Ray Allen hasn't heard from Paul Pierce or Kevin Garnett since summer of 2012; "No duh," says all Celtics fans
The Kubler-Ross model of processing loss may not have been written about Boston sports fans, but it might as well have been. The Kubler-Ross model, better known as the five stages of grief include the following:
- Denial
- Anger
- Bargaining
- Depression
- Acceptance
When Ray Allen decided to leave the Boston Celtics and signed with the Miami Heat for less money and a worse overall deal (Allen’s offer from Ainge included a no-trade clause), Celtics fans hit every stage of this model. Now, it is Ray’s turn.
“For them to be so upset with me is disappointing because of how everything happened,” said Allen. “That banner in 2008 is still going to be there, and we’re still going to be tied to it.”
Ray…Ray just stop. Leave it alone, pal.
“Doc talked to me like I was still on his team,” said Allen. “I got heavily criticized by each one of them the minute I left. They were upset. But the writing was on the wall for us. (Celtics management) was saying hey, we’re moving in a different direction, and each one of us had to make that choice. Where can we go to be successful and continue to play good basketball.”
Oh Doc said it’s fine? Then it must be fine. Stop digging, Ray. Just… just stop.
“Look, I have a feeling they were in the same predicament I was in this summer,” he said. “Even with Doc (Rivers), he had to make a decision that was best for himself. I was in the same situation. I’m happy they were put into the same situation as I was. Anytime you get traded there’s no telling where you could end up. They’re in a situation now where they can contend. Kevin had to make that decision, and that was the predicament I was in.”“It’s what we deal with in sports,” added Allen. “Guys get traded, injuries happen. Teams try to bridge the gap from one generation of players to the next. Players have a very short-lived career. We came, had a great five years and the team decided to move on.”
AAAAAARGH! RAY! ENOUGH, GUY. YOU MADE YOUR BED, NOW LAY IN IT WITH YOUR CHAMPIONSHIP RING AND 30 PIECES OF SILVER.
Ray Allen is the greatest three point shooter of all time. Ray Allen is a consummate professional. Ray Allen has plenty of basketball left to give the game in a multitude of facets. Understanding fans doesn’t seem to be one of them.
Sports are not just sports to the people who don’t play them. Occasionally, you get an athlete or two that feel the same way. In this case, Ray Allen is wondering why his former teammates are giving him the cold shoulder and trying to compare situations now that the band is completely broken up.
Players get traded and/or become free agents all the time. It’s part of the game. This situation, however, isn’t that. Ray Allen quit something very special and unseen in professional sports. Ray Allen quit on Ubuntu. That is why Kevin & Paul don’t want to chat it up.
While I would love to go through each stage of the Kubler-Ross model for both Boston and Ray Allen, why should I? I think it’s summed up pretty nicely with this:
Ray – you’re not one of us, so you just wouldn’t understand.
Follow Padraic on Twitter @padraic_oconnor
Source: Jay King, MassLive
Photo Source: AP
