WALKER ALLEN INFLUENCED DAD’S DECISION TO PLAY FOR MIAMI ‘HEAT’
Ray Allen’s wife Shannon Walker and the couple’s three sons sat during a news conference after Allen signed an NBA basketball contract with the Miami Heat on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. The star Guard for the Boston ‘Celtics’ will trade his jersey in for a spot on the Miami ‘Heat’ team in the upcoming NBA season.
“The last few days have been, I’d say, interesting. They’ve been emotional,” said Ray to the news outlets. “When I made the decision, I had to say, ‘Well, I know who’s in my locker room now in Boston.’ And the devil you know is sometimes better than the devil you don’t know. So it is a leap of faith. And when you look at the guys, you say ‘Hey, sometimes you do have to put changes into play and figure out how to make it work.”
Allen and his wife Shannon were sure to check on resources available to their son Walker, who was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes in 2008, before deciding to leave Boston. In fact, Ray did not sign the contract with Miami until he was confident that his son would receive proper medical care in South Florida. Ray and Shannon have four children in all.
Photo:AP
32 Comments to “WALKER ALLEN INFLUENCED DAD’S DECISION TO PLAY FOR MIAMI ‘HEAT’”
Leave a comment!
I swear people be treating these players like their runaway slaves because they decide to leave a team. It’s not that serious it’s a business and they decided to change jobs (teams). I guess fans think that a player is suppose to stay until they give them permission to leave! smh
Do you people realize the Celtics tried to trade him three times over the past three seasons? One of those times was almost 99% complete until the Grizzlies pulled out. What’s up with this ‘sports slave’ mentality that we still expect athletes to have? It’s okay for organizations to uproot players and their families, but it’s not okay for athletes to do what makes them happiest? The NBA is a business. This idea of putting the multi-billionaire owners and fans before the players’ own happiness is beyond foolish. Loyalty has to run both ways, and the Celtics were far from that the past three seasons. Good for Ray. He was a FREE AGENT who exercised his right to choose his employer. Get over it.
Lol, so what you all are saying is that this man can not switch teams. He has to be stuck with one team for the rest of his career lol. Get a grip people, these changes are not for you, its for him and his family. Thats like you going to college and picking a major, then after a semester you decide your interested in something else, but you are told you can’t switch majors at any time. People make me sick uhh.
I can care less about sports, him changing teams or whatever. I just wanna see the kids face & not the back of their heads lmao.
Lol at your comment & LMAO at your avatar.
The W kids Walter, Jr., Walker, Wynn, Wynstan and Allen
Who cares where Ray Allen goes? Boston hasn’t been that great of a team since I can’t remember when. Is a player suppose to retire with the same team that signed him on? Why can’t they move around to whatever benefits them best? I’m glad he did not settle until he knew his son would receive the best care. He cared more about his son than he did that ring.
With Lebron, Wade, Chris, Ray & Battier as starting 5, Heat will be champions next year as well.
Boston won the championship 07-08 and went back to the finals 09-10 and loss(7 game series) and went to the Eastern Finals this years(7game series) so maybe you haven’t watched basketball in a while
Boston Celtics are not on the top 5 of basketball teams despite their good players. They simply are not. Regardless if I brought a clue or just started watching basketball yesterday. Boston is not that good of a team..that is my opinion & is still going to remain my opinion. If it was that great of a team Ray A & a few others wouldn’t be shopping around for a better one.
I didn’t even bother reading your poem, I took it & used it as toilet tissue..as that is all your opinion is worth to me.
You clearly don’t actually follow basketball. Boston took Miami to 7 games in the Eastern Conference Finals this year, they were in the Finals two years ago and again two years before that when they won.
Furthermore if you knew about Ray Allen Boston was also not the “same team that signed him on” and that he will not be starting. Do you even know what position he plays? Ray is a shooting guard, same was Wade. Ray will be coming off the bench, he is Wade’s back-up, not the starter.
And to say that “if it was that great of a team Ray A & a few others wouldn’t be shopping around for a better one” is a really weak argument that ignores the variety of factors that go into free agents selecting a team. For starters the majority of Boston’s free agents who they wanted back, have re-signed, even though some of them could’ve gotten bigger deals and more playing time elsewhere. But additionally it’s not just about going to a “great team.” Ramon Sessions chose the Bobcats over -re-signing with the Lakers, so I guess the Bobcats are a better team than the Lakers? OJ Mayo is considering Phoenix, despite the fact that Boston and Indiana had/have interest in him, so I guess that means the Suns are a better team than the Celtics and Pacers now too? Please. People who don’t actually follow and know about sports, should refrain from trying to discuss them.
