From: bewillia@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Maj. Devon McKnight)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Re: Anti-Boston Rhetoric. (Was re:Oh that Larry Bird)
Summary: Fun quotes by eloquent people about Boston.
Date: 15 Apr 92 00:14:42 GMT
Distribution: usa,local
Organization: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

In article <1992Apr11.165540.1@violet.ccit.arizona.edu> f67709317@violet.ccit.arizona.edu (Greg Franklin) writes:

>Boston get Jordan?? Naaah, they'd have gone for a white player who could
>put fannies in the Gahden seats and make sportswriters rave, "He's such a
>hard worker!"  That way, when they went up against the team who wound up
>with the "supremely gifted" Jordan, no one would mind if they got pasted.

	Yes, yes! Just like that noted white star Sam Jones, or Bill Russell?
Doesn't it seem just a tiny bit odd to you that when the Celtics started Sam
and K.C. Jones, Bill Russell, Tom Sanders and Willie Naulls, all of whom were
black, they didn't have any trouble throwing 13,909 into the drafty old Garden?
	To quote Bob Ryan, "The Celtics need apologize to no one (about their
racial record), especially the latecomers who never heard of Chuck Cooper." If
you haven't heard of Chuck Cooper, he was the first black player drafted by an
NBA franchise. Know who did it? Boston. And those five names I dropped earlier?
That was the first ever all-black starting five in the NBA. Boston again. First
black NBA head coach? Boston.
	Another quote. "It would be one thing if the Celtics were employing
white players at the expense of black players, and losing. But is there any-
thing wrong with utilizing Kevon McHale, and Danny Ainge, not to mention, if
healthy, Bill Walton and Scott Wedman? You _win_ with players like that."
	"Was it OK with the over-reactors when the Celtics ran eighteen people
through the locker room in the dismal '78-79 season, twelve of whom were black?
That team went 29-53, but it had a coloration acceptable to the watchdogs."
	"Since then, there has been a clear imbalance on the Boston roster.
They have had a disproportionate number of great players, both black and white

>(Maybe Gidi would know who the top white prospect in the 1984 draft was....)
>It was probably best for all that Bird spent 10+ years in Boston and
>Jordan 6+ in Chicago, rather than the other way around.

	I'll agree there. Although the thought of Jordan wearing the green
truly makes my heart flutter.

>I think Red would've taken Danny Ferry if  had wound up with the #1
>lottery pick in 1989.  It's my opinion, but it's as good as any other's.

	Maybe he would have. And maybe he would have blossomed in Boston's 
half-court game, still in place in '89. Maybe he would have been as bad as or
worse than he is now. Who knows. No point in speculating now. Let's stick to 
the facts.

	I have been hearing rhetoric damning Boston's record on race for years
and years now. The fact remains, though, that the Celtics' record on race is
impeccable. E-mail me, and I'll give you an even bigger list of achievements
and arguments. But if you don't, I'd suggest getting some facts and looking
past the surface when you attack this very, very complex question. I have, and
it opened my eyes more than I ever thought possible.

	Another thing, if you look in the 23 March, 1992 Sports Illustrated,
near the back is a wonderful article relating to this topic. Read it, if you
can get your hands on it. If you can't, e-mail me with your snailmail address
and I'll send it to you.