Has KG gone too far (Charlie Villanueva comments) Update KG's response

[bello_man09]

i hate this twitter stuff if he didn't like it why didn't he approach Kg like a man and say he didn't appericate  it..KG gets really into the game when he plays...i am not surprised at all..

[thirstyboots18]

KG is not Billy Graham, and Billy Graham is not Kg.  KG is a basketball player, and a very good one, period.  That is why sports figures should not be used as role models.  They are just regular people.  From a distance, it looks like Ray Allen tries to set a good example...I think each of us is better off trying to be our own good example and not worrying about everyone else.

[Greenbean]

And ESPN will pick this up in 3...2...1

[crownsy]

Poor taste by KG. I don't know if CV deserved that kind of trash talk, nor don't fault him for reporting on Twitter. He ain't the first and won't be the last to express himself via Twitter. KG did go to far in my opinion. I am getting tired of people calling out KG to fight, but he did go below the belt.

If Charlie is in fact telling the truth - I agree with Jevi here.

I love KG, and his trash talk (and most trash talk) is part of the game, but there are some things that are off limits.

The most Legendary players in the game ever all had a code of ethics, I assume. In my time, Larry, Magic and Michael all talked trash, but I am sure that they never talked about someone having a condition like Charlie's.

Now the part of challenging KG to a fight? That's childish. He's not the first to do that. If Charlie was THAT good of a player, he'd shut KG up on the court - not in a ring.

Jordan and Bird were known as some of the most vile trash talkers of all time by the people they played...Alot of that has come out in player's memoirs from that time.

I mean, if people don't like trash talk, fine. But lets not engage in revisionist history. The only difference between those days and these is the amount of access fans have to the game.

[makaveli]

if I could hear KG on the court, I probably wouldn't like him as much

co-sign

[Larry Pistol]

Trash talking goes on everyday. On the court, off the court, between ball players, and between co-workers in the office. Maybe not everyone does it, and yes Garnet is the poster boy for trash talking in today's NBA. However, I don't see anything really wrong with it. It's not like KG went up to Villanueva on the street and said that he looked like a cancer patient. It was in the heat of the moment, during a game. And for CV to complain via the internet instead of, I don't know...beating him ON THE COURT is childish at the very least.

And CV has what is called Alopecia Universalis, and I'm not trying to sound like a doctor but..(zing!) It's just an immune disease that makes all the hair on his body fall off extremely fast. That's it. It has nothing to do with cancer, therefore IMO, it's just harmless banter.

And I completely agree with thirstyboots. Athletes should NOT be used as role models. These are guys that have been given a pass on everything in life to pretty much do what they want. These are people that have relied on their athleticism to get them by throughout their entire lives without ever having to use their brains.

[2short]

I think if Charlie popped him in the head kg would have deserved it.  Its the nba though and trash talking is everywhere, even in celtics practices see von wafer and dwest 

[Greenbean]

This sounds terrible outside of the context of a heated basketball game but if I had to guess it would not really stand out if we heard every word spoken out there.

That being said it clearly hurt CV pretty deeply. But hey you have to have thick skin to beat the Celtics.

All of the victims of the Celtics in the playoffs say the same thing...they were just mentally tougher than we were. This pyschological part of the game is something that KG has mastered. Too far? Yes. Am I still glad he's our guy? Absolutely

[Fafnir]

The most Legendary players in the game ever all had a code of ethics, I assume. In my time, Larry, Magic and Michael all talked trash, but I am sure that they never talked about someone having a condition like Charlie's.

How do you know this? Larry Bird once told a player he had a Christmas present for him, hit a three in front of him in the bench and said "Merry *Bleeping* Christmas".

You think he hasn't said a lot worse when trash talking?

[Fafnir]

I can't say I love the comments, but I've honestly heard worse in pickup games. So I believe he said it, and I don't really care. What someone says on the court isn't the same as a public statement or interview.

[Kwhit10]

It is not a good statement to make.  But tons of trash talk goes around the court.  Why is Charlie V being a baby and making whats said on the court public.  You don't really hear other players make public what's said to them on the court.

[thirstyboots18]

The hardest thing in the world to do is hate the sin, but forgive the sinner.   Man, do I sound like a preacher...but really, I know how much trouble I have with this one.  I have some very long grudges that no one knows about!  (I seem to save it for personal attacks on my family though...) 

[GreenFaith1819]

For Fafnir and Hila:

I'm 99% sure that the Legends that I mentioned (Larry, Michael) never went as far as joking about someone's medical condition. That's off-limits to me.

If they did in fact do that, then I'd look at them differently.

If it is true that the condition that Villainueva has is Alopecia, then KG should've in fact shut his mouth on that one.

As far as KG being a role model? Well, back in the day I remember Charles Barkley making a comment about how athletes shouldn't be role models. Barkley was living in a vacuum, IMO. I say this because in an ideal situation yes boys and girls would have two parent homes and strong role models to look up to. We all know that this isn't the case sometimes.

It is impossible for youth to NOT look up to athletes. They see them on TV all the time. They do in fact bear some responsibility for how they conduct themselves.

[ManUp]

I think KG crossed the line a long time ago. From what I've heard from people who've been courtside he pulls no punches. I'm surprised he hasn't had anyone waiting outside the locker room for him. Charlie V is going to get it tonight for whining all he's done is let KG no he's gotten to him.

[Fafnir]

For Fafnir and Hila:

I'm 99% sure that the Legends that I mentioned (Larry, Michael) never went as far as joking about someone's medical condition. That's off-limits to me.

Why are you so sure? MJ was obsessed with winning, would make up slights to motivate himself, punched a teammate in practice, and was legendary for his trash talk. Bird was certainly no saint himself. Got into bar fights before playoff games and a whole book full of other interpersonal troubles.

What reasons do you have to think he wouldn't make fun of someone's appearance. Especially when it obviously go to Charlie V, which is the whole point of trash talk.