Wiz of Awes
Fansided

Washington Wizards Fans’ Loyalty Extends Beyond the Game

By Jen Julie Smith

WASHINGTON, DC -  MAY 12: Bradley Beal #3 and John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards high five each other during the game against the Boston Celtics during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on May 12, 2017 at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC -  MAY 12: Bradley Beal #3 and John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards high five each other during the game against the Boston Celtics during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on May 12, 2017 at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS – FEBRUARY 18: Isaiah Thomas #4 of the Boston Celtics, DeMarcus Cousins #15 of the Sacramento Kings and John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards talk before walking to the court before State Farm All-Star Saturday Night on February 18, 2017 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Tom O’Connor/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS – FEBRUARY 18: Isaiah Thomas #4 of the Boston Celtics, DeMarcus Cousins #15 of the Sacramento Kings and John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards talk before walking to the court before State Farm All-Star Saturday Night on February 18, 2017 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Tom O’Connor/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Loyalty and respect should go hand in hand

Business is business. But loyalty is a two-way street. The Wizards organization is loyal to its players. Conversely, their players are loyal to the Wizards.

I could go more in-depth about Ainge, and why he said he traded Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. But this isn’t about Ainge. It’s about the culture of the Garden that’s stuck in the 1970s. You can’t even call the garden segregated, because there’s nothing to segregate. It’s homogeneous.

So to the owners of the Celtics, you know what I’m saying is true. It has to change. Respect and leadership begins at the top. It is within your power to bring TD Garden into the 21st Century.

It doesn’t have to represent the segregated parts and past of Massachusetts. Basketball should be the one place, where everyone can come together regardless of race.

More from Wiz of Awes

And as I was shaking each Wizards’ players hands as they exited Game 5, I saw a Wizards season ticketholder sitting in the stands. I was happy to see that he travelled from Washington, but I understood why he was not wearing a Wizards’ jersey.

And to Celtics-CSN, don’t presume to know me. But I know you. So yes, if Wall were to leave the Wizards for whatever reason, I would still be a Wizards fan. Because I look not only to how the players perform on the court, but how the Wizards treats its fans in the stands.

When I returned home, my dad asked, how was it. Now an adult, I did the same thing I did when I was a child – I only told him about the game that was played.

And hopefully, this is the one article of mine, that he doesn’t read. Because I would like to take him to a Celtics game. But for now, I know he’d feel more comfortable at Capital One Arena, watching the Wizards.

Next: Washington Wizards: Revamping the Sibling Rivalry Between the Morris Twins

Part of any business valuation, there is something calculated into its worth, called “goodwill”. So even if Thomas was traded because it was good business, there was no goodwill.

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