Paul Pierce's maturity / gang signs? (merged)

[PierceMVP08]

This is all ridiculous.  Why are all of you (none with any gang affiliations, i presume, or any expertise on the matter)so sure of what Pierce was doing with his sign.  You have credibility on the matter.  I am sure many of you are older, white men who have been shielded from growing up around gang activity and all you know about this is what you see on television and movies.  This means you are out of touch and really don't know what you are talking about when it comes to this matter.  As a youth growing up in Boston, I can tell you this much, that sign Pierce was flashing stand for Boston.  "Throwing threes up" is a common sign representing Boston used by inner city youths in the City.  Having been in Boston for the last ten years, I'm sure Paul has picked this up.  There is no reason to assume that Pierce has gang affiliations when this is a much more logical explanation.  Pierce was letting Horford know who they are.  This is Boston, and you don't disrespect us.

Check out this link for the definition.  It doesn't have a picture, but "throwing them threes up" is holding up three fingers just like Pierce did.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=throw+them+threes+up

I know a lot of you unfairly hate on Pierce, but please, stop making ludicrous accusations.  The man has been nothing but classy this year and has loyal to us Boston fans for much longer than we deserve.  He's never turned on us, so why are all of you turning on him? It's not his fault we've terrible the past few years, in fact he's the reason we even won 24 last year.  Come on guys, stop being petty.

[EJPLAYA]

Come on guys! We try and read into every single thing that goes on with this team. Why we shouldn't question this is absurd. If he DID make this gesture as a mimic of a gang sign to try and show he is tough, then people have every right to question his wisdom in doing it whether he owns up to it or not. If he didn't do it then fine, but that doesn't discount people's worry that he might have. If he DID do this and you don't care, then you really ought to reassess your values. No wonder a big portion of athletes do what they do if we are willing to discount this type of activity. I for one hope that this wasn't what he was implying although I am leaning with this discussion and things posted that he was, but even if he comes out publicly and says he wasn't you really can't use that as fact. He would be immediately slammed by Stern. He will never admit that.

It is kind of funny that the things some individuals on here think are topic worthy are fine, but those that others think are topic worthy shouldn't even be discussed. If this is truly what he did, it is most definitely worthy of our discussion. To claim to ''know better'' and to tell the rest of us to keep quiet and not to cast doubt on our pillar of the community is quite unbelievable. Where was everyone when people were posting that Posey was gone that time because he was drunk in the back of a cab?! Sounds like selective interest. If people don't like the topic then move on. Don't tell everyone else what they are allowed to believe or discuss.

[crownsy]

to respond to the notion that this is racist... someone said its racist because if scal had doen it, we wouldnt be saying this.  well, scal is from needham, mass, right?  paul is from inglewood.  big difference, the race thing is silly. 

anyway, this is useless, we have no idea what he was indicating.  pauls badass, and will embarrass horford tonight, thats somethign we can all agree on right?

well, that view is pretty racist if you want to get right down to it. Assumptions based on race and background define racism, and you just hung the fact that this isn't racist on the fact that one player in your example is African American from a known gang hot spot and one is white from a non African American community proves he's not.

I understand your example, and know thats not what your trying to say in any way, but it strikes me that its pretty much the textbook definition of racism to assume different things about 2 people based on race and background .

personally i'm with Bah. im out of this thread, if you want to assume the captains a gang banger with no proof, more power to you. This thread isn't worth my time.

[EJPLAYA]

This is all ridiculous.  Why are all of you (none with any gang affiliations, i presume, or any expertise on the matter)so sure of what Pierce was doing with his sign.  You have credibility on the matter.  I am sure many of you are older, white men who have been shielded from growing up around gang activity and all you know about this is what you see on television and movies.  This means you are out of touch and really don't know what you are talking about when it comes to this matter.  As a youth growing up in Boston, I can tell you this much, that sign Pierce was flashing stand for Boston.  "Throwing threes up" is a common sign representing Boston used by inner city youths in the City.  Having been in Boston for the last ten years, I'm sure Paul has picked this up.  There is no reason to assume that Pierce has gang affiliations when this is a much more logical explanation.  Pierce was letting Horford know who they are.  This is Boston, and you don't disrespect us.

