Wyc Grousbeck, Celtics Managing Partner & Governor

I swim for the Boston Celtics last night as they kick up a six game homestand with a victory. Over the Denver Nuggets let's talk basketball right now with the -- managing partner governor and one of the owners of the Boston Celtics -- prospect joins us. On the AT&T hotline AT&T a better three G experience. Rock you by our ballot insurance good morning -- area. Oh great great thank that was fun last night wasn't it. I had a development space and missile fourteen point win over the nuggets and I was -- in general about trauma. What an after months ago so it's nice to impact. When you sit that close you ever think you gonna go after the rest here that you gonna chase him down -- No particular reason there. ID you know however might -- them that were on national TV last night ESP -- and a -- sharpen up his game. I I gotta say sometimes I think Tommy's over the top last night I was with in the home -- he I'm watching the same thing -- watch and I'm sitting at home not courtside and on. What the hell they want action. I I don't know what's Munich at that would say that it's -- to be equally distributed. From my standpoint you know under the guise of trying but I. We we try to urge them to remember certain rules like three seconds and charging and you know goaltending sent some of that. You know whipped us I know you hear from Celtics fans and talk the Celtics fans all the time the self experience that we've talked -- Have been have been up and down with this team you know some days it's okay this is that they're gonna turn it on that -- when championship and and there are times after the loss to the nets at home for example. People are really down on the team what have been like for you. Take owner's hat off for second -- that the impossible. As a fan what is it what has it been like you watch and his team this year. It has been up and down that we can't hearts that he's going to be honest -- people and be honest with yourself. We always felt so inside the team. That -- teams have the chance. And that that was probably a ball in the Middle East and not being -- -- -- -- being tired conserving energy click running America and which have done you know slowly but I do -- and you know you -- well we have -- officials yet there's it was a long haul and I think that's a little bit of what happens here. I'm not trying to make an excuse that's just my opinion and I'm really glad to -- -- -- and better it was more energy and better defense right now. Sounds like somebody's gonna run a marathon here there. Well baptists here. Now to answer but. I shouldn't -- specially -- up for an hour and training and you know don't worry too much. The real world views were but it BO -- they survive. Exactly that's right anywhere I don't think they've been. Lying around laughing saying you know let's take it came off I think we've been doing their best to get ready for April hand. We are from there. Let me ask you and I know how impossible the task is if you can separate -- prospects Celtics fan from managing partner governor and and one of the -- order for it well but but it. One of those guys could look at the Celtics around the trading deadline -- man I'd like to see this team do something. And I -- and the other guy. Is probably say and I wanna keep this the way it is how to just separate high you thought about the team then and and the positions that you -- Well I'm of the belief. That if you break up starting unit. That won a championship two years ago and started 27 into western mr. what we twenty. 43 I don't remember that 245 and another good start here you break that up you know you ought to take sort of ten games -- record just doing that. It's gonna break it up in February. So I think keeping this group together and adding to which we did with eight in which we didn't Michael -- and people contributed. Is very viable. Planned for this year it's not as much long term plan certainly but it could play and we thought for mr. and that's what we do. Well what assuming your concerns or her observations. About end of Rajon Rondo before. He signed his contract extension. And I was. I went to do any incentive what you buy it pick which decode it -- that was not a plan to do that. Went to him in the war and so -- it's time Arctic to get Rondo we've just gotten tougher as the Coca Rhonda too because of the kids are believed. So we went got 21 in front of -- 21 we got. So I'm very proud of since he won in but the way he's blatantly that we developed. So that's about. Do you think got two we were just. As a matter -- we're just thinking about our puppet generals poll question we can you can vote here I think you know -- your -- gonna go. And of equal phrase it this way. Who's the best point guard in the NBA in three options Deron Williams. Chris Paul. Or John -- Your -- I don't run it would say. I don't I don't like -- Rondo Rondo -- would say -- -- might say Williams. I know he might and Williams is in trouble and Williams a player I think -- go and I both like to do it