An Open Letter to the Cleveland Cavaliers

Dear Cleveland Cavaliers,

Stop. Please stop. Just stop talking. You're done... eliminated from the playoffs after a Dwight Howard deltoid-sized crapping of the bed. A 4-2 series defeat in the Eastern Conference Finals. A defeat that you (Mo Williams) continue to claim "could've gone either way." Which way would that be? The one where you're a pray-to-God-it-goes-in bucket away from being swept 4-0? That's a pretty interesting scenario, and would've made for one of the most satisfying story lines in sports. You wanna know
why?

You've alienated people. People don't like you anymore. And it's your fault.

For some reason, people thought that your high-fiving and laughing and hysterics were a symbol of a group of guys who "just like to have fun." Forget for a second the millions upon millions of dollars you're paid to play a game (and to endorse shoes). I'm not sure how showing a lack of sportsmanship really exemplifies the purity of "playing basketball for the sake of playing basketball." And you're getting called on it. And it's great. Not only did you win (an impressive) 66 games in the regular season, but you did it without class. And now that you've exited before Nike and Comissioner Stern and ABC and TNT can bank on a Kobe/LeBron championship (is there a Dwight doll in the works?), people are happy. People are happy because in defeat, you also proved, more-or-less, to be classless. When the leader (and maybe only actual NBA player) on your team ducks out before congratulating the other team or talking to the press, only to claim the following day that he's "too competitive" to shake hands... that's when you've proven how unworthy you are for support. But it's good. People like consistency... and you've given us that. Poor-winners, poor-losers... you've exhibited poorness without fail. Well done.

The NBA Playoffs have been one of the most compelling things on television for the past few weeks. Although this may have something to do with regularly scheduled TV programming being over, I'd like to think it has at least something to do with how exciting basketball can be when played at the highest level. And although the Magic have very little chance at beating the Lakers (because they're a much much better team than the Cavs), at least the Championship will be played by two competitive teams that have respect for each other and the game.

Sincerely,

Dwight Howard's Delts