Check out this link for the definition.  It doesn't have a picture, but "throwing them threes up" is holding up three fingers just like Pierce did.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=throw+them+threes+up

I know a lot of you unfairly hate on Pierce, but please, stop making ludicrous accusations.  The man has been nothing but classy this year and has loyal to us Boston fans for much longer than we deserve.  He's never turned on us, so why are all of you turning on him? It's not his fault we've terrible the past few years, in fact he's the reason we even won 24 last year.  Come on guys, stop being petty.

PP has 75 million reasons this year and the next three to be loyal. He represents the Celtics and the fans, and this wasn't the only site or group of people questioning what he did. This is a blog after all. If you think I ''owe'' PP anything other than the time I spend watching him and the dollars I spend on their gear you are sadly mistaken. If we were guaranteed a championship at the beginning of the year to trade him for another player/combo of players, every single one of us would have taken that. Be serious about loyalty!

[shookones99]

I nominate this as the most ridiculous thread ever. Not only because it's inherently stupid, but because of the racial politics that underlie it, that have given it impetus. A black player makes an ambigious hand gesture? Well, obviously it's a gang sign. A black player gets angry about something and expresses himself? Well, obviously it's a sign of his immaturity and thuggery. Thank God the level-headed, reasonable white guy (Scalabrine) was there to put an end to it, otherwise we would have had Watts '65 on our hands. Honestly.

Your the one bringing race into this.  If it was Ray Allen or PJ Brown people wouldn't think twice about it.  They're black aren't they?  The fact is that Paul Pierce is from Inglewood and he has acted immaturely and sort of like a "thug" in the past.  I love Paul Pierce but he is more of "thug" personality than other players.  White or Black. 

[Schupac]

I think all these comments about "maturity" are absurd.  I'm sorry, if someone gets in my face I don't think the "mature" thing to do is to adjust my necktie and walk away in a huff.  Maybe it's the safe thing to do.  But what exactly does maturity have to do with taking crap from somebody?

If someone get's in my face, I don't think it's immature of me to get right back in theirs.  If Pierce had just taken that and walked off the court I'd be upset.  Instead, I think he behaved like a man.  If you disagree that's just fine, but don't mix up maturity with pacifism or "white collar-ism" as I'd call it in this case.

If Paul was on the playgrounds of LA, I'd agree with you. But he is a professional basketball player playing in a NBA arena. The last thing the NBA needs is another "brawl at the palace" situation.

I did not in any way at all advocate Paul reliating with violence.  You didn't get that from my post.  I specifically said if someone get's in your face, you can get back in theirs.  Both those actions involve talking, not swinging.

Your reference to the "brawl at the palace" is exactly what is homogenizing our sport.  Jeez... watch a game of Hockey.  The only reason it's a big deal is because fans sit courtside.  Well, if fans can't handle some colorful language, they can go watch an exciting game between the Harlem Globe Trotters and Washington Wizards.  This is a professional full contact sport.  I expect passion out of the players.  We can't have a league of Mark Blounts here.

If you want to say Paul acted unprofesionally that's one thing.  I'd agree with you.  But again, unprofessional and immature are two very different words.

I'm sorry, but the idea of saying someone is childish (a synonym for immature) because they would show their anger is just foolish to me.  Family Fun ruins GROWN MAN FUN DANGIT!  I  WAAANNNAA SEEE BLOOOOOOOOOD!!! (ok maybe I'm being fecetious here...)





Oh, by the way Chrismihm... judging two people based off background is the definition of PREJUDICE not RACISM :-)

[Ersatz]

The fact is that Paul Pierce is from Inglewood  

Um,...never mind.

Wow.

[Andrew Celtic Nation]

I nominate this as the most ridiculous thread ever. Not only because it's inherently stupid, but because of the racial politics that underlie it, that have given it impetus. A black player makes an ambigious hand gesture? Well, obviously it's a gang sign. A black player gets angry about something and expresses himself? Well, obviously it's a sign of his immaturity and thuggery. Thank God the level-headed, reasonable white guy (Scalabrine) was there to put an end to it, otherwise we would have had Watts '65 on our hands. Honestly.