on on the basis of inning count that's when we start. Looked at its word and but I think all those guys phenomenal the one that has gotten less ink and less attention gets more dissing. And criticism is Rondo and by the way that things and so it's he's the first one to try to work on it but. He's probably got part of -- -- and those guys. As it may be more complete players now you could argue that feature. -- as much as. For me and and I said this now both last year and this year he's my favorite Celtic to watch play. Just 'cause he's so creative and so much fun. -- any 100 miles I mean it's it's about the other guys love playing with -- and let the energy to predict when he goes and trust -- guys into the paint. You know guys are magically open for shots and then there's the ball coming from behind his back and you know rate cut at three -- look at the three I mean it's it's great. It's a great thing that sequence at the end of the doubt game where rated it a couple shots all of the -- The dish was Rondo the Rondo scored I think ten straight points mean that's just. Nobody can stand when we played that way we can be. I wanna go back to you -- -- is just a couple minutes ago when you set to Danny. During the draft go by a first round pick can get this guy Rondo. What was it about. Danny's reaction or -- analysis the election that let you know. That he was crazy about him and what was because he wasn't asking you afford you what to Hammond said -- what what what tipped you off. Well it was working with Danny and getting to note and I could -- one. Established an expert Steve Pagliuca introduced into the next. Regionally he you'd know him from the past. Sort there's credit to go all around for. When when when a team -- -- -- but credit program. But. I had an active wear any. Of that -- so -- Steve sort of the people and you know we bird. In my guys run -- to get it. And and animated trades do other things and free up some. Sellers space in the future and bring in a fair it's not play in the thing and run that was sort of off deport. And I just region Danny and felt that -- Give him. The gasoline respect to get get I got it I trust in this guy that I report in. The people. Creature. Could. So it's just adding a new. It's funny you should you should bring up this story because we've had this discussion a little bit over the last weaker sell about owners. And I've always said what I want from from an owner of a team that I'd root for. Is to hire the right people to make the decisions give them the resources to run the team and then stay the hell out of their way. How do you look at what owners its job is in a situation like this. I think it's. We don't really talk about the inner workings while the decision processes necessarily think that's. You know it's just we don't we just drag it all out there I would say -- that. The -- -- himself -- only times in the draft just as one example trapped and players that -- -- -- time supposed. The drafting Alex fifteen and -- except in order was and -- which when he won and retirement homes and polling at 4950. You know he's a great draft and so we just you know one example -- interacting between ownership and general manager is round draft. I like a -- when it does I figured you were. Which is their team out there that. How to make you nervous when you think about the Celtics matching up with them in the playoffs I'm talking. Eastern time it makes me nervous is the Celtics. At that other than I'm so Eisner is I think we have the chance to be as good as anybody. Any given time and it's not just flashes of domestic I think people look at let's support those guys. I think it starts with. -- about it that we should be very worried that the teams you know that we have abused were times we had the edge. On. -- makers. In other people out west where Orlando beat us last year were worried about it -- the teams but it start its -- about. Tell me what that the business end of this whole operation has been like this here we read so much about the uncertainty of the economy we look around watch games on TV. And we see empty seats everywhere not your building thank thankfully. Let's business like in the NBA overall what's it like in your place. David Stern said the other day were down be quiet sort of 2% and he said you know actually we have projected worst command. Business -- could be improved -- -- no question. But the fans have. Kept to lead generally better off than we probably thought we might -- Our building and then -- and I think they note that we put the money back into the team we take in. Certain about it tickets every year and it's -- 140 streets so or something were going on our fourth season canceled out. So we thank everybody that. But we spent I had adoptive that we spent almost twice as much on the team and the coaches in the travel to ask all expenses. -- -- -- Twice as much of that as we taken tickets. For the fans pretty much know when he when they buy ticket it's going to the team and then -- -- on -- that. I think it works when you do it that