Re: Shammond on Baker

["Dan Forant" <dforant1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Stench is so bad, just opened my window here in NY. P..U...that's better.

DanF

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Eggcentric@AOL.com>
To: <Celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2003 2:00 PM
Subject: Shammond on Baker


> No one has come out smelling very good from the Baker debacle - not 
> Wallace, not the owners, not Obie, not Baker.  Should we be surprised 
> that its stench has now infected the entire roster?
> 
> Egg
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> Williams plays defense
> Ex-teammate sticks up for friend Baker
> 
> By Shira Springer, Globe Staff, 3/23/2003
> 
> DENVER - Shammond Williams and Vin Baker are good friends. And that 
> hasn't changed since Williams was traded to Denver Feb. 20 and Baker 
> was suspended by Boston Feb. 27 for alcohol problems.
> 
> When asked what he thought about Baker being suspended, Williams 
> spoke his mind: ''To be honest with you, I just felt like it was a bunch 
> of nonsense, really. Once he started having his problems [playing], he 
> wasn't drinking. The last three weeks I was there, we were together 
> and he wasn't drinking like they quote-unquote said Vin was drinking. 
> He wasn't drinking like that.
> 
> ''Other [Boston] teammates were with us. My past teammates know that 
> he wasn't drinking like that. He drank no more than probably anybody 
> else who drinks. But I guess when you look at production and he's only 
> getting 4 points a game, somebody wants to blame something ... I don't 
> know if they were trying to force him out, but I think it's more made 
> up than it actually is.''
> 
> Williams wondered whether Baker was the only one to blame for his 
> downturn in production, questioning the system.
> 
> ''I've talked to him and he's doing fine,'' said Williams. ''Vin's a 
> great individual, a God-fearing individual. When you have God on your 
> side, no matter what people say about you or how they try to treat you, 
> things are always going to work out for you. He's cool.''
> 
> Williams also essentially said he's cool with his new team and his new 
> role in Denver. He may be on the worst team in the Western Conference, 
> but the Nuggets are giving him a chance to play. He entered last 
> night's game averaging 8.8 points per game and 4.8 assists in 26.3 
> minutes.
> 
> In Denver's 90-80 victory over the Celtics last night, Williams had 9 
> points and eight assists.
> 
> ''It's going good,'' said Williams. ''I'm biding my time and trying to 
> take advantage of the opportunities I have as a basketball player. It's 
> a young basketball team and I've been allowed to be somewhat of a 
> leader on the team, which is a strength for me.''
> 
> That said, Williams harbors no ill will toward the Celtics.
> 
> ''I heard some things that were said about me,'' said Williams. ''I was 
> like, ` Damn.' Stuff like my attitude. Everybody has their own opinion. 
> That's fine. I have no hard feelings to [the Celtics], especially my 
> teammates.''
> 
> A Long view
> 
> As the playoffs approach, O'Brien is rounding his rotation into shape. 
> And he is looking carefully at Walter McCarty and Grant Long at backup 
> small forward. Lately, there has been a little more Long and a little 
> less McCarty. ''We're trying to get him ready for a good end of the 
> year,'' said O'Brien. ''And trying to see in any particular game 
> whether Walt or Grant is the person that we need at the backup 3-spot. 
> A lot depends on whether the other team is trapping; then you want 
> Walt, a deep shooter, in. So Grant's going to continue to get a look at 
> both forward spots.'' Long had 2 points in 18 minutes last night; 
> McCarty had one rebound in seven minutes ... So what exactly did Mark 
> Blount say to the Lakers' Rick Fox late in the third quarter Friday 
> when both picked up technicals? Well, Blount wouldn't exactly say. 
> ''Not one word is printable,'' he said. ''Not one word. As a matter of 
> fact, I've got to call my mom and apologize.''
> 
> This story ran on page E3 of the Boston Globe on 3/23/2003.
> ) Copyright 2003 Globe Newspaper Company.