Riley has
responded to the critics. Fair enough of course, except that some of his comebacks completely missed the point of the criticism. For example:
Riley specifically cited Orlando Magic general manager Otis Smith and former NBA star turned analyst Charles Barkley as examples of people who took what the Heat president thought were unwarranted shots at the way the Heat went about business this summer. He also mentioned Magic coach Stan Van Gundy—Riley’s former protege in Miami—as well.
On the day after Miami signed James to a six-year contract that lured him away from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Smith said, “I thought he was, I guess, more of a competitor.”
Riley responded to that Friday, saying Smith made, “an absolutely stupid remark. He never made any kind of comment like that when he signed Rashard Lewis and he brought him down from Seattle with an $128 million contract.”
That doesn't make any sense at all, as the Lewis signing involves a very different situation and has nothing to do with the particular criticism Otis Smith made. It's a bad contract, but that's another topic entirely.
Barkley went a step farther, saying James “is never going to be the guy” in Miami because he’ll have to share the spotlight with Wade and Bosh. James responded a month later on Twitter, saying “Don’t think for one (minute) that I haven’t been taking mental notes of everyone taking shots at me this summer. And I mean everyone!”
Riley said he thought Barkley allowed his remarks to become personal attacks.
He's got a point, but given Barkley's outspoken nature, pretty much of all of his commentary and criticism could be construed as a personal attack.
At the end of the day, Riley's lack of eloquence in defending his players pales in comparison to his front office excellence in pulling off one of the biggest free agent coups in history, so it doesn't really matter. I just found the Lewis mark in particular to be weird as it really had nothing to do with what Smith was talking about.
now i have to be on the road to the school. takes 1.5 hours just to get there... will post about it on letting off steam thread later...
