No wonder he has played for nearly EVERY team out there! Surely he would know this is not good for him or the team. I guess he wants out??
First his toe. Now his feelings.
Danny Fortson has hobbled through much of training camp, hampered by an arthritic right toe. After Tuesday's practice, though, the forlorn Sonics forward addressed another sore spot: a report in Monday's The Seattle Times, in which an unnamed teammate suggested the team had "two sets of rules ... one for Danny and one for everybody else."
Fortson has missed practices and three exhibition games due to the injury and stayed home during the team's recent trip to Laredo, Texas, because of a virus. He admitted that he is "out of shape," but placed the blame on the injury, not his work habits.
The Sonics lost to the Houston Rockets in Laredo Monday.
He said Tuesday that he did not know which teammate made the comment, other than that it must have been "someone with a big mouth."
"If it's a captain who said that, like Ray [Allen] or Rashard [Lewis], it's going to make me feel like I should get out of here," Fortson said. "Of course I'm out of shape. I can't work out. I have a sore toe.
"It's too bad, man. It puts a damper on my whole day. It makes me feel like they don't want me here. I don't know who to believe anymore. I'm very uncomfortable."
Fortson has not asked for a trade -- "I haven't gone that far," he said -- and is unlikely to be dealt, given the team's inexperience in the post. Head coach Bob Weiss spoke of Fortson's importance on Tuesday, as he observed the way in which Fortson "spreads out" opposing players due to his size and strength.
It appears, then, that Fortson will continue to inhabit the same workspace as the critical teammate, who Fortson said should have approached him directly.
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"Be a man instead of going to the paper and hiding like a little girl," Fortson said. "This is ridiculous."
Fortson noted that, during the playoffs last spring, "no one criticized" Lewis for the more severe toe injury that kept him out of the final three games of the Western Conference semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs.
"Ask Rashard," Fortson said. "He'll tell you how bad it hurts. I never criticized Rashard last year. I told him to get better. Thank God it's not as bad as his was."
General manager Rick Sund said he does not perceive the remark as a threat to the locker room chemistry often cited as a team strength last season. Allen and Lewis, the team's co-captains, did not speak with reporters after practice.
"We've got great players and great camaraderie," Sund said. "It's not a concern."
In fact, Sund defended Fortson's actions on Sunday, when Fortson called in sick due to the virus. Fortson visited the doctor and was prescribed medication before arriving at practice.
"Danny was upset," Sund said. "It was reported that he was two hours late, when in fact he followed proper protocol."
Fortson, who was suspended by both the NBA and the Sonics last season, has shown sensitivity to public comments before. Two seasons ago, Fortson was suspended for three games after his flagrant foul against Zarko Cabarkapa broke the Phoenix Suns rookie's wrist. Afterward, Suns chairman and CEO Jerry Colangelo called Fortson a "thug." New York Post columnist Peter Vecsey referred to him as a "meaningless mass" and "vacant lot."
Fortson filed defamation lawsuits against both men. Asked if the cases were still active, Fortson said: "Very much so." He said Colangelo is set to take a deposition this month.
"Be careful," he said. "Whoever's saying anything bad about Danny Fortson that's not true is going to be held accountable."
NOTES: Allen left practice early on Tuesday to undergo a CT scan, an appointment made earlier this month after he experienced sinus congestion for three weeks. Benign polyps are the likely source of the pain, and Sonics medical personnel have administered in-house treatment over the past two weeks. Even if minor corrective surgery is required, Weiss expects Allen to be ready for the start of the regular season. ... Nick Collison practiced with the starting unit at center, and could play there tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers at KeyArena.
First his toe. Now his feelings.
Danny Fortson has hobbled through much of training camp, hampered by an arthritic right toe. After Tuesday's practice, though, the forlorn Sonics forward addressed another sore spot: a report in Monday's The Seattle Times, in which an unnamed teammate suggested the team had "two sets of rules ... one for Danny and one for everybody else."
Fortson has missed practices and three exhibition games due to the injury and stayed home during the team's recent trip to Laredo, Texas, because of a virus. He admitted that he is "out of shape," but placed the blame on the injury, not his work habits.
The Sonics lost to the Houston Rockets in Laredo Monday.
He said Tuesday that he did not know which teammate made the comment, other than that it must have been "someone with a big mouth."
"If it's a captain who said that, like Ray [Allen] or Rashard [Lewis], it's going to make me feel like I should get out of here," Fortson said. "Of course I'm out of shape. I can't work out. I have a sore toe.
"It's too bad, man. It puts a damper on my whole day. It makes me feel like they don't want me here. I don't know who to believe anymore. I'm very uncomfortable."
Fortson has not asked for a trade -- "I haven't gone that far," he said -- and is unlikely to be dealt, given the team's inexperience in the post. Head coach Bob Weiss spoke of Fortson's importance on Tuesday, as he observed the way in which Fortson "spreads out" opposing players due to his size and strength.
It appears, then, that Fortson will continue to inhabit the same workspace as the critical teammate, who Fortson said should have approached him directly.
advertising
Click to learn more...
"Be a man instead of going to the paper and hiding like a little girl," Fortson said. "This is ridiculous."
Fortson noted that, during the playoffs last spring, "no one criticized" Lewis for the more severe toe injury that kept him out of the final three games of the Western Conference semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs.
"Ask Rashard," Fortson said. "He'll tell you how bad it hurts. I never criticized Rashard last year. I told him to get better. Thank God it's not as bad as his was."
General manager Rick Sund said he does not perceive the remark as a threat to the locker room chemistry often cited as a team strength last season. Allen and Lewis, the team's co-captains, did not speak with reporters after practice.
"We've got great players and great camaraderie," Sund said. "It's not a concern."
In fact, Sund defended Fortson's actions on Sunday, when Fortson called in sick due to the virus. Fortson visited the doctor and was prescribed medication before arriving at practice.
"Danny was upset," Sund said. "It was reported that he was two hours late, when in fact he followed proper protocol."
Fortson, who was suspended by both the NBA and the Sonics last season, has shown sensitivity to public comments before. Two seasons ago, Fortson was suspended for three games after his flagrant foul against Zarko Cabarkapa broke the Phoenix Suns rookie's wrist. Afterward, Suns chairman and CEO Jerry Colangelo called Fortson a "thug." New York Post columnist Peter Vecsey referred to him as a "meaningless mass" and "vacant lot."
Fortson filed defamation lawsuits against both men. Asked if the cases were still active, Fortson said: "Very much so." He said Colangelo is set to take a deposition this month.
"Be careful," he said. "Whoever's saying anything bad about Danny Fortson that's not true is going to be held accountable."
NOTES: Allen left practice early on Tuesday to undergo a CT scan, an appointment made earlier this month after he experienced sinus congestion for three weeks. Benign polyps are the likely source of the pain, and Sonics medical personnel have administered in-house treatment over the past two weeks. Even if minor corrective surgery is required, Weiss expects Allen to be ready for the start of the regular season. ... Nick Collison practiced with the starting unit at center, and could play there tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers at KeyArena.
