So we got a black eye anyway

Paul Silas, didn't I say Cleveland didn't need another black eye? Man, you need to start reading this blog on a regular basis.
Carlos Boozer doesn't show up Tuesday. Frustrating? Maybe. But the Cavaliers beat Boozer's Jazz easily, and Boozer's absence took away the temptation for any drunk fans to instigate something with the back of Boozer's head, which would have existed had Booz been sitting on the Utah bench. Taking Boozer out of the picture might have prevented a potential incident that could have dragged the reputation of Cleveland fans through the mud some more.
Cleveland appeared to get off scot-free and smelling like a rose Tuesday night. We took the moral high ground, save for some booing when Boozer's image was flashed on the Gund Arena Jumbotron during Utah free-throw attempts, and got away with a 19-point win.
But then, on Wednesday, as the Cavs were preparing to get back to their losing ways on the road in Milwaukee, it came to light that Silas had to open up his fat mouth.
Apparently, in an after-practice interview Monday, Silas came up with a creative new way to describe his former forward. He didn't come right out and say it, but it reportedly was obvious enough that Silas thinks Boozer is crass synonym for a gynecological reference. It rhymes with what football teams generally do on fourth down.
Silas is a physically large man who looks like he should be able to coach a bunch of guys 6-foot-6 and over. He played the NBA game, winning three titles. He demands respect from his players and appears to run a pretty tight ship both on and off the court.
But Silas has touched off enough run-ins with players since becoming Cleveland's coach to make you wonder if he can be the guy to lead the Cavaliers and LeBron James to greatness. Much of it appears to be the product of his coachly temper.
Last season, he and forward Ira Newble got into an argument over playing time following a game in Atlanta. As Newble stormed away, Silas was heard to have called Newble a "hip-hop motherf---er," an apparent reference to Newble's cornrowed, tattooed appearance.
The two seemed to have smoothed it over. Newble has started all but a handful of games for the Cavs this year.
Then there was the blow-up with Eric Snow in December. Snow might have said something caustic to Silas as he was being taken out of a game in Detroit. Different coaches handle player insubordination in different ways, and Silas' answer was to send Snow to the locker room for the rest of the game.
It isn't an unforgivable action, or even wrong. But this wasn't some hot-headed rookie or some knucklehead like Ricky Davis. This was one of the veteran anchors of your team, a guy who had started more than 200 straight games for Philadelphia before landing in Cleveland, where he was taking a bench role with no public complaint.
Afterward, Mount Silas erupted in front of the cameras, telling media members "I don't want to hear the name Eric Snow ... Am I speaking Chinese?" after they prodded a reluctant Silas for a comment on the matter.
The worst thing about Monday's reported shot at Boozer was that it wasn't in the heat of the moment. It wasn't a temper-driven comment. It was simply an off-color joke that could easily be made behind closed doors, but had no place in public. That lack of good judgment on Silas' part is a bit troubling. Coaches are supposed to be the voice of reason. They are supposed to rise above the petty sniping and feelings of betrayal that might exist between players, and players and fans.
Boozer was caught on tape saying he wanted to stay in Cleveland last year. It is hard to believe then-owner Gordon Gund and general manager Jim Paxson would have let Boozer out of his contract without some assurance that he was returning.
Boozer changed his mind when he saw the $68 million Utah was offering him to jump ship in Cleveland, and he couldn't say no. He was bitter that he was not picked until the second round in 2002, and was looking for a career-legitimizing payday. The Cavs were willing to give him that, but the Jazz were willing to give him more.
Boozer's actions very understandably caused hard feelings in Cleveland. Boozer's sorry attempts at justification for his actions and subsequent counter-accusations of character assassination by Gund and Paxson added to the flames.
Boozer was selfish. He should never have said he wanted to stay in Cleveland if that is not how he really felt. But Silas' comments just leveled the moral playing field a bit. If Cleveland's coach is taking incredibly crass verbal barbs at Boozer in public, suddenly it's not as easy to paint the Cavs as the victim last summer.
Silas has the Cavs pointed in the direction of the playoffs, a franchise that desperately needed the good vibe (and revenue) LeBron has provided. But Silas has brought some baggage on board the James Ship. If he begins to weigh this team down with his mouth and temper, it might soon become time to drop the ballast.