...Constant coverage of Carmelo Anthony possibly being traded has sparked a conversation for us here in Orlando to take a closer look at what Dwight Howard might do when it comes time for a new contract in 2012. We’re starting a ‘Stay Dwight’ campaign on 740...And I understand why, look at Cleveland, watch what happens to Denver, or better yet look at Orlando 15 years ago after Shaq left town. Stars leaving town can WITHOUT QUESTION cripple a city and turn it into a a shell of itself…and being that us as tax payers are basically funding this new 500 million dollar Dwight castle we have every right to be concerned!
History would tell us that Dwight probably won’t stay…and I’m not talking about Lew Alcindor history, I’m talking very recent history. While many people might credit Lebron for this new fad in the NBA of stars aligning you can really credit or better yet blame the Celtics for starting this trend. Now I realize that they didn’t invent free agency in ’07 BUT I think that was the turning point for this era in the NBA. Most professional sports are ‘copy cat’ leagues and the NBA is no different.
Everyone knows the Lakers are going to be riddled with stars every year that’s just the way that goes, they’re the Yankees of basketball. But once the Celts got back to their championship status the whole league took notice and BOOM! Here we are. Lebron & Bosh take their talents to South Beach, Amare leaves the desert for the big apple, and Carmelo wants out of the Rockies to head for greener pastures.
So Dwight I get it, Magic fans I get it, city of Orlando…yes, I get it. I hope he stays, I hope he realizes that here he is king, that here he can become the name synonymous with the word Magic. I hope he realizes that in L.A. he’ll go down as just another good Laker. He’d be a big shark in an enormous ocean. While here he’s Godzilla on an ant hill. Own it Dwight…and that’s all I am going to say on this issue because one thing I refuse to do is beg. I won’t beg, and YOU shouldn't beg either. We all witnessed how pathetic LBJ made Cavs fans look…let''s not be those fans, let’s be better. We can’t be the annoying girlfriend/boyfriend that does too much to keep the other person around, so much that it drives their significant other away. In a way, Dwight is our significant other and we can’t handle this situation like that…This is how we have to handle it Orlando…Open your arms to Dwight, throw a ‘Stay Dwight’ bumper sticker on your car as a sign of loyalty, but by no means will we beg. We are better than that, if Dwight wants to leave let him, and let him without crucifying him. That will just make us look foolish, it'll make it seem as though we didn’t even deserve him in the first place.
