<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Recently acquired point guard Sebastian Telfair wants to ask Celtics legend Cedric Maxwell to request that the Celtics unretire his jersey number 31. Telfair has always worn the number because he?s from 31st Street in Brooklyn, but the number was retired by the Celtics in Maxwell's honor. ?I just got his phone number,? Telfair said. ?I?m going to call him.? </div> Source
That's kind of selfish and disrespectful if you ask me. Your a young guy on a new team. Pick a new number.
i could see it if it were a Shaq, Kidd, or Duncan type of player asking for the number...but not some unproven kids who appear to be more hype than skill.
If you guys knew Maxwell's personality, you'd know he won't be offended by the question. He probably loves the current Celtics team more than anybody else out there, and I wouldn't be surprised if he let him wear it. This kind of stuff probably happens everytime a player goes to a new team and his number is already retired. You have to figure it's worth asking, especially when you're dealing with Max.
How is it disrespectful? He's going to Maxwell himself to ask him for the number. That's very respectful.
I can't see Max turning him down, but I could see him ribbing him about it. He has a bad night, and all of a sudden, Max is knocking him on the radio, in that lovely little lisp of his. I'd get a laugh out of it. It may be a touch selfish, but who's he hurting? Not Max, and not "history," as was said. The vast majority of the people who frequent this site don't even know who Max is, so who's the more disrespectful? Those who don't know and don't care, or those who have the decency enough to at least ask? I'll take the latter, every time.
Why would this be disrespectful in any way? Maybe the people, like 44 said, who think it is aren't from the Bean and don't understand who Max really is. The guys real classy, and as far as I've heard and seen Sebastian is as well. I don't think Maxwell is the kind of guy who is too worried about his individual jersey being retired rather than the satisfaction of helping out the team that he bled for and still loves to this day. As far as his jersey if he says yes, they'll probably keep it retired but just allow Telfair to rock it.
The way he's doing it shows respect. It's not like Telfair is going to the Celtics and asking them to remove his retired jersey. He's showing some class by calling the guy and asking for his number. If I were Maxwell I'd let him have it...
It'll be weird if Telfair goes on to have a great career in Boston and they can't retire his number because it is already retired. I wonder how they would handle that.
Telfair is nut. What, exactly, is he thinking? Great way to make a first impression in your new city.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rocket:</div><div class="quote_post">Telfair is nut. What, exactly, is he thinking? Great way to make a first impression in your new city.</div> Have you not read the thread? Everyone actual Celtics fan who responded seems to have no problem with it. If anything Telfair is showing his class through this gesture.
I've never liked this, no matter what sport. IMO, the only way this should be approached is if the person who's number is retired offers it. Anyone that had their number retired (even if Boston does retire entirely too many numbers) meant a lot to that team. Telfair hasn't earned anything in this league, and I don't think he should be asking for this number. I think it puts the retired player on the spot. Most of them are nice guys who would never say no. I just don't think they should be put in that position (ala Largent and Rice) I loved how Karl Malone handled the lakers #32 situation, he never asked, but politely declined when Magic offered it to him. That's just how I see it.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 44Thrilla:</div><div class="quote_post">It'll be weird if Telfair goes on to have a great career in Boston and they can't retire his number because it is already retired. I wonder how they would handle that.</div> i was thinking the same thing lol
Guys, Max will likely let him wear 31. I reckon he'll be honour a young guy has asked to. Just hope Tel gets across the history behind the number 31 and wants to create a similar history. Could it inspire Tel to play better? At Richmond (AFL team) the number 17 associated with the best player ever at the club, Jack 'captain blood' Dyer, is given to the team captain to wear. The idea is to hnour Captain Blood and hope that the captain embodies his same passionate appraoch to football. Why dont the Celts start doing this? Before they run out of number. Put Del West in number 3 and make him learn about DJ and how he played. GG in 17.........tell him to play like hondo.with hops though.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 44Thrilla:</div><div class="quote_post">It'll be weird if Telfair goes on to have a great career in Boston and they can't retire his number because it is already retired. I wonder how they would handle that.</div> They'll just have two #31's I'm guessing. #31 (a) Sebastion Telfair and #31 ( Cedric Maxwell
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting briang8818:</div><div class="quote_post">(even if Boston does retire entirely too many numbers)</div> We're very sorry the Cavs have never amounted to anything. If they kept rolling out hall of famers and championships, I'm sure they would an excuse to retire the numbers of NBA legends. Look at the guys who are retired by the team, they are some of the most influential and talented players of their respective eras. Why do we have to put up with this bull?