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**Anima** · 03-15-2005, 11:38 PM

Quote:

BOSTON — The New England Patriots were coming off their third Super Bowl in four years and the Boston Red Sox were getting ready to defend their first title in 86 years. Even Boston College was rising in the polls.

No one cared about the most successful franchise in NBA history.

Until Danny Ainge brought Antoine Walker back.

The first significant move Ainge made after taking over as the Boston Celtics executive director of basketball operations in May 2003 was to shuttle off the trigger-happy Walker before the season even began. Ainge sent Walker and Tony Delk to the Dallas Mavericks for Raef LaFrentz, Jiri Welsch and Chris Mills.

Ainge had bashed Walker since his days as a broadcaster on TNT, and upon Walker's departure, he called his short-lived boss a "snake."

"It was never personal," Ainge said. "I just felt Antoine wasn't going to change to some extent. I thought it would be difficult for him to change under that staff — and that's no knock on Jim O'Brien. I don't have any regrets trading Antoine, but at the same time I'm grateful to get him back."

Walker played for O'Brien at the University of Kentucky, where O'Brien was an assistant under Rick Pitino, who coached the Celtics for Walker's first 3 1/2 years in Boston.

However, after 10 trades by Ainge in less than two years that added youth and athleticism, along with first-year head coach Doc Rivers and his up-tempo style, Walker and his toned-down "Wiggle" have returned and made an instant impact.

"I don't think it was a mistake that Danny traded Antoine, because he needed a wake-up call and there was no way he'd get it in Boston," says Celtics President Red Auerbach, who led Boston to nine titles as coach and two as general manager. "I always liked Antoine, even though he's got his faults, but he and Pitino never got along even when they were at Kentucky. They were never on the same page, and they didn't have any mutual respect."

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baske...esurgent_x.htm

Tas · 03-16-2005, 06:12 AM

I didn't know Red Auberbach could see the future before it happened?

"because he needed a wake-up call and there was no way he'd get it in Boston," says Celtics President Red Auerbach

This is my problem with the current ownership group of the Boston Celtics. They still insist on justifying their mistake. Would it be so hard to just own up to it? Do they have to keep bad mouthing anyone who leaves this team?
I think it is about time that they retire old Red because the man has serious issues with reality.

**whiterhino** · 03-16-2005, 10:36 AM

I read this article earlier today, I thought it was good except the fact they don't think we are as good as the team that made the Eastern Finals against the Nets...I think we are MUCH better than that team

**Premier** · 03-16-2005, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tas

This is my problem with the current ownership group of the Boston Celtics. They still insist on justifying their mistake. Would it be so hard to just own up to it? Do they have to keep bad mouthing anyone who leaves this team?

Welcome to Boston.

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