Yes, nothing to do with the "I completely quit on the team midway through the year and put in one of the most embarrassing playoff performances ever" part. What a fucking clown.
Kyrie has done a disservice to the people who are trying hard to get this city to address its very real problems with race.
And if you don't boo him, you're a subtle racist. Seems to cover all the bases. Would have been easier for him if he just came up with another injury; let's face it, the Nets don't need him or that distraction to win easily.
Do we know if it is nonsense? I mean, I have no idea if it is or isn’t but the Celtics players response will be telling in this case. Silence would speak volumes imo.
I haven't been to a game in person in several years, but in my experience since the mid-90s (Bird era was a bit different - that crowd was all painters caps and moustaches) the Celtics crowd at the Garden was the most young and diverse public gathering of people at any event in Boston. Totally different than, say, the crowd at a Red Sox or Bruins game.
Agreed. How many incidents like the ones Marcus describes here would it take before you soured on a whole city. If you have someone screaming the n-word at you, maybe your first instinct isn't self reflection? I'm not Kyrie apologist, but I don't think him having some shitty experiences in Boston is all that off the wall. Also, in street clothes, I can't imagine Kyrie is all that intimidating, unlike Marcus who's built like a linebacker. I'm sure the racists would be even more emboldened when they see skinny Kyrie.
It’s not going to be silence but theyre not going to say anything that matters about it either.
Yeah, that's the thing. I don't believe him. Not one bit. I'd believe pretty much anyone else but him. Obvious attempt to deflect the fuck you chants is obvious.
He's specifically talking about people in the crowd at the Garden for Celtics games. It's horseshit. If someone was yelling racist comments at a Celtics game they would have a better than even chance of being punched in the face by another fan.
I'm honestly not doing the reflexive, defend the honor of old Boston thing, just genuinely asking about bolded. Are there any previously documented instances of this? Individual racist morons I have no trouble believing, but it seems like chants by multiple fans would have been reported. Beyond that, as noted by you and others, Kyrie is a disingenuous, unreliable narrater here. "Subtle racism" casts a pretty wide net, and seems clearly designed to preemptively impugn anyone who boos him or rides him any way.
I was just going to post this. If he didn't want belligerence, he should have STFU. Now it's going to be extra brutal.
I'm never really sure how to approach these situations. It's 100% believable that he experienced racism - especially subtle racism - in Boston or [insert major city]. However, his attempt to seemingly use it as a shield from getting booed... I dunno.
Couldn't agree more. I have no doubt that he either personally experienced racism in Boston, or heard plenty from people he trusted. Boston definitely has issues with race and it's foolish to suggest otherwise but given his history with the team and the timing of the statement it very much undermines the message.
I really wish he'd gone with 'people around the world know it'
The timing is the issue. I 100% think Boston fans are as racist as they come and 100% believe THEY are the problem ...99% of the time.
bringing this delicate flower into Boston. I constantly read on here how the front office/coaches know so much more than us mouthbreathers. Well, Danny & Co certainly got this dude wrong with all their inside information (Kyrie's self-serving, opportunistic behavior had been flagged)
Look, our nation’s racial problems, especially between police and people of color, has been a daily topic since George Floyd was murdered. Black men in particular are speaking out at perceived injustices. Whether you hate him or not, Kyrie is an intelligent person who always speaks out. If he, or any other Black person, is worried about things, I expect them to speak out. Kyrie made it about Boston but it could be about any American city, sad as that may seem. Maybe Kyrie will sit down with a network person and elaborate. If I were ABC News, that interview would be my top priority this weekend. Let the man speak.
I can’t tell if your post is sarcasm or not, but we are talking about a guy who appears to have legitimately believed, for at least some period of time, that the Earth was flat. So, “intelligent” is not the word I would use.
If he wants to discuss those perceived injustices and is worried about things, then go ahead, he should if there are specific examples he wants to point out.
I hate defending Kyrie and I’m not.....but at least be accurate with what his position is/was. He never said that he believes the earth was flat iirc.....it was that he didn’t know if it was flat or not and that he wanted to question it. Never did he say he legitimately believed the earth was flat unless I missed something he said later.
Not only did they get Kyrie wrong, but by all indications they severely misread the likelihood that AD would follow him here. Putting all the eggs in that basket was...not smart. They seem to be the last to know about a lot of this stuff. Russilo has indicated on pods that he had well sourced material dating to the time of Kyrie's "if you'll have me" speech that he was not staying.Nice bullsh**t cover Kyrie to avoid getting boo'd and playing the Boston race card. I don't recall him talking about racial problems when he was here?
Great job Danny
This team (and all NE sports teams) need to weigh EQ along with talent before adding them to this intense sports/media town. Nothing new there, that's been the Boston free agent sports MO for 50yrs
ALSO, the "Boston is a racist city" history and narrative has to be addressed in a larger way. Wyc, the Krafts, Henry, etc need to lead & team up with Harvard and start a $100MM (headline-grabbing #) initiative to address Minority Issues for the entire New England area. Permanently banning racist freaks from ballparks/arenas isn't enough. Recruit former/current athletes, celebrities, pols, community leaders, religious groups, whoever wants to lead/help.
There's a huge difference between being opened minded and being empty headed and as we see with KI, the two are not mutually exclusive.
Nah, apparently it gets you a two year ban at the Garden. From the article Jeff Van Gully posted above:
