Ray Allen Reacts to Going From 'Jesus' to 'Judas' for Leaving Boston
Ray Allen, former Boston Celtics shooting guard, is reacting to fans who went from calling him Jesus to Judas after his recent signing with the Miami Heat.
Allen, 36, appeared in the 1998 Spike Lee cult classic "He Got Game" as the basketball prodigy "Jesus Shuttlesworth" who was preparing to begin his basketball career after college. After his acting debut, the Jesus Shuttlesworth name stuck with Allen, especially when he helped the Celtics win a championship in 2008.
Some fans began to refer to Allen as "Judas," the disciple who betrayed Jesus Christ to Jewish authorities for money, which ultimately led to his death, when he left the Celtics. One digital retailer, ToySldrs.com, began to sell a $25 Judas t-shirt which used the Miami Heat's font and colors.
"The news recently surfaced that Ray Allen has chucked the deuce to the Boston Celtics and is headed to the Miami Heat for next season. Fans are pissed," the Judas t-shirt description read. "Are you? Well rock one of our limited Judas Shuttlesworth tees with pride...or anger."
Allen reacted to the backlash that he received for his decision to join the Heat next season, saying that he understood the frustration felt by Celtics fans.
"I think there is a sense of sadness and hurt that the people feel. We feel that too as a family; we feel the sense of loss that we'll have, not being in that community," said Allen in a press conference after his decision was announced. "That's understandable. We know we're still part of the community, part of New England. Our home is still in Boston."
Still, Allen said he does not mind the names that people have been calling him because he is confident in who he is.
"It doesn't bother me," he said after being introduced in Miami on Wednesday. "I know who I am. I know what my goals and tasks are; to raise my kids to be respectable people in this world and to make this team better."
