Paul Thomas Richards THE “SEASON OF HATE” IS OVER!
What’s not to like about the Mavs FINALLY winning their NBA rings? These guys are older than dirt: 13-year veteran Redirkulous, who single-handedly–torn tendons and all–completely reinvented big-man offense; 17-year (no typo) veteran Jason Kidd; 12-year Mavs’ stalwart Jason Terry; born-again Matrix and 12-year veteran Shawn Marion; 10-year veteran Tyson Chandler; 10-year veteran Brendan Haywood; 13-year veteran Peja Stojakovic; 11-year veteran “Joe Lunchbucket” Brian Cardinal; 9-year veteran All-Star Caron Butler; 11-year veteran DeShawn Stevenson; and the pride of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, 5-year veteran sparkplug José Juan Barea.
That’s 123 years’ experience—perhaps the highest collective basketball IQ ever assembled on one Championship team–all masterfully respected and utilized by underrated Coach Rick Carlisle. And, who was the only owner in the NBA insane enough to raid the world’s senior citizens’ homes? Mark Cuban, aided by sheer magic from team alchemist, President Donnie Nelson.
Yes, the Mavs deserve every kudo they earned, through more than a century of against-all-odds, hard, dedicated, intelligent, and conscientious work.
As for the Heat, it is time to stop the hate. Now! How can any true basketball fan possibly hate steady-as-a-rock Chris Bosh, exiled to oblivion in Ontario, wherever the heck that is, for so many years? D-Wade is a TOTALLY class act, as is Coach Erik Spoelstra. I guess it all boils down to Pat Riley (some fanatics HATE success) and LeBron, who after 8 full years of big-time dues, is finally getting paid what he deserves.
OK. Maybe LeBron made a mistake or two. There is an outside chance LeBron is even human. Does that really mean we should HATE the most complete player currently in the League?
LeBron, you have NOTHING to be ashamed of. Please know that, as a true basketball fan, now that J Kidd, J Terry, the Matrix, and Dirk FINALLY have their title, I will now root for you getting yours. You are among the world’s greatest athletes. You are learning how to communicate. You have the courage to mature before our very eyes.
Miami, you need not hang your heads. Walk tall. You will get your rings. And, you will deserve every single one.
Then, it will be OKC’s turn, then Memphis’s. Life carries on. Or, at least it will, if the owners are not so colossally greedy and arrogant to lock us all out, come next Fall.
The “Season of Hate” is OVER!
Paul Richards
A journalist with more than 43 years’ experience in Western politics and resource issues, Paul Richards has served as editor or co-editor of three newspapers, newsman and editor for The Associated Press, and elections manager for The AP, UPI, ABC, CBS, CNN and NBC.
Richards founded and produced a successful radio news network; founded and hosted a political television interview program; founded and managed a news service for weekly newspapers; and authored a syndicated political column.
Richards is a voluntarily-retired member of the Montana House of Representatives and a former candidate for the U.S. Senate.
Richards owns a leading consulting firm for nonprofit organizations, PR Media Consultants®, Public Interest Media Since 1968®, near the community of Boulder, Mont.; works as a professional writer and editor; and contributes Dispatches from the Wildlands, located at: http://blogs.alternet.org/paulrichards/ to AlterNet.
Dispatches from the Wildlands™ ©2011, Paul Richards
