To:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
From:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Subject:  We support you, but you have to get it together, right now

Delonte,

We have a lot of love for you in this town.  We know you've been the only player not named LeBron James to deliver in each of these past two post seasons.  We know you can guard just about any perimeter player in the NBA.  We know you can hit the three, and we love when you go so hard to the basket that it causes AC to say 'that's how you take the ball to the hoop when your from DC, Fred.'  Off the court, we think you might be the funniest professional athlete to play here, ever.  We've watched your Jim Rome correspondent piece ten times, and we have even ranked our top five favorite lines from your KFC Freestyle.  When you left camp last season, and publicly admitted your battles with depression, we were moved by your willingness to put yourself out there, and inspire as many people as you did.  As last season went on, we were happy for you, not only because it was your best season in your career, but also because it appeared you were winning those personal battles.  When you got arrested, nobody around here was mad.  We knew your battle wasn't going to be won easily.  We knew there could be set-backs. We cared and were worried about you personally, but we were still not worried about you as a member of the Cavaliers.  We knew you'd get through it, learn from it, and be better for it in the longrun.  But after you skipped practice today, we have to admit, we're a lot little worried.  You see, this is kind of an important season around here.  We haven't won a championship in forty five years, and if this season blows up in our face, and a certain someone leaves as a result, we might not win one for another forty five.  Did you see the Browns' game Sunday? So what I am saying here is this: you have to get a hold of yourself, and you have to do it today, we really need you to.  Whatever support and help you need Dan Gilbert and the Cavaliers will provide it for you, but you have to take them up on it.  This city will continue to respect you, support you, and love you, but you are going to have to respect us too.  We don't have another forty five years to wait, and we need you right - body mind and spirit - right now.  We have too much riding on this thing. 

Sincerely,

Cleveland Sports Fans   

Comments (11)

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written by whipjacka, September 30, 2009

Is this thing real? Do you think this is a smart email to send to a person with a chemical imbalance?

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Yes it's real...
written by dwhit, September 30, 2009

Yes, it's totally real. Yes, Delonte really has an email address @betterhavemydonuts.com.

Dumb comments aside, loved the email. Great stuff.

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@dwhit...
written by Stepien Rules, September 30, 2009

appreciate it...thanks

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fanatic
written by Janet, September 30, 2009

Delonte, I love watching you play and your sense of humor and am praying for you. I understand your illness. I have it also and am allergic to the medication. I have been through many experiences and am a great listener, I would love to talk to you. I would like to sign my name to the above email to you also. Please call me 941-697-7407. Your friend and fan, Janet

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"Get it together, right now?" Seriously?
written by JB, September 30, 2009

Nice ultimatum, Brendan. Obviously you've never had someone close to you suffer from bipolar disorder. As someone who's gone off to work some mornings worrying that my partner - who may be fine as of 9 am - might cycle into depression and attempt suicide before I get back at 5:30, I have to say that your whining about losing a few extra games rubs me the wrong way. Delonte should be making self-care his first priority; your rooting interests, sorry to say, should be a ways down the list.

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@JB
written by Stepien Rules, September 30, 2009

JB - I am truly sorry for your situation, and genuinely hope for the best for both you and your partner.

In regards to your comments about my post though, I think you only read the subject of the email, and did not read the entirety of what I wrote. If you did, I find it interesting that you reacted the way you did, while Janet responded in the comment before yours in the way she did, to the same post.

I am a Delonte West fan, and I am rooting for him to succeed on a personal level. I don't care if he misses 5 or 10 or 20 games while he takes care of his personal life, but I do care if he continues to be unexcused from practice, and puts his place on the Cavaliers in jeapordy. I think he needs the support offered by being a member of the Cavaliers, and the Cavaliers need him in return - on and off the court. The Cavaliers want to help him, and to me being 'unexcused' means he is not taking advantage of that help. Last presesaon the Cavaliers DID excuse him to take care of these medical issues. I want Delonte West to embrace the help he needs, the help being offered, and I want to see him do that right now. Because if he can get through what he is going through right now, I think he can go on to not only be a key reason why the Cavaliers could bring this city - a city that supports and loves him - their first championship in 45 years, but he has the ability to also go on to be even more of an inspiration than he has already been in the past. But he has to embrace that help right now, for any number of reasons.

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Well said
written by WT15, October 01, 2009

Your response was right on the money. At this moment, Delonte likely feels as though he's on an island with no help in site. The team, fans, and fellow sufferers of this disease should continue to reach out, show support, and try to real him in to a more stable environment where he can then get the help he desperately needs.

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Delonte has left the building (his house)
written by pjt, October 01, 2009

Seems that D.West made it Cleveland Clinic Courts today. Let's hope the familiar faces and routine help his recovery.

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@pjt
written by Stepien Rules, October 01, 2009

That's good news PJT, thanks for the update!

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Perspective
written by teddy boomboom, October 01, 2009

i hope he gets it together for his sake because he's a person and he has a family and he's obviously dealing with some s#$t. not because us poor fans "need" him to. i have to agree with JB to the extent that winning a championship, lebron's contract etc shouldn't even be part of the conversation.

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TO DELONTE
written by TEKISHIA JOHNSON, December 18, 2009

BOY 4GET ABOUT WHAT EVERY BODY EL IS SAYN JUST DO YOU CUZ DONT NOBODY KNW WHATYOU REALLY GO THROUGH BUT U ONLY TIME PEOPLE REALLY SEE YOU IS WHEN YOU PLAYN ON THA COURT SO JUST STAY OUT OF TROUBLE AND STAY OUT OF BAD MEDIA BUT OTHA THAN DAT DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY THATS ALL THAT MATTERS

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