Rajon Rondo breaks hand, has surgery, out indefinitely

[Captain_Caveman]

I still think he punched something, but with his left hand seems odd.

If it was the trampoline park, a consideration here is whether or not that was against his contract... hence the potential lie. When Monta Ellis busted his ankle a few years back, it was obviously on a motorcycle. But since that was a explicitly banned activity in his brand new contract, it was a major issue. Dude went AWOL for a few days before his agent came up with the story that it was actually just a moped, which was technically not banned.

Ws ended up fining him $3m for lying and not using their doctors, and even sent some PIs down to Mississippi to try to dig up dirt on his story, as they could have voided the contract had the injury from a banned activity left him debilitated. Their GM Chris Mullin warned them not to go in like that because it would give them a bad rap among other NBA players and alienate their alleged franchise player, but it ended up not mattering that much because he healed well enough.

All food for thought with this current situation, be it a punch or a wayward bounce.

[SMTBSI]

Straw man my ass. Ryan thinks they screwed up by not sitting on the story until Monday, as if doing so wouldn't cause more idle speculation than what they did, which was to be prompt in reporting what they know and what Rondo told them.

The Celtics, not knowing for sure what happened but knowing their star player was out for two months, reported what they did know and what Rondo told them promptly.

Rondo just f@cked the Celtics over by selfishly being careless in the shower or trampolining recklessly, 4 freaking days before training camp.

And you guys are more concerned about how the Celtics should have better served Rondo from a PR perspective. And if it turns out that Rondo did indeed lie to the Celtics, you'll probably focus more on the Celtics than on Rondo lying to the team ON TOP of selfishly injuring himself an the eve of training camp.

Ok, you're right about one thing: I actually got so focused on the line of discussion re: would the Celtics have a hand in the "cover up / smoothing over" that I forgot that ryan was also making a specific argument about how they could have done it better! I have no opinion on that.


I still maintain that: the burden of proof lies with you for your second paragraph; your third paragraph is just silly ("selfishly being careless in the shower"? really?); and your fourth is more strawman / pure speculation.

Speaking for myself only, I've yet to venture any opinion about how the Celtics should have handled it, only that this is real life and they've probably had some hand in the handling.

And your confident speculation about our future actions in your last sentence cause me to wonder if further debate with you would have any chance of proving fruitful - you seem to have already made up your mind about a large number of things you can't possibly know anything about.

[ryaningf]

Your just way off on this. Why would you create a cover up when one is pointless and not necessary? He had surgery today that is going to get out. If you say nothing for 3 days then nobody is going to believe what you have to say on Monday.

You give an explanation and they did it should then be a non story unless you told a really bad lie.

I didn't say anything about a better coverup, or waiting til Monday to cover it up. I'm saying frame the story better so you don't invite speculation that you are covering something up. Say the truth, but do it in a way that makes people BELIEVE YOU.

It's all about framing the goddamned story the right way. It's about perception. I'm in favor of the truth but more importantly I'm in favor of creating the perception of truth. If you release a weird somewhat improbable shower fall story on a Friday and then say "we'll talk about it more on Monday" all you do is invite speculation. If it is a coverup, it's a bad one. If it's the truth, it sure doesn't sound like it. Like I said earlier, what's the upside to releasing it now. Either you just released a bad coverup or something that doesn't seem true. At least do it on Media Day to lessen the impact.

You think this surgery would get out? Guys have secret surgery over the summer all the time and it doesn't get out for months or even years later.

I guess but they leave the country and not have it done in a hospital.

I just think your coming at this the wrong way. The story is being reported as Rondo or the team told it. This was Rondo's story. He might have a motivation to lie because he violated his contract. That has nothing to do with the team. They have no reason to participate in a cover up or "shaping of the truth" because it really isn't their problem. Their issues are basketball related and this clearly is not basketball related. I think the team is simply relaying the explanation they were given by the player.

Helping get the truth out in a favorable light isn't their responsibility? That's one of their main functions as an organization.

