Damage control: Allen is grateful to Boston for his time there but he also knows how his departure will be viewed.
For what it’s worth, newly signed Miami Heat guard RAY ALLEN attempted to make peace with the Boston faithful Sunday by taking out a full-page ad in the Boston Globe, thanking the city of Boston and Celtics fans in particular for five great years in a Celtics uniform…
Classy move by Ray-Ray to show his gratitude but one can’t help but wonder if Allen wasn’t also trying to be strategic and save face with Boston fans for abandoning the Celtics after signing a three-year, $9 million deal to play for Eastern Conference enemy Miami. Especially when the Celtics would have paid him twice as much to stay in Boston.
In the aftermath, the fabled Jesus Shuttlesworth has been called a Judas for forsaking the Celtics by fans and fellow NBA players alike.
Rumored riffs with Celtics GM Danny Ainge and/or ex-teammate Rajon Rondo may have played a role in Allen’s verdict to head to South Beach but regardless of how anyone views Allen’s decision, it was his decision. It is, after all, a free country.
But that also means Celtics fans will be free to express themselves rather openly about Ray Allen once he and the Heat visit Boston Garden next season as well.
That’s when we’ll find out if the cost for the Boston Globe ad will have been worth it.
