The Decision

[Man in Black]

"The Decision" - Lebron James joins Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh signing with the Miami Heat.

What has this done to the NBA? Interest will definitely go up, there is no question of that. Tickets will be sold and ratings will rise. If that is all that matters then LeBron James joining the South Beach dream team is great for the league.

For the trait of loyalty in basketball and maybe all of sports "The Decision" could be the death nail. For the city of Cleveland it's a blow that will be hard to swallow for... maybe ever.

Why did he leave his hometown? Money wasn't a factor as he will get less now, though I'm sure he'll never miss it - the wolf left his door in middle school. Loyalty didn't concern the king, until he tried to dump some of the onus onto Cav fans by explaining how loyal he has been to them for the past 7 years by putting 20,000 butts in the seats that weren't there before he arrived.

No, the real reason LBJ made his decision to go to Miami is his skewed idea of glory. Visions of himself holding numerous world titles as flashbulbs blind him year after year... that's the real reason. The problem is that true glory for LeBron James could only be the championship that, now, he will never win, the championship that the city of Cleveland may never win.

Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Tim Duncan and yes even Kobe Bryant made everyone around them championship material. Of course they had great help from guys like Pippen, McHale, Ginobli and Gasol, but their legacy is that they won where they fell.

LeBron, obviously wants to be remembered in the same rare air as Jordan. He just blew his chance for that. MJ took the Bulls from nothing to unbeatable not once, but twice. Cleveland would have given James any coach, and as many players as he wanted... something that Jordan never had in Chicago. James lacks faith in himself to accomplish what Jordan did. And he also fails to realize what one NBA title in Cleveland would mean... which is much more than several easy ones in Miami.

[Man in Black]

This was posted on the Cav's website by my new hero - Team owner Dan Gilbert - shortly after LBJ's decision.

View the link for yourself if you want... I copied and pasted it in case David Stern makes him take it down... I'll still have it for my enjoyment to read whenever I want ;D I think I just became a Cleveland Cavalier fan... who'd have ever guessed it

www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/gilbert_letter_100708.html


Open Letter to Fans from Cavaliers Majority Owner Dan Gilbert

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


That was the most awesome thing I think I've ever heard a sports owner say.


Man I hope somehow the Cav's could win one before the Heat... however unlikely that would prove there is justice in the universe.

Poor Bron... it's not like he ever had any help or anything in Cleveland... he didn't have Antwan Jamison, or Carlos Boozer... and who's that big dude next to him in this picture? It looks a whole lot like the exact same guy that Dwayne Wade won a ring with.

[Jason]

What I hated most about his "decision" was how he let it all build up to the biggest news in the world and what it really did was crush his hometown. They loved him and he was their only beacon of hope (which includes ALL Cleveland sports teams) and he just left. That, alone, is going to give him a bad reputation.

I think LeBron is a very intelligent and respectable person, but this was a pretty selfish act. I am definitely hoping Cleveland wins a title before Miami. Honestly, though, the Heat will probably be the next Champions.

LeBron has a TON to lose now. He left an already solid Cleveland team to join a slightly better Miami team. If he doesn't win a championship soon, ESPECIALLY before the Cavs, he's NEVER going to even be spoken in the same sentence as Michael Jordan. I thought I was upset with the way Cutler left Denver. Jeez, this is LeBron's hometown he just stabbed in the back. Can you imagine how his biggest fans are feeling? Jersey burning has already begun and I can only imagine what's going on in Cleveland right now. They fans need to get creative, though.

I swear on my life, if I were a diehard Cavalier fan, I would buy a front row seat to a home game when the Cavs and Heat played, waited until LeBron walked by and throw chalk dust at him.

[Jason]

And that article is freakin' sweet. Screw professionalism, we're gonna ram the ball down your throat and make you wish you never left Cleveland. I love that attitude. Kick some butt, Cavs!!! I'll root for you second behind my Nuggies!!

[Man in Black]

No joke... LMAO at you throwing chalk dust... somebody will probably do that ;D

I don't even like Cleveland... the place. We had to go there for a few days once when Marii's brother had heart surgery. The hospital was awesome... but the city as a whole was a bit dingy and scary. But, those poor fans, I can't help but pull for that team now.

I know what you mean about Cutler too, I was not even speaking of Jason Taylor going to the Jets... but I feel silly being bummed out at that now. This is to Cavs fans like Marino choosing to go to the Patsies in his prime would be for me. Aaaaaaaack, the thought of it.

[Jason]

Yep, same with me and Elway. I couldn't imagine Elway leaving Denver for the Raiders or the Chargers. That's just WRONG!

I laugh out loud at just the thought of a fan throwing chalk dust at him. I'm definitely tuning in for the first home game where the Cavs play the Heat. I hope something interesting happens. ;D

I noticed an article on NBA.com about the Cavs owner being unprofessional with his blog. What I find funny is the fact that the NBA TV announcers can barely speak proper English and have hardly anything relevant to say to begin with. Compare the NFL analysts to the NBA analysts to see my point.

Dan Gilbert voicing his opinion and promising an NBA title to the loyal fans of Cleveland isn't professional, but this is?





That's just TURRRRRRIBLE

[Man in Black]

Yeah, you're right... and now Jesse Jackson thinks LeBron was treated like a slave. I wonder what actual slaves would have to say about that.

[Jason]

Jeez. I guess it's not too surprising hearing that, considering it came out of Jesse Jackson's mouth. That guy has nothing relevant to say. Ever. 99% of the things he says is completely ridiculous and obviously wrong.