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Bill Belichick returns the favor to Doc Rivers: ‘I have a lot of respect for Doc’ 12.12.12 at 5:16 pm ET
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Bill Belichick was all business until letting up his guard at the end of his Wednesday press briefing. (Mike Petraglia/WEEI.com)

Bill Belichick was all business until letting up his guard at the end of his Wednesday press briefing. (Mike Petraglia/WEEI.com)

FOXBORO — On Tuesday, Doc Rivers expressed his gratitude to Bill Belichick for letting him sit in on an offensive game plan meeting prior to Monday night’s game.

On Wednesday, Belichick essentially said the pleasure was all his.

“It was great to have Doc here,” Belichick said. “I have a lot of respect for Doc and the program the Celtics run. I think he does a tremendous job coaching his team. I really admire the way his teams play, the way his players play. I think he has great leadership from a lot of those guys and has had it through the years. Certainly Kevin [Kevin Garnett] and Paul [Paul Pierce] and guys like that. We’ve learned a lot from watching them.”

Has Belichick ever sat in on pregame Celtics meetings like Rivers did on Monday?

“We talk. We exchange ideas,” Belichick said. “I’m certainly pulling for them and I know they’re pulling for us. We definitely have a rooting interest in it but beyond that, on a professional level, I think there’s certainly a lot that I’ve learned from watching Doc and the Celtics and the way they do a lot of things organizationally and his coaching style and some of the things he’s talked to me about the way he’s handled players and handled different situations and things like that. He’s talked to our team and said a lot of things that really made sense and really hit home. I’ve had an opportunity to talk to his guys a couple times. We have a good relationship. We’ve probably both learned from each other.”

In keeping with the light-hearted NBA theme toward the end of Belichick’s presser Wednesday, he was asked if it would be a good idea to just wave at the coach at the end of the game like they do in the NBA instead of a handshake?

“That would kill the ratings, wouldn’t it? [laughter],” Belichick with the obvious reference to the hype over previous encounters with the likes of Eric Mangini and Rex Ryan.

Does Belichick think they’ll sponsor the end of game handshake?

“That will be next. Please don’t suggest that,” Belichick said.

The acting genius of Belichick inspired the question of whether he approached another celebrity Monday night for advice – Mark Wahlberg.

“I didn’t. I don’t think I’ll need any of those for awhile,” Belichick quipped.

Read More: Bill Belichick, Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett Print  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • Bill

    Just a tad overboard comparing him to Jackie Robinson, Doc. Doc’s never shied away from making political statements.

  • Anonymous

    Hey Doc, how does it feel beating the old ones until they drop ? I think you have to reprogram your mind in coaching. It’s a youthful game, and your letting them sit on the bench, no faith…. Who cares about these gay guys, there everywhere–sinful men

  • Anonymous

    my roomate’s step-aunt makes $73/hour on the laptop. She has been laid off for 5 months but last month her income was $14197 just working on the laptop for a few hours. Read more on  Jive8.c­om

  • Al

    What’s a pro’s pro? Is that some kind of gay term for good in bed? I’m trying to figure out what Doc meant by that.

  • Anonymous

    Is it OK to say you hate the sin and still like the person? God did NOT want this, if he did He would not have destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.
    it’s called Rebellion against Gods ways, hope you can teach your children right from wrong.

  • Anonymous

    Jesus is The Truth and the Way. Know nobody comes to the Father but through me. Was Jesus a coward in revealing the Truth, which still stands today? Just remember our sins were nailed to the Cross so that we could have everlasting life with God !!

  • alex

    see i question where is YOUR head at ??, why do YOU automatically go to that as the automatic thought when he says *lockerroom*, if you ever been involved in team sports, it obviously means he’s talking about chemistry and he was a great teammate,

  • alex

    why is that cowardly to use God ?? , god loved everyone and Jesus did too, i dont see anything wrong with that. what is it wit you people that everything with GOD you criticize!!

  • ALEX

    come on dude really??.. it has nothing to do with Dems or Rep, When you say they use to hide, there’s STILL MILLIONS hiding , why? cuz they are afraid to come out and face ignorant people like YOU. Who are U to speak for God?, God and Jesus stressed for love, no matter WHO you are, and NO it is not a norm, but who ever said that something not in the norm has to be BAD??. you like what u like dude!, if thats what they like, thats them!, leave the hatred out!. welcome to the real WORLD. ITS 2013, WE SHOULD ALL BE PAST THIS!.

  • cfn

    I lot of people believe that, like you. And I feel sorry for them. Jesus, a great man, was a man. Men wrote the bible also. There were no miracles. Your very gullible.

