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

[Fafnir]

On the flip side, maybe he's using this as an opportunity to shed some light on the issue.  Still, it's a poor way to go about it.

Considering he challenged KG to a fight over twitter I doubt that's how he wanted to use the incident. It seems clear to me he wanted to embarass Garnett.

[guava_wrench]

I lost my father to cancer and I'm not offended. That said, KG does probably go a bit overboard sometimes. But he's a Celtic and we neeed his intensity. For better and for worse.

I doubt people would be as cavalier if Kobe Bryant made a "diabetes" crack at Ray during a game.

I would think: "Ah, finally showing his true colors"   But the average NBA fan would probably not even notice. In fact, I doubt that it would be all over ESPN.

Sure it would. It would get as much press as this is getting assuming it became public knowledge as this did.

I'll never understand these arguments that seem to discount criticisms of Celtics players by saying "if another player did it, no one would care". Read the news. There are criticisms of players on other teams all the time.

Kobe and Lebron are both in the top 10 hated athletes. No Celtic is there.

[Mike-Dub]

Sorry KG if this is true you've gone to far and should be ashamed.  

One mistake will not take away my love for KG though.

Charlie V don't tweet about this... Be a man and tell him face to face you didn't like it.  Or forget about it and keep it on the court.

[fairweatherfan]

Anyone got odds on what KG will say to Nene when we play the Nugs?

"Hey, Nene, you look like a cancer patient."

"Yeah."

How about "Hey Nene, I hope you have a ball tonight."

[MBz]

Regardless of it being on a basketball court or being in a bar it is still not the correct way to talk to people.

Its called trash talk....its never the correct way to talk to people. I'm sure KG doesn't refer to Charlie V in that fashion off court..it happened on the court...during a game...not in a bar.

So because his words come under the definition of "trash talk" it's okay?  You just said it's never the correct way to talk to people, so why does it make it okay if it's considered "trash talk"?  

He didn't invite CV for a cup of coffee and then run his mouth off...it happened on court..during a game...2 people going at each other...each trying to win the game for his team. Why is it so hard for you to understand this? Trash talking on court by any athlete is not the same as the foul words used by guys in a bar fight. Different scenario...different context.

And yes its not the correct way to talk to people...but KG and CV weren't "talking" on the court...you are making it sound like KG refers to people in the same manner off court also.

Why is it different though?  It shouldn't be.  People treat athletes with different standards then others.  If i had a friend with the same disease as CV and we were playing basketball and someone starts running his mouth saying dude, you look like a cancer patient.  I would not just sit there and say wow, he's just trash talking that's okay.  I would step in and say something to him, because what he said was wrong.  No matter where it is said, it's wrong.  You do not make fun of a person for something which they have no control over.  It's the same thing as making fun of someone who is gay or black.  They do not have control over that situation.  

[soap07]

It's too bad that when KG retires, he'll never be truly appreciated for his game because of how juvenile he could be on the court, even well into his 30s.  

[openairmovie]

So if you all now have magically developed an issue w/ the term "cancer to a team" or whatever it is  then why have I never heard ANY of you call up WEEI or any sports news program when they describe players like Randy Moss and Manny Ramirez as a "cancer in the locker room"  their exact words.  Oh , because its too easy to attack the terms in this light....what a joke   if CV had beef w/ it on the court then do something about it on the court  if you dont like being trash talked let your game back you up. I have no respect for a guy who whines once a guys in the airplane on his way outta town, kinda like the bully that punches you in the back of the head once youve turned your back. CV IS a cancer to that team, he sucked last year and was a bigger bust than Richard Jefferson in the FA market. CV has never done anything meaningful in the NBA and until he does he can shut his mouth

[get_banners]

there's a huge difference between what charlie v implied KG said and what KG said he said. if he called charlie a cancer to his team, whatever. given empirical evidence (like, i don't know, charlie v's teams), that may not even be talking trash so much as it is talking truth. if this is what KG actually said, this is literally a non-story. i suspect this is actually the truth.

