Re: Bob Ryan

[damekmo@teleport.com]

> That said, does he not
>realize that HE, himself, is responsible for a good deal of the negative
>sentiment stirred up toward Antoine, when he wrote his infamous "snotty punk"
>masterpiece? When it comes to "irrational fan behavior," Ryan and his ilk bear
>some of the brunt. "Now everyone is overracting," he writes? What about during
>the summer when he made the kid out to be Latrell Sprewell Jr?

Oh Peter....couldn't have said it better myself. Right on the mark. Ryan is
either numb or shameless in his hypocrisy. Now, that said...if I were
Pitino I'd sit Walker down and tell him to, how should I put this...get a
little more "Russell-like" concerning his relationship with the fans in
Boston. I think someone needs to tell Antoine that until he wins a
championship (and even then I'm not sure), the fans in Boston are always
going to view him, in part, as a selfish, "Hip-Hop" crazed, cancer,
bringing down a glorious franchise. Don't win for the fans. Don't work hard
to satisfy some venom-spewing irrational writer. Win...develop...work hard
for your teammates, for your coach, for the franchise, for YOURSELF.
Nothing wrong with that...as long as you win. I've said it before. The
Walker we're seeing, we've seen, for the past three or so weeks, is the
player this team needs. He's not a cancer...he's not a punk...he's not
evil...how he celebrates is inconsequential...all he needs to do is work
hard on his game and be in shape....and he and the team will get more
performances like last night. He is the straw on this team. He makes it all
work. If he doesn't work...it ain't going to. The fans in Boston are going
to turn on him whenever they can. Ryan will turn on him again. Ryan thinks
the world is going to hell in a handbasket because of players like Walker.
Antoine needs to forget them all, and just worry about his young,
absolutely fantastic game. He's got the heart...he's got the courage. There
hasn't been a player like him in Boston since...God, that was a long time
ago.

Paul M.