C's, Baker agree on alcohol testing: Deal OK'd by players association

["Stephen Beauregard" <sb@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

C's, Baker agree on alcohol testing: Deal OK'd by players association

by Mark Murphy
Friday, September 12, 2003







The Celtics, whose attempt to sign Vin Baker to a side agreement was hotly
contested by the NBA Players Association last spring, have cleared an
important hurdle in Baker's return to the team when training camp opens next
month.




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The players association recently approved the agreement, including provisions
for in-season, alcohol-related testing for Baker.

``Vin and the team now have an agreement,'' managing partner Wyc Grousbeck
said yesterday, while also declining to disclose terms of the agreement.

``It was redone over the summer to clarify it, and we went over some things to
change. We had input on this from the players association and the league.
Because of that, we were able to turn out a well worked out agreement.''

The players association had initially reacted strongly to the provisions last
spring, arguing that matters like alcohol testing are not covered in the
league's collective bargaining agreement with the players.

At the time, Baker also reportedly signed away much of the security under his
present contract in exchange for working to recover from the alcohol abuse
that fueled his departure from the Celtics last season.

The Celtics went on to make the playoffs without Baker in the lineup. He has
since embarked on a rigorous workout and rehabilitation program that has
Celtics officials gushing about his new, in-shape look. Celtics coach Jim
O'Brien was reportedly impressed during a trip to Miami to evaluate Baker, who
was working out with former Heat center Alonzo Mourning's trainer.

``The agreement last spring was done quickly - on the spot,'' Grousbeck said.
``Just about every element is still in the agreement, and the players
association signed off on it as well.

``Everyone seems to be happy with it.''

The rest of Celtics management will get to evaluate Baker's progress for
themselves when training camp opens Oct. 2. But the word, according to
Grousbeck, is promising.

``I'm cautiously optimistic,'' he said. ``I think this is a long road. I don't
know how things will work out, but between the suspension and now, he's made a
lot of progress.''

The goal, according to Grousbeck, is still to do right by Baker.

``If you try to do the right thing as a person, then you're probably also
going to do the right thing as a team owner,'' said Grousbeck. ``A lot of hard
work has been done by a lot of people. But most of this has been done by Vin,
who is out there busting his tail.''

Thanks,

Steve
sb@xxxxxxxxxxxx

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