In my eyes, Ray Allen has made himself the top baller and shot caller in the league. Out of all the sensational players that have come into the league in the past three years, Ray has shown more game, maturity, and smarts than all the others. And all of this praise applied even before he negotiated his own contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Like Antoine Walker, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, and Shareef Abdur-Rahim before him, Ray Allen agreed to a six year contract extension totalling a guaranteed 70 million 875 thousand dollars. Unlike those others, Ray will not fork over $2,836,000 over to an 'agent' for 'negotiating' the same deal. I'm not saying that player agents are obsolete (see the low-balling of Rod Strickland), but it is increasingly obvious that the new labor deal reduces their importance and influence.

Consider that if Steve Francis leaves the University of Maryland this year, he may become the top pick in the draft. In which case, he will be slotted a predetermined salary for three years with a club option for the fourth. After his fourth year, he can field offers from other teams. But number one, there is a maximum he can be offered by all teams regardless of their cap space, and number two, whatever he is offered by others, if the Clippers match it he must return for another 6 or 7 years at another easily formulated salary. In 11 years of his career, what is an agent to do for him?

True, there are endorsements to get, rap albums to make, and movies to star in. But our friend Jesus Shuttlesworth has shown all of that can be done by EMPLOYING people to do these things for you. Furthermore, if a player wants to get in those other lucrative fields, instead of joining David Falk's or Arn Tellem's stables, they can hire someone in those fields, like Master P, Sean Puffy Combs.

Enough of the technicals, let's get back to praising a player who has never threatened to leave his team for greener pastures, never been placed in compromising social positions, never been labeled a ball hog, and never led the league in getting his shot punched. All he's done, is bring his sweet jumper, nice handle, and awesome defense to a team poised, if healthy, to make a run at the top spot.

Always outside of the limelight since being overshadowed by Kerry Kittles and Iverson in the Big East, the lack of recognition for his game has continued in Milwaukee. So much is said about Glenn Robinson, Terrell Brandon, and now George Karl. It would behoove the fans and the league, to assign leadership of the Bucks to the one who deserves it, Ray Allen.