Kyrie saying he hopes there won't be racist abuse from Boston fans

[gouki88]

Marcus Smart fueling the anti-Boston flames:

When asked whether he has heard racial remarks made against opposing players from the Boston crowd, Smart confirmed he witnessed at least a few interactions.

“Yeah, I’ve heard a couple of them,” Smart said after practice Thursday. “It’s kind of sad and sickening. Even though it’s an opposing team, we’ve had guys on your home team that you’re saying these racial slurs and you expect us to go out here and play for you. It’s tough.”

Why comment at all?  I hope that he’s traded this off-season.

I’m not sure I trust Marcus here.  He happens to be the only person in America who heard a Texas Tech fan shout the N-word at him before going into the stands to attack him.  He says a woman outside the TD Garden loudly shouted the N-wordat him when he was doing a good deed.  Again, no witnesses or corroboration.  To me, he’s got all the credibility of Tawana Bradley.

Marcus is apparently the only black Celtic, other than Kyrie now, to have dealt with these things it seems. Haven't heard anything from anyone prior to this, besides the stereotypes from opposition fans that Bostonians are racist.

Heck, even Perk and IT4 have gone on record saying Boston crowds are tough, but explicitly mention that they're not racist.

I'm pretty done with Marcus too. Heart and soul my rear-end

[Kuberski33]

Marcus Smart fueling the anti-Boston flames:

When asked whether he has heard racial remarks made against opposing players from the Boston crowd, Smart confirmed he witnessed at least a few interactions.

“Yeah, I’ve heard a couple of them,” Smart said after practice Thursday. “It’s kind of sad and sickening. Even though it’s an opposing team, we’ve had guys on your home team that you’re saying these racial slurs and you expect us to go out here and play for you. It’s tough.”

Why comment at all?  I hope that he’s traded this off-season.

I’m not sure I trust Marcus here.  He happens to be the only person in America who heard a Texas Tech fan shout the N-word at him before going into the stands to attack him.  He says a woman outside the TD Garden loudly shouted the N-wordat him when he was doing a good deed.  Again, no witnesses or corroboration.  To me, he’s got all the credibility of Tawana Bradley.

Marcus is apparently the only black Celtic, other than Kyrie now, to have dealt with these things it seems. Haven't heard anything from anyone prior to this, besides the stereotypes from opposition fans that Bostonians are racist.

Heck, even Perk and IT4 have gone on record saying Boston crowds are tough, but explicitly mention that they're not racist.

I'm pretty done with Marcus too. Heart and soul my rear-end

Marcus is edging past his 'sell by' date. He's on the decline as a player - mainly I think because of the way he's played his entire career.  He won't be one of those guys still playing in his mid 30's because his body won't be able to do it anymore at some point. 

The Celtics would be smart to move him but whether Danny will or not I don't know. I'm sensing that Smart himself may want a change of scenery based on comments like this.  He used to be the guy to fight back when things weren't going well.  Now he seems to accept the teams fate the same way everyone else does.

[staticcc]

Man, some disgusting takes here. Marcus is saying he’s heard it and we’re denying it?? Asking him to be traded??

I’ve been to the Garden a couple of times and I’ve heard it too. What are we trying to do? Just ignore the problem? And saying “oh all fanbases do it” is not a solution and doesn’t matter. If our players and ex-players have experienced racism, we need to listen and find a solution.

How can we fix this problem if we don’t even acknowledge its existence?

Some posters here obviously don’t want it fixed. Very telling.

[Erik]

Man, some disgusting takes here. Marcus is saying he’s heard it and we’re denying it?? Asking him to be traded??

I’ve been to the Garden a couple of times and I’ve heard it too. What are we trying to do? Just ignore the problem? And saying “oh all fanbases do it” is not a solution and doesn’t matter. If our players and ex-players have experienced racism, we need to listen and find a solution.

If someone says something racist, you deal with that individual. Remove, ban, whatever.

The problem with Smart's comment is that he's using a couple instances as supporting evidence that Kyrie is right that Boston is a racist city.

[RPGenerate]

Marcus Smart fueling the anti-Boston flames:

When asked whether he has heard racial remarks made against opposing players from the Boston crowd, Smart confirmed he witnessed at least a few interactions.

“Yeah, I’ve heard a couple of them,” Smart said after practice Thursday. “It’s kind of sad and sickening. Even though it’s an opposing team, we’ve had guys on your home team that you’re saying these racial slurs and you expect us to go out here and play for you. It’s tough.”

Why comment at all?  I hope that he’s traded this off-season.

I’m not sure I trust Marcus here.  He happens to be the only person in America who heard a Texas Tech fan shout the N-word at him before going into the stands to attack him.  He says a woman outside the TD Garden loudly shouted the N-wordat him when he was doing a good deed.  Again, no witnesses or corroboration.  To me, he’s got all the credibility of Tawana Bradley.

Marcus is apparently the only black Celtic, other than Kyrie now, to have dealt with these things it seems. Haven't heard anything from anyone prior to this, besides the stereotypes from opposition fans that Bostonians are racist.