@Sherley u know I love u like cooked food but ur wrong! Boston not being good is bogus! Boston is hands down the 2nd or 3rd best team in the east and would of beat Miami if they would of called a fair game but that’s neither here nor there! Boston is a great team and Ray is a traitor! Everybody’s name was being tossed around during trade time so that’s not an excuse sorry!
Misunderstood, I am not a fan of teams, I am a fan of players. The teams do not matter to me. Rondo is a great player, though a bit of a sore loser; Kevin Garnet is a good player but not as good as he use to be. However, the entire Celtic as a team, are not great. People say the Lakers are the #1 team, but the team sucks as a unit. No matter how many great players you put on one team, if they cannot work/play well, the team sucks..period. I’m not a Miami Heat fan, I only wanted Lebron to get his ring & he got it. As for Ray Allen, he can go wherever, whenever, however, he wants to go & it’s his right.
@Sherley will have to agree to disagree but Boston cry babies really? I love Garnett u should know that by now but we’re a good team dammit lmao! Anywho it is what it is we’re better off without Ray his ankles r DONE!
We are going to have to agree to disagree Misunderstood. That is what people with common sense do. Boston isn’t going to be worse because Ray left, new, young players would benefit Boston way better than Ray Allen. I know you love you some him and you still can..in Miami
.
I didn’t even bother reading your mini book. I stopped caring about Ray Allen a long time ago. The Celtics are not a good team, not ranked in the top 5 in my opinion & I could not care less if you agree or not.
I don’t agree!
That comment was not meant for you Misunderstood. My response to you is awaiting moderation. It’s ok to disagree Misunderstood, that is the beauty of living in America. We are all free to express our own opinions.
LMAO!! You are hilarious youngin. I have a step father, 4 older brothers, 3 younger brothers, several men I dated & a son who all have played basketball. The tvs in our homes, from before I was 1, were/are either on any b-ball game or ESPN. I have been subjected to b-ball since I was born. I can name players you would have to ask your grandfather about, back when those shorts were booty cutters. My son’s Godmother was almost drafted in the WNBA until she blew her knee senior year. I have assistant coached a girls b-ball team for several years. My son is star shooter, power forward on his b-ball team. Hockey I do not know, but basketball..please. You didn’t know, so you get a pass.
All that still does not change the fact that Boston isn’t a great team! What Miami should have done was signed Vince Carter & left Ray Allen where he is so we wouldn’t have to be subjected to listening to all you Boston cry babies.
Actually, I’m not upset with Ray like I was with Lebron. Boston fans have a hard time accepting that the Big 3 were pretty much done. They’re old. Ray is old and he wants a ring. Boston was a sinking ship. They need to start building around Rondo. And I honestly don’t think Ray will make a big difference for Miami.
I have followed Allen from the sonics to the celtics and i will tell you this,i rather have a fully committed Ray than a half committed Ray. His trust is gone in the org and rightfully so. Ainge tried to trade him twice. the last time for a 32 yr old shooting guard who just had double ankle surgery. So yea he feels some type of way. and then the trade fell through. should he have went to the heat no, was it about a ring, no because they C’s were getting one again, it was about giving that jab to Danny Ainge. place the proper blame.
I hope he finds the peace he is looking for and the quality health care his son was receiving in Boston
Please the only reason why he went to Heats was to try and win a ring. That is the same thing with Lebron. Once he does get a ring he will eventually retire.
And ehy whats wrong with that..lol!! Get in where you fit in!!
You do realize that he already has a ring with Boston?
One that he earned as a starting player not as a bench warmer as he will be in Miami. It has to be other reasons. Any ring with Miami will be much less meaningful than his 1st with Boston a few years ago.
The Celtics are going to be booing him like Cleveland did to Lebron. Let the hating begin.
Welcome aboard Ray. You’re about to retire and you want another ring. I feel ya.
Alot of people are mad about him leaving but hey you have to do what is best for your family at the end of the day. Just like people hated Lebron, they will hate him too. Oh well good luck to him and his family in Miami!!
TRAITOR!!!!!!!!
I second this!
He’s appropriately joining the biggest traitor in the league.
Aw, Ray’s not a traitor. He gave them a ring. I mean what else do they want?! Teams get rid of old players like garbage so I am not mad.
LeBron on the other hand…
I couldn’t believe this!!! I was the BIGGEST Ray Allen/ Celtics fan in NYC. I’ve gone hoarse rooting for Ray (my favorite player in the whole league) & the guys for 5 years, defending them to Heat AND Laker fans. I wear green ALL WEEK during finals!
These players win our hearts then RIP them out and stomp on them…and for $3 million LESS than a LOYAL decision would pay!!!!!!
I think I’m done with bball; This is just too emotional….
Do you think the Bucks or the Sonics felt betrayed when he left them? This is a business. The Celtics were waving Allen around as a trade piece the last few years… I’m sure he didn’t appreciate that and it influenced his decision.