If Rondo violated the terms of his contract (I don't think a trampoline park rises to that level), then that's serious business but something as a team official that I'd keep in house, provided I didn't want to use it to invalidate his contract. Again, this is a team. Unless you're releasing a guy why air dirty laundry? As long as he's their player, he's their problem so to speak and avoiding bad PR helps maintain his value league wide or at least tells other players and teammates that we'll do our best to protect our players. It's bad enough he got injured, but allowing him--VIA THE PRESS RELEASE THE TEAM PUT OUT--to either fib or make it seem like he's fibbing about it makes it worse. As a team, you do your best to get the true story out there, and I'm saying if that means not repeating the fib Rondo initially told you then you do that BECAUSE YOU ARE UNDER ZERO OBLIGATION TO SELF-REPORT WHEN AND HOW A PLAYER GETS INJURED IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT HAPPENS. I'm saying why not wait a couple days, do your own investigation, and then when media day comes you say Rondo got hurt last week at a trampoline park, broke a hand, had surgery, we're not happy, but it's an accident and accidents happen. Is that a cover up or is that keeping things in house? Do people run to the paper every time their parents or their kids or their wives screw up? Or do they try to work it out with them and get them to either own up to mistakes or make positive change.

In no way I'm I saying they should have covered this up or created a better lie (and there were so many better lies out there). I'm saying their duty to Rondo supercedes their duty to tell the world what Rondo told them right after it happened (if indeed that's what happened).

[DarkAzcura]

Rondo just f@cked the Celtics over by selfishly being careless in the shower or trampolining recklessly, 4 freaking days before training camp.

[ballup]

So far it seems to only be Ryan here who thinks the Celtics screwed up somehow.

This is another strawman. Ryaningf is saying that the FO wouldn't be in the wrong for playing an active hand in managing the PR from this event. I, and I think many others here (though obviously not Sully!), agree with him. It is worth pointing out that there are two separate discussions going on simultaneously here:

1.) What actually happened? Is falling-in-the-shower remotely plausible, compared to trampoline park?
2.) Independently of 1, is it reasonable to think that the Celtics would be complicit with Rondo in crafting a PR strategy?


NL41 - you are the one who has been staking the boldest position re: question 2: that they clearly have done no such thing. Therefore, it seems to me that the burden of proof would rest with you. But you've stayed on the offensive well enough that you haven't had to shoulder that burden.

Straw man my ass. Ryan thinks they screwed up by not sitting on the story until Monday, as if doing so wouldn't cause more idle speculation than what they did, which was to be prompt in reporting what they know and what Rondo told them.

The Celtics, not knowing for sure what happened but knowing their star player was out for two months, reported what they did know and what Rondo told them promptly.

Rondo just f@cked the Celtics over by selfishly being careless in the shower or trampolining recklessly, 4 freaking days before training camp.

And you guys are more concerned about how the Celtics should have better served Rondo from a PR perspective. And if it turns out that Rondo did indeed lie to the Celtics, you'll probably focus more on the Celtics than on Rondo lying to the team ON TOP of selfishly injuring himself an the eve of training camp.

I know the first thing I try to do when I go to Skyzone is injure myself. Cause obviously a trampoline facility can't be used for any other reason.

[NL41]

http://psychcentral.com/lib/the-5-stage ... ief/000617

The 5 Stages of Grief

1. Denial and Isolation
2. Anger
As the masking effects of denial and isolation begin to wear, reality and its pain re-emerge. We are not ready. The intense emotion is deflected from our vulnerable core, redirected and expressed instead as anger. The anger may be aimed at inanimate objects, complete strangers, friends or family (or Celtics PR department)
3. Bargaining
The normal reaction to feelings of helplessness and vulnerability is often a need to regain control–
If only we had sought medical attention sooner…
If only we got a second opinion from another doctor…
If only we had tried to be a better person toward them…
(If only the Celtics waited until Monday to announce it)

4. Depression
5. Acceptance

[SMTBSI]

All right, I have to bow out whether I like it or not - have an early flight. Time to go be selfishly careless in the shower for a while, then hit the hay.

[NL41]

All right, I have to bow out whether I like it or not - have an early flight. TIme to go be selfishly careless in the shower for a while, then hit the hay.

We all know the odds of Rondo actually breaking his hand and not his wrist in the shower is about a million to one.

And if you don't think goofing off on a trampoline 4 days before training camp was selfish and irresponsible, I'll leave you to your 5 stages of grief.

[ryaningf]

Ryan thinks they screwed up by not sitting on the story until Monday, as if doing so wouldn't cause more idle speculation than what they did, which was to be prompt in reporting what they know and what Rondo told them.

