Good news, everyone: After months and months of stories about how the relationship between All-Star center Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic has become toxic, resulting in strident trade demands, countless rumors that ultimately signified nothing, the wholesale turnover of the Magic’s front office and coaching staff, more demands, more rumors and more nothing, we’ve finally got a positive story about how Howard’s relating to fans and supporters in the Orlando area. Finally.
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Hahahahaha, just kidding. Like that could ever happen at this point. If you actually thought that was possible, then as the great Paul F. Tompkins once said, you need to go back to thinking school.
No, instead, Howard has reportedly cancelled an appearance at his own summer basketball camp — a camp he previously pushed back by more than a month — to stay out on the West Coast and leave a slew of Floridian families stewing in their own juices. Because of course he has.
From Josh Robbins at the Orlando Sentinel :
An official for ProCamps, which runs the event, said families who paid the camp’s $199 registration fee were sent e-mail messages Monday to inform them Howard will remain in southern California in order to continue rehabilitating his back. [...]
Howard’s annual camp originally was scheduled for July 1-2 at UCF, with Howard slated to attend both days. But it was postponed and later rescheduled for Aug. 13-14 at Orlando Volleyball Academy.
The camp still will be held next week. Andrew Nicholson, the Magic’s 2012 first-round draft pick, will take Howard’s place.
Well, at least the youth of Florida will get introduced to Nicholson early, I guess. They’ll probably wind up hearing a lot about how important his development to the Magic’s return to playoff contention over the next couple of years.
Aug 072012
With the