CWebb, Taken Out of Context, or On His Way Out of Sacramento? Unfortunately a couple of comments by Chris Webber recently have put a damper on some of the celebration leading up to the biggest game in Kings' history. Some fans have claimed that the quotes imply that CWebb wants out of Sacramento and will not re-sign with the team after his contract expires at the end of next season. Others claim the comments show Webber is immature and spoiled. The first quote was made last week when Chris was asked about the possibility of playing on the same team as Shaq "I thought I was going to be there," Webber said. "I really did. That's really when I thought about all the ways I just wanted to be there for the Big Fella. I try not to think about it because it can't do anything but make me depressed." The second comment was made in regards to a ticket Chris received for reckless driving by the Sacramento police a few weeks ago, "If Sacramento troubles me about a ticket," Webber said, "they will lose a nice person in the community." I think most fans and the media are reading way too much into Chris's statements. Chris is a very emotional man and speaks from the heart before thinking. When he was traded to Sacramento he went into seclusion. My impression was that he hid out so that he wouldn't say something that would come back to haunt him. I think the strategy worked. I understand that he was demoralized and hurt by the trade. OF COURSE! He could have said a lot about this craphole of a town, which is exactly what Sacramento was as far as NBA players were concerned. Now we have two quotes from Chris in the last week. Each quote was one sentence long and the context was not known. The context was implied but I don't have much faith in guessing the context. One quote was that he was depressed when he thought about not playing with the Lakers and now this. In the latter quote for all we know he was talking about Jason Williams (but I doubt it). Personally I think Chris is more mature than most players. He tends to be impulsive in behavior and speech though. What are these newsmen doing? Why are they calling him about a traffic ticket? What actually can a reporter expect a person to say about a traffic ticket unless they hope he will slip up and say something newsworthy? Jason would not comment on the ticket and showed good judgment in giving no comment. Why was Chris asked about wanting to play with the Lakers? I think Chris is being baited into saying stupid things and Chris complies all too easily. Now, maybe Chris actually sheds tears because he is here and not with the Lakers. Maybe also he would sign with another team because the City gave him a ticket. But really does it make any sense that he meant anything sinister by either comment? Does anyone seriously think that Chris Webber would leave Sacramento because he got a traffic ticket? This is the NBA player who brings a student from Columbine to see a game. I don't know what else he has done in a charitable sense. Certainly he isn't a totally spoiled athlete who does not see that his position in life can also be used for good. My hope for Chris is that he wises up and denies reporters interviews. At least I hope he learns when to terminate an interview. Of course then we will be critical of THAT behavior also.
