I typically say 'we' when refering to the Lakers because thats my team. I've stayed with them through it all thick and thin. win or lose.

They fired mike brown to appease Lebron (but I do think Mike brown did not know how to create a proper offense). And yes Lebron's running mates choked in the crunch time but so did he. Game 5 anyone?

The argument of he didn't have a pippen/gasol/whoever is false. He had that. He had a combination of 3 present/former all-stars on that team. They won 66 games for crying out loud! Remember what everyone was saying about Gasol when the Lakers lost to the celtics? He's too soft, he doesn't have what it takes. Back then they were saying Kobe needed a Pippen. The lakers stuck with it and look what happened

 

This.

And we all know he only did that to immediately try to repair his image. It was a cold calculated move.

 

You know Pipen is on the list of Top 100 NBAers (chosen by theNBA) and a possible HOFer. No one on the Cavs will ever be as good a Pip. Shaq doesn't count because he's 53 years old.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSzzt0HnkvA

Also I think the owner made an azz of himself. Why was he trying to sign LeBron up until yesterday? He should have come out earlier and said he wasn't in the sweepstakes. LBJ will score 100 for those remarks.....LOL

 

I still disagree. They won't be considered as good only because they never won. Had the Cavs got a title everyone would elevate their opinions of his supporting cast, and those players would still have the same skills. You can't tell me a team that has the best record in the league 2 years in a row is not good. I mean 66 games, thats only 4 off the all-time record held by Jordan's bulls.

You think Wade would have left Miami if they had won 66 games? I don't think so.

The owner's reaction is understandable IMO. He honestly thought he had a shot at Lebron the whole time. And yesterday it was obvious Lebron had made up his mind on Miami a LONG time ago. Its gotta hurt to be led on like that.

Let me ask you this, do you agree with the way he left?

 

This article perfectly sums up my opinion. I feel like I wrote it LOL http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...ent/index.html

 

The money is not a factor, it is the act of caring and Lebron has cared and given a lot when he did not have to.

I can understand the disappointment people feel mainly because of his departure, talent, and God given gifts but to trash him personally it is not right which brings up a contradiction. The fact he is a great guy when giving and an SOB when he stops therefore all he has given so far carries no weight which will leave him wondering what is the point of giving when gratitude is not a consideration. I've been in his shoes, not anywhere near to his extent, and I can say it leaves a very sour taste in one's mouth to give without expecting any thing back and then be trashed. There are lots of ungrateful cynics in this world as Lebron has painfully learned.

Most 25 year olds do not have the composure, maturity, and calm Lebron possesses so people have to cut him some slack. He is only 25. In addition, so far he has proven to be a good person with principles, is family oriented, and in day and age is without any scandals. He has fulfilled his contractural obligations, he owes nothing to no one, and has the right to choose as most of us do.

 

Very well said.

 

Good article!

I can relate to it because I know I'm a #2 guitar. I'm pretty good at it. But don't know enough songs or have the timing down well enough to start 'em off like #1 does. I like my support role and I get enough shots at lead to turn heads. And I'm happy to give credit to #1 because without him and the rest of the band, I wouldn't be there.

Whereas if this guy was like other greats, and espoused that level of confidence, he'd be positioning himself as THE star - not ONE of the stars.

 

Clearly the only Lebron James you have seen is the one ESPN and David Stern want you to see.

Here is the one I see
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph7qFvAIRCk

The guys doesn't have to be a saint, but he refers to himself in 3rd person for crying out loud. How is that mature?

Raising money for the boys and girls club is great. But we all know that is not the main reason he did it

well said charlie!

 

Unless your trade happens to be reading minds or fortune telling you know not what I've seen, you assume.

Lebron is not perfect, who is, and he does have an ego. That is not news for being special, unique, and being idolized most of his life but along with a few imperfections overall he is a good human being and has done more charity in his young life, when he didn't have to, than a bunch of us put together in our entire lives.



.

 

Just figured I'd screw this thread up a little bit.

I am no fan of Cleveland. I never will be, sports wise. Matter of fact, to be quite honest, my summation in this is: Good. Cleveland sucks. (mainly due to the battery chucking ways of the dog pound in the Mistake by the Lake from eras gone by... just one of those things.)

I am no real fan of Lebron. Mainly because, well, if he's the next Jordan... where is the awesome? Oh, I'm sure he's a good basketball player, but ****... if you can't bring talent to be BEGGING to play with you... well... that's not terribly great, is it?

