like many fans--myself included, the Fleet Center left him
> cold compared to the Garden.  The Celtics play a new team in a new
> building.  Perhaps he feels that "you can't go home again".  Perhaps he's
> trying not to take the spotlight away from the players of today.
>
> Would I like to see him at a Celtics game?  Of course.  I'd also like to
> see Don Nelson, Dave Cowens, K.C. Jones, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, and
a
> host of others who are equally infrequent visitors.  Nobody questions
their
> loyalty, their heart.  I live in Florida, and haven't been to the Fleet
> Center since it was built.  Nobody damn well better question MY support of
> the team.
>
> I think you're letting your disappointment that Larry hasn't come to a
> playoff game overflow into an extent that simply isn't warranted.  Of
> course, you're entitled to your beliefs, and your opinion, even though it
> may be unpopular--God knows, I bet some people on the list roll their eyes
> when they see a post from someone named "Snoopy"--but I just think you're
> treating Larry unfairly.
>
> Snoopy the Celtics Beagle
>
>
> >DanF
> >
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: <snoopy1@pig.net>
> >To: <Celtics@igtc.com>
> >Sent: Thursday, May 09, 2002 5:04 PM
> >Subject: Re: Just sit back, enjoy Celtics double feature
> >
> >
> > > At 01:47 PM 5/9/02 -0400, Dan Forant wrote:
> > > >Bird owes Boston everything. He could make an appearance for the
troops.
> > > >They paid him well for his services. He performed well. Bird is not
what
> >you
> > > >would call an ambassador for basketball. He's had this complex all
his
> >life
> > > >over something....I didn't believe it back
> > > >when, but now after the dust has settled, Magic was better than Bird.
> > >
> > > And Bird GAVE Boston everything.  I clearly remember exhibition games
> >where
> > > he was diving for loose balls.  It's not like he was fighting for a
spot
> >on
> > > the roster.  As a player he put everything he had on the floor,
arriving
> > > early to warm up before games, and working tirelessly in the
> > > offseasons.  He made it clear that any season where the Celtics didn't
win
> > > it all might as well be a losing season.
> > >
> > > He only retired when his back problems wouldn't let him play the way
he
> > > felt the game should be played--all out.  Then, he moved to a nebulous
> > > "front office" position with the Celtics, where it became clear Gaston
> >paid
> > > lip service to taking any of Bird's contributions seriously.  When it
came
> > > to coaching, Boston had it's chance to get Bird for the head job, and
> > > Indiana made him a better offer--not just because he grew up
there--heck
> >if
> > > that was his main reason, he'd have been traded to the Pacers as a
> > > player.  But Out-of Gaston had no problem giving Rick Pitiful anything
he
> > > wanted--including forcing Red to step aside from day to day
> > > operations.  Tell me you believe Bird would have done that, and I'll
be
> > > happy to offer some land here in Florida, cheap.
> > >
> > > Bird promptly coached in Indiana the way he wanted to in Boston, and
did
> > > everything but take the court himself to get the Pacers a
> > > championship.  Simultaneously, ML Carr Crash and Ricky Retarded
managed to
> > > do what even the rightly despised John Y. Brown couldn't do--he made
the
> > > Celtics a joke in the NBA.
> > >
> > > Then, when Bird headed up a group to buy the Celtics, he practically
> >handed
> > > Gaston a blank check, but Gaston didn't want to sell to Larry.  So
Larry
> > > decided he was doing just fine living as a retiree in Naples, Florida.
He
> > > doesn't have heart palpitations anymore, he doesn't bang heads with
> >Gaston,
> > > and he plays golf when he likes.
> > >
> > > You want to damn him for not visiting Boston?  Feh.  If I'd given as
much
> > > to the team as he did, and was treated like that in return, I'd have
> > > publicly told Gaston where to go and what to do when he got there.
> >Larry's
> > > got too much class for that, lucky bum that Gaston is.
> > >
> > > I think "thanksdad" ought to try thanking Larry for what he's done,
and
> > > apologize for the shabby treatment he gave Larry.  Perhaps that might
> > > encourage the Legend to pay a visit to the Celtics.
> > >
> > > Snoopy the Celtics Beagle