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The Shaq trade and the Carlos Boozer situation generated more response to Throwin' Bows than anything else ever had. And on both topics, it's been completely polarized. Either people loved the column and thought I was right, or they accused me of heavy drug usage. It's a shame no one did both, because that would be closer to the truth.

But thanks for the all the response. Some of these are from the Shaq/Boozer column, some are from the one before. Obviously, I can't include them all in here; in fact, there were a lot of letters that I'd love to put in here, but there just wasn't room. A lot of longer letters were edited for size, too, so if I left out something in your letter than you thought was important, you're just going to have to find a way to deal. Regrettably, I even had to cut my man Youngin' from the D.

We'll get to the Boozer situation first, since it's changed so dramatically since the original column was written (Thanks for Rick in Utah, and John English in Utah, for the link to the Boozer article). As is becoming a custom in the mailbag, it may be time once again for MJD to admit that he was wrong. I really don't have a problem admitting I was wrong, but you know, I don't particularly like it, either. But here goes:

(Reader mail is in Italic print)

I understand that Cleveland management, not a 22-year-old kid, is to blame for the signing disaster while sportswriters are, as a whole, simply ganging up on Carlos. I can't help but wonder whether this is a racial issue. I am a white man and normally hesitate to draw racial conclusions but the use of elementary logic suggests that either Cleveland management was attempting to solicit from Boozer an illegal agreement or there was no agreement.

It is one or the other but only one reporter that I have read has focused on Cleveland's illegality. Minnesota lost four #1 picks for similar cheating. I am forced therefore to question the journalistic honesty of reporters who are covering this issue. Utah seized an opportunity to grab an up and coming star while Cleveland, clearly worried about what they would have to pay next year, violated the collective bargaining agreement in a attempt to sign Boozer long term for below the market value.

Excuse me for laughing out loud at the hypocrisy of it all. I am sure, having spent my entire working life engaged with collective bargaining that Cleveland has smart well-paid lawyers on their payroll.

Sportswriters are like bullies in the playground. It is easier to complain about the ethics of a young man barely out of his teens than expect Cleveland management to act like responsible law abiding adults.

You should be ashamed! - David McCann

Well, I'm not ashamed - sorry to disappoint you. Here's the deal on the Boozer situation and what I wrote.

The story first broke on July 8th, and Carlos Boozer did not speak up about it until July 13th. The five days between, I kept waiting to hear his side of the story. It never came. So I put together what, in retrospect, was an ill-advised opinion. I figured if Boozer hadn't spoken up for himself in three days, he or his agent hadn't contested what the rest of the media was reporting as fact, then it was safe to believe the only version of the story out there.

Looking at it now, it seems dumb, and it was. But that's what I was thinking at that point. And even as I wrote what I wrote, I had a nagging voice in the back of my head telling me that I'd regret it when another side of the story came out. But I told myself that if he had a story, he'd have told it by now. And also, as a writer, you want to write about things while they're hot topics. So I decided not to wait, and just went with it. Poor decision.

So Boozer did eventually speak up, and basically, on the moral issue, it's now his word against theirs. He said there was no agreement. The Cavs are in a tricky spot, because if they say there was an agreement, they're tampering with NBA rules, but they clearly believe that Boozer led them to believe he'd be staying.

And I'm not the kind of guy that automatically believes management over the player in such a situation. So I apologize for what I wrote about Carlos Boozer, because I really have no idea what went on in the meetings between him, Paxson, and Gund. I'm not saying he's the good guy in the situation, I'm not saying he's little Mr. Innocent, I'm saying that I don't know. And he deserves the benefit on the doubt that I didn't give him before.

I don't blame Boozer for wanting more money. That's what people do. And I don't blame Paxson for wanting to pay him less. That's what GM's do.

As for the implication of race being a factor, that's tough for me to respond to. On one hand, I don't want to just quickly dismiss it, because I think race is a factor in a lot of things that people never really consider. On the other hand, I can promise you that it wasn't a factor in my thinking; my mistake was just that I didn't wait for his side of the story. Usually, I'll be the first person to, as you said, draw racial conclusions. In fact, I usually accuse three or four white people of racism every day before breakfast.

And you're right, if Paxson thought he had an under-the-table handshake agreement with Boozer, then he'd be violating NBA rules. However, I can't be convinced that this sort of thing doesn't happen between agents and players and general managers all the time, in fact, the NBA's free agency system is built for it. A 2-week negotiating period in which no official deals can be made? Oh, OK. Wink wink, nudge nudge. And that's why I'm not willing to put the moral blame on Jim Paxson, either. It just doesn't make a whole lot of sense for them to just let him walk without having some reason to believe he'd be back. Whether it's legal by NBA rules or not, a deal between two people is a deal (if in fact there was one), and reneging on a deal isn't made any more right or wrong because it doesn't comply with NBA rules.

So, I like I said. I don't know who to blame. It's Boozer's word against that of Cavs management.

You're on my mind right now. Man I understand why now people should always say no to drugs. Not because its bad for you, naw. I think simply because it makes you stupid. My Miami got out a horrible deal (Grant), and role player (Caron) and a future all star for the biggest Star of all. Shaq sing with me now (Shaft theme song) Shaq, Shaq... I'll see you in finals next year buddy. - Michael Frazier, Miami

Well, I'm glad you're excited. If Shaq's at the Finals next year, let me know what section he's sitting in. Maybe I'll stop by and say hello.

I realize that I'm one of the few people in the world who doesn't like this deal for Miami, but that's alright. Last year, the Lakers had Shaq and Kobe with a few decent role players, though it certainly wasn't a deep team. This year, Shaq is a year older, Dwyane Wade isn't in Kobe's class, and unless Miami can do miracles with their mid-level exception, the role players surrounding them will be nowhere near as good as the limited cast the Lakers gave them.

