So now we know. You've heard the old saying - "Actions speak louder than words". Well, the actions of, first the NBA Coaches, and now the Commissioner of the NBA Dave Stern, have spoken very, very loudly.
By naming Boston's Ray Allen as the replacement for injured Jameer Nelson, David Stern showed he has little or no respect for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Think about it. Nelson is a PG. Mo Williams is a PG. The match seems like a no brainer. Not for the Commish, I guess, who prefered to give the Celts a 3rd All-Star instead of giving the Cavaliers a 2nd participant. The team with one of the best records in the NBA has exactly one all-star. ONE?!?!
Perhaps the best quote of the day about it comes from Cavaliers' Owner Dan Gilbert who sent this beauty in an e-mail to the Cleveland Plain Dealer --
Ben Wallace was right when he called Mo originally being passed over for the All-Star Game a 'shamockery'. But not naming him as the natural and obvious replacement for the unfortunately injured Jameer Nelson is stupidiculous, idillogical and preposterageous.
In the whole scheme of things it really isn't a big deal that Williams gets the rest . I mean, the bigger goal for teh Cavaliers is a NBA Championship. The fact that Stern so outwardly disrespected the Cavaliers is hard to overlook, however. Had he picked another PG perhaps it would not have been so egregious, but he didn't.
Oh well, the only way to get respect is to earn respect and the Cavaliers can do that on the court. Here are what some others are saying about Stern's bitch-slap to the face of the Wine and Gold --
LeBron James
"It's a slap in the face. Our team has been disrespected.
Celtics SG Ray Allen
I don't think it's about fairness. It's such an unbalanced equation when you're talking about the All-Star Game and who is in it, what are the stipulations and how it's put together. If this were Mo Williams they were talking about, I would be happy for him the same. It wouldn't make a difference. He's had a deserved year of making the All-Star team. So hopefully he has a shot again next year.
Cavaliers GM Danny Ferry
I know Commisioner Stern has followed our team's success but maybe doesn't appreciate how important Mo has been to our team. We have had a great start. We have been really good on both ends of the court, have the top record in the league, and thus far have led the league in point differential all year long.
Our players and coaches know how important Mo has been to our team's success. Regardless, we have done a great job of not getting distracted and staying focused on our team goals. I am confident we will continue to do so.
CavsBlogger -- Owner, FeartheSword.com
It's a bunch of bleepin' bleep bleep!