Kennebec Journal

["hironaka@xxxxxxxxx"<hironaka@xxxxxxxxx>]

http://www.centralmaine.com/sports/stories/021021book_col.
shtml

Kennebec Journal brings up race issues in Boston 
sports...quotes Bob Ryan saying loudest cheers in Boston 
Garden were when Kevin blocked a shot (of a black 
player), says Red Sox skipper Joe Morgan urged Ellis 
Burks not to date white women, portrays Will McDonough's 
bitter rivarly with Peter Gammons (I didn't know about 
that). 

Thankfully, there are no troubling anecdotes mentioned 
from the past ten years. I remember the 80s in Boston and 
it did feel a lot different from how it seems when I re-
visit Boston these days. Times can change for the better 
pretty quickly sometimes. 

Back then, I couldn't wait to move as far away as 
possible from there. Its from that perspective that I 
felt sympathy for Antoine Walker, back when he was 
getting booed on every touch. He rose above it, back when 
many kids that age would have lashed out at the fans. 

I'm really glad we have Pierce and Walker today, through 
the team's patience during all those difficult years.  

And I'm still very optimistic about this season, mainly 
because our glaring weakness so far has been at center 
(Battie and Baker's low production, scoring and 
rebounding), a position that actually projects to hold 
its own in the East once the games count. 

All the other expected concerns have been adequately 
addressed, much to my surprise. Paul Pierce can play 
make, Delk seems more comfortable spot-up shooting and on 
defense compared to Kenny, plus the bench seems stronger 
than what was expected - with Wallace pickups Sundov and 
Shammond actually looking useful, in their own way. The 
Celtics can score 100 a night without hitting on all 
cylinders. We'll be okay.  

So far Battie has been just as invisible as Baker, even 
though our focus has been on Baker. 

And the defense has a ways to go without doubt, but still 
looks good in spurts (the starters in particular). 

Joe H.



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