Brian Grant did have a terrible contract, but he did still play a valuable role on the team. He's getting old, and his defense and rebounding aren't what they once were, but he's still serviceable. I really think you and a lot of other people underestimate Caron Butler. He's one of those guys who may never get to All-Star level, but he's just got a knack for scoring. He's not a #1 offensive option, but don't underestimate the value of #2 and #3 scoring options. His versatility in scoring and all-around offensive game make him perfect in that role.

Dwyane Wade isn't on the Lakers, he's on the Heat. - Dan, Scottsdale, AZ

Yes, I did write that Dwyane Wade was a Laker, and that's my least favorite kind of mistake to make. I don't mind just being flat-out wrong about something. But I hate it when I have a little mental slip, and people jump all over it because it makes them feel superior to correct someone else. So I hope you're on top of the world right now, Dan in Scottsdale. I know who Dwyane Wade plays for, so thanks to you and the other 4 million of you who were happy to point out this mistake.

If Carlos Boozer had decided to sign with any other team than the Utah Jazz, no one would throw such a fit. I hate all the people who don't want anyone good to go to Utah. Live with it and stop crying about anything good that happens for the Jazz. - Kam Alder, Pocatello, Idaho

Being accused of racism, I can take. But I absolutely will not just stand idly by as someone accuses me of Utahism. That just crosses lines. This country has a real divide over Utahism, and with attitudes like yours out there, how are we supposed to heal?

Given their absurdly goofy uniforms, their inane nickname, and the fact that they were home to Karl Malone for so many years, I'd have felt perfectly justified if I did hate Utah. But I don't. I love Jerry Sloan, and I pimped him all last year for the Coach of the Year award. I still think he should've won it. With a front-line of Okur, Boozer, and Kirilenko, and one of the top three coaches in the league, I could see myself projecting them as high as the 5-seed in the West next year. So take your accusations of Utahism somewhere else, fella.

Can you send me the Utah Jazz jersey so I can see the similarities to the Grizzlies jersey? - Travis, Memphis

Is it OK if I just link you to a picture instead? Buy your own jersey, chief.

How nice of you to want Duke to fall off as you put it. To heck with the kids on the team. Why should you want them to win? They play for Duke, after all, let them lose. I hope Coach K stays and you don't get to see the NBA get more interesting. Go Duke!!! - Rhoda Gecker, Springfield, NJ

You got your wish, but good luck getting me to feel sorry for the basketball players at Duke. If Krzyzewski had left, they might have had to become (gasp!) just like every other basketball program in the country. What a terrible fate for those poor children to have to suffer. Regardless of record, they're idolized on campus, and get a free education at one of the best schools in the country... Waaaaah. Winning national championships is not their birthright, and everyone's going to survive if Duke were to somehow have a few back-to-back 15-loss seasons. Feel bad for the kids at Duke... yeah, I'll shed a few tears tonight for Mark Cuban and Donald Trump, too.

Thank you for telling it how it is on the Shaq-to-Miami deal. I am glad there is one (more) bball fan with a brain out there. All the pundits keep saying how Miami is now a title contender. Please! Shaq will get them to the playoffs b/c Eastern teams have it easy. LA is trading 3 years of dropping performance for 10+ years of talent just ready to emerge. Let's give Odom his due - he is ready for 20-10-5 per night. Grant is a workhorse, and Butler is a solid player - plus the draft pick. I guess the sportswriters are right, this is one of the worst trades in NBA history - just for Miami and not LA. (Added note - I hate LA (Indiana & Bird fan), so my judgment is skewed against LA and I still think they won this round!) - Zeke Turner, Indianapolis

Thanks for writing. It's rare that anyone writes to just say, "Hey, I agree." Or maybe it's just rare that anyone agrees with me. Either way, I appreciate it.

I am a first time reader of your column and I must say you are an idiot. I really shouldn't even have to explain to you your ignorance and total lack in ability of making strong basketball arguments or opinions. The Heat will be a winner in this trade. Did you watch any Heat games last year? Besides the playoffs, no one attended their games. Shaq immediately sells out 90% of their home games next year. Next, you claim this takes away from Dwayne Wade shining. Very few casual sports fans have any idea who Dwayne Wade is, but they will now. With the attention that Shaq requires defensively, Wade will have free reign to dominate next year. Also he will become a huge star in this league with the exposure Shaq will bring to him. In addition, there is a strong chance the Lakers don't make the playoffs because Minnesota, San Antonio, Houston, Sacramento, Dallas, Denver, Memphis, and Utah are all arguably better, with size and deeper benches. The Lakers essentially are now the Heat of the West with undersized players and Kobe filling in for Dwayne Wade. By the way you wrote Wade was on the Lakers, if I were you I would put a little more effort into you columns. Keep up the good work! - "Your Nemisis", New York

If the Lakers are the Heat of the West now, then the Heat are the Lakers of the East. except with a downgrade at every position except center. And the Lakers with Shaq were nowhere near good enough to win the title last year, so I don't see how the Heat and Shaq are going to be good enough to win it this year.

By the way, my favorite part of your e-mail was when you told me I couldn't make any solid arguments about basketball, and then you proceeded to talk about a number of things that have nothing to do with the basketball. I don't really care how much money the Heat take in, how many sell-outs they have, or how many Wade jerseys they sell, but if you're the team's accountant or something, hey, have a ball.

Question, comment, problem, tirade, hate mail, or love note? Write to me.

M.J. Darnell runs www.themightymjd.com.