Here's what Griffin had to say shortly after the fight: "It's like people who don't know me think I'm this bad character now," Griffin said. "That hurts. And I did it to myself. It's my mistake and I have to pay for it." Griffin's words come out soft, barely above a whisper -- the opposite voice you'd expect from a 6-foot-9 man-child with a ferocious dunk. You almost have to lean forward to hear. Said Seton Hall teammate Andre Barrett: "Eddie's a great guy with a huge heart, and it's like they're trying to make him out to be this villain. People are making this a big thing because it's Eddie Griffin. "Any other player in the country wouldn't be going through this." "We were just fooling around, joking with each other," Griffin said. "And then it got out of hand. He said something and we both lost it . . . I need to learn how to control my temper better." Griffin plans to attend anger management classes to try and help handle his emotions better. "I lose my temper too easily sometimes," he says. "I have to learn not to let things bother me so much." *************** Sound familiar? These words were uttered after Griffin's fight in HIGH SCHOOL. It was less than a year later that he got entangled in another one, this time sucker-punching Seton Hall teammate Ty Shine in a locker room brawl. PROLOGUE******** "I won't happen again. I can guarantee you that." -Griffin, at the Rockets press conference introducing him as the latest centerpiece to their rebuilding program. http://www.injersey.com/rally/story/0,2470,262187,00.html ------------------ I Like The Rockets [This message has been edited by I Like The Rockets (edited July 01, 2001).]
Personally, I don't think this is a big problem. Rudy is a good at handling players (though if he is a real trouble-maker, there is little Rudy can do...eg. Maxwell), and this will be the first team Griffin was on where he wasn't far and away the best player. He will have some serious talent playing next to him on the Rockets, and it will be more difficult for him to let something like a player not passing him the ball get to his head. I could be wrong, but I hope not. ------------------ I would rather have Mo Taylor and his love of the Rockets than Webber and his love of our money. Rocket's need power forward. Mo near now. Go near Mo.
*sigh*... no way of knowing what Griffin will be like until the season unfolds. Why bother worrying before anything happens? He's a 19 year-old kid. His teams spoiled him. The Rockets won't. I know plenty of guys who've gotten into a couple of fights that I consider to be loyal, trustworthy, and reliable. ------------------ Clutchcity.net... source for all your Rockets, Astros, political, music, humor, and Gordita news.
