Re: Manny released...anyone want a slugger?

["Dan Forant" <dforant1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I'll drink to that. Baker has looked the Demon in the eye and won. He
articulated the his post game interview very well and is certainly one of
the most likeable dudes in the NBA.

DanF


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stephen Beauregard" <sb@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "celtics list" <celtics@xxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2003 7:21 AM
Subject: Manny released...anyone want a slugger?


> Baker starts anew: Thrills crowd with 15 points in return
> By Dan Ventura
> Thursday, October 30, 2003
>
> This was even beyond Vin Baker's wildest dreams.
>
>      As the Celtics forward was removed from the game with 32 seconds
left,
> the fans stood and rewarded Baker with a standing ovation after he scored
15
> points and grabbed five rebounds in a season-opening 98-75 victory over
the
> Miami Heat last night at the FleetCenter.
>
>      ``This was the biggest night of my career, the best night of my
life,''
> said Baker, who was suspended from the team in February and later entered
a
> substance abuse center. ``That ovation coming out of the game was a
tremendous
> moment for me and my family. I'm so appreciative of the fans for this
> opportunity - I'm just overwhelmed right now.''
>
>      No one knew what to expect from the 6-foot-11 Baker. He had a strong
> preseason and looked to be a completely different player from the one who
> struggled in his 52-game stint last year. But this was the first chance
for
> fans to see if Baker had indeed turned the corner.
>
>      ``I'm just excited to be here, my family has come out here for the
> game,'' said Baker, who got a huge round of applause as he was announced
with
> the other starters prior to tipoff. ``I'm just trying to calm myself down
and
> get ready to play.''
>
>      Baker came to the Celtics as part of a five-player deal with the
Seattle
> SuperSonics on July 22, 2002. The Celtics had hoped that a return East
would
> spur Baker, whose numbers had been dropping since he averaged 21 points a
game
> for the Milwaukee Bucks in 1996 and 1997.
>
>      It became painfully obvious that Baker was a shell of his former
self.
> His playing time dropped and he even suffered the dreaded DNP-coach's
decision
> four times. After averaging less than six points and four rebounds in 52
> games, the Celtics essentially pulled the plug on Baker's season and he
> subsequently checked into a facility to help curb his drinking.
>
>      Celtics coach Jim O'Brien visited Baker and came away convinced that
he
> could be the answer to some of his team's inside deficiencies.
>
>      ``I went down to see him at the hospital and we had a talk and right
then
> he was already talking about (last night) and when he could get back,''
> O'Brien said. ``He admitted his difficulties and he said basically that,
`You
> can count on me next year.' ''
>
>      The first step was last night against a Heat team in transition. With
the
> recent trade of Antoine Walker [news], Baker knew he was expected to pick
up
> his game to counter the loss of the two-time All-Star forward. With a
> confident look seldom seen around these parts, Baker showed off an
impressive
> repertoire of turnarounds and short jumpers, while running the floor like
he
> did in the early days.
>
>      ``I have a lot to prove to myself,'' said Baker. ``This has been a
long
> journey and I am ready to get back to work. There have been a lot of
sleepless
> nights along the way, but I am ready to work hard for this organization.''
>
>      The first dividend came last night.
> Thanks,
>
> Steve
> sb@xxxxxxxxxxxx