Former Maccabi Tel Aviv / current Cavs head coach David Blatt recently received the greatest Christmas-in-June present of all time when LeBron James announced his intention to return to Cleveland. Conversely, the Cavs P.R. dept received a big,flaming-bag-of-shit on their doorstep, courtesy of the following conversation between Blatt and Globes’ Yoav Borovitch :
Borovitch : Now, of all times, when Israel is in a war, you are not in Israel.
Blatt: “That’s exactly what’s making me uncomfortable. I’ve always been in Israel at the hardest times. Since Operation Protective Edge began, I feel being in Israel is the most natural thing for me to do. My work is here, though, and I have to get ready for the coming season. It’s not easy for me when I’m constantly thinking about what’s happening in Israel. My two older daughters happen to be on their global post-army service tour, my son is overseas playing in in the European Youth Basketball Championship, and my youngest daughter is also out of the country for a few days. They’re all returning to Israel, though, and I’m planning on seeing them again at the beginning of August. I had a plane ticket with Delta Airlines, but I changed to El Al Israel Airlines Ltd. (TASE: ELAL) as soon as Delta canceled its flights to Israel.”
Borovitch : Do you support the operation?
Blatt : “Absolutely. In my opinion, this war is Israel’s most justified war I can remember in recent years. I’m really sorry about what’s happening in Gaza, but there’s no doubt that we had to act there, so that Israel will have quiet there once and for all, and we can live in peace.”
Borovitch : Do you feel support for Israel in the US?
Blatt : “There’s support, although sometimes it’s not enough. In my opinion, though, there’s more support this time than before.”