I am a Cavaliers fan from back into the early 70s and I am a “LBJ for permanent MVP” fan. But, while this revolves around the court, it has nothing to do with basketball and everything to do with character. To set this up, the Cleveland Cavaliers were hosting evil incarnate, aka the Detroit Pistons. I hate the Pistons and wish they’d lose every game every season, and they’re trying to do just that this season. This is Cleveland against Detroit, Ohio against that state up north, etc, etc. But that’s not all this is.
This is a group of professionals doing their best. This is a group of professionals who respect one another’s talents and gifts and humanity. This does not build character, but it shows character. And the Cavaliers showed their character tonight.
From NBA.com:
CLEVELAND (AP) — Detroit’s Rodney Stuckey was conscious and breathing on his own as he was taken to a hospital after collapsing on the Pistons’ bench during a game Friday night.
The Pistons said Stuckey was taken to the Cleveland Clinic and his vital signs were stable, but was going for further testing and observation.
Stuckey was wheeled off the court on a stretcher during the third quarter after he collapsed into a trainer’s arms on the bench during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Stuckey walked off the floor for a timeout showing no signs of illness. After a few moments in a chair, though, Stuckey slumped over.
Medical personnel rushed over to the Pistons’ bench with a stretcher. Play was halted for 12 minutes as the medical staff worked on Stuckey, placed an oxygen mask on his face and wheeled him into an ambulance.
Cleveland players huddled together with their heads bowed, while Pistons teammate Tayshaun Prince sat silent in his chair a few feet away as Stuckey was being treated.
I do hope and pray Rodney Stuckey comes out alright and has a full recovery. That is first and foremost above any mere game. And the Cavaliers, as a team, showed their great respect for a fellow player and member of the human race in their team prayer for Stuckey. This is where the players showed their honor, character and humanity.
The Cavs came back from 20 down to win the game and LBJ was huge as usual, but that’s not at all important compared to the well-being of an associate. Cudos to the Cavs. And I pray Rodney Stuckey has a full recovery.
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Cross Posted on Truth Before Dishonor
Funny, but that’s exactly how I feel about the Oakland Raiders. My brother and I used to get in fistfights whenever the Raiders played the Steelers, which, back in the 70′s, was often, being the winner usually got to go to the Super Bowl. I HATED the Raiders with a passion back then!
Fast fwd 15 years, and I got to see them play live at the LA Colosseum. Their fans make a bunch of chimpanzees on crack look like choirboys. Honestly, they must have the dumbest, most violent fans in the world. The make a soccer mob look tame by comparison.
PS Did I say how much I hate the Raiders???
Think I feel the same way about the Cowboys…
And yes, Jeff, I also feel the same about about the Cowboys, though I do want them to win two games a year . . . the two games against the Eagles.
Well, I’ll give them this – Madden was a great coach, and made for a great football commentator on TV, especially when he was with Fox Sports. And Al Davis seemed to have a talent for taking rogue and/or washed up players from other teams and turning them into champions. But that era is long since gone.
Davis may use the slogan “Commitment to Excellence”, but lately it’s been more like commitment to losing. Davis himself resembles Howard Hughes, a genius in his youth who turned into a reclusive loon in his later years.
Ahh, I see. No story of goodwill ever goes un-hijacked. Good to know. Yer all losers.
But since we’re talking football in a thread about goodwill surrounding basketball…
I have 3 favorite NFL teams.
The Blittzburgh Steelers
Anyone playing the Brownies
Anyone playing the Been Gals
(And when the Brownies and Been Gals play each other, they should both lose.)
And since I’m younger than the ancient Dana, I’ve only been a fan of the Steelers since the early 70s, when they were 2-12 prior to their Steel Curtain years.
Oh, and that old fart Dana’ll love this: I cheered wildly when I watched the Immaculate Reception.
I’m from Denver, where everybody despises the Raiders. The only good thing to be said for the team from Oakland or L.A. or wherever it is they’re getting the most tax subsidies this year is that they are formidable opponents in fights after the game. The actual team just sucks the big one.
The “Immaculate Reception” should have been called back: Jack Tatum, the Raiders’ safety, never touched the ball, which meant that Franco Harris could not have legally made the reception. We wuz robbed!