Your the one bringing race into this.  If it was Ray Allen or PJ Brown people wouldn't think twice about it.  They're black aren't they?  The fact is that Paul Pierce is from Inglewood and he has acted immaturely and sort of like a "thug" in the past.  I love Paul Pierce but he is more of "thug" personality than other players.  White or Black. 

Just because Paul is less well-spoken than those players doesn't make him a thug. Showing immaturity on the court is different than casuing trouble by acting like a thug like Tinsley and Stephen Jackson. The only off-court trouble Pierce has ever had is being stabbed and that was by all accounts not his fault. I saw Brendan Haywood take off his jersey and spin it around after being ejected for giving Lebron a hard foul in the playoffs last week, exactly what Pierce did when he was ejected, does that make Haywood a thug now? Is a well-spoken and community activist like Bruce Bowen a thug for getting physical with players in the heat of the moment ON Court?

[WillyBeamin]

This is all ridiculous.  Why are all of you (none with any gang affiliations, i presume, or any expertise on the matter)so sure of what Pierce was doing with his sign.  You have credibility on the matter.  I am sure many of you are older, white men who have been shielded from growing up around gang activity and all you know about this is what you see on television and movies.  This means you are out of touch and really don't know what you are talking about when it comes to this matter.  As a youth growing up in Boston, I can tell you this much, that sign Pierce was flashing stand for Boston.  "Throwing threes up" is a common sign representing Boston used by inner city youths in the City.  Having been in Boston for the last ten years, I'm sure Paul has picked this up.  There is no reason to assume that Pierce has gang affiliations when this is a much more logical explanation.  Pierce was letting Horford know who they are.  This is Boston, and you don't disrespect us.

Check out this link for the definition.  It doesn't have a picture, but "throwing them threes up" is holding up three fingers just like Pierce did.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=throw+them+threes+up

I know a lot of you unfairly hate on Pierce, but please, stop making ludicrous accusations.  The man has been nothing but classy this year and has loyal to us Boston fans for much longer than we deserve.  He's never turned on us, so why are all of you turning on him? It's not his fault we've terrible the past few years, in fact he's the reason we even won 24 last year.  Come on guys, stop being petty.

PP has 75 million reasons this year and the next three to be loyal. He represents the Celtics and the fans, and this wasn't the only site or group of people questioning what he did. This is a blog after all. If you think I ''owe'' PP anything other than the time I spend watching him and the dollars I spend on their gear you are sadly mistaken. If we were guaranteed a championship at the beginning of the year to trade him for another player/combo of players, every single one of us would have taken that. Be serious about loyalty!

just throw out that whole benefit of the doubt thing, common decency torwards another human being, any of that. he's an athlete who makes lots of money so I can make whatever assumptions and judgements I'd like about him.

I find this rather odd considering a few posts ago you were asking for all our respect to allow you to post and discuss whatever you'd please...

[EJPLAYA]

This is all ridiculous.  Why are all of you (none with any gang affiliations, i presume, or any expertise on the matter)so sure of what Pierce was doing with his sign.  You have credibility on the matter.  I am sure many of you are older, white men who have been shielded from growing up around gang activity and all you know about this is what you see on television and movies.  This means you are out of touch and really don't know what you are talking about when it comes to this matter.  As a youth growing up in Boston, I can tell you this much, that sign Pierce was flashing stand for Boston.  "Throwing threes up" is a common sign representing Boston used by inner city youths in the City.  Having been in Boston for the last ten years, I'm sure Paul has picked this up.  There is no reason to assume that Pierce has gang affiliations when this is a much more logical explanation.  Pierce was letting Horford know who they are.  This is Boston, and you don't disrespect us.

Check out this link for the definition.  It doesn't have a picture, but "throwing them threes up" is holding up three fingers just like Pierce did.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=throw+them+threes+up

I know a lot of you unfairly hate on Pierce, but please, stop making ludicrous accusations.  The man has been nothing but classy this year and has loyal to us Boston fans for much longer than we deserve.  He's never turned on us, so why are all of you turning on him? It's not his fault we've terrible the past few years, in fact he's the reason we even won 24 last year.  Come on guys, stop being petty.