Heck, even Perk and IT4 have gone on record saying Boston crowds are tough, but explicitly mention that they're not racist.

I'm pretty done with Marcus too. Heart and soul my rear-end

Marcus is edging past his 'sell by' date. He's on the decline as a player - mainly I think because of the way he's played his entire career.  He won't be one of those guys still playing in his mid 30's because his body won't be able to do it anymore at some point. 

The Celtics would be smart to move him but whether Danny will or not I don't know. I'm sensing that Smart himself may want a change of scenery based on comments like this.  He used to be the guy to fight back when things weren't going well.  Now he seems to accept the teams fate the same way everyone else does.

I agree that his time as a Celtic is nearing an end. I think he's plateaued not only as a player, but also as a leader. He's hasn't improved his game; in fact, I feel like he's regressed as a player in terms of shot selection and decision making.

[Atzar]

Man, some disgusting takes here. Marcus is saying he’s heard it and we’re denying it?? Asking him to be traded??

I’ve been to the Garden a couple of times and I’ve heard it too. What are we trying to do? Just ignore the problem? And saying “oh all fanbases do it” is not a solution and doesn’t matter. If our players and ex-players have experienced racism, we need to listen and find a solution.

I'm uncomfortable with the pushback against Smart on this issue, too.  It's victim-blaming.  No other way to describe it.  Get mad at the racists, not the guy who is calling them out.

[Roy H.]

Man, some disgusting takes here. Marcus is saying he’s heard it and we’re denying it?? Asking him to be traded??

I’ve been to the Garden a couple of times and I’ve heard it too. What are we trying to do? Just ignore the problem? And saying “oh all fanbases do it” is not a solution and doesn’t matter. If our players and ex-players have experienced racism, we need to listen and find a solution.

How can we fix this problem if we don’t even acknowledge its existence?

Some posters here obviously don’t want it fixed. Very telling.

I don’t believe Marcus or Kyrie.  Marcus has a history of making that stuff up, and Kyrie is a flake.  And yes, trade Marcus, please.  He’s been very poor this year, and clearly he’d rather crap on the entire city than stand up for the millions of exemplary fans.

That said, there are indeed racists in every city in the world.  I’m not sure there’s a way to fix it.  Stigmatize it, call it out, sure.  But don’t mislabel “belligerence” as racism.

[Roy H.]

Man, some disgusting takes here. Marcus is saying he’s heard it and we’re denying it?? Asking him to be traded??

I’ve been to the Garden a couple of times and I’ve heard it too. What are we trying to do? Just ignore the problem? And saying “oh all fanbases do it” is not a solution and doesn’t matter. If our players and ex-players have experienced racism, we need to listen and find a solution.

I'm uncomfortable with the pushback against Smart on this issue, too.  It's victim-blaming.  No other way to describe it.  Get mad at the racists, not the guy who is calling them out.

Unless the “victim” is lying, like he did at Oklahoma State.

There should be dozens of witnesses, potentially hundreds. And yet, Marcus is the only one who is hearing these slurs.

[Atzar]

Man, some disgusting takes here. Marcus is saying he’s heard it and we’re denying it?? Asking him to be traded??

I’ve been to the Garden a couple of times and I’ve heard it too. What are we trying to do? Just ignore the problem? And saying “oh all fanbases do it” is not a solution and doesn’t matter. If our players and ex-players have experienced racism, we need to listen and find a solution.

How can we fix this problem if we don’t even acknowledge its existence?

Some posters here obviously don’t want it fixed. Very telling.

I don’t believe Marcus or Kyrie.  Marcus has a history of making that stuff up, and Kyrie is a flake.

That said, there are indeed racists in every city in the world.  I’m not sure there’s a way to fix it.  Stigmatize it, call it out, sure.  But don’t mislabel “belligerence” as racism.

I struggle with the bolded as well.  One moron can inflict a reputation on an entire region through his actions.  And then that event joins the "Boston is racist" feedback loop, made all the more visible and indelible by the internet and social media. 

How does a region go about reversing this label, once earned?  I honestly have no idea. 

[staticcc]

From Bill Russell himself. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2899150-bill-russell-fans-called-me-baboon-coon-n-word-during-celtics-games

So Russell, Crawford, Price, Smart and others are all liars?

I agree. These things should be dealt with individually and we should not generalize that the whole city is racist.

But we can’t deny it like Ainge did and use arguments such as “It happens everywhere”. Focus on solutions, not disparaging the athletes who spoke up. 

[Roy H.]

From Bill Russell himself. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2899150-bill-russell-fans-called-me-baboon-coon-n-word-during-celtics-games

So Russell, Crawford, Price, Smart and others are all liars?

I agree. These things should be dealt with individually and we should not generalize that the whole city is racist.

But we can’t deny it like Ainge did and use arguments such as “It happens everywhere”. Focus on solutions, not disparaging the athletes who spoke up.

Boston has changed a bit in the last 60 years.  Now, with all the fans, cameras and security, if somebody is shouting racial slurs they’ll be identified. 

[staticcc]

Man, some disgusting takes here. Marcus is saying he’s heard it and we’re denying it?? Asking him to be traded??