way it works -- you'd be announced of people. Have you done anything different business wise this year you know again just. Building on your comment that the commissioners said that that things are down and you planned on things being down that change your approach. Coming into the 20092010. Season. It really hasn't I think the record payroll for a 401 million. We've never been ignored news that I think. We view this as a year where we could win it. And so we've thrown everything at that means signing -- Nazis and -- mid level were party over the tax -- so double that obviously then bring you know the people and keeping. It we have fourteen players now to fifteen I guess but there were running a pretty flat -- now in its -- all geared -- -- Putting maybe banner eighteen at some day hopefully hopefully this year. Said this is the year you could win it and Margaret I just have for you came on I think their 182 when tech can legitimately won the championship this year and the Celtics one of those eight. But if you don't win it this year do you think you'd have to give an age of your players do you think he got a start over a bit -- backed nothing but how to re mix some of the major parts of this team to get back to championship level. I think someone that actually happened in receiver part of the job. Changing things -- of things just the way they are I'd I'd glad to be played the 2008 season. Against starting next year. History major factor in college love. The -- things word in the way things used to be and and particularly away -- great year. But we look at 2111213. You know it's going to be a new team essentially. Start with -- you know start with rod he's here for five years after this and I'm proud of that well built there. We talked in the past about how important do you feel it is for your organization to be involved in the community. -- tonight there's an event at the house of blues. In which you're gonna be honored by the US fund for UNICEF the children's champion award will be presented at the Celtics tonight at -- night for Haiti. The event is co chaired by David Ortiz his wife Tiffany and Kevin Garnett wife brandy and -- serve as a whole thing go on on tonight. What does this mean when UNICEF told you that that you're gonna be honored in this way. We're real excited this is a partnership between our players. Our ownership. Our pants. We got together in short order testing at. Pastor have among the fans -- with fans did opted out we go go over a 100000 dollars so you know weaponry and Paula. And dark and any but he gave and we OK you should cave and it gave and so. -- receptive recognize that a Kaman wasn't. The goal very regard them the only reason I agree to this I think is that an acceptable orbit affect the acute. Have a chance that the chance to put on an event so we direction raised Mormon. Our team physician just came back insurgent -- can just came back from think ten -- then he was just. Overwhelmed. By the need to switch instruments so that repetitive things -- that we were lucky position -- use that. To do -- things we -- so we appreciate the that night probably more than war. Awards that were excited to be part about it. How old you get your guest auctioneer out of the shell. Yeah let the Clinton Davis our guest auctioneer tonight. Yeah it's going to be funny I mean if you options you know Snickers and Eminem might now. You've -- great you know -- talk about an energy boost that it is and release. A big plus months and -- that really helps. If people wanna go to this event tonight where courts at the -- Well let's see I should have the web site and I don't. If you. -- chief marketing officer. And can get you into this he and you'd be buying a ticket. Which we appreciate and it's got a voice command. Live at a blues live auction you're -- with ball and KG and ray and when Davis. -- These that your history major in college and I went to the college. -- these are you rooting for Cornell. -- Ivy League represented can't refer Cornell canyon. I can root for Cornell I think that these we've you know why not. They could it's -- that would before -- It's been to determine my brackets don't start to reveal. -- is winning our bracket by the way which just -- -- -- went because you want stepped on. But it's unfair he said yeah I mean let. When a -- Relief if you were losing the popular corporate I'm happy if you -- -- yeah and electric tiger beat me off you know. Right I mean they got the guy's job is to is to know lot of talent in college basketball he shouldn't be allowed it to be in his own tournament. I guarantee you have to GMs in the be would be too scared to submit bracket. That's a different change competitor. It's always fun to talk basketball with you -- good luck with the event tonight we'll talk again -- the season continues. I appreciate it thanks for mentioning event and -- -- thank Eric thanks. That is what prospect managing partner governor one of the owners of the Boston Celtics brought to you by our -- insurance. They're premier auto home and business year. --