PP has 75 million reasons this year and the next three to be loyal. He represents the Celtics and the fans, and this wasn't the only site or group of people questioning what he did. This is a blog after all. If you think I ''owe'' PP anything other than the time I spend watching him and the dollars I spend on their gear you are sadly mistaken. If we were guaranteed a championship at the beginning of the year to trade him for another player/combo of players, every single one of us would have taken that. Be serious about loyalty!

just throw out that whole benefit of the doubt thing, common decency torwards another human being, any of that. he's an athlete who makes lots of money so I can make whatever assumptions and judgements I'd like about him.

I find this rather odd considering a few posts ago you were asking for all our respect to allow you to post and discuss whatever you'd please...

My dollars comment was in response to saying PP is ''owed'' anything from us as fans. At 75 million he isn't owed anything more form me IMO. It had nothing to do with you being able to post and feel one way or the other.

[CelticHooligan3]

It should be noted Paul Pierce is good friends with fellow NBA player Baron Davis. Davis is the best friend and Godfather to one of the most well known and outspoken Bloods in the medias eye right now, "The Game". Players and flashing gang signs have gone hand in hand for a while now. Anyone remeber Isiah Rider Crip Walking before his dunks in the Slam dunk contest. He was also known to point to his gang tatoos and throw signs in games. If you dont beleive me just watch the Yinka Dare highlight film of him. The point is a lot of these kids come from real bad neighborhoods where a lot of their friends only way out is a body bag or prison. They reason the players come through unscathed is they have underworld figures watching their backs. I.E. Look at the example in "He Got Game" with "Big Tyme".

[shookones99]

The fact is that Paul Pierce is from Inglewood   

Um,...never mind.

Wow.

Inglewood has a lot of gang activity.  What I am saying is that if he wasn't from Inglewood than people probably wouldn't be thinking that it was a gang symbol.  But he is from Inglewood and so people are thinking that.  It has nothing to do with him being black.

[crownsy]

weather you feel you "owe" a player the benefit of the doubt is a personal thing though, Some may feel as you do EJ, and i understand the argument, These guys do make a fortune for playing a game we'd all love to pay for the salaries we make now. certainly there's no written rule that says we owe them anything.

At the same time, i think feeling you "owe" a player something is a personal choice. I feel i owe the captain the benefit of the doubt for his years of blood, sweat and tears here, as well as owing him the same consideration i give all people, which is innocent until proven otherwise. how much he makes isn't a factor for me.

Its a personal choice, and it's ok to be on either side of it.

[crownsy]

The fact is that Paul Pierce is from Inglewood   

Um,...never mind.

Wow.

Inglewood has a lot of gang activity.  What I am saying is that if he wasn't from Inglewood than people probably wouldn't be thinking that it was a gang symbol.  But he is from Inglewood and so people are thinking that.  It has nothing to do with him being black.

if you say so. I think he could be from any major city and people would belive what they want.

ugh, ok shutting down celticsblog till this thread falls down a bit, driving me nuts to see people (on both sides) make blanket statements, I'll cya guys in the game thread tonight 

LETS GO CELTS, SHOOT DOWN THOSE HAWKS!

[EJPLAYA]

weather you feel you "owe" a player the benefit of the doubt is a personal thing though, Some may feel as you do EJ, and i understand the argument, These guys do make a fortune for playing a game we'd all love to pay for the salaries we make now. certainly there's no written rule that says we owe them anything.

At the same time, i think feeling you "owe" a player something is a personal choice. I feel i owe the captain the benefit of the doubt for his years of blood, sweat and tears here, as well as owing him the same consideration i give all people, which is innocent until proven otherwise. how much he makes isn't a factor for me.

Its a personal choice, and it's ok to be on either side of it.

Well said Crownsy. TP for you. My response was to those that were trying to shut down the discussion based on their idea that we ''owe'' them something. I have no problem with someone thinking that way, but they shouldn't use it as a method of telling everyone to shut up and think the way they do. Make a valid argument to change people's minds. Back up your comments. Good points Crownsy...