Whistling in the graveyard, to be sure, but for what it’s worth…
I think you’re talking past each other. The fact that he could arrange this show demonstrates his stature. What took a hit is his image because he looks like a bastard. These two points don’t contradict each other.
Absolutely not true. People wanted him to play for their teams, but it seems like tons of people felt this entire thing was tremendously pompous and vain. Which it was, and I would have felt that way if he’d signed with the Bulls, too.
That was… bold. He sounds like a pissed off fan who was personally betrayed - and maybe he was - rather than a neutral piece written by a PR person.
I’m not an NBA guy, but I don’t live under a rock, either, so I’ve been vaguely aware of the drama going on. I was wondering why the hell the guy gets a tv special to sign a contract. In the CNN Story, I found this quote:
*Besides the Heat, the Boys and Girls Club of America and Twitter were beneficiaries of James’ decision.
The club expected to receive about $2.5 million in support from the show and related activities.*
OK, so he parlayed the situation into a way to raise money for a charity he supports. That mitigates the giant one fingered salute he gave to Cleveland a little bit.
Kinda wondering if maybe Vince McMahon is on the phone now, offering him a guest appearance on RAW. Let him do a “Who’s the real King” bit with Jerry Lawler or something…
OUCH. Yeah, it’s bluster because that team now has an enormous hole in it and they’re not going to get better any time soon. But still, he lets him have it pretty hard.
Wow. That was one hell of a read. Definitely not the routine boring “official statement” type thing. Don’t know that personally guaranteeing an NBA Championship in Cleveland before James gets one was really the way to go, but that’s a world class ass chewing.
I didn’t get a chance to comment on this until now. So, I haven’t read everyone’s opinion on this. However, ESPN and 'The Decision" was an embarrassment. I refused to watch it. I realize I am in the minority, and I am out of touch with the mainstream, but on general principle I couldn’t give him any attention.
Besides, they were announcing all day that he was going to Miami. So now, all he can do is disappoint. If he wins, it will be a “ho-hum, he was supposed to. Look at the team!” and if he doesn’t, he will go down as one of the biggest disappointments (in terms of titles) in NBA history.
I’m glad I’m not an NBA fan. This circus was the worst thing I’ve seen in a long time.
And I liked LeBron… I wanted him to stay in Cleveland. Now I’m going to wait for LeBron to get in trouble in the Miami nightlife. It’s going to happen. How can’t it? His posse will drag him out on the town.
Still more from Gilbert, who says LeBron tanked in the series against Boston and maybe in the last game against Orlando the previous season. This stuff was discussed at length at the time and I’m not sure I buy Gilbert’s version, but that’s his opinion. He also says LeBron didn’t return any messages from the Cavs during the offseason (maybe that’s why their presentation to him was so short) and of course they only found out he was leaving through his TV show.
Meanwhile Miami is trading Beasley to Minnesota for a second-round draft pick next year, so now they have another $5 million to work with, and Toronto and Cleveland both lose their best players and get nothing in return.
I don’t really know what to think. I’m a Spurs fan and I know they are on a downturn, I also knew Lebron wasn’t coming here so I haven’t paid THAT close attention.
Still, the whole thing rubs me the wrong way a little bit. One thing I always loved about San Antonio (became a fan mostly because of The Admiral, was an ACC fan so was over the moon when they got Duncan) is that they have now had two franchise players who have played their entire career with one team. That doesn’t happen all that much anymore and it makes me a little sad.
Guys like Miller, Stockton, Magic, Duncan, and Bird seem to be the minority in sports nowadays and it is especially special when it happens to a smaller market like it did with Stockton, Miller, and Bird.
Lebron now leaves Cleveland which is more than his right, but now he HAS to win now that he joined this unholy alliance and despite what people seem to think, this is no guarantee. The three of them have to find a way to play together and injuries do happen so if one or two of these guys go out the team will be done for.
Also, I’m still not sure they are any better than Los Angeles and if Chicago can get some coaching, that is a very good team - plus they still have plenty of cash to add another few pieces if need be.
This whole television special is a bit over the top as well. I sort of wonder where his handlers were. How could any one of them have thought this was a good idea? The only way people don’t hate him is if he picks cleveland and even then it’s kind of a douchy thing to do to the other teams you dragged to cleveland.
Question: Apparently Reggie Miller ripped into Lebron, anyone have video or a transcript?
That letter from Gilbert is flat out brilliant. As a Chicagoan I love punking Cleveland but after reading that I really hope the Cavs fulfill that promise he made. I bet there’s a long list of NBA players who’d like to go to war with him. Let’s hope he’s got a few tricks up his sleeve.
Hey Cleveland, what would you say if the Wizards shipped you Gilbert Arenas and next years number one pick? That might give you a few bullets and the Wiz might actually consider it.
I’d give anything to have Kobe come to Cleveland and win it all with the same supporting cast LeBron failed with.
Why?
A tweet I found humorous:
What idiot decided Comic Sans was a good idea for this letter?
Well, I suppose for the same reason Yankees fans liked to punk Red Sox fans for the better part of a century. I grew up watching Ehlo collapse to the floor like he was shot over and over again. It’s a part of most of us.
That’s why most of Chicago got a kick out of Noah talkin smack about Cleveland this season. That’s just the pecking order.
As a human being, I can’t believe that James decided to disgustingly televise a 1 hour murder of an entire city. I truly hope it comes back to haunt him. Maybe he can get the Clippers curse and have a season ending knee injury and never be the same again
As an NBA fan, I’m curious and excited about this new super team. I’m not going to know for sure how I feel until they fill out their roster though
And finally, as a Lakers fan, I say bring it Queen James! They have 3 good players. We have 6 good players, including the best closer, the best coach, and every one of our starting 5 is battle-tested and ready. This will be an exciting season
Eh, that was just one incident. If you asked me what sports cities were related to cleveland in that sort of way, Chicago would probably come up 15th or so… Chicago isn’t on our radar. I don’t mean that as a dis, it just seems weird that you think of Cleveland as some sort of punching bag/rivalry when there’s very little history there.
I wonder if “King” James has tempted Fate enough with this circus for the Cavs to pull off a Miricle Cinderella Championship run next season. 
Looking at thier roster, probably not, but if anyone deserves to be steamrolled by thier old team it is LBJ right now.
Boston is most definitely not a small market (7th largest, actually).
Sorry, I meant Duncan. My apologies.
It’s not really a Chicago v Cleveland thing as much as a Bulls v Cavs thing. The Shot was more than just one moment, it was symbolic of a long running as whooping the Bulls gave the Cavs. And your right that it wasn’t much of a rivalry, the Cavs werewho Bulls fans mocked. The Pistons were the rivals.