Subj : Developments
To   : All
From : Ed Grinnell
Date : Wed Sep 27 2000 10:17 am

* Crossposted in NBA_ECHO
* Crossposted in SPORTS

The Dunking Dutchman has called it quits. Good luck in retirement Mr. Smits.

                                  ****

I think that the New York press and fans didn't deserve Patrick Ewing. I admit 
that I hate New York but it's only because of fans and the media. Ewing gave 
them 100% every game and all they could do was trash him in the end. He showed 
a hell of a lot more class than they did when he was traded and I wish him all 
the luck in the world (Except when they play the Lakers, of course).

                                  ****

Thank you, Seattle, for solidifying the Lakers chances of a repeat. I didn't 
see Portland winning it (and I still don't) but I saw the Lakers having a 
difficult time with their personnel. I love Grant's ability and if they can get 
a few minutes out of Foster and Grant ("Who's that behind Foster and Grant"?) 
at center, Shaq should be a lot better next year.

                                  ****

I know that people are really into Portland this year, however; unless a few 
people start retiring, I think they've just made things worse. A Dream Team 
only works for an All-Star game or the Olympics not the regular season and 
playoffs. Too many egos fighting for too few minutes. Trouble is brewing on the 
horizon.

                                  ****

Day after day, players are getting in trouble and writers are taking them to 
task as if it's their fault. The fact of the matter is that FAME has its price 
and guys like Pierce pay heavily for that fame. I'm sure that Paul isn't a 
choirboy, however; neither is he a poster boy for NBA felons. The NBA needs to 
find some way to be able to protect their players because they are vunerable to 
attack or being accused of attacks by "fans."

BTW, if you are angry with players who are getting in trouble - think about 
this: many of them wouldn't be in trouble 20 or 30 years ago. You are seeing 
reporters GLEEFULLY reporting incidents that would have been swept under the 
rug years ago. Players aren't getting in any more trouble today, they're simply 
finding their stories in the papers more often. The press has become almost 
joyful when they can report about a player getting in trouble (Especially if 
it's a player that has been hostile toward the press).

--- TrekEd 1.00
 * Origin: Remember when bonus shots used to be 3 to make 2? (1:170/1701)

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