Where You At, Big DoG?

By Kevin Roberts

The moment I heard that Walter Ray "Shuttlesworth" Allen was being traded to the Celtics, I was immediately a fan. They didn't have to tell me Kevin Garnett would be there, and they didn't even have to mention that Paul Pierce was staying. This was a team that could lead the East back to glory, a Big Three reminiscent of, well, Milwaukee's Big Three back in the day.

Oh, you may not remember it, you may never have even heard about it, but when Glenn Robinson, Sam Cassell and Ray Allen led the Milwaukee Bucks to the Eastern Conference Championships in 2001, the Big Three was in every Cheesehead's permanent vernacular.  It was as much glory as most Bucks fans had seen in their lifetime, and with Coach Karl at the helm, we were all confident that the Bucks could only go further in the future.

As of August 2, 2002 the Big Three was officially no more. After Robinson was dealt to the Atlanta Hawks for Tony Kukoc and some insignificant junk, Allen's days of painting his toenails green and purple (okay, maybe he only did it once during the Hornets/Bucks post-season series in 2001) were over. Deciding that they wanted Gary Paton and Desmond Mason instead of the man who holds the record for three point field goals made in a single season, the dream was truly over. At the end of the 2002-3 season, the last remaining third of the Big Three was traded to the Timberwolves for Joe Johnson.

The first Big Three era was over for Ray, and I believe he mourned almost as much as I did.  My friends and I kept him in our hearts, throwing birthday parties for him every summer.  Ray never showed up for one, be we knew he was out there, wishing he could rejoin Sam I Am and the Big Dog and return the Bucks to glory.  Alas, the dream was over.

That is, until June 28, 2007. Paul Pierce! Kevin Garnett! Ray Allen! Sure, it wasn't the same Big Three, but there was no way you could keep me away from a green jersey with the beautiful word gracing three jerseys I already own: "Allen.” Now, news is coming in of another player heading to the Celtics, a man who's talent has allowed him to grace the roster's of eight professional basketball teams over a 15 year career and an NBA all-star point guard with two NBA championship rings: Samuel James Cassell. When I heard this news, I flipped out. Sam. Cassell. Ray. Allen. Two thirds of the triumvirate has reunited! They may not be in the same state of mind, by god, they can still play.  Watching these two team up again is like watching a Shakespearean sonnet or listening to Mozart: pure art.  In his debut with the Celtics on March 10, Cassell had some early foul trouble and remained scoreless, though Allen's 21 points helped lead the Celtics past the Sixers.

Sure, Cassell struggled in his first game with the Celtics.  He was out of his comfort zone, and I don't mean Los Angeles.  Sam isn't used to playing with Ray and without Glenn.  It's obvious, and there's only one solution.  So I say to you, Glenn Robinson, with all honesty and fervor: Please, for Milwaukee's sake, for the Bucks' sake, for the love of the game and for one more ring, get off the couch, get into the gym, and let the Big Three of the past meet the Big Three of the future. After all, three green jerseys on my wall might look nice next to the three purple ones.