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

[indeedproceed]

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.

I think there is an important distinction to be made here that nobody is talking about (those of us who don't think this is such a big deal).

We forgive KG for saying this stuff in the game, because that's who he is as a player, and has been. He's a trash talker, and he doesn't recycle, if you know what I mean (I don't know what I mean).

Personally though, I'd forgive CV too if he saw KG out one night and decked him, or gave him a cheap hard foul during a later game because he couldn't forgive KG for what he said. If he's personally that offended, fine. That's an acceptable resolution to me.

The thing I find the most distasteful about this is the involvement of the public eye through twitter.

[guava_wrench]

It shows KG has no class on the court, but we already knew that.

I don't think players should go that far, but whatever. Hopefully this shuts up fans who thing there is some inherent classiness with the Celtics. Ray is classy, and he was classy even before he came to town. KG, Pierce and Nate -- no class.

Of the court is a different issue. KG is great off the court -- at least in interviews -- where he shows respect to everyone.

[hpantazo]

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.

exactly. This is a lot of overreaction because Villanueva couldn't take the competition so he crossed the line and spread this trash to twitter. Almost all players talk a lot of trash during NBA games, and the things they say are as bad or much worse than what KG said. I'm sure they use many terms that would be considered derogatory to many groups including many races and sexual orientation groups, that's just the way it is. Bringing that stuff to twitter to complain is being less of a man imo.

[KobeShesNotConsenting!]

maybe the tone of my post is a bit aggressive since it's coming from someone with a physical illness like Charlie V. I know exactly how he must have felt when K.G. said that and it made me furious.

But see he didn't say it to you...or to some random cancer patient...or to any random person suffering with any ailment. He said it in the heat of the moment...during a basketball game to his opponent...on the court. No big deal, imo.

Yes but obviously Charlie V. was upset about it if he took the time to rant about it on twitter. It was something he was obviously insecure about and KG attacked that insecurity.I get that it was the heat of the moment but if you are going to trash talk, talk about the opponents crappy play, which is what really matters in a basketball game not how he resembles a dying man. That was just a weak comment by KG.

Yea definitely not cool. But we dont know the whole story, CV musta said some stuff too. I say just tell kg to watch his mouth next time and that should be the end of it. Whatre we gonna do? Give KG councelin or somethin? Make him apologize? Suspend him? it happened, lets move on. No good can come from blowin this out of proportion because i'm sure this type of nasty stuff happens enough in the games, players just usually dont rat about it to the world. Kinda like players dont rat on eachother about cheating (which happens frequently) but kobe snitched on shaq. And I love  how Vilanueva used the excuse of, 'oh i'm offended for those cancer patients...' come on V we all know this is just a way to get back at KG. He just got real p---ed because kg clowned him in a mean way, so now he gets to rat on him through twitter and give his image a hit.

[hpantazo]

It shows KG has no class on the court, but we already knew that.

I don't think players should go that far, but whatever. Hopefully this shuts up fans who thing there is some inherent classiness with the Celtics. Ray is classy, and he was classy even before he came to town. KG, Pierce and Nate -- no class.

Of the court is a different issue. KG is great off the court -- at least in interviews -- where he shows respect to everyone.

Bird had no class on the court either, just saying that this isn't anything new in the league or particular about this group of celtics

[guava_wrench]

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.

I think there is an important distinction to be made here that nobody is talking about (those of us who don't think this is such a big deal).

We forgive KG for saying this stuff in the game, because that's who he is as a player, and has been. He's a trash talker, and he doesn't recycle, if you know what I mean (I don't know what I mean).

Personally though, I'd forgive CV too if he saw KG out one night and decked him, or gave him a cheap hard foul during a later game because he couldn't forgive KG for what he said. If he's personally that offended, fine. That's an acceptable resolution to me.

The thing I find the most distasteful about this is the involvement of the public eye through twitter.

I think involving the public is a good idea because that is the way to hold a player accountable for unacceptable tactics on the court. Players' endorsements should be at risk when they misbehave on the court.

Looks like we are trying to take back the 'most hated' moniker from the Heat.

[Chris]

The thing I find the most distasteful about this is the involvement of the public eye through twitter.

Yeah, and the thing that really turns me off is the Charlie also needed to throw in his own jab about how he basically thinks KG has never been in a fight, and that he would like to fight him.  

