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James Would Like To Spend Christmas At Home
With His Family Instead Of Playing A Game |
Heat F LeBron James and his teammates Wednesday indicated that they “wish they could be with their families on Christmas,” one day after Lakers coach Phil Jackson “reiterated his longtime stance against NBA games on Dec. 25,” according to Tim Reynolds of the AP. James said, "If you ask any player in the league, we'd rather be home with our families. I think the people that even set the games up would rather be home with their family during this day. It's not just a regular holiday. It's definitely one of those days that you wish you could wake up in the morning with the kids and open up presents." The Heat play the Lakers Saturday at 5:00pm ET, and Heat C Zydrunas Ilgauskas said, “I understand it's a business and people want to see marquee matchups on Christmas Day. Maybe give teams some time off. I think the Lakers play every year at Christmas. That's not right. Give them a year or two. Let them enjoy Christmas." But Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said, "If you play with a team that doesn't matter, you never play on a holiday. When your team is viewed as a contending team, you normally play on the holidays and we view that as a good thing.” Meanwhile, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy, whose team plays the Celtics at 2:30pm Saturday, said he received a “hefty” fine a year ago for his comments about NBA games on Christmas Day. He said, "You just have to accept it. It's gone from the one game to the two games to the five games last year. It's part of the league" (AP, 12/22). Lakers F Ron Artest said, "I don’t really have a problem with it. I never got a chance to play on Christmas a lot and I know Christmas Day is pretty special as far as the fans wanting to see games and stuff. I know everybody is excited about this Miami-Lakers game” (“PTI,” ESPN, 12/22).
TO PLAY OR NOT TO PLAY: Denver Post columnist Woody Paige said NBA players "are in the entertainment business, and people are entertained by NBA basketball during the course of the day.” Paige: "There are a lot of people who have to work on Christmas Day. … You give us $16 million a year and we’ll work on Christmas Day." ESPN’s Tony Reali said, “You can see what’s happening here. The NBA is striving for tradition like the NFL has on Thanksgiving.” Dallas Morning News columnist Tim Cowlishaw, who covers the Cowboys annually during their Thanksgiving game, said of working on the holiday, "I’m not always happy about it but I know people watch that. That’s a tradition. I don’t think this NBA thing is a tradition that anybody really cares about.” Meanwhile, FanHouse.com columnist Kevin Blackistone said, "Give the Lakers a break. They’ve played in every Christmas Day game since 1999. Let somebody else entertain the American public if you absolutely have to play on Christmas Day” (“Around the Horn,” ESPN, 12/22).
BRINGING RELIGION INTO THE MIX: Jackson in his initial comments said of NBA officials, "It's like Christian holidays don't mean anything to them anymore." ESPN's Michael Wilbon said, "I wonder how this is going to be received by David Stern. I think he has a real point that has swayed me. There are other holidays that are observed in other faiths and it’s OK.” ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said Jackson "can walk away and say, ‘This holiday means something to me on religious grounds and I don’t want to do it,’ the same way that Sandy Koufax said on Yom Kippur, ‘I’m not going to play.’" Kornheiser: "The country though was founded on the basis of freedom of religion and from religion. There are millions of people in this country for whom this is not a holy time and they like to watch games.” He added, "I think if Phil said, ‘I don’t want to coach,’ everybody would let him walk” (“PTI,” ESPN, 12/22).
