Re: Isiah Thomas fired

[Eggcentric@xxxxxxx]

Good job, Berry.  Where Celt fans breed and haunt, I have found the air to 
be most delicate.  But the good news is that this recent dead-ass list lives. 
 
No one does it better. You have single-handedly raised the energy level 
of the Rainbow Connection... the lovers, the dreamers, and me. It's not easy 
being green. 

< For the life of me I can't understand anyone being upset that Danny has 
not already turned this team into a championship contender. > - Shizz

I don't recall anyone stating such. I interpreted Berry's point to be that 
Danny should have been true to himself and taken the bullet this season 
instead of putting off the inevitable. Instead of creating chaos to 
eventually breed new life, I am afraid that Danny's choice of order will 
simply breed habit.  But then Danny has been beholden to - 

- the firm of Grousbeck & Pagliuca to remain competitive without 
spending one additional green sou.  

- the firm of Walker, Pierce, Williams, Battie, McCarty, and Delk to 
retain Obie.
 
- the firm of Obie, Walker, Pierce, Williams, Battie, and Delk to re-sign 
McCarty and Blount.

- the firm of Wallace & Papile to draft Banks, Perkins, and trade 
Songaila for Hunter.  

Oh what to do, what to do.  Poor Danny.  His is a struggle not of not
only men but of forces.  His relationship to Obie and a few Celt players 
is now about on a par with Bird's relationship to Isiah and a few 
Indiana players. But don't be surprised if Danny finally announces the 
''BIG TRADE'' in the next few weeks.  After all, one of his efforts has 
to finally pay off.  

< I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that Boston finishes ahead of NJ 
this season. > - MarkP

''Why are there so many songs about rainbows
And what's on the other side?
Rainbow's are visions, they're only illusions'' 
    -Paul Williams (Muppets)

< I can picture the C's eventually winning a championship with
Obie and Antoine. > - Renrile

No doubt about it - Obie has been in the right place at the right time. He 
has created lemonade from lemons despite his legendary shortcomings 
and unorthodox approach to the game of Bball. Should Ainge eventually 
provide him with a ''real''  team of NBA talent, bet Obie won't know 
which way to turn.  Second-raters are usually capable of only dealing 
with second-raters, and can only fool those around them for just so long.

< Suppose after 4 years, Kendrick has developed as much as Jermaine
Oneal/RashardLewis, and scores at will in the paint.  What if Hunter 
turns out as good as Brian Grant.  Then Obie's style and Antoine's skills 
would be part of a really successful, balanced team. >  -Renrile

Perkins may well turn out to be a terrific draft pick. He certainly was 
worth the risk. I have less confidence in Hunter, especially with the 
Celts working him out at SF, not PF.  And yes, Obie's style and Antoine's 
skills could still be part of a really successful, balanced team if they 
were surrounded by Jermaine O'Neal, Rashard Lewis, or Brian Grant clones.  
Better yet, surround Obie and AW with a Duncan, Garnett, or a McGrady, 
and I would be eating out of your optimistic hand. 

< I believe the Cs underachieved last season. > - Jessen

With no PG, no BENCH, anemic if not leukemia-type REBOUNDING, lack of 
specific GAME PLANS, and tres poor SUBSTITUTION PATTERNS, I would 
think most keen observers might feel that we actually OVERACHIEVED 
in winning 44 games.  

< Still, we owned Detroit and the Pacers. People, Detroit can't score. > 
- Jessen

We were 2-2 against both teams last season.  Guess Detroit could only 
score against us.  We lost by 52 points to them in January.  We also lost 
by 30 points to Indiana in March.  

Jan 28  @ Detroit   83-86       
Jan 31  Detroit     66-118      
Mar 15  @ Detroit   81-71
Apr 16  Detroit     99-92

Jan 17  Indiana     98-93   
Feb 1   @ Indiana   100-109 
Feb 26  Indiana     71-69
Mar 19  @ Indiana   72-102

< For you handwringers, must everything be the same as last year? > 
- Jessen 

Maybe not even that good.  With the exception of rookie Banks replacing
all hot/all cold 3-pt. shooter Bremer (who lost as many games as he
won for us), our eight-man rotation remains the same.  They are simply
one year older, a bit slimmer, and a lot more confused.   

< Do you look in the mirror every day and say, "Same place, same thing"? >
-Jessen

I do look in the mirror each day.  And honestly, I ain't getting any fresher. 
 
After reading this list, including your chronic irritability, it becomes 
clearer and clearer why I cannot rise above my ''chains of despair,'' 
why I was recently forced to withdraw from the Miss Maine Senior 
contest, and why I am not free at last. 

< Doesn't anyone want to see Prince do it his sophmore year and more than 
10 games before they think he is the answer to their offensive problems...
 Will it be Croshere's time for glory with Bird at his back? Can't see it.>
-Jessen

So you have little faith in what MIGHT be for non-Celtic players Prince, 
Tinsley, and Croshere.  Yet you have mucho faith that Baker MIGHT play 
all season, that we MIGHT be much quicker, that PP MIGHT not cost us 
three wins, that AW MIGHT grab 2 more rebounds per game, that Battie 
MIGHT not be injured, and that Kedrick MIGHT finally find his shooting eye?  

''Fraud!" cried the maddened thousands. 
But one scornful look from Berry, and the homers were awed. 

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright. 
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light.

And somewhere the handwringers are retching, 
and little children shout, 
for there is no joy in Mudville, 
homer Jessen has struck out.'' 
    - Thayer (Casey at the Bat) 


Egg