The Bulls are reportedly looking in to Carlos Boozer's explanation of how he fractured a bone in his hand. Boozer said he tripped over a bag in the dark while answering the door. "It was just dark, my doorbell rang and I tripped over a gym bag, tried to brace myself and it popped," Boozer said the day after suffering the injury. "I jumped back up, opened the door and my hand was still a little numb." http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/b...ring_chris_paul_to_knicks_or_nets.html?page=2
This kind of thing can lead to a disgruntled player. Leave it be, it's not going to make him heal any faster. And it's really tough to regruntle a guy.
I agree Denny, which is probably why this is being leaked in the NY Post instead of a Chicago outlet. I have to imagine the Bulls are in CYA mode and the real story is out there.
What is the real story? If it's that he punched a wall over something to do with his divorce, I who cares? We've got him for a long time, and we want him to be a happy guy. Real life outside basketball happens. A little understanding goes a long way.
I think insurance would pick it up one way or another unless he intentionally injured his hand or injured it in an intentional act of violence -- and there is no indication of either at this point. Still, if he is out 10 weeks because he put his hand through a wall or some other case of disregard for his body -- an asset the Bulls paid dearly to acquire -- the Bulls have a right to be disgruntled as well. It would behoove Carlos to make and effort to re-gruntle his gracious employer, if that were to be the case.
Having the ability or even the right to do something doesn't make it a good idea. nor would I an employer that stalks around fact checking my explanations to them "gracious". If insurance cares, let the insurer ask the questions. There's nothing good that can come of this for us. For that matter, I wouldn't take a single Mitch Lawrence unsorted paragraph as gospel accurate either.
What's the point? Fine him so the team profit is $62M instead of $60M? Send a message to the other players: if you are having tough personal problems, don't punch a wall?
I wonder if this means they're gonna open an investigation into DRose's "cut himself with a pairing knife in bed eating an apple" incident. I mean, c'mon, the truth will set us free.
I think the Bulls are entitled to know exactly why their $76M investment is going to miss the first 10 weeks of his first season with the franchise and if they find the explanation given lacking, Carlos should understand a little double checking -- and as far as I know from the reports given, there is no indication that he is harboring any resentment to the fact that the Bulls want to ask a few questions. If it is as he says it is this will pass quickly and if there is more to it I think both sides are capable of dealing with reality and moving forward. I think its better to clear the air now than to have a cloud of (possible) deception and doubts lingering. The organization doesn't need to be heavy handed or oppressive about the matter but if they have follow up questions I do believe they are entitled to frank and honest answers.
If he's embarrassed about punching a wall, exposing that would be an embarrassment for him, by definition. I'm not seeing any understanding of the trauma the guy's going through (a divorce) here.
Chronic lying doesn't help anybody, not when the organization does it, nor when a player does it. And sorry, the fact that everybody does it doesn't cut it as an excuse. Agreed that you can't approach this self-righteously. But if Boozer has a real problem with lying to himself and others (and there's some evidence of it), it's worth it to try and nip it in the bud in this relationship. And Reinsdorf doesn't like liars. But I agree that this isn't the Bulls leaking this info or suggesting this angle. It's other media looking to disrupt the agreed upon favorite of the East-Central.
In other news, Carmelo Anthony played 24 minutes in a 109-99 win over the Blazers. 7-12 shooting, 3-4 from 3pt, 7-8 FT, 4 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 24 points.
The problem is the fact that the questioning has come to light in the press not in the questioning itself -- which should be internal and insulated from public consumption.
I have little doubt the Bulls looked into that incident as well, the difference being they were able to keep their follow-up out of the press. And maybe it was a paring knife/apple incident afterall, maybe it wasn't (although with that particular injury, its tough to think of a sinister cause unless he happened to have been smoking cigars with Michael Jordan). But whatever the reality, I'm sure the Bulls looked into it and whatever the result of the inquiry, they managed to handle it internally. To me, that is the key. I think the Bulls, as an organization that made a hefty investment in Carlos Boozer, have a right to know what happened in an injury that leads to him missing 1/8 of a season. I DON'T think I or any other outsider, is necessarily entitled to know what is or is not going on in Carlos Boozer's personal life. As a fan, I'm nosy and I guess I'd LIKE to know but its really none of my business. However, as a 5 year/$72M investor, I believe the Bulls are vested enough to be entitled to some transparency when it comes to the health and fitness to play or lack thereof when it comes to Carlos Boozer.
Also, people were willing to cut some slack for a young kid. True, Derrick does have some skeletons related to the ACT, for example. But this is not Michael Beasley, at least not yet, and generally speaking, he's worked hard to be accountable and live up to his status as the team's star.
I fully disagree. If Boozer is being deceptive at the outset the seeds of discontent and disconnect are planted and if the Bulls choose to turn a blind eye the seeds will blossom and grow. Much better to be up front from the get go and if there is anything in Boozer's story that doesn't correspond to reality, nip it all in the bud, clear the air, establish the concept that if anything else should happen, be up front about it rather than deal with spin and lies and deception, make amends and move on. Reality and relationships should not be a chess game.
Trusting people who are lying does not build trust. Ask FDR about Stalin....He was a damn-good liar -- well, they both were, I suppose. I'm not advocating airing dirty laundry or dragging Boozer over the coals. But this fear of "ruining" the fragile relationship by challenging Boozer's story is ..... wait for it, here it comes..... What is wrong with America these days (Just as guilty as every one else, by the way. But I've lived long enough to see the healthy difference between the times when I've confronted lies (my own or someone else's) and when I haven't.)