I’ve been to the Garden a couple of times and I’ve heard it too. What are we trying to do? Just ignore the problem? And saying “oh all fanbases do it” is not a solution and doesn’t matter. If our players and ex-players have experienced racism, we need to listen and find a solution.

I'm uncomfortable with the pushback against Smart on this issue, too.  It's victim-blaming.  No other way to describe it.  Get mad at the racists, not the guy who is calling them out.

Unless the “victim” is lying, like he did at Oklahoma State.

There should be dozens of witnesses, potentially hundreds. And yet, Marcus is the only one who is hearing these slurs.

Do you have dozens of witnesses that prove Smart is lying this time? If you’re going by history, in the same way you argue that Smart’s history does not give him credibility, you can also argue that the city does not have credibility because of the history of some Boston fans spewing racist remarks.

Besides, when allegations are made, unbiased observers try to find out whether there’s truth behind these allegations first, not bashing the potential victim right away just because they think he’s lying.

[Roy H.]

Man, some disgusting takes here. Marcus is saying he’s heard it and we’re denying it?? Asking him to be traded??

I’ve been to the Garden a couple of times and I’ve heard it too. What are we trying to do? Just ignore the problem? And saying “oh all fanbases do it” is not a solution and doesn’t matter. If our players and ex-players have experienced racism, we need to listen and find a solution.

I'm uncomfortable with the pushback against Smart on this issue, too.  It's victim-blaming.  No other way to describe it.  Get mad at the racists, not the guy who is calling them out.

Unless the “victim” is lying, like he did at Oklahoma State.

There should be dozens of witnesses, potentially hundreds. And yet, Marcus is the only one who is hearing these slurs.

Do you have dozens of witnesses that prove Smart is lying this time? If you’re going by history, in the same way you argue that Smart’s history does not give him credibility, you can also argue that the city does not have credibility because of the history of some Boston fans spewing racist remarks.

Besides, when allegations are made, unbiased observers try to find out whether there’s truth behind these allegations first, not bashing the potential victim right away just because they think he’s lying.

There hasn’t been one report backing Marcus up.  Not fans, not other players, not referees, not Danny Ainge or Brad Stevens, Not any microphones or television cameras.  Just like in the Texas Tech game.

Show me evidence. 

[gouki88]

Man, some disgusting takes here. Marcus is saying he’s heard it and we’re denying it?? Asking him to be traded??

I’ve been to the Garden a couple of times and I’ve heard it too. What are we trying to do? Just ignore the problem? And saying “oh all fanbases do it” is not a solution and doesn’t matter. If our players and ex-players have experienced racism, we need to listen and find a solution.

I'm uncomfortable with the pushback against Smart on this issue, too.  It's victim-blaming.  No other way to describe it.  Get mad at the racists, not the guy who is calling them out.

Unless the “victim” is lying, like he did at Oklahoma State.

There should be dozens of witnesses, potentially hundreds. And yet, Marcus is the only one who is hearing these slurs.

Do you have dozens of witnesses that prove Smart is lying this time? If you’re going by history, in the same way you argue that Smart’s history does not give him credibility, you can also argue that the city does not have credibility because of the history of some Boston fans spewing racist remarks.

Besides, when allegations are made, unbiased observers try to find out whether there’s truth behind these allegations first, not bashing the potential victim right away just because they think he’s lying.

Are you asking for proof for someone to prove allegations did NOT happen? Unbiased observers tried to determine whether there was truth in the OKSU incident being racially motivated (there was no evidence) or that some random woman called him a slur in the middle of the street (there was no evidence either way).

Unbiased observers are also aware of Kyrie saying he never experienced racism in Boston in 2019, as well as his penchant for lying whenever it suits his business.

[TheTruth34]

Man, wonder how much Ainge now regrets the Kyrie trade.  Directly and indirectly - so much damage.

Since trading for Kyrie:
1) Nearly kills Hayward on the alley-oop in his first game of the season, leading to a potentially career-ending injury.  Hayward's loses his first year, rehabs during his 2nd, and then has his role/usage reduced in year 3 - and ultimately leaves.  Of course, it was not Kyrie's fault but it was foreshadowing of the damage yet to come.  He had whatever you call the opposite of the Midas touch.
 
2) Kyrie's "leadership" led to a toxic locker room.  Quits on the team in the playoff series to the Bucks.  Losing Kyrie (and Rozier who was unhappy with his role) meant replacing with Kemba, which turned into an absolute albatross contract.

3) Kyrie indicates he is going to stay to management and season ticket holders, but ultimately changes his mind and  leaves via FA -> there's the opportunity cost of assets that could have been obtained with an Irving trade.  And what could have been acquired via the last Brooklyn pick (potentially Colin Sexton, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, or Miles Bridges).  I guess we can be thankful that the pick didn't turn into Doncic...

4) As a Brooklyn Net - calls Boston racist to preempt booing, that is now going viral and could result in brand damage to the Celtics.  Potential FAs might think twice about signing here, or given equal money, choose elsewhere. 

I'm likely missing a few but holy hell.