Re: Bulpett Says Bye Bye Birdy

["Dan Forant" <dforant1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Working with players, and owners and management is quite a different world.
Example, Larry did well with an aging team in Indiana. He managed to piss
off Gaston to the point where no deal could have been made. If that's not
burning bridges what is? The difference in Magic and Larry business wise is
outstanding.

DanF


----- Original Message -----
From: "Lance Jacobson" <lancejacob@attbi.com>
To: "Dan Forant" <dforant1@nycap.rr.com>; "Celtics Emai List"
<Celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2002 10:03 AM
Subject: Re: Bulpett Says Bye Bye Birdy


>     Confirms my suspicion Bird has burned a few bridges behind him. Just
too
>     aggressive. Let's see what he can do from scratch with a new
franchise.>>DanF
>
> Come on, Dan.  Don't you think that the owners want to dispel thinking
about Bird
> coming on board at this moment?  As the sources say, he'd have a fresh
start in
> Charlotte, with more money opportunities as far as ownership of the team,
the stadium,
> concessions, media rights and, of course, the roster.
>
> Meanwhile, these new owners have a Braintrust that isn't going to leave on
the high
> note of last season.  This is NOT the time to discuss replacing them, but
next June is
> perfect.
>
> If the Charlotte deal doesn't fly, or is delayed, AND the Celts flounder,
AND the new
> owners don't uncover a team of GM and coach that they like, Larry would be
> reconsidered.  Right now the owners have no interest in turning over the
fun part of
> the business to Larry Bird--while it's still fun.
>
> Larry isn't going public with anti-owner sentiment if he's a minority
holder in the
> group.  It's bad for business.  He also understands what his role is, and
there would
> be some long discussions as to what the owners want and their priorities.
The idea
> that Larry's not an employee that would look to win through hard work, not
spending
> money, is antithetical to his career.  Larry is happy to pay for results,
not
> promises.  No owner can argue with that.
>
> It's quite a jump to say that Larry's burnt bridges.  If it's the one to
Gaston, I'll
> hold the other flame-thrower.  Larry Bird is a teammate, who ALWAYS made
others
> better.  Working to undermine his owners isn't his style.  He'd quit
before going
> outside the lines.