<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">General manager Danny Ainge wanted no part of Antoine Walker, who got himself suspended for his dumb act of pushing a referee earlier in the series. Ainge wanted to build a young team in the image of his former teams. But you can't do that with ball-hog pieces like Walker and Paul Pierce.</div> http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...ack=2&cset=true I've always suspected it, but now it's starting to make it's way into the press. I remember hearing that ticket sales went up 40% when AW was traded here. I'm not sure if the owners think "the Walker experiment" was successful or not, but I do know that if the decision is Danny's, he won't be back. There was also something in the news about Danny not wanting to sign Blount to such a huge contract. That was another thing he was apparently forced to do by the owners. It's hard to analyze this because it could mean so many things.
This garbage rumor was started by none other than the pathetically inept Sam Smith (Peter Vecsey wanna-be). Of course, now the rest of the media who have no clue are shamelessly repeating it as fact. Wyc was on WEEI this week and denied it. Danny Ainge being bullied into taking on a player he doesn't want? Come on, who's actually buying that? I'm not. Smith speculated that it was done to generate revenue this season, which would be a stupid reason to make a move of this magnitude, given the bi-polar disorder of most of the Celtic Nation. Winning sells tickets in Boston, Period. If it didn't work out, they'd be the laughing stock of the league and the fans would start calling them Gaston clones - only interested in the bottom line. Too much to lose making a move like this. I'm not buying it. None of this is a smart way to develop a GM/Owner relationship, nor is it a smart way to build the franchise back up. Fans need to believe in the new owners and GM. Them acting as unscrupulously as the former retards in charge wouldn't help the Celtics at all.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting hagrid:</div><div class="quote_post">Of course, now the rest of the media who have no clue are shamelessly repeating it as fact. Wyc was on WEEI this week and denied it.</div>Sorry, but that's not good enough for me. If this is in fact true, why in the hell would Wyc own up to it on Boston's most popular radio station? Come on, what's he going to say? "Yeah, Danny didn't want Antoine, but I was looking for some extra cash so I made him do it." Five minutes later, he'd have about ten different people murdering him. It's not in his best interest to get murdered. I don't care what anybody says, even if it was the case, Wyc would not admit it to anybody. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Danny Ainge being bullied into taking on a player he doesn't want? Come on, who's actually buying that? I'm not. </div>I think it's possible. Maybe not "bullied" as you call it, but "convinced" maybe. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Smith speculated that it was done to generate revenue this season, which would be a stupid reason to make a move of this magnitude, given the bi-polar disorder of most of the Celtic Nation. Winning sells tickets in Boston, Period.</div>Yeah, for the most part you're right, but Celtic Nation reacted to the return of AW. Every "casual" fan turned into a "diehard" again. All of a sudden they had pushed the Red Sox and Pats off of the front page, and the sports talk radio stations were talking about the C's in depth for the first time in years. You can't argue with that, or the jump in ticket sales. Whether it's speculation or not on the part of SS is the real question. Is Danny whispering in the ears of a certain writer, or is the writer putting together random facts that would support his theory. Just a quick glance at known facts and it looks suspicious: Fact- Ainge has been critcial of AW as a broadcaster. Fact- Ainge has been critical of AW as a DOBO. Fact- Ainge and Walker engaged in a war or words after he was originally traded. Fact- Nobody ever thought that Ainge would bring Walker back. Fact- After the deal, tickets sales went up 40%. Fact- Boston cared about the C's again. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">If it didn't work out, they'd be the laughing stock of the league and the fans would start calling them Gaston clones - only interested in the bottom line. Too much to lose making a move like this. I'm not buying it. </div>I don't think that's true at all, because as we know, it didn't work out. We didn't get any further than we would have had we not traded for 'Toine. We were headed for the playoffs with or without him. The only place it worked out was in the wallets of the Celtics' owners. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">None of this is a smart way to develop a GM/Owner relationship, nor is it a smart way to build the franchise back up. Fans need to believe in the new owners and GM. Them acting as unscrupulously as the former retards in charge wouldn't help the Celtics at all.</div>No kidding, but that's why we have to look out for this stuff. We've seen it all before and if it's going to continue to happen, then I'd like to see the new owners leaving town. This, however, isn't that bad because Danny was able to get Antoine without giving up anything. Nothing was hurt here, except maybe Al Jefferson's development or Mark Blount's apparent competence.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">All of a sudden they had pushed the Red Sox and Pats off of the front page, and the sports talk radio stations were talking about the C's in depth for the first time in years.</div> That happened for all of a few days. After that, the C's went back to the sports section. I'll give you the ticket sales issue, but had we not gotten out to that roll, post-trade, they would have went right back to where they were, only climbing IF we made the playoffs. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">We were headed for the playoffs with or without him</div> The difference being that without 'Toine we were creaping into the playoffs(and easily could have missed them) as barely a .500 team vs with 'Toine and 45 regular season wins and a 3rd seed. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Whether it's speculation or not on the part of SS is the real question. Is Danny whispering in the ears of a certain writer, or is the writer putting together random facts that would support his theory. Just a quick glance at known facts and it looks suspicious:</div> Those are exactly the reasons why it makes it easy for a hack like Smith to put this stuff into print and get people to bite, IMO. Vecsey also plays on any appearance of impropriety to dish his garbage. Oliver Stone's got nothing on these guys, neither do the folks who write for the National Inquirer. I'm not saying there's ZERO validity to this, but given Smith's track record, I'm just not buying it. It'd be like taking Vecsey at his word: You just don't do it. I'm finding it hard to imagine that DA simply "swallowed" this move, particularly given the "facts" that you put forth related to AW's and DA's percieved relationship.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm not saying there's ZERO validity to this, but given Smith's track record, I'm just not buying it.</div>What about Steve Bulpett? Is he another Oliver Stone wannabe? He's also pointing fingers at the owners. I have a feeling there will be more to come on this. I don't want to believe the butler did it, but the evidence points that way. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Word around the league is that Ainge didn't want to give him the six-year deal last summer. The call allegedly came from above.</div> http://celtics.bostonherald.com/celtics/vi...437&format=text This might end up like a game of 'Clue'. (It was Colonel Mustard in the Library with the candlestick.)
