Why does Paul need to act like that?

[StartOrien]

Whoa, that other guy in the Reggie Miller pic totatlly stole Nate Robinson's haircut.

[vinnie]

The over-the-top celebrating everything in sports today sickens me, but that is because I am older than 50. The NFL is absolutely the worst, and I find it hard to watch games, because there is some ridiculous celebration after every play. But, the NBA is not that far behind. The good news is that it has become such a commonplace part of the game now that I am able to ignore it.

[JSD]

I was laughing so hard at Nate it didn't really reigister last night but yes, OP, I too was cringing a bit. Paul, you've been there. Act like it.

[CelticsWhat35]

Whoa, that other guy in the Reggie Miller pic totatlly stole Nate Robinson's haircut.

That's Byron Scott.

Also, I wonder if the people saying Pierce was "classless" feel the same way when they see players hit a game winning shot and then start shouting obscenities to the crowd and pretend like they're gangsters or something.

[More Banners]

Paul, you've been there. Act like it.

My thoughts exactly.  Paul is a former Finals MVP for Pete's sake.

[dark_lord]

I fail to understand this whole "class" issue....didn't know celebrations required class...too many bow tie wearing, champagne sipping people here, I guess. We can't just let players be themselves even when they make a good play....we HAVE to montior and comment on every move they make...sorry, it just makes me angry..all this class/classless debates on this blog.

TP!  every little thing is critiqued, blown out of proportion, analyized, and judged.  its sickening.

[DRJ1]

People who are really great do not walk around saying "I'm great." This is not the first time Paul's overweening pride has shown its head. He tries to sound humble in interviews, but every so often, his true nature comes out. Like when he declared that he was the best player on the planet. (Uhh... no Paul, you really weren't, and still aren't.)

Look, I don't care what the hell these guys do to celebrate. I love the craziness of KG, Nate, Shaq, Baby... even Paul sometimes, etc. It's just that when a guy finds it necessary to TELL EVERYONE how great he is... it's ALWAYS because he's actually worried that he is not...

KG's got it right... just the right balance. I wish Paul would learn a little more from his teammate.

Ok -- BUT: The bow at midcourt was not pride. That was an "UP YOURS, NEW YORK." Nothin wrong with that! It was way cool. I loved it. Ha!

[bdm860]

.4 seconds is not a lot of time left but I have seen it happen before. If Stoudemire's shot had been a split second sooner Pierce's actions would have looked even more foolish.

My issue was that the game wasn't over yet, there were still .4 seconds left.  Derek Fisher anybody?  Andrew Bogut?  Not that I thought there was a realistic chance that we'd lose, but it was still possible and if we miraculously did... PP would have looked like the ultimate fool and I really mean ultimate.

I wouldn't go as far to as it was classless; players are going to celebrate.  But I do agree with the original poster that .4 seconds is a lot of time and I think the antics would have been more appropriate if the entire clock was used.

I think you guys are  making a big false assumption here on a play you didn't even see.

They didn't show him bow on tv, right? (Not on ESPN at least, did they show it on CSNE?)  I haven't seen any highlights of him bowing.  I believe Paul Pierce DIDN'T bow after he hit his shot with .4 still left on the clock.  He bowed after Amare hit his shot and the Knicks (including Spike Lee jumping on the court) celebrated.  Check the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRrdQsMeK2Y

At about 0:14-0:42 they show Paul take a jog around the court and slap hands with his teammates, nothing over the top here at all, very average, very normal type of potential game winner celebration.

At about 2:14-2:31 you see the Knicks going wild celebrating (including Spike Lee going crazy apparently taunting the C's from 2:25-2:31).  Nothing over the top or classless on the Knicks part, can't say the same for Spike though.

THEN at 3:12 Mike Breen says Pierce is bowing at center court.  Pierce didn't bow until AFTER the game was over, it was clear the C's were gonna win, and Spike Lee taunted the Celtics.

Then Pierce gives an interview at 4:25 and gives the Knicks respect.

Unless somebody saw the game live and could tell me he bowed after his shot .4 still left on the clock, I gotta say you guys got your facts wrong.

[pearljammer10]

Out of all the thugs, and taunting and mocking and silly actions and stupid decisions by these knuckleheads in the league...You pick Pierce's celebration to be disgusted by? Wow dude... Next thread.

[bballee]

... yes, OP, I too was cringing a bit. Paul, you've been there. Act like it.

I also cringed a bit at the over the top display.  I too immediately thought "Act like you've done this before."  I too am over 50 and come from a time when sportsmanship referred to winning, or losing, gracefully and respecting fellow competitors.  Today great sportsmanship seems to include choreographed celebrations of every play (much less "near" game-ender's), bling, body murals, chest thumping, strutting, preening, and the royal "we."  At best I would categorize all this under showmanship or marketing and I keep wondering if this is where massive ego meets insecurity.

Having read through the entries in this thread, I wonder what a demographics breakdown of the pro vs. con sentiments would look like.  I find it a bit strange that there is so little support for LeBron's Decision ESPN special since I see it as a logical extension of such self aggrandizing trends, as were the follow-up theatrics of/for the Miami 3-Egos.  

And yet I wore hair down my back in my 20's and delighted in whipping my pony-tail at my defender as I whirled around him at the gym, or P.O.ing the "older" establishment males.  So I try to let the youth of today be the youth of today recognizing that they feel a somewhat compelled to find ways to "express" themselves that set them apart.  This whole thread is really quite an interesting social phenomenon.

[RAcker]

Paul, you've been there. Act like it.

My thoughts exactly.  Paul is a former Finals MVP for Pete's sake.

Co-sign.   

[Roy H.]

People who are really great do not walk around saying "I'm great." 

I'm not sure that this is true.  Lots of truly "great" guys -- whether they be athletes or in some other field -- have tremendous egos.  Larry Bird, for instance, had no problem telling people how good he was. 

We prefer our athletes to be humble, but more often than not, I think that what we're being given is a facade of false modesty.  To compete at the highest level, players need to think that they belong, and to dominate at the highest level, they need to think that they're the best of the best.

[Roy H.]

I find it a bit strange that there is so little support for LeBron's Decision ESPN special since I see it as a logical extension of such self aggrandizing trends, as were the follow-up theatrics of/for the Miami 3-Egos.  

I think the distinction is that Pierce's display was a spontaneous outburst of joy and celebration, while Lebron's "Decision" was a calculated, tone-deaf promotion of one man's ego.  If Lebron wants to celebrate after hitting a game winner, more power to him.

[Bahku]

People who are really great do not walk around saying "I'm great." 

I'm not sure that this is true.  Lots of truly "great" guys -- whether they be athletes or in some other field -- have tremendous egos.  Larry Bird, for instance, had no problem telling people how good he was. 

We prefer our athletes to be humble, but more often than not, I think that what we're being given is a facade of false modesty.  To compete at the highest level, players need to think that they belong, and to dominate at the highest level, they need to think that they're the best of the best.

Very true, (TP) ... Larry Bird is my ultimate example of self-confidence, and it truly helped to make him the great player he was. Larry was not blessed with a multitude of natural talent, but hard work, persistence, and self-confidence are what drove him to be the best, and he had no problem sharing that with others.

[dark_lord]

Out of all the thugs, and taunting and mocking and silly actions and stupid decisions by these knuckleheads in the league...You pick Pierce's celebration to be disgusted by? Wow dude... Next thread.

co-sign