Dwight Howard Criticized for Skipping His Basketball Camp in Orlando

Needless to say, Dwight Howard’s popularity in the city of Orlando has taken a hit over the last year or so. And now that he’s decided to skip his own basketball camp for kids — preferring to stay in Los Angeles and rehab from back surgery — Howard is facing additional criticism. From the Orlando Sentinel: “According to an official at his annual basketball day camp for children, Dwight Howard will not attend this year, and families who paid the camp’s $199 registration fee were sent e-mail messages Monday to inform them Howard will remain in Southern California in order to continue rehabilitating his back. Originally, Howard was scheduled to be back in Orlando a few days after having out-patient back surgery, but he hasn’t been seen by the Magic in Orlando in more than three months. He has, however, attended at least two Los Angeles Dodgers games and a portion of the adidas Nations basketball tournament in L.A. Howard’s annual camp originally was scheduled for July 1-2 at UCF, and Howard was supposed to attend both days. But it was postponed and rescheduled for Aug. 13-14 at Orlando Volleyball Academy. Although the camp still will be held next week. Andrew Nicholson, the Magic’s first-round draft pick, will fill in for Howard. […] ‘My 11-year-old grandson loves Dwight Howard, and like probably every other kid signed up for an early registration cost of only $199 … this is another real disappointment to the community and, more importantly, the kids who cherish the thought of seeing and ‘hanging’ with Dwight,’ wrote one disappointed grandparent. Sadly, not only has Howard let down his teammates and the City of Orlando, now he has let down many kids, too. The Dwightmare continues.”