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> <font color="DarkRed">Word around the league </font> is that Ainge didn't want to give him the six-year deal last summer. The call <font color="DarkRed">allegedly</font> came from above. </div> The Usual Suspects: <font color="DarkRed">Word around the league </font> AKA - "Someone said it, I heard it, and I'm going to repeat it now." <font color="DarkRed">allegedly</font> AKA - "I can't even begin to prove this, but It'll make my article much more interesting to throw in the supposition." Bulpett clearly dances around the subject. He lends just enough to the idea, while clearly leaving himself un-culpable by never specifically saying it he has any proof. Again, I'm not saying that there may not be validity to this, but let me pose this thought: Given the specific writing "habits" of Smith, don't you find it slightly strange that he, of all people, would wait until AFTER the season was over to let this particular cat out of the bag? It would seem like a pretty juicy meatball to just sit on, particularly for a guy who's generally got the credibility of an Inquirer reporter. A reporter getting this out DURING the season, would sell mad copy and would be the joy-boy of his particular paper. Why would this kind of rumor monger sit on it? I dig where you're coming from though 44, I hear ya and hope it's not true.
My thing is that I wouldn't put it past Ainge to whisper it in his ear. After what happened, and the way it happened, Danny might want to clear his name.
He might and honestly, I wouldn't put it past him. My only problem with that particular scenario is that why choose THAT outlet to clear your name? Know what I mean? It's too bad that it's just me and you discussing this(not that I don't enjoy the company ) I figured with all the animosity that many NBA fans have towards both subjects in question (Ainge and 'Toine) that more people would have an opinion on it? I guess now that the off-season is upon us, people have moved on to other interests? <font color="DarkRed"><font size="6">( GO SOX! ) </font> </font> Oh well, at least the company left is smart, well-spoken, and able to put up a hell of a good arguement to his points. I can live with that.
I honestly don't see why Ainge wouldn't want Walker to be a part of the Celtic's orginazation. He's a great player and didn't bring anything but success to Boston when he got traded from Atlanta. Sure we didn't get out of the first round but our regular season record with Antoine was great. The Celtics will be prepared for next season and will play more like a team. This year was great but by next year the players will play more like a single unit. Remember, the young players on the team never played with a personality like Walker or Pierce. I really don't know if Ainge and Walker like each other so I'm not going to speculate on that. But they do respect each other. Ainge wants the Celtics to suceed like all of us Celtic fans do. So why would he actually make a comment like this? This story might have been a lie, just a way to get some attention.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting hagrid:</div><div class="quote_post">He might and honestly, I wouldn't put it past him. My only problem with that particular scenario is that why choose THAT outlet to clear your name? Know what I mean?</div>Yap, but I think he may have because he knows it won't turn into a big story that way. Maybe just to get it out there, and people will take it as speculation. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I guess now that the off-season is upon us, people have moved on to other interests? <font color="DarkRed"><font size="6">( GO SOX! ) </font> </font> Oh well, at least the company left is smart, well-spoken, and able to put up a hell of a good arguement to his points. I can live with that. </div>I second that "GO SOX" and I thank you for the kind words. But you know that you created me.
I'm not sure that Ainge had to be 'convinced' to take back Toine. I think Toine was built for uptempo basketball with his passing ability (if he sticks around I'm going to be very excited for next year... I will be anyways, but you know what I mean). However, I do think that if the report is true and he was close to getting BD from New Orleans and he went to Celtic ownership and said "I can get Antoine or Baron Davis" then Wyc and the boys probably pushed for Toine.