[D Dub]

As much as I love KG's work ethic, and the Celtics - I've gotta agree with Wojo's take on this one:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-garnettvillanueve110310

[NoraG1]

It's too bad that when KG retires, he'll never be truly appreciated for his game because of how juvenile he could be on the court, even well into his 30s.  

Or how juvenile people become when they get upet about trash talking. Thicker skin is certainly needed

[D Dub]

there's a huge difference between what charlie v implied KG said and what KG said he said. if he called charlie a cancer to his team, whatever. given empirical evidence (like, i don't know, charlie v's teams), that may not even be talking trash so much as it is talking truth. if this is what KG actually said, this is literally a non-story. i suspect this is actually the truth.

yup, and 'gullible' is also written on the bottom of your desk.

[NoraG1]

there's a huge difference between what charlie v implied KG said and what KG said he said. if he called charlie a cancer to his team, whatever. given empirical evidence (like, i don't know, charlie v's teams), that may not even be talking trash so much as it is talking truth. if this is what KG actually said, this is literally a non-story. i suspect this is actually the truth.

yup, and 'gullible' is also written on the bottom of your desk.

And 'gullible' could not be said about anyone who believed Charlie V?

[housecall]

If true, that was wrong of KG.

agree...as much as i like KG as a player,if this is all true he crossed the line.TP

I agree.  Especially since Villanueva does actually have a skin disease which he can do nothing about.  Talking trash is one thing, but if KG actually said that, that is crossing the line.

Just curious though, what do you think is NOT crossing the line for trash talking?  I tend to think the whole idea of trash talking is to cross the line and offend someone, and get in their head.  I am not saying its a good thing, but I just don't think this comment was at all out of the ordinary.

Yes the purpose of trash talking is to get into the other players head but most normal adults use some common sense and have a limit to how far they will go to get that rise from the other person.Obviously KG has zero limits.

[barefacedmonk]

Regardless of it being on a basketball court or being in a bar it is still not the correct way to talk to people.

Its called trash talk....its never the correct way to talk to people. I'm sure KG doesn't refer to Charlie V in that fashion off court..it happened on the court...during a game...not in a bar.

So because his words come under the definition of "trash talk" it's okay?  You just said it's never the correct way to talk to people, so why does it make it okay if it's considered "trash talk"?  

He didn't invite CV for a cup of coffee and then run his mouth off...it happened on court..during a game...2 people going at each other...each trying to win the game for his team. Why is it so hard for you to understand this? Trash talking on court by any athlete is not the same as the foul words used by guys in a bar fight. Different scenario...different context.

And yes its not the correct way to talk to people...but KG and CV weren't "talking" on the court...you are making it sound like KG refers to people in the same manner off court also.

Why is it different though?  It shouldn't be.  People treat athletes with different standards then others.  If i had a friend with the same disease as CV and we were playing basketball and someone starts running his mouth saying dude, you look like a cancer patient.  I would not just sit there and say wow, he's just trash talking that's okay.  I would step in and say something to him, because what he said was wrong.  No matter where it is said, it's wrong.  You do not make fun of a person for something which they have no control over.  It's the same thing as making fun of someone who is gay or black.  They do not have control over that situation.  

Trash talk is called trash talk because it is just that...trash. There is no rulebook for trash talking...nobody has authored "Trash talking/sledging for dummies".

I don't blame athletes for resorting to it to gain an upper hand or some sort of psychological advantage during games because they are battling it out for a win and then they leave it on the court. If KG said something similar to some random person on the street, then yes, I would be against it too. Any words exchanged on the court are fine by me....as long as they have mutual respect for each other off the court.

[RajonRondOWNED]

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nba/news/story?id=5759196


"My comment to Charlie Villanueva was in fact 'You are cancerous to your team and our league,'" Garnett said. "I would never be insensitive to the brave struggle that cancer patients endure. I have lost loved ones to this deadly disease and have a family member currently undergoing treatment. I would never say anything that distasteful. The game of life is far bigger than the game of basketball."


Are all of you haters going to apologize now?