Re: Some Good Stuff From Peter Vecsey Including O'Brien Blast

["James A. Hill" <jahill@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Am I missing something....   Why would Whitsitt be buying out Baker's
contract and Why would Bird not be seeing Baker retire a Celtic?

Why am I not surprised the players sold out those before them.  Do the
agents get a piece of the merchandising money given to the players
perhaps......

<Jim


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http://www.nypost.com/sports/66392.htm

Several Celtics mentions and talk about ungrateful modern player louts,
but there wouldn't be
a league if it wasn't for Jordan, Bird, and Magic.....

NBA SENIORS GET STIFFED

By PETER VECSEY
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January 12, 2003 -- QUESTIONS For Those Of Us Forever Trapped In Our
Wonder Years:
Do you realize today's NBA players cut out retired players from their
merchandising deal with the league? In other words, when, say, a Magic
Johnson Laker jersey is sold, he doesn't pocket a penny of the proceeds.

Instead, the Players Association's share is distributed among active
union members who collectively sanctioned this abhorrent injustice.

*

Is there a playmaker more difficult to defend (penetration, passes and
points) these days than Stephon Marbury? In the final analysis, will the
Suns enjoy the last laugh regarding the Jason Kidd trade?

Shouldn't Yao Ming be hitting the Great Rookie Wall of China around now?

What does it say about the NBA that Earl Boykins is the Warriors' most
valuable player in fourth quarters of tight games? If he's obviously so
important, how come this is the 5-5 water bug's fifth team, six if you
count two stints with the Cavaliers? Meanwhile, each summer the league's
geniuses insist on stiffing him with a non-guaranteed deal.

What possessed the Warriors to draft Mike Dunleavy when they were
already over-financed and fortified at off guard and small forward?
Would they trade him?

Can John Stockton call his career complete without winning a
championship and being banished to the lockerroom during at least one
game by Jerry Sloan?

Is the intent of Jim O'Brien's out-of-control, long-distance-dialing
Celtics to make us think we're watching out-takes from a video?

*

Can you imagine how much worse Sonic owner Howard Schultz would feel
today had his struggling team (four straight defeats, five-of-six at
home) committed long-term to free agent-to-be Gary Payton?

What does Lamar Odom prefer, artificial turf or natural grass?

It made sense when the Kings recently recruited free agent Jimmy Jackson
(veteran minimum), but why would the league-leading Mavericks import a
31-year-old off shore driller from Bologna? Antoine Rigaudeau now must
adjust to Don Nelson's complicated offense, new teammates, new
opponents, a new position (the idea is to deploy the 6-6 reserve
swingman at the point) and new 3-point line.

At the possible expense of team chemistry (the hardly used Adam
Harrington was released, but was well liked, especially by Dirk
Nowitzki), which management never seems to fully appreciate? That'll
teach the deleted Harrington to be computer illiterate.

Will Phillips Arena sell out for the All-Star game? What if the Hawks
promise not to participate in any of the weekend events?

Does anyone give a hydroelectric damn whether LeBron James can spell
S.A.T., much less what his scores are?

When will Bob Whitsitt orchestrate a buy-out of Vin Baker's contract?

Could it be the Hornets (losers of four-of-five at home after an 11-0
start) are spending more time lately at the French Quarter than
opponents? Either that or Baron Davis (bad back has sidelined him for
five games of this calendar year) shouldn't have settled for a maximum
contract last summer.

When Dikembe Mutombo feels healthy enough to play, will Rod Thorn hire
Tonya Harding's people to take him clubbing?

Hawks GM Pete Babcock just called to ask why Garry St. Jean is still the
Warriors' GM?

Other than Vin Baker, is anyone booed more by home town fans than Keith
Van Horn?

Is Kobe's wife having a boy or a girl?

Considering the way Jeff Van Gundy continues to dissociate himself from
the Knicks' drafting of Frederic Weis, is it safe to assume he won't be
a candidate for the coaching vacancy in Charlotte when Ed Tapscott and
his yet-to-be-picked GM do the hiring?

How good would the Pacers be if Jamaal Tinsley could be as disciplined
throughout the game as he's been at the end of the last three?

Does anyone in the Vatican find Mike Bibby's big cross tattoo offensive?

Now that the Lakers have their first 3-game win streak of the season
(averaging 114.3), can we presume they're back to being interested?

What's more painful for Larry Bird: Losing the bid for the expansion
franchise in Charlotte, or seeing Vin Baker not finish his career in a
Celtic uniform?

Does anyone know Damon Stoudamire donated 250G to the failing Portland
school system? Does anyone outside of Portland care?

Who'll be the next Blazer to finger roll while being finger printed?

How long has Tom Ridge had the Blazers on his Watch List?

Do Doug Christie's hand signals to his wife annoy you as much as they do
Jason Kidd and Jeff Hornacek's children?