Garnett: 'Don't call me dirty'
Foul-mouthed Celtic tones it down
By FRANK ZICARELLI, QMI Agency
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LOS ANGELES — In one of those rare sightings that can only take place during a festive atmosphere at all-star weekend, Kevin Garnett let his guard down.
It was so unusual that the Big Ticket has even been caught cracking a smile.
Garnett is as foul-mouthed as they come on the court, a player who has been belittled by peers such as Charlie Villanueva and Channing Frye, been criticized by Suns head coach Alvin Gentry and ridiculed by Spike Lee.
“My demeanor on the court is what it is and, of course, my demeanor here is different,” Garnett said as he prepares for Sunday’s all-star game at Staples Center. “You can’t make an assessment of someone if you’ve only seen 50% of that person.”
Given the stage of an all-star event, the Kevin Garnett fans see on Sunday won’t be the same as the one who lines up in Boston’s frontcourt when games actually count.
The word competitive best describes Garnett, but at the same time the word dirty has been thrown into the conversation following incidents this season, including one that featured a punch to Frye’s private parts.
“I’m far from dirty,’’ Garnett said. “Dirty is like hate.
“I don’t use that word. I’m competitive and I play hard but don’t call me dirty. If you dislike me, dislike me, but hate is a very strong word.”
