Big Baby Deserves a Spanking
"Idiot. You're an Idiot! You just signed a contract extension. Yeah you're a bench guy, but an important bench guy. Idiot!"
- Michael Felger
Boston Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck joined Michael and Tony to discuss the impact of "Big Baby's" injury, Rajon Rondo's future with the team, and the Green's season opener tonight in Cleveland. Felger and Mazz made it clear that Davis should be suspended for breaking his thumb in a non-basketball related altercation with a former high school teammate. According to the Celtics, Davis underwent successful surgery Tuesday to repair his broken thumb and could miss up to two months with the injury.
Felger: "You just sign a brand new contract for a bunch of money. Your team clearly needs you so you go out and play grab ass with your friend, or are fighting with your friend and hurt yourself? Idiot! The problem with Big Baby and Rondo is that neither guy has evolved or grown up from what they were and what the rap on them was off the court. He (Davis) should consider himself lucky that he plays in the NBA and not the NFL. In the NFL you would lose your signing bonus for something like this or maybe even worse. He doesn't deserve to get paid for doing something stupid like this. He should be getting penalized for hurting his team and he should give money back. I think the Celtics are absolutely right to punish him in this situation."
Mazz: "It's frustrating. Big Baby and Rondo are in some ways similar to me because they are both young guys and they are expecting more to be given to them than they have earned. Nothing pisses me off more than that. If you want something then work for it! Show the respect to your team, your teammates, and your coaches. More and more young people come into the NBA these days feeling like they deserve everything and it pisses me off! Who owes Glen Davis anything?! It pisses me off Mike. The Celtics have loaded up with a veteran nucleus, and their window is rapidly closing. It's about the here and now, and winning a title. You can't have guys screwing around off the court, and guys putting money before the team. His (Davis) employer is paying him to be in shape and to turn in an honest effort 82 nights a year plus playoffs. Is it really that hard?"
The Collin-tary: Glen Davis is entering the first year of a two year, six million dollar contract. The deal includes $500,000 in incentives each season if Davis meets the Celtics weight regulations. It's a shame General Manager Danny Ainge has to dangle a half million dollar carrot in front of a player to motivate him to run during the offseason. Few teams courted Davis as a free agent this summer opening the door for his return to the Green. It is likely that Davis' immature reputation off the court was a factor in his lack of suitors. Big Baby is the ninth man in the Celtics rotation, making him fourth off the bench. Instead of the team being completely focused on opening the season in Cleveland, the ninth most important piece to the Celtic's puzzle is providing a distraction.
Does this incident make you think less of Glen Davis and the Celtics decision to resign him? Do you think he deserves to be punished for his actions, and if so what should the punishment be?
