Big Baby Wants to Play in the NFL

ESPN – Glen “Big Baby” Davis has no regrets about choosing basketball over football. That’s because he’s achieved success and a championship with the Boston Celtics — and also because he doesn’t believe his days on the football field are over. Davis, the Celtics’ 6-foot-9, 290-pound forward, said he eventually wants to play in the NFL. “I will try it,” said Davis, who’s on the injured list for six weeks with a broken right thumb sustained in a fight. “When I become an All-Star in the NBA, when I become a great player in the NBA, then I’ll try football. One of my dreams has always been to play football.” Davis was a terrific two-way football player at University Laboratory High School in Baton Rouge, La., starring at defensive end, defensive tackle and tailback. But he chose to hang up his cleats and accept a basketball scholarship to LSU, where he became an All-American. “I definitely could have made it to the NFL,” Davis said. He doesn’t have a specific position in mind in the NFL. “It don’t matter,” he said. “I just want to play.”

I don’t think there’s anyone in Boston who doesn’t love Big Baby. Traditionally we’ve always had a soft spot in our hearts for fat, colorful, overachieving, fat, brash, confident, enthusiastic fat guys. They’re like puppies to Massholes, maybe because by and large we’re all those things too. That said, whoever’s handling Davis’ PR might want to have a sit down with him. The first rule of being on the injured list for having a stupid fight with one of your entourage… the Turtle to your Vince Chase… is NOT to say you intend to switch sports once you make yourself an All Star. Everybody knows that apparently except him. I have to think Doc, Danny and everyone else involved would prefer that Davis spend the next five weeks staying away from microphones and buffets, in that order.