Bob Lobel: Garnett Should Prove He ‘Bleeds Green’

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Bob Lobel, GoLocalWorcester Sports Contributor

A little known but important fact to keep in mind as we begin spring: when the last recorded meteor hit Siberia, the Red Sox finished below five hundred. Don’t shoot the messenger! On to the topic I can't get out of my mind.

Logic dictates that if Kevin Garnett truly bleeds green like he says he does, then he should prove it by waiving his no trade clause so his team of green can improve. The only logical conclusion I can come to would be that the refusal to waive the clause, that shouldn’t be there in the first place, is an act of selfishness.

Now, we can allow for the possibility that the clause in itself can be a negotiating tool. It happens all the time. Sweeten my contract and I'll waive the clause. Doesn’t sound like it in this case. If he is trying to endear himself to the fans by making a statement to profess his loyalty, then find another way. The right way to do it would be to simply say, “If this makes the Celtics better, then I’m all for it.” That’s bleeding green.

Maybe if they tell him they will retire number 5 and put it up in the rafters when he retires, if he agrees to waive the clause. I could live with that. I would not ordinarily put it up there based on his career here, but if he made that “sacrifice,” I guess I could, too. In fact, of the so-called big three of Pierce, Allen, and Garnett, only Paul would go up if it were up to me.

Since we are talking about Celtic banners up high, let me ask you about number #44, Danny Ainge. He was instrumental on two world championship teams as a player in 1984 and 1986. He was the general manager for a third in 2008. In fact, he was name NBA Executive of the Year in 2008.

There can't be many combinations of player and general manager title winners. I'm sure there are plenty player/coach combos but player/GM? So if #44 was instrumental in three championship banners, in my mind that would qualify him for number retirement for the Celtics.

I’ll throw this little known fact out here. I did a television interview with Ainge last week as a New England Sports Legend. It’s a show that airs twice a weekend on WBIN, on every cable and satellite TV in the market that also inlcudes Portland, Maine. During that interview I asked Ainge why he was hated in almost every arena where he played except here. I also asked him about how he would feel about his number being retired and raised to the ceiling of the Garden. As for his answer to the first question, you’ll have to see the interview. I will tell you what he said about the number, however. He said “No, I don’t deserve that honor. They [ownership] asked me if I would agree to it and I said no.”

I asked him if that was a forever thing. He simply answered that as long as he is involved with the team in any capacity, he would not let that happen. So, take this to the bank: It will happen but he will have to be gone. It's well known that the Celtics have played loose and free with honoring past stars and players. That has gotten a little tougher over the past years. So I say Pierce yes, Ainge yes, and Garnett no, unless he waives his no trade.