I'm assuming I'm not the only avowed NBA fan who just watched Durant. I'm also guessing many of you watched him during the Big 12 Tournament, when a certain red-headed gentleman was seated next to Mr. and Mrs. Durant. Apparently, the league was watching, too. And they didn't approve. From Sports Illustrated:
The Boston Celtics were fined $30,000 as a result of contact that took place between executive director Danny Ainge and Durant's family members at a Big 12 tournament game on March 10...In case you're worried that the Celtics are getting discriminated against, know that the Bobcats and Warriors also felt the sting. Apparently, Jordan said a few things about the Texas phenom in a Charlotte Observer interview, and Don Nelson touched on Durant and Greg Oden in an SI piece. Nelson also mentioned the two in this New York Times piece.
Ainge was seen sitting with Durant's mother at the Big 12 tournament. He was later quoted as saying that he was seated next to her by accident and that he had no control over his ticket location.
But that argument holds no water with the NBA.
Ainge, whatever. He should've sensed that wasn't a kosher situation. With Nelson and MJ, though, you've got to wonder: is there any conversation about basketball this season that doesn't lead back to Oden/Durant?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
3-17-2007 @ 12:29PM
Ray said...
Danny Ainge is a joke. The Celtics are no better off today than they were when they hired him. In fact, it just keeps getting worse.
He says the seating arrangement was an accident? Yeah, right. Does he think we are all as gullible as the Celtics owners are?
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3-17-2007 @ 2:59PM
Dana Salzarulo said...
Durant is nice...but ODEN on the Celts would make me very happy. Young guards...Big Al and Oden down low. BRING BACK CELTIC Pride!
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3-17-2007 @ 3:22PM
Larry Haithcox said...
Who wants oden he has slow feet and he drags up the court,durant is a garnett type player who can shoot and he runs the court.
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3-17-2007 @ 3:40PM
st patty said...
celtics need sumthin....not sure what but know this,red's turn'in in his grave 4 sure...Bring Back Larry!!!& Company!!
ainge was more valuable to the org. on the court!!!
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3-17-2007 @ 4:09PM
James said...
Larry H...you don't know what you're talkin about...Oden is a much better fit than Durant for the Celtics...unless you want someone else on the team who doesn't know how to make his teammates better...
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3-17-2007 @ 4:21PM
sayyes2ty1 said...
Enough about Oden and Durant Basketball skills, how about their knowledge on Black History? Drugs ,DUI driving, childcare, Breast Cancer Funding, etc....Their Basketball skills ?? VS Life ...everyday News and all History is what I would want my Kids to know and Learn, to make a differents in this world. So when they do make money, they don't do the same STUPID things we all see in SPORTS and on the NEWS OVER & OVER again !!!
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3-17-2007 @ 4:31PM
Tom said...
This is another reason why Danny Ainge should be gone. He was a great player, but he sucks as an executive. Why the Celtics ownership has put up with him so long is beyond me. I hope after this season where they are lucky to give tickets away and then still no one goes to the games they wake up and gt rid of him. They will get a super draft pick, but through no effort of Danny Ainge other than his ability to surround Paul Pierce and some talent with rejects from Europe. Thank God Red Auerbach died before he could see the team he brought to greatness fighting for last place to get a draft pick.
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3-17-2007 @ 4:37PM
Rick said...
It is amazing that these old Celtics hold on to their jobs. Danny Ainge, Larry Bird and Kevin McHale should all be let go. Yet the league could not find a place for Dennis Johnson.
It makes you wonder.
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3-17-2007 @ 4:42PM
robbie said...
There more to the NBA than the Celtics. The Celtics have a lot of rebuildimg to do and it will happen in time. No one person, includong Ainge, is responsible for their whole demise. It happened piece by piece.
As for courting Durant's Mom--it's not going to make any difference who sits next to her. He is the # one draft pick and the politics wil begin to get him on many a team after that is announced.
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3-17-2007 @ 4:45PM
pmarz1 said...
Tom,
Get a clue...or at least make an attempt to get your facts straight. You write,
"I hope after this season where they are lucky to give tickets away and then still no one goes to the games"
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3-17-2007 @ 5:10PM
pmarz1 said...
Tom,
Get a clue.....or at least make an attempt at getting your facts straight. You write,
"I hope after this season where they are lucky to give tickets away and then still no one goes to the games"
Real fans,unlike you, have been banging the Garden out night after night despite their losing record. 17000 + fans in attendance game after game, even during their long losing streak. And last time I checked(since you obviously didnt) Ainge gets high marks from most on his draft picks. His problem has been some of his trades. You say he surrounds Pierce with rejects??? Al Jeffersen is a reject?, Delonte West? Ryan Gomes? Gerald Green? Wally Szcerbiak? Rajon Rondo? All rejects? No team would want any of these players?? I think not. Let's not forget this team has been mediocre at best for much longer than the four years Ainge has been in charge, much longer.
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3-17-2007 @ 5:32PM
pmarz1 said...
Tom,
Get aclue....or at least make an attempt at checking the facts before you open your mouth. Yo stated,
"I hope after this season where they are lucky to give tickets away and then still no one goes to the games"
Real Celtic fans, unlike you, have been banging out the Garden, night after night, regardless of their record. You may want to check out their attendance numbers at the bottom of the box scores if you even look at them. 16,17, 18000 per game. Regarding Ainge surrounding Pierce with rejects, I wouldn't consider Jeffersen, Szczrbiak, West, Green, Gomes, Rondo rejects. My guess is most if not all in the league would take any of these guys in a second, most of whom came directly from Ainge's drafts. He's made some bad trades but you can't fault him on his drafts. One last point regarding Ainge. This team has been mediocre at best for quite some time, long before Ainge took over.
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3-17-2007 @ 5:59PM
cliff said...
No. 7 sayyes2ty1, you be's a racist mo fo. How you gonna stereotype Durant & Oden with "Black History" and drugs, DUI driving, etc...Those guys could be model citizens for all you know...and learn how to spell "difference."
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3-17-2007 @ 6:22PM
Butch said...
Brent (Comment #6) Could you explain how getting "off your own butts and stop typing on your computer and do something about it" is going to make a difference?
I don't think anyone who says Ainge has been a bad fit as GM can be blamed for the rapid rise of health care either, although you managed to lump the two items together....somehow.
To be honest, I am not sure just what the hell you were trying to say with your comments...I'm not sure you were either.
Bottom Line....Danny Ainge is clueless.
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3-17-2007 @ 6:41PM
Charles Clifford said...
How about if we all just agree that both Oden and Durant are awesome? You couldn't go wrong picking either. How about either or both teams trading their picks to my Woofies. Maybe give you all except KG. You can have our draft picks for next five years.
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3-17-2007 @ 6:43PM
pmarz1 said...
Butch,
Although we may not see eye to eye regarding Ainge, I must agree with your response to Brent's comment(knew there was a reason why i skipped over it).Truth? Society's problems? Health care? Hmm, let's see, maybe I can start sitting in on some of the strategy sessions the Celtic execs are having and offering my advice. That would be getting off my butt and doing something, eh Brett??? Maybe I can fill in for Doc a few times down the stretch. He could use a few days off dont you think Brett????? What else Brett???? I'm running out of ideas......
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3-17-2007 @ 8:34PM
Butch said...
PMarz1,
LOL! That's the spirit! Let's all get off our butts and do something about those Celtics!
For my part, I am fully prepared to fill in for Paul Pierce when he needs a game off.
Anyone else out there willing to help? Come on...do it for Brett! Don't let the American way of life go to hell.
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3-17-2007 @ 9:04PM
cliff said...
Man, I want my Knicks to get the No. 1 or 2 pick this year. They're messing up bad, man.
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3-18-2007 @ 1:17AM
Travis said...
I am a Celtics fan....and I must say, Ainge sucks. Look at all the players he's traded away that have come back to burn the Celts. Ricky Davis was a fan fav, and Joe Johnson is borderline awesome. As for Brent, if Ainge wants to help his team, he shouldn't do it by having contact with players still in college. He's lucky the fine was only 30k. Getting fined for talking about players in college is a little much though.
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3-18-2007 @ 9:15AM
cwidem said...
ainge knew better and thats what he gets.The Celtics are a young team and they made a big mistake by letting Ainge hold the rieghs,he a joke as a player at best supporting role as someone who runs a org like the Celtics,a clown who's going to blame or fire doc Rivers soon but shouldn,t the blame be on ainge for bring those bums to the team ,wally bum,theo bum,and sebastian and rondo days are numbered ,hell if durant was smart don't enter the draft become a free agent and get into these pockets of these teams but yes fined him some more for having these kind of contact with kids family without it being the proper time
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