Why?
Because the guy is a massive douchebag.
I think this article says it better than I can....
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-lebrondecision070910
NBA Offseason
- Thread starter the 4th hanson bro
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Why?
Because the guy is a massive douchebag.
I think this article says it better than I can....
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-lebrondecision070910
http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/gilbert_letter_100708.html
Somebody please tell me this site was hacked and this wasn't really written by the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers. In comic sans, no less.
That makes no sense but I guess he had to say something in lieu of the loss they just took. I don't know why James had to do a one hour special to make this announcement. Maybe it was ESPN's idea and not his but he still shouldn't have gone along with it.
And who's going to want to play for Cleveland now that Gilbert responded in the douchiest way possible? There's no denying that "The Decision" (the media parade ending with a show on ESPN) was an equally douche move on LeBron's part, but he did what he was paid to do for 7 years and was free to move on to a new team if he chose to--he didn't betray anyone in doing so. As a professional Gilbert owed it to his team and the NBA to keep his mouth shut and focus on the future rather than drunkenly badmouthing the guy who put his team on the map. I've seen sixth graders handle bad situations with more tact.
That article is a far more scathing indictment of Dan Gilbert, the Cavaliers' organization, James' management and ESPN than it is of James himself.
There's plenty of scorn to go around. But ultimately, it's James' signature on the bottom line. Without him, none of that ridiculousness happens. He's responsible for that awful spectacle. No one else.
If he had just held a press conference and said he was signing with Miami I wouldn't have given it a second thought (I don't really care where he plays).
http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/gilbert_letter_100708.html
Somebody please tell me this site was hacked and this wasn't really written by the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers. In comic sans, no less.
That makes no sense but I guess he had to say something in lieu of the loss they just took. I don't know why James had to do a one hour special to make this announcement. Maybe it was ESPN's idea and not his but he still shouldn't have gone along with it.
And who's going to want to play for Cleveland now that Gilbert responded in the douchiest way possible? There's no denying that "The Decision" (the media parade ending with a show on ESPN) was an equally douche move on LeBron's part, but he did what he was paid to do for 7 years and was free to move on to a new team if he chose to--he didn't betray anyone in doing so. As a professional Gilbert owed it to his team and the NBA to keep his mouth shut and focus on the future rather than drunkenly badmouthing the guy who put his team on the map. I've seen sixth graders handle bad situations with more tact.
Honestly, Gilbert might have owed it to everyone to not make the comments he did, but LeBron equally had no business having his television special. His comments didn't come out of the blue. And I don't think what he said will really hurt him (having a loudmouth hasn't hurt the Dallas Mavericks, for example). What will hurt them is that they have a team built around a guy who isn't playing for them anymore (which they should have realized could happen and hedged their bets).
It's funny how Toronto and Cleveland are basically in the same boat, although of course Bosh is a relatively minor figure compared to LeBron. All the Raptors got through a sign and trade were a few picks and a trade exception. I figure the Cavs can do better anyhow.
I think we really started to realize Bosh was the component that wasn't working.
This team was and is not going to win a championship, but Bosh seems a little too Vince Carter-ish for me.
^
Oh yeah, but for Toronto, he was all they had.
Certainly it didn't help that Calangelo chose to stock the team with European players who haven't worked out. It does seem like the best years of the team are long behind them though.
Oh yeah, but for Toronto, he was all they had.
Certainly it didn't help that Calangelo chose to stock the team with European players who haven't worked out. It does seem like the best years of the team are long behind them though.
I've never understood this philosophy. I stopped caring about the NBA because the Raptors are never going to win. My interest is only piqued in free agent times like this.
For the upcoming season, they have the MLE, but their cap room is filled by the Big 3. Just read today they are negotiating with Mike Miller with their MLE. Very good scoring guard. Also read they are talking to Derek Fisher who is the type of player they need to win a championship. But after Miller (assuming he signs), they will have only the veteran's minimum to offer Fish (or any other free agents not formerly with the Heat), who can get more than that from the Lakers. The Lakers have already offered him more than Miami can offer.
I do. I have no problem with him leaving, he was probably never going to win a championship in Cleveland. But to do this on national T.V. without even letting the Cavs and their fans know anything beforehand was unnecessarily cruel. The key word being, unnecessary.
The one hour special helped LeBron, the NBA, the Heat, ESPN, and to a some extent the charities he contributed to, but it totally screwed over his Cleveland fanbase, a group who had supported him like he was a god his entire career. I guess in the end, LeBron felt he had done enough for his Cleveland fans. As he told us after his team was once again eliminated, he felt he had spoiled the Cleveland fans.
LeBron has got to be one of the most tone-deaf, clueless guys in the league.
Colangelo put out his own letter recently... needless to say it's a little more restrained than the comic sans insanity of the Cavs owner's rant.
I think the Raptors are still the most exciting of the major league sports teams in Toronto of the big three and they're the ones most likely to win a championship or even make the playoffs.
But yeah, I don't much like watching Toronto teams any more.
gblews said:
This. We here in Cleveland are used to the big name free agents leaving. We saw Manny leave and win a title with the Sawx. We traded away Sabathia and Lee because we knew they would leave for the cash. Jim Thome, Albert Belle, the list goes on and on. Seeing Lebron leave in the manner of any other free agent would have sucked, but it would have been understandable (though I do think that he would have won a title here eventually). However, the way he left, drawing it out, playing with the hearts and minds of not only Cavs fans, but Knicks and Bulls and Nets fans was not right. Don't even get me started on his ESPN "special". Like you said, from the standpoint of being a real man, he is utterly clueless.
Last one, I promise.
Sorry thats all I can do about this off-season. Now we lose Z too?
I know he is old and slow and can't really defend anyone, so its not a huge loss, but he is over seven feet tall and has a decent mid range shot (for a big guy anyway). Can't blame him for going though, he wanted to go to a team that had a chance, and the Cavs ain't it.
Not that broken up about it from a basketball point of view, its actually better for the team as they want to be more of a running team now and Z doesn't fit that mold. Just sad to see someone go who has been here his whole career, holds team records for longevity and rebounds despite all of his health issues. He and his family have been good to the local comunity, its like seeing an old friend leave. So its sentimentality pure and simple.