At that point, I think he loses all credibility, and comes across as a sore loser.  If you are going to get up on your high horse, you better not reach down to take jabs of your own.  You can't have it both ways.

[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.

Personally though, I'd forgive CV too if he saw KG out one night and decked him, or gave him a cheap hard foul during a later game because he couldn't forgive KG for what he said. If he's personally that offended, fine. That's an acceptable resolution to me.

The thing I find the most distasteful about this is the involvement of the public eye through twitter.

Exactly...CV should have resolved it on the court or should have waited until we meet them again.

I'm totally fine with the hard foul thing...but decked him if he saw him out one night? No...we've had to deal with PP scare already...no scuffle off court

[Chris]

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.

I think there is an important distinction to be made here that nobody is talking about (those of us who don't think this is such a big deal).

We forgive KG for saying this stuff in the game, because that's who he is as a player, and has been. He's a trash talker, and he doesn't recycle, if you know what I mean (I don't know what I mean).

Personally though, I'd forgive CV too if he saw KG out one night and decked him, or gave him a cheap hard foul during a later game because he couldn't forgive KG for what he said. If he's personally that offended, fine. That's an acceptable resolution to me.

The thing I find the most distasteful about this is the involvement of the public eye through twitter.

I think involving the public is a good idea because that is the way to hold a player accountable for unacceptable tactics on the court. Players' endorsements should be at risk when they misbehave on the court.

Looks like we are trying to take back the 'most hated' moniker from the Heat.

This may be a bit off topic, but I would imagine the league disagrees with you.  I am guessing that Charlie is getting a good long phonecall from the league about this...and probably before KG does.  

The one thing that the league hates more than anything is dirty laundry being aired in the public arena.  

[MBz]

I've called Charlie V a cancer patient looking MOFO many many times. So I really don't care. It's called trash talking for a reason. If Charlie V HAD cancer, then it would have been too far.

Cancer or not, it's too far because he has a disease which makes him look like that.  There is nothing he can do about it.

Welcome to the world of basketball. Your trash talking is obviously weak.

This is what is wrong with the current world of basketball though.  Also why guys like Tim Duncan and recognized as being a superior player to guys like Kevin Garnett.  KG may have been better than Duncan in his prime, but it will never be looked upon that way.

[indeedproceed]

im guessing duncan being the best player on multi champ teams might have something to do with that too

[MBunge]

I think involving the public is a good idea because that is the way to hold a player accountable for unacceptable tactics on the court. Players' endorsements should be at risk when they misbehave on the court.

Both you can CV need to man up.  The idea that saying "You look like a cancer patient" is somehow remotely close to throwing the N-bomb at an African-American or the C-word with a woman is a joke.

Mike

[birdwatcher]

for $95,000/game, you can call me anything you want, and I'd just agree with you on twitter...

seriously, I'm asian, my best friend is african american, and we've both heard waaaay worse than that from the time we were kids till now. KG's comments were low brow, but I'm sure a huge majority of the people calling out KG has referred to someone as a "retard" (for example) and that's no different. at all.

[barefacedmonk]

I've called Charlie V a cancer patient looking MOFO many many times. So I really don't care. It's called trash talking for a reason. If Charlie V HAD cancer, then it would have been too far.

Cancer or not, it's too far because he has a disease which makes him look like that.  There is nothing he can do about it.

Welcome to the world of basketball. Your trash talking is obviously weak.

This is what is wrong with the current world of basketball though.  Also why guys like Tim Duncan and recognized as being a superior player to guys like Kevin Garnett.  KG may have been better than Duncan in his prime, but it will never be looked upon that way.

The current world of basketball is watered down compared to the past. Stern has cracked down big time of things that players could get away with in the past...it wasn't just words back then...fists were involved too.

And as for Timmy comparison...I agree with what IP said. Tim had a way better team that KG..but thats a topic for a different thread.

[drza44]

Question for those that are offended by what Villanueva says that KG said (we still have no confirmation either way):

Are you offended that the phrase "player X is a cancer" is universally used in sports to describe a player whose attitude is so terrible that it makes the team worse?

I saw that in another thread, and to me it seemed like a good point.  But then, I'm in the camp that is flabbergasted at the amount of internet outrage that KG has spawned since he moved to Boston.  I'm genuinely interested in the response of someone who is upset by this.