I still don't get the "tainted" part? He's a free agent, he goes to a new team, that team wins and it's tainted?

Kobe didn't win post Shaq until Gasol got there, is that tainted? I just see it as the Lakers won, not Kobe. Too much is put on individuals by the media. I csan't remember ever seeing a single person responsible for his team winning an NBA title ever.

Magic played with HOFers, Bird did, even as far back as the old Celts with Bill Russel. JMO

 

LOL...Being a Michigan man, anything that happens to the fans down there in "Ohino LaBron" is a good thing. Even if it's not a good thing, it's a funny thing.

 

I still don't buy all the hype about him being so great. He's won a grand total of nothing in his career. I would love to see him stay just another Allen Iverson, great talent, selfish scorer with no hardware.

 

I'm not really into sports, but I gotta comment on this issue anyways...

I understand that the big hype and all surrounding his announcement was unnecessary, but honestly in most cases, fans (at least fair weather ones) are the most cutthroat people out there, NOT the players. So many people only love their team and the players if they win, but then if the star cuts loose, then he is the disloyal one? Please...

I saw it over and over with the Phillies. Went to a Shane Victorino autograph signing with a friend that is a fan back in 2006 or 2007, and we were the ONLY ONES in line. There was tumbleweed in the **** store. She loved the Phils no matter what even when the general public thought they stunk, and I always respected that. Fast forward to today, and now of course everyone is a fan again. Hell, I'd take Lebron's shenanigans over any of those hypocrites any day of the week!

I think players and fans should be held to the same behavioral standards. Right now, it doesn't really seem like a fair playing field...

 

At least all the LOOK AT ME bs is over. 'The Decision' crap made him hated before he even got on the TV.

7 years and 10 empty fingers.

 

Nobody is pissed at him for leaving. It is the WAY he did it that is self-centered and arrogant
You're absolutely right in what you're saying but you're missing my point.

IF they win, the title itself would not be tainted. But for LeBron James AS AN INDIVIDUAL, him wanting to be considered one of the all time greats w/ Magic, Kobe, Bird, Jordan, etc., it would be tainted.

You can talk about Kobe having Gasol, or Shaq having Kobe and Wade, Jordan with Pippen and thats all true. BUT the major difference is, there was always a clear #1 on all of those teams. Can we say for sure who's team it is? If we can, it sure as hell aint LeBron.

And when have 3 superstars in their prime ever negotiated to play together?? Its never happened before.

You think Jordan would have done this? I don't think so. Too much pride and competitive drive to join the competition

and I think thats the reason this combo will ultimately disappoint

 

I do think Jordan would have done this. Back then, the blueprint was to have a superstar and surround him with enough talent to win. LeBron tried that for 7 years in Ohio. During that time he saw the lakers sign Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Shaq to go along with Kobe in 04. Then the Celtics did it and made it work. Now the outlook has been change as to how you build a winner. Pack your team with talented stars and the other pieces don't matter that much.

I think this will be the way it goes for the next 10-15 years. Until owners get fed up with it. But if Jordan were playing now he'd do it. If he wanted to win, he'd have no choice because of how other teams are doing it. I know him as #45 or a Washington Wizzard.

We should see it again next year, with Melo Anthony as he signs with Detroit.

 

I don't know about that.... greedy team owners (and now players) have broken the hearts of millions of kids (and adults) when they pack up and move their team to a new city for a "new deal".
Why should fans have loyalty anymore??? The owners and players sure as heck don't for their home cities, the community, or their fans.

 

The situation with payton and malone is COMPLETELY different than from what is going on now.

With that '04 team we gained 2 AGING all-stars who were trying to win a ring before retirement. Heck, that was Malone's last year.

With this Lebron going to the heat that makes 3 all-stars join togther IN THEIR PRIME. Lebron is 25. Wade is 28. Bosh is 26 (IIRC).

And I think what really gets me and makes me call him a quitter is that its not like he was playing on a sub .500 team and had no hopes at a title. He was on a championship contender. Best record in the league 2 years and a row. Shaq, Mo Williams, Antawn...He got everything he asked for there. They lose 2 years in a row and he quits? And it was HIS FAULT they lost

If he had stayed in cleveland and toughed it out and was still ringless in his 30's I wouldn't say a word if he joined Miami. But this is just a cop-out

 

That's one hell of a way to receive support and sympathy!



Very classy of him!

If the above statement is any indication, it is very possible Lebron has had some less than pleasant experiences with the owner the public knows nothing about. To think a team, an owner, or a city OWNS a gifted athlete is nonsense. Think about all the players who get traded, waived, or cut without personal considerations when it in not convenient to keep them.