Two questions:
1. If the Cs don't announce the surgery, how could anyone speculate on his injury? There would be nothing to speculate because no one would know he's injured.
2. Why do the Cs have to be prompt with reporting when a player gets injured? Why are you making this a standard? Some surgeries go unreported and since this is technically a player's health we're talking about they do have a right to privacy as well. Right now, we're still in the offseason. Have the Cs commented on the wheres and hows of every player's every visit to the Dr? Should they have?

[threrf23]

Abby Nose points out a possible support for the shower claim from an old interview (3rd quote)
http://blogs.thescore.com/tbj/2013/02/28/more-weird-stuff-about-rajon-rondo/

Good catch.

Rondo takes five showers on game days, the last one precisely 45 minutes before tip-off, because he does his best thinking in the water. He jumps out to scribble ideas, which can present problems, since he is a germaphobe who hates being barefoot. He keeps three or four pairs of shower shoes in his locker. “I’m a little OCD,” he admits. He guzzles five bottles of water on the drive to the arena so he doesn’t have to bother with Gatorade cups on the bench, and he tucks a tube of Carmex in his sock to keep his lips hydrated. The company sends hundreds of refills before each season, helpful considering how many teammates ask for a dollop. Rondo dispenses it on their fingertips.

[suge knight]

PS – No this isn’t definitive proof but I do have a brain and “Did an elite athlete break his hand in the shower or at a trampoline park?” isn’t a very difficult question. Joba Chamberlain will tell you all about it.





PPS – Yes this was definitely yesterday. The place’s name is Altitude Trampoline Park. Here are tweets from people who saw him there yesterday.

[FlatearthZorro]

Smartacus: The Story Begins.


If somehow, someway Pressey starts I'll go bananas...

[ILC]

6 weeks from yesterday ends on the 7th of November, Pacers game, fifth of the season. He should be ready for the Thunder on the 12th, 7th game of the season.

[Lebrizzy]

For what it's worth I had a boxer fracture a few years ago, I got into a fight and it happens when you hit somebody with the outside of your hand.

I broke my pinky knuckle, but its common that you break your ring finger and pinky when you get a boxer fracture.

I highly doubt rondo got this injury slipping in the shower, unless he fell on his side with his outer closed fist breaking his fall

[KamikazeK]

wow, the Rondo haters are out in force for this particular thread.

[exculpatory]

1. If it was his right hand, his FT & 3 point shooting might have improved from embarrassingly horrific to embarrassingly poor.

2. Rondo just retained the services of Eric Holder - fresh from making a mockery of the Department of Justice for almost 6 years.

[165bows]

http://psychcentral.com/lib/the-5-stages-of-loss-and-grief/000617

The 5 Stages of Grief

1. Denial and Isolation
2. Anger
As the masking effects of denial and isolation begin to wear, reality and its pain re-emerge. We are not ready. The intense emotion is deflected from our vulnerable core, redirected and expressed instead as anger. The anger may be aimed at inanimate objects, complete strangers, friends or family (or Celtics PR department)
3. Bargaining
The normal reaction to feelings of helplessness and vulnerability is often a need to regain control–
If only we had sought medical attention sooner…
If only we got a second opinion from another doctor…
If only we had tried to be a better person toward them…
(If only the Celtics waited until Monday to announce it)

4. Depression
5. Acceptance

This is totally ridiculous here and unnecessary. People here are actually trying to have actual discussions not pissing contests at every turn. This is your warning, please stop the nonsense.

[exculpatory]

This is all much ado about nothing.

The guy had an accident. Period.

He will miss 2 weeks of the RS.

End of story.

[31to6]

The proverbial fall at the house. Lol.

I hope he never roller skates again.

But yeah -- let's hope this really was a fall and not a thrown punch.

"And in other news, Wyc Grousbeck reports that his swollen eye socket is due to tripping and bumping into a door knob."

[ParticleMan]

"And in other news, Wyc Grousbeck reports that his swollen eye socket is due to tripping and bumping into a door knob."

seriously though, i'm not real sure what choice the C's had but to announce what Rondo told them. if he told them he fell in the shower, of course i'm sure as hell they said "really?" and then if he says "yes" what can you do? "hiding" it over the weekend is just playing with fire, suppose someone finds out and tweets it then all hell breaks loose, and for what? he broke his hand. that's that. however he did it, the result is the same, and the C's simply announced what was told to them. why should they try to doctor stories and "manage crises" like some sort of white house press dept. he broke his hand, he said it was in the shower, end of story. if it really was a trampoline then maybe we have a monta ellis situation but that's between rondo and the team.