  • Alex

    he only compared him because they broke some type of barriers , thats ALL people, lets not get carried away..,

  • alEX

    your an idiot, stop using the writing of the bible for your stupidity and use common sense, WHO are the gays affecting, YOU?? your CHILDREN???, WHO???..

  • Anonymous

    hey !! celtics are a dysfunctional team, with a coach that’s out of ideas. KG”s minutes are very limited, and PP can’t carry the team. They have some good players on the team but they don’t play together that often. Coach’s fault in my opinion. Greens OK, but to much is focused on him.

  • Anonymous

    you defend evil because you live in it…right

  • Anonymous

    Jesus was and is the Divine Son of God. just google Jesus and discover much.

  • Rivers_tunein

    Easy for him to do when he is at the END of his career playing for
    minimum salary. Where was this years ago when he was re-signed by the
    Nets making $6 million/ year? This is brave? Buckley at the end of his
    career is brave? I personally don’t care who he sleeps with at night.
    But, the many need to understand that many religions don’t accept this -
    and you have to respect their right not to accept or promote this
    behavior. The don’t want to let their children grow up thinking this is
    a great thing. However, Collins shouldn’t be ostracized either by
    anyone either. As for Rivers and Eastman they should be focusing on Game 5 this team has been a disgrace.

  • Jimi Krystle

    i always knew there was something fishy about his ball skills.

  • cfn

    I don’t criticize everything with god. People hide behind god and if something is not in their morality then they pretend to speak for God. Being gay is not a sin, neither is there anything wrong with it. Any crazy person can find something in the bible to support their crazy opinions. The bible is a book written by men, not God. Don’t decieve yourself. Yes, there are some good stories, and yes we can learn from it. Having faith can be a strong force for someone; meditating or practicing Zen another way for another. I am worried about the zealous, like you and 123star because you think you are doing things in the name of God; but your minds are closed and not able to think for oneself. You think God is working through you but on the contrary. Killing, stealing hurt people; being gay does not. Compassion is about inclusion and accepting; not of spewing your morals on to another and saying your going to hell because you don’t believe what I believe.

  • Anonymous

    Excellent piece to read 86. Ainge tried to do that with the Clippers but KG said NO. Imagine the player having more power than the ownership; that should not be right. Now they bite the bullet, and we fans shake our heads. Cheap seats coming up next year. Ps: lets not count the C’s out against the Knicks. C’s win in NY and then anything can happen.
    86, Tebow to the Pats, what’s your take?

  • Anonymous

    there’s alot more to life than what the World offers. You may be a little bit blind to the Spiritual side of matters. Read Proverbs for starters, ask God for understanding. Just trying to help in a good way!

  • Anonymous

    think, it takes 5 players to work together. team work wins, but when you got 3-4 players not performing 60% you got problems.

  • Anonymous

    Would you take a shower with Jesus? As long as you had soap on a rope, right?

  • Changing World

    I go to sports to get away from all the crazy things this world throws at us. Religion, Politics, Sex should be subjects banned inside the sport. Race had to be dealt with! Now we are going to change all that which will start giving people reasons to not tune in. I will argue stats and home team favorites but I am going to walk away if I have to explain why I have a opinion I have when it is based on my experiences and upbringing. People always want someone else to understand their rights and way of thinking. I would like to know if that gets returned with the same reverence. Hate is not needed in sports in general nor life. Go ahead and change the world, I am finding a quiet stream and going fishing by myself!

  • Bruinman86

    I think if they tell KG they are moving in another direction and dismantle the team, he’ll likely cave and allow a trade. Can’t see him wanting to stick around during a rebuilding time when he’s looking for one last title. Especially if he can help a team get over the hump and contend. Just don’t expect to get much for him. As fro the C’s, I have counted them out because in 4 tries they have been soundly beaten in 3 and almost lost the 4th. They fade in the 4th, which shows me they either tire by then or lack the mental toughness once the lead is gone. At home, they at least have the home crowd’s energy to feed off of. As for Tim Tebow, I’d take a flier on him if he’d be willing to accept that his role will not be that of QB (Unless in an emergency situation) but in many different roles. If he’s willing to accept that, then I bet BB may just give him a shot. If the the team with one of the worst QB situations in the league cut him, that has to be an eye opener for him. Tell him God wants him to be a special teams player or something!

  • Bruinman86

    No question. Not sure if it’s a talent/age thing or poor communications. Reminds me of the Bruins. Similar situation, with the exception of Age being a factor. The Chemistry has seemed off from the beginning of the season. Perhaps Peirce not being able to carry the team like he used to has become a huge factor. Quite frustrating to watch. Any group of underachievers can drive a fan nuts.

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