Dan Gilbert sending son to represent Cavs at lottery

[elcheato]

CLEVELAND -- Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert is sending his hero to the NBA lottery next week for good luck.

Like always, Nick Gilbert wants to come through for his dad.

The 14-year-old Gilbert, who was born with Neurofibromatosis (NF), a nerve disorder that causes tumors to grow anywhere in the body, will be on stage in New Jersey next Tuesday, when the Cavaliers hope to land the No. 1 overall pick in June's draft.

Dan Gilbert, the Cavs' energetic owner, feels there's no one better suited to represent his team for the big occasion than his son.

"Despite enduring brain surgery, the loss of vision in one of his eyes, four long rounds of chemotherapy and countless visits and time in doctor's offices and hospitals, he has emerged as the happiest and most optimistic person I know," Gilbert said.

Gilbert said his son has never complained about "the bad card he was dealt."

"He is an example of perseverance, determination and life the way it should be lived," Gilbert said. "Nick is my personal hero."

Dan Gilbert will also be on hand to watch the stage production. Cavs co-owner Jeff Cohen will observe the league's pingpong ball "lottery" to determine the order of the draft.

The Cavs, who finished with the league's second-worst record in their first season since the departure of LeBron James, currently have two lottery picks and the second-most pingpong ball combinations to land No. 1 overall. In 2003, the Cavs won the lottery and drafted James, who won two MVP awards with Cleveland before leaving as a free agent last summer.

Nick Gilbert is hoping his appearance will bring awareness and help raise money to fight NF, which affects 1 in 3,000 children.

He also wants to bring the Cavs some luck.

"I am pumped up to rep the Cavs," he said. "I will do everything I can to help bring the highest picks to Cleveland as well as raising additional funds for the foundation."

 

[cruzg24]

Wow tumors anywhere, thats intense. He should be a great good luck charm.

 

[VC15]

I'm calling it now, Utah will get the number one pick.

 

[Mooche]

Great story.. Wow.

 

[dcpwner]

yeah its cool that hes doing that.
also really sad to hear his son has that disease and all.

BUT (and i KNOW im gunna take shit for this) doesn't it seem a bit...gimmicky? I mean I'm sending my tumor plagued son to represent the team in the lotto, for all its worth I mean c'mon Gilbert really wants that #1 pick huh. As long as this story gets out everywhere people would be kinda pissed if the Cavs didn't get the first pick based on his son representing the team. Great story, sad to hear he has the disease, but overall a bit gimmicky and somewhat childish on Dan Gilbert's part

 

[RipCity32]

yeah its cool that hes doing that.
also really sad to hear his son has that disease and all.

BUT (and i KNOW im gunna take shit for this) doesn't it seem a bit...gimmicky? I mean I'm sending my tumor plagued son to represent the team in the lotto, for all its worth I mean c'mon Gilbert really wants that #1 pick huh. As long as this story gets out everywhere people would be kinda pissed if the Cavs didn't get the first pick based on his son representing the team. Great story, sad to hear he has the disease, but overall a bit gimmicky and somewhat childish on Dan Gilbert's part

Agreed with everything said.

 

[Pugz]

Agreed with everything said.

sounds legit to me too. i dont really many people can truly argue with that statement.

thats said, id love to see detroit win. new owner, now we need a new face for the franchise. c'mon stern!

 

[elcheato]

Are you kidding me? It's his son.. It isn't like he picked some random kid off the street with a bad disease. It's his own kid.. Wow.

 

[Mexi]

yeah i dont know what the hell the fuss is about cheato

 

[dcpwner]

I only find it gimmicky because there's so much more power he has as the owner of a sports franchise to raise money for this cause by using fans etc. And he decides that the draft lotto day is the day he's gunna stick his son on a pedestal. Clearly has alterior motives for doing so (to guilt stern and use pathos to nab the #1 overall) on a not very highly watched event. Just logically doesn't click other than Gilbert playing with people's hearts so there is legitimate anger from fans if they don't get the #1.

It's sad his kid has the disease, even sadder he's exploiting it to get an even better shot at #1

 

[Mexi]

thats if you believe the NBA rigs the results

if it was, wouldnt the Knicks have gotten a higher pick recently?
or the lakers in 05?


you said people will be pissed if the cavs dont get the #1 pick
if everyone is under the belief that the lotto is a regular lotto, and the worst record doesnt always get the first pick, it's nothing to be pissed about

 

[dcpwner]

Lol no one believes that

 

[elcheato]

Who else should he have represent the team? Usher? No

If we don't get #1 whatever, he is sending his son, not some kid who he got a letter from.

Maybe we can jump 8 spots to take a home town hero..

 

[Mexi]

Lol no one believes that

show me proof
show me proof that the lottery is fixed

otherwise, you're talking out of your ass

 

[DJT]

Just realized this goes down tomorrow...lol. Excited I am.

 

[VC15]

show me proof
show me proof that the lottery is fixed

otherwise, you're talking out of your ass