Even PETA wants to talk to Tacko Fall

Tacko Fall, just by being himself sometimes, lands in the middle of some interesting situations, this one of a political nature.

After the Celtics center was presented with a custom-made floor-to-ceiling, fur-trimmed overcoat by Dani Reiss, the CEO of Canada Goose, officials at PETA decided to speak up.

The animal rights group offered to send Fall a “cruelty-free” version of the coat. In a letter graphically detailing the methods used to kill coyotes and geese by some of Canada Goose’s suppliers, a PETA official named Matt Kilbourne asked for Fall to stand up for animal rights.

“We could really use your help. If you were to refuse to promote Canada Goose, you’d signal to your many fans that you don’t support systemic cruelty against coyotes and birds,” wrote Kilbourne. “We’d love to take this jacket off your hands and make sure that it gets to those who need the warmth the most. In the past, we’ve given donated fur coats to homeless shelters in the U.S. and to displaced refugees in Afghanistan, Mongolia, and Syria, along with some orphaned wildlife rehab centers. And we could get a custom-made, cruelty-free version of this kind of jacket made just for you! Thanks for your time and consideration. Please let me know if you have any questions.”

Fall, though, needed some distance from the controversy his coat had apparently generated.

“I don’t get involved in that,” he said before Friday night’s game after being called up from the Maine Red Claws. “I let my agent handle that.”

No regrets

Though he has openly criticized his former team, the Knicks, for “tanking” games during his time in New York, Enes Kanter doesn’t sound like he regrets his time in that city.

“I had an amazing time. I learned a lot on and off the court, played in one of the biggest organizations, saw the team grow. The organization made me better and a better person,” the Celtics center, who missed his fourth straight game with a knee contusion, said before missing a chance to play against his former teammates for the second time in six days.

“In the end it worked out for me. I went to Portland to the Western Conference finals. I am blessed,” said Kanter. “I love those guys — even Julius (Randle). We had that (Twitter) thing. We played pickup games in summer. An amazing dude. I see a lot of good characters on the team and I’m excited to see them grow.”

Kanter and Randle, who signed with the Knicks last summer, got into a brief Twitter battle last summer, after Kanter referred to Zion Williamson as, “Julius Randle with hops.” Randle replied that he recently “dropped” 45 points on Kanter.

Kanter still hopes to play in Madison Square Garden next month when the Celtics return for their second visit.

“It will be a very special moment for me,” he said. “They had my back for two years. The fans were amazing. I cannot wait.”

He also can’t wait to get back on the floor for his current team.

“It’s pretty important for every player to focus on winning a championship,” he said. “That’s one of the reasons I picked the Celtics. I want to win a championship.’’

After missing his fourth straight game last night, Kanter felt like he was nearing the end of his injury-induced absence.

“I’m getting there,” he said, with next week’s three-city swing through Cleveland, Charlotte and San Antonio his next chance at action.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2JI7EwA