Whitlock Article

[paintitgreen]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/8262606?MSNHPHMA

Honestly, I don't think it's the best writing Whitlock's ever done (unlike some of you, I am a fan of his work), but he throws a lot of praise at the Celtics' racial history, and is one of the first major columnists I've seen who douses the Phil-Red comparisons the way the Kobe-Jordan comparisons have been doused. Interesting read.

[LarBrd33]

I found it to be pretty boring... i skimmed through it and gave up.  I really don't care about the racial thing. I'm sick if it always going back to that.  I loved this team.  The whole "Boston" "black" "race" blah blah blah... boring.  Even if it's a positive article about how racially tolerant the team has been... it just seems like a tired topic that has been beaten to death.  And didn't Whitlock already write the same thing earlier this year?

[Roy Hobbs]

I liked the Adande article earlier in the year a little better, but that was a good one, as well.  I like Whitlock, and it's unfortunate to me that he left ESPN.

[wahz]

I found it to be pretty boring... i skimmed through it and gave up.  I really don't care about the racial thing. I'm sick if it always going back to that.  I loved this team.  The whole "Boston" "black" "race" blah blah blah... boring.  Even if it's a positive article about how racially tolerant the team has been... it just seems like a tired topic that has been beaten to death.  And didn't Whitlock already write the same thing earlier this year?

He did. And given the nonsense that gets tossed around the country about the Celtics and their suppossedly racially biased history, we absolutely want to have someone who is relentlessly standing up for the truth and assaulting the bad rap. Its disgraceful what the espn writer wrote recently. Don't for a moment think we don't need someone to set the record straight repeatedly. Our own players have said they talked to each other about how it was in Boston before coming there. And they weren't discussing the restaurant business.

It won't go away by pretending its not there. Various nonsensical things took place over many years to cause folks to think this nonsense. I hope Whitlock keeps it up. I am not the one who needs to read it, I am just glad to know someone is out there writing it.

[LarBrd33]

Ah that's true.  I guess it's true that we need someone writing good articles about the Celtics' racial history after Jemima Hill compared us to Hitler.  This is a good point.  I'm just saying that personally I'm bored with the topic.

[Zarex]

One point I disagreed with was that the the racial makeup of the Russell era and Bird era championship teams was managed by Red so that the supporting cast would be a comfortable fit with #'s 6 & 33.  I highly doubt that either player would prefer to suit up with an inferior player of the same race over a superior player from another racial group.  I recall Bird pushing hard for the team to acquire Quinn Buckner, and he was happy when Red traded his drinkin' buddy Roby for D.J.    

[Big Ticket]

He crossed the line with his KG criticisms and I've yet to see him acknowledge the performance KG put up in Game 6.  Whitlock could never write again, and I wouldn't care one bit.

One person I wish was still alive to have the opportunity to write about this Celtics team is Ralph Wiley. 

[Last Train]

One point I disagreed with was that the the racial makeup of the Russell era and Bird era championship teams was managed by Red so that the supporting cast would be a comfortable fit with #'s 6 & 33.  I highly doubt that either player would prefer to suit up with an inferior player of the same race over a superior player from another racial group.  I recall Bird pushing hard for the team to acquire Quinn Buckner, and he was happy when Red traded his drinkin' buddy Roby for D.J.

Yeah that seems like an assumption on Jason's part.

[drza44]

He crossed the line with his KG criticisms and I've yet to see him acknowledge the performance KG put up in Game 6.  Whitlock could never write again, and I wouldn't care one bit.

One person I wish was still alive to have the opportunity to write about this Celtics team is Ralph Wiley. 

Agreed, though it was long before he ever mentioned KG that I had stopped being a Whitlock fan.

And in light of the Good Jordan/Bad Jordan article that Wiley wrote about KG and Kobe back in '04, I imagine that he would have been all over this Finals.

[Pawtucket Pat]

I found it to be pretty boring... i skimmed through it and gave up.  I really don't care about the racial thing. I'm sick if it always going back to that.  I loved this team.  The whole "Boston" "black" "race" blah blah blah... boring.  Even if it's a positive article about how racially tolerant the team has been... it just seems like a tired topic that has been beaten to death.  And didn't Whitlock already write the same thing earlier this year?

He did. And given the nonsense that gets tossed around the country about the Celtics and their suppossedly racially biased history, we absolutely want to have someone who is relentlessly standing up for the truth and assaulting the bad rap. Its disgraceful what the espn writer wrote recently. Don't for a moment think we don't need someone to set the record straight repeatedly. Our own players have said they talked to each other about how it was in Boston before coming there. And they weren't discussing the restaurant business.

It won't go away by pretending its not there. Various nonsensical things took place over many years to cause folks to think this nonsense. I hope Whitlock keeps it up. I am not the one who needs to read it, I am just glad to know someone is out there writing it.

That's a great point, I agree 100%. TP.

[CelticsPrideKG]

LOL gotta love a thread referencing an article that is trying to shed positive light on a positive racial issue in Boston . . .


Then a couple posts down someone makes reference to "Jemima" Hill.



Kind of amusing.

[LarBrd33]

LOL gotta love a thread referencing an article that is trying to shed positive light on a positive racial issue in Boston . . .


Then a couple posts down someone makes reference to "Jemima" Hill.



Kind of amusing.

Sorry.  I mean Jemilele or whatever the heck his name is.  He's not a real sportswriter so I don't pay enough attention. 

[Hollywood]

I dont like Whitlock but good point here:

"Gasol and Odom, Radmanovic and Vujacic desperately needed translators and kicks in their asses.

They would've heard and understood Red."

I never bought that Phil was just lucky for having great players, but now I kind of look at it like Whitlock puts it. Phil came up small in the finals.

[LarBrd33]

I dont like Whitlock but good point here:

"Gasol and Odom, Radmanovic and Vujacic desperately needed translators and kicks in their asses.

They would've heard and understood Red."

I never bought that Phil was just lucky for having great players, but now I kind of look at it like Whitlock puts it. Phil came up small in the finals.

The guy came up small when he had Kobe, Shaq, Payton and Malone also.  He's not that great of a coach.  Anyone doubt that those 6 titles were won by Michael Jordan and his heroics?  Anyone doubt that the remaining 3 were won by Shaq and his overpowering dominance?  Phil was just along for the ride.   I had this dream that Bron went to play for the Brooklyn Nets and had a solid supporting cast... then suddenly Phil Jackson got hired as a coach and I thought to myself, "typical... riding another superstar to a title".

[westupcali]

The Whitlock article was the truth. People don't really know the history of the Boston Celtics. Now the Celtics have 3 black coaches who have won championships. I know that Lenny Wilkens won a championship as a coach with seattle. But its true though you can't compare Red and Phil Jackson. Red won all 9 with one team, Phil's 9, well he had two teams to go to. But Red did more, way more.