Similar feelings were expressed for Oakland As pitcher Catfish Hunter a few decades back when he won free agency and signed with the Yankees.

 

Perhaps the Cavaliers owner, Dan Gilbert, showed his "true" colors as an individual/professional with that letter he wrote to "Cleveland" fans. How "loyal" was he in trying to steal Izzo away from Michigan State?

Lebron could have opted out of his first contract with the Cavaliers, but choose a 3 year extension.

Perhaps there is some truth to the rumor swirling around about one of Lebron's teammates in Cleveland and one of Lebron's family members leading to him not wanting to play in Cleveland anymore. (Though the onus would fall on Lebron's family member for this incident . . . . if true.)

$5M was raised for the Boys and Girls Club from last nights 1hr special. Might have been a "tacky" way to raise the money, but I applaud him for it.

More power to LeBron. I would have liked for him to stay in Cleveland, but won't condemn him for leaving to play with his friends and take less money. It's been verified LeBron tried to get Bosh to come to Cleveland . . . Bosh didn't want too. LeBron can't do it alone.

 

True true...the Colts come to mind! Still, it's not right to chastise the players for having the same 'tude.

Honestly, I'd be more inclined to get back into professional sports if they got back to the basics. I stopped watching the one sport I really liked (MLB) after the strike, and will not get re-involved in an institution that no longer stands for what really matters.

JMO of course, and they're not going to go broke from me (or those of my same mindset) no longer being fans. I'll just go on living my own life instead of watching them live theirs.

 

If that rumor was true then all is forgiven!
He's not really taking less money. That figure is inflated. He just would have been able to sign a longer contract with Cleveland than miami, and since its longer it'd be worth more money. But with lack of income tax in Florida he's really not sacrificing much money wise.

I just wanna re-iterate to you guys that the reason I was pissed is the way Lebron left and where he went to. Not so much the fact that he left, although that is disappointing too. Chicago would have been much better for him and his career IMO

I'm over it now. Time for me to focus on what moves my Lake Show needs to make to remain at the top!

 

While the letter definitely had some spite to it, I saw it as an effort to circle the wagons and rally the team's fans - and a city down on its luck - around their remaining core team and its future.
What did you expect him to write? "Well we suck now, we'll never have a championship without James's now that he went to Miami..." LOL
Letter made perfect sense to me.

Course the sports rags want to do the typical lefty media thing where Gilbert should have just smiled and waved "all the best"...


Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;

As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.

This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.

Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.

The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.

There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.

You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.

You have given so much and deserve so much more.

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:

"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE"

You can take it to the bank.

If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our "motivation" to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.

Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.

Sorry, but that's simply not how it works.

This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow-up to become.

But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called "curse" on Cleveland, Ohio.

The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south. And until he does "right" by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.

Just watch.

Sleep well, Cleveland.

Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day....

I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:

DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue....

Dan Gilbert
Majority Owner
Cleveland Cavaliers

 

So his contract and free agency is lost in the shuffle of what you wrote. It's never one persons fault in a 7 game series. If it were LeBrons fault why'd they fire the GM and Coach? He didn't have a Pippen or even a Chris Hodges/Steve Kerr/Robert Horry to knock down the shots when he penitrated. The rest of the Cav's=Srcubs when it came to crunch time.

I'm just arguing now because I'm brored at work, but it's a good topic. I noticed you said "WE" gained. did you mean "they" gained and aging all-stars?

I will always associate LeBron with Ohio therfore I hope he never wins.

 

Letter may have made sense, but not from an Owner. A little professionalism goes along way . . . . I don't think that letter is going to become a beacon for future free agents. Not the type of owner many want to play for with an attitude and writing skills showcased in that letter.

But hey . . . if everyone feels better in Northern Ohio because of it . . . so be it . . .

 

What an owner is supposed to be above the fans? What do you think the little people are thinking/feeling??

He just connected in a big way as "one of us Clevelanders that got shafted by that traitor after all the love and support we gave him"...

IMO

 

To answer your first question in a word . . . Yes.

 

LOLOL

 

I don't buy the $5m to the Boys and Girls Clubs was worth the theatrics. If watching a train go over a cliff on television is worth $5m to a well deserving charity, then I guess that's alright. He could have spared the people of Cleveland and just given $5m out of his pocket to the Boys and Girls club of Cleveland and we would not be having this thread. He certainly doesn't have to do that. But what you have to do, and what you actually do make the difference in the man.