Riley Is Talking Politics Again

The Miami Heat have been honoring war veterans before each home game this season. Immediately after the singing of the National Anthem, soldiers who are home from combat duty in Iraq and Afghanistan are given the opportunity to meet players and coaches, and receive a gift from the organization. What's interesting is that head coach Pat Riley created this tradition.

''My personal opinion,'' Riley said, is ``what's going on in our country right now is not going to stop until the election because the Democrats, or the other side, or the nay-sayers simply are going to drive it right into the ground and become so negative with what the administration is doing until there's an election to make their point. That won't help anybody.

"That's not going to help the political process. It definitely doesn't help the soldiers because there is such a division over here. My concern is about them. . ."

"As far as what's going on with the government and with the political process and the Democrats and Republicans, I think all of them talk a great game but they're not really doing anything other than trying to oust the guy who's in charge. That' s all they care about. They will say they care about the soldiers, but they're not doing anything for them.''

Agree or disagree with Riley's politics, what he's doing for these soldiers is commendable, and it's always refreshing to hear of NBA figures who aren't afraid to voice their opinions on the major issues of their day.