Great article on Jermaine O'Neal's career and his hunger for a ring

[Drucci]

Great article written by Julian Benbow for the Globe. Here is the link : http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2010/09/12/oneal_is_reaching_for_the_ring/

Some excerpts (but the entire article is worth the read) :

“There’s no ego, and it’s hard to find no egos,’’ O’Neal said. “As good as individual players are, especially when I look at a situation like Miami, none of those guys had to really deal with sacrificing.

“That’s what made Boston more intriguing for me and a situation I thought would be better for me. These guys [in Miami] are all really good individual guys that are used to shooting 20 times a night just last year. These are all young guys.

“So no matter what you say or how you say it, they’re going to still want the credit. But I know the Boston Celtics aren’t about that.’’

The summer after the Celtics won the NBA title in 2008, Paul Pierce paid Jermaine O’Neal a visit.

Pierce walked in with his ring on, beaming. After so many years in the league — some successful and some painfully futile — Pierce was riding a high that he had never experienced in basketball. O’Neal could sense it when they went to dinner.

“He was at a different level,’’ O’Neal said. “It was like a natural high. Like a newborn baby or winning the state lotto. Whatever it is that gives you that feeling of happiness, he was there. As a player, you’re not envious of what he’s done. But you want to have that feeling.’’

I must admit I didn't have a very good image of JO before, but listening to his interviews this summer and reading this article, I've changed my opinion. He looks like a good guy, and he seems really motivated to win a ring so let's hope he stays healthy and brings his passion to the Celtics every night!

[Celtics18]

Thanks for sharing that nice article.  I'm not worried about what kind of guy Jermaine O'Neal is, but more what kind of player.  I think he still has the skills to get it done, but his performance against us in last year's playoffs is hard to shake as my image of JO as a basketball player. 

I liked the quotes about "the light behind the mountain." Way to poetically mix your metaphors, JO.   

[timpiker]

boy do I have a good opinion of him now....great article.  if all of this is true I would root for him no matter what team he plays for....but even more so now

[GreenFaith1819]

Thanks for post, Drucci (TP).

J.O will help us big time this season. He will fit right in with what we are trying to do here.

The key for both Shaq and J.O is to hold the fort down for Perk until he returns, and I think they'll both do that.

Glad to see some insight into J.O's mindset here.

[thirstyboots18]

TP, Drucci. Thanks for the article.  I think it is getting even too easy to love this team!  {as if I had any objectivity at all... )

[SamuelAdams]

Nice piece, partly PR but good.  I liked the "ego" line.