Re: [Celtics' Stuff ] "Vin talks to Baccus every day..."-Herald

[JB <jim_metz@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Quotes are from the below Marc murphy column in today's Herald:

>  {Vin talks to Baccus every day, sometimes two or three times a day.
> Vin has been doing everything that he is supposed to do.'' }

	and:

>  {As of last night, Baker was still waiting for a call from Dr. Lloyd
> Baccus, head of the NBA's drug and alcohol testing program and the man
> charged with determining whether Baker was ready to return.
>
>      Only Baccus could clear Baker, who remained with his family in
> Connecticut last night, to return to the team. But as of game-time,
> despite several attempts by Baker to reach Baccus throughout the day,
> the doctor had not contacted the Celtics or the player.
>
>      ``He's frustrated with the fact that he's in great shape, and yet
> he's not able to play,'' Baker's agent, Aaron Goodwin, said. ``The
> Celtics are concentrating on the fact that they can get out of his
> contract.'' }

	Um, Mr. Goodwin, not seeming to be rude, but aren't you contradicting
yourself?
	I understand it's your job to represent Vin Baker and present him as
the victim here, but how can you have it both ways? If vin is in
contact with Dr. Baccus, multiple times, daily, as you state, no doubt
to portray him,  as someone eager to prove his compliance, why hasn't
Vin heard from him today, of all days?
	If Baker truly was talking to Baccus, daily, I'm sure it would have
been very clear to Vin, just what it would have taken to be cleared;
there should be be no surprises. Dr. Baccus was approved by the Celtics
and the players association, who he is associated with and a doctor of
that stature, would not let Baker dangle with unspecific goals. 	Sounds
like a bunch of agent crap, double talk, to me.
	I'm sorry to say, that Baker looks like a goner and people like you
are not helping his case, or his chances at recovery in the future.
Seems to me, it's you who is counting Vin's money, as a first priority,
not the Celtics.
	JB
Unchain My Heart!
********************
On Feb 13, 2004, at 6:26 AM, JB wrote:

> Bakers time up: Celtics take action to void Vins contract
> By Mark Murphy
> Friday, February 13, 2004
>
> CHICAGO -- The Celtics will take action today to void their contract
> with Vin Baker  [news], and thus the $36 million still due the
> suspended forward.
>
>      A league source confirmed that because Baker hadn't joined the
> team by tip-off of the Celtics' game against the Bulls last night --
> it is the 10th game Baker has missed after he was suspended for
> violating his aftercare program -- team officials would act on the
> contract. That includes approximately $6 million that had been slated
> for payment the rest of this season and another $30 million over the
> next two years.
>
>      The team reportedly was also preparing to waive the 32-year-old
> forward.
>
>      The NBA Players Association is expected to respond by filing a
> grievance on Baker's behalf, with the matter then heading to
> arbitration and, quite possibly, a negotiated buyout.
>
>      As of last night, Baker was still waiting for a call from Dr.
> Lloyd Baccus, head of the NBA's drug and alcohol testing program and
> the man charged with determining whether Baker was ready to return.
>
>      Only Baccus could clear Baker, who remained with his family in
> Connecticut last night, to return to the team. But as of game-time,
> despite several attempts by Baker to reach Baccus throughout the day,
> the doctor had not contacted the Celtics or the player.
>
>      ``He's frustrated with the fact that he's in great shape, and yet
> he's not able to play,'' Baker's agent, Aaron Goodwin, said. ``The
> Celtics are concentrating on the fact that they can get out of his
> contract.''
>
>      Managing partners Wyc Grousbeck and Steve Pagliuca, who took in
> last night's game on their way to Los Angeles for owners meetings
> during All-Star weekend, declined comment.
>
>      Under terms of an agreement signed by Baker and the team last
> summer, if he reached the 10th game of his second suspension without
> rejoining the team, the Celtics could attempt to void the contract
> under terms of the league's collective bargaining agreement and
> uniform player contract. Both state that in order to honor his
> contract, a player must present himself as fit to play.
>
>       Starting today, the Celtics will contend Baker can no longer
> live up to that stipulation, though Baker's representatives insisted
> yesterday he was in compliance with his aftercare program, and ready
> to rejoin the Celtics.
>
>      Baker, who has now violated the agreement three times, has been
> under the supervision of Baccus, who runs the league's drug and
> alcohol testing programs.
>
>      Though Celtics ownership has consistently maintained the
> agreement was drawn up with Baker's best interests in mind, Goodwin
> disputed their stated intentions yesterday.
>
>      ``We've been trying to find out ourselves,'' Goodwin, who has
> represented Baker in the past and was brought back two weeks ago for
> the upcoming fight, said of Baccus' intentions.
>
>      ``Vin has been in compliance for the last two and a half weeks,''
> said the agent, who added that Baker was also monitored by a local
> doctor under Baccus' charge. ``The doctor appointed by Dr. Baccus has
> cleared Vin, but that doesn't matter because this is up to Dr. Baccus.
> But Vin is able to join the team.''
>
>      Goodwin accused the Celtics of looking to get out from under the
> $36 million deal.
>
>      ``The urgency of (last night) has been put in you-all's head,''
> Goodwin said of the media. ``(The Celtics) should be concerned about
> getting Vin back to play, instead of getting out of his contract.
>
>      ``It's not that I'm frustrated,'' he added. ``I understand that
> it's a process. I'm more frustrated that everyone is putting more
> attention on this day than on getting Vin back. Vin talks to Baccus
> every day, sometimes two or three times a day. Vin has been doing
> everything that he is supposed to do.''
>
>      Goodwin, holding out hope that Baccus could even pronounce Baker
> fit to play AFTER last night's deadline, said, ``The doctor can still
> make a decision, and when he does, we want everyone to know that Vin
> is fit to play.''
>
>      News of the impending fight over Baker's contract hit Celtics
> captain Paul Pierce  [news] hard.
>
>      ``I hate to see something like this happen,'' he said. ``Vin is a
> great guy. Everyone loves being around him. I can't even think about
> everything he's going through, because I don't understand it. I've
> just tried to be a guy who is positive with him all of the time. He's
> been criticized enough by fans and the media. All we can do is be as
> positive as possible with him.''