RE: Latest on Baker via ESPN.com

[Kim Malo <kimmalo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 12:04 AM 2/24/2004, Snoopy the Celtics Beagle wrote:
> I had never read that Springer article before, and it contained information
> that I haven't seen anywhere else--the specific reasons for the current,
> and previous, suspension.
>
> I was under the impression that the details were not disclosed to anyone
> outside of Vin and the team management.  So, I have two questions: first,
> how did she find out; and second, why did that get reported publicly?  I'm
> not sure that kind of information fell under the public's need to know.
>
> Though perhaps the first question should be, "Is it accurate?"

Oh I think so, if for no other reason than that we would have seen a 
retraction by now if it wasn't. And while people can disprespect Shira for 
opinions, such as offering too many warm fuzzies or following the company 
line, she doesn't usually get that sort of detail wrong. Speaking of which, 
what details? The only new one I thougt of was that the 3rd violation did 
involve testing positive for alcohol vs keeping the nature and fact of the 
violations quiet.

As to why reported publicly, I think the key thing is *when* it was 
reported publicly. The dynamic had changed considerably. After the 3rd 
strike that likely meant the end of Baker as a Celtic, with the likelihood 
of a better and more visible paper trail in places like the league office 
(up until that point it could likely be kept internal). While prior to that 
the Cs also had more of a vested interest in staying quiet for the sake of 
the team and of keeping someone still part of it, who they still thought 
might be productive, happy. You could always try emailing Shira at the 
globe and asking her...
<snip>
Kim