now that's a good ricky

[lapdoggy <lapdoggy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

It's amazing all of the subplots in tonight's game. Ricky coming back 
with a new coach to boot! Kedrick being criticized of being hesitant 
and Battie on the IL. Of course not too mention the Celtics are a 4 
point road dog. Usually that's their favorite situation, unless they 
are in Jersey.

Davis tells fans he's sorry

TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer
Monday, February 9, 2004

(02-09) 11:23 PST   CLEVELAND (AP) --

Returning to the "black hole," Boston Celtics guard Ricky Davis 
apologized to the few fans he still has here -- but not to the 
Cleveland Cavaliers.

Davis was back in Gund Arena on Monday for the first time since he was 
traded to Boston on Dec. 15 in a six-player deal that caused dramatic 
changes to both teams.

"It felt a little like homecoming back here," said Davis, who didn't 
speak so lovingly of Cleveland after he left.

Shortly after the trade, Davis rankled fans by criticizing the Cavs, 
general manager Jim Paxson and the city.

"I was glad to be out of the black hole," Davis said then. "It was 
terrible over there. The organization. No system. The town. Everything. 
The GM. All of it is kind of backward. It's good to be in a winning 
organization that has a system and knows what's going on.

"It's a step up in everything ... class, coaches, owners, GMs, players, 
winning, tradition, everything."

However, following the Celtics' morning shootaround to get ready for 
Monday night's game against the Cavaliers, Davis said he regretted some 
of his remarks.

"I want to apologize to the fans, they were always here during the bad 
times," he said. "They know I love them, and it was just hard times 
over here."

As for his other post-trade targets, Davis wasn't as contrite.

Asked if he was sorry for ripping Paxson and the organization, Davis 
paused and said, "I don't really want to go in to all of that, but I 
like my fans."

The Cavs were 6-17 when they traded Davis and forwards Chris Mihm and 
Michael Stewart to the Celtics for Eric Williams, Tony Battie and 
Kedrick Brown. Since then, Cleveland has gone 13-15 and moved back into 
the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference.

During the same span, the Celtics have spiraled downward with coach Jim 
O'Brien's recent resignation the low point.

Davis's departure was viewed as a necessity in Cleveland, where he 
wasn't happy playing a supporting role to rookie star LeBron James.

But at least he was a starter. With the Celtics, Davis is averaging 
12.5 points in 27.3 minutes coming off the bench.

"It's tough," he said. "You have to think about what you're doing out 
there. You have to come in warmed up and ready."

Davis was positive Cleveland fans would be warmed up and ready for him 
Monday night.

"A little bit of this, a little bit of that probably," he said when 
asked what type of reception he thought he'd get. "A few cheers, a few 
boos. All of it."