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RE: T.J. Ford

My mistake. Although it tells me a lot about Bell too. I never viewed Bell as someone who would make it in the NBA. Seems like a Joe Forte type - big college scorer, NBA bust.






From: "Berry, Mark S" <berrym@BATTELLE.ORG>
To: 'Shawn Niles' <shizzjr@hotmail.com>, "Berry, Mark S" <berrym@BATTELLE.ORG>, celtics@igtc.com
Subject: RE: T.J. Ford
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 15:02:43 -0500

Actually, Troy Bell said that. And as much as I hate to read too much into
one quote, it told me a lot about Mr. Bell and his feelings about playing
point guard.

Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: Shawn Niles [mailto:shizzjr@hotmail.com]
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2003 2:51 PM
To: berrym@BATTELLE.ORG; celtics@igtc.com
Subject: Re: T.J. Ford

"I don't have a lot of respect for someone who can't score a lot..." Texas
coach Rick Barnes said.


Isn't that sort of a narrow minded view? Doesn't this coach realize there is

a lot more to the game than just scoring?



>From: "Berry, Mark S" <berrym@BATTELLE.ORG>
>To: "'celtics@igtc.com'" <celtics@igtc.com>
>Subject: T.J. Ford
>Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 13:08:34 -0500
>
>ESPN.com just named T.J. Ford its college player of the year. This is a guy
>who averaged 14 points a game and shot around 41 percent from the field. So
>why is he the player of the year? Because he's the kind of point guard I
>dream of running the Celtics. Read this story, including some glowing
>quotes
>from opponents and his coach, and tell me he doesn't sound like a dream of
>a
>player.--Mark
>
>
>The stats of a player of the year candidate are certainly important, but
>they're not everything. Numbers certainly played a role, but weren't the
>determining factor in deciding ESPN.com's Player of the Year.
>Just ask the leading candidates.
>"I would look at (his) importance to their team, the leadership ability,"
>Boston College senior guard Troy Bell said.
>"Yeah, I'd look for a leader, someone who could also defend, score and make
>everyone around him better," Oklahoma senior guard Hollis Price said.
>"You want a guy who has courage, so that the guys who are following you
>know
>you won't back down," Wake Forest senior forward Josh Howard said. "You
>want
>a guy who is determined, who has leadership, who can score and defend."
>The guy you want is Texas sophomore point guard T.J. Ford.
>"I love T.J. ... that's the guy," Price said.
>ESPN.com couldn't agree more, which is why Ford emerged from a crowded
>group
>as The One.
>Arguments will be made for Bell, Price, Howard, Xavier's David West,
>Marquette's Dwyane Wade, Syracuse's Carmelo Anthony or even Kansas' Nick
>Collison. The race for national player of the year was the closest in
>recent
>memory, and will likely mean a number of split votes for various awards.
>Ford certainly isn't the only one who fits our criteria this season. Heck,
>Ford didn't even win the media or coaches award in the Big 12. Price got
>the
>media vote, Collison the coaches.
>But ESPN.com's choice for national player of the year goes to Ford.
>"Ford is real quick, maybe not the best shooter ... but somehow he gets it
>done," Bell said. "He's a good penetrator, plays good defense and is a lot
>more athletic than most little guys because I've see him throw it down a
>few
>times. I don't have a lot of respect for someone who can't score a lot, but
>T.J. can get it done. He scores a little bit and I respect him for that.''
>"He's obsessed with winning, winning every game, winning the national
>championship," Texas coach Rick Barnes said. "He wants to win so bad, to
>win
>it all. That's the most important thing to him. That's what he's about."
>Ford has made Texas what it has become over the past two seasons -- a
>national title contender. Without him, the Longhorns aren't nearly as good,
>maybe not even among the top four teams in the Big 12, let alone among the
>top four teams in the country.
>This 5-foot-10 dynamo is that important to the Longhorns. Texas has a shot
>to win the national title because of his ability to set a game's tone,
>dominate on the offensive end with both his creativity that results in easy
>shots for everyone else, as well as himself.
> Forget about being just a sophomore. Ford can carry the Longhorns to the
>title -- this year.
>"Everybody talks about experience. But if you ask any coach in the country
>to pick experience or talent, they'll take talent," Barnes said. "There's
>no
>question that experience is important, but he's averaged 35 minutes a game
>over his career. He's a quick learner and seldom makes the same mistakes
>twice."
>Ford, never shy about being the Big Man on Campus every time Texas takes to
>the court, understands the demands placed on him since arriving in Austin.
>"For us to win, yes I do have to play well," Ford said. "My teammates know
>that. I've got to keep it all organized. It's like the quarterback in
>football. I've got to be the communicator."
>Guards win championships in today's college basketball, and the Longhorns
>are never out of a game with Ford on the court.
>"My job when I came here was to make everyone better," Ford said. "My job
>is
>to get everyone in the right spots and get them to feel comfortable. My
>attitude is to be the best on the court. I just want to outwork my
>teammates
>and that mindset carries over to my teammates."
>"I'm not sure there is better choice than T.J. Ford for national player of
>the year," Barnes said. "Just think about the way he controls the game.
>It's
>impressive. He can beat you in different ways.
>"The confidence that he plays with is a major factor on our team. When his
>teammates look at him it makes them feel like they've got a chance even if
>we're down 15, we're never out of it because they know he's such a fierce
>competitor."
>Ford may only have two seasons of college ball under his belt, but is
>likely
>to leave for the NBA just like the above mentioned seniors -- not to
>mention
>the one junior (Wade) and freshman (Anthony). And regardless of where he
>lands, he won't lose his best attribute, his burning desire to win.
>And that's why Ford has to be involved in every play on the court. He
>doesn't disappear. He's always around the ball, making plays, ensuring that
>Texas is in position to win.
>That's why he's ESPN.com's choice as the one player among this mix deemed
>the most irreplaceable, which makes him the best in 2003.


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