So overall, this is an unimportant thing for me.

I can sympathize, just a little, with Clevelandfan. I lost my beloved Oilers. I hate the Titans, and everything about them. I hope they go 0-16. Twice. In a row. Soon. Just because that would be perfect.

As far as Lebron goes... meh. Whatever. Like Miami is going to be that good with three players, all of which will demand the ball, and guaranteed that team doesn't stay together.

There was mention of Bird, Johnson, Jordan... all these players got the supporting cast they needed. While yes, they were awesome on their own, so was Olajuwon, but it took a little bit extra to get to the promised land. Olajuwon on his own? Not good enough. Olajuwon with Smith, Thorpe, Maxwell, Cassell... well, that won a ring. And Jordan couldn't do it in Washington. That's because even though he could still play, the team wasn't that good.

Which is the point. It's a TEAM effort... and 8-10 men too. Not just 3 big names with nobodys around them.

Lebron made a mistake. That's my opinion. I am fairly certain I'll be right. Oh, and please. If it was for the rings, dude would have gone to LA. What a joke.

I have more faith right now in the Cleveland Cavaliers owner making right by his statement of championship than Lebron, Wade, and Bosh getting a ring. And I don't have much faith in the Cavs making it.

We will see....

Even after all that... Meh. Whatever. Tell me when the Rockets are good again, thanks. I'm lookin' for some FOOTBALL. And not that soccer kind.

 

This.

 

Let's see if I can explain this...
I didn't mean that a Miami championship would be tainted.
I've nothing against Miami. They spent the money to maybe build a championship team. (Cleveland could have and should have done the same thing over the last (7) years.
I'm old school, and I believe in team loyalty. All of my heroes stayed with their teams through good times and bad. I feel like LeBron could carry his team (through good times and bad). However, he left his team to chase a championship. So I feel like any championship he wins playing on someone else's team (D. Wade's Heat) is not really LeBron's. And thus, tainted.

Weird thing is, if he'd left for more money, I'd be fine with it.

 

I'm with Sir Charles:

 

You know how I hate to be disagreeable with you friend... but are you sure about that?

 

Yes. I don't have copies of his tax returns or how much money he has donated, I am aware of events he has participated on benefiting people less fortunate than he is. Whether his involvements originated at the suggestions of an outside entities or from his heart is something I don't know.

You can dissect the topic or split hairs to make a point but in the end the fact remains he represented Cleveland, the Cavaliers, and the NBA well.

 

He left after the last playoff game IMO. His contract was was honored and complete. Anything after that game was all hype. He owed the Cavs nothing after that.

As for the way he excepted a new team, no I didn't like the ESPN deal. He could have come out as everyong expected before the end of the seson and said D. Wade, Bosh and I will play for the same team. Then gave the possibilities as far as which teams were in the running.
As for the record at the end of the season, it doesn't matter. Boston rested those old legs for most of it.

 

Miami is GOing to the win the championship this year... in FOOTBALL!

GO FINS!!!!

And I can't wait to watch Boston take out Miami in the NBA Playoffs next year!!

 

Well, I'm finally getting over this but it's still weird to see LBJ in a Heat jersey.

The 'tainted' part that someone mentioned... Winning in Cleveland would be HIS championship. Winning in Miami will be the TEAM's championship. An argument could even exist that his move to South Beach even shows more to his character that he's willing to give up 'his' championship for a team championship, but I don't buy it. He just wants the ring, and IMO he's taking a sort of short-cut to get it.
In Cleveland he had to make his teammates play better and elevate their game to win. They've all got a lot of talent, but LBJ would need not only to be the superstar, but also the leader to get it done. That's greatness. Instead he's going for a championship w/ two other superstars to help him get it done (not only the winning, but getting others to elevate their game).
This is why LBJ's legacy will now be tainted. He's not leading the team on his own. He's traded in his role as Michael Jordan for a shared role as Scottie Pippen.
This puts an end to the MeBron vs Kobe debates.
... lol, I hit the "M" on accident, but I'm leaving it because "MeBron" actually fits pretty well.

Hey, whatever makes him happy... but I'm pretty sure that as he continues to mature he'll regret this 'Decision'.

 

people forget that high incomes people have to give away millions every year for taxe reasons. This doesnt make everyone that is trying to balance a income a saint. I am sure I give a far larger percent of my income every year then Mr. james...