Tonight, I sit on my couch watching LeBron James. He shuffles in his chair nervously opposite Jim Gray. The self-proclaimed “King” is leaving Cleveland, and James cannot bear to tell his devoted fans in Ohio. Tears seem to be held back when the two-time NBA MVP addresses his seven previous years with the Cavaliers. He loves he thrill in front of his hometown crowd.
Ultimately, James decides to move on to Miami for a better chance at capturing titles alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. The choice, for lack of a better word, is unselfish. The notion of a legacy for James is not to be compared to Jordan, Kobe, Magic or Bird. Winning as a team is truly all that matters, yet the Akron native is hammered.
Among Cleveland fans, I understand their feelings to an extent. Arguably the world’s greatest basketball player is leaving, likely forever. Suddenly, a camera flashed to fans burning James’ jersey, and I was stunned. A man of such integrity and class, who wanted to return to Cleveland, and he constantly begged Chris Bosh to join him as a Cavalier, but the former Toronto Raptor star did not comply. Eventually, LeBron James was tipped over the edge, forcefully at first.
I would have gone to sleep on a Friday morning bitter. The fans of Cleveland again responded with such immaturity, revoking memories of beer bottles on the field of Paul Brown Stadium. The clock inches towards midnight when SportsCenter cuts to a letter sent by Cavaliers’ owner Dan Gilbert (above) to the fanbase. Just to give the readers some background on Gilbert, here is a man who bowed down almost literally to LeBron. Following the 2nd round loss to Cleveland, he fires coach Mike Brown, hoping to lure Phil Jackson for James. To then show James that he was serious about surrounding him with All-Star talent, Gilbert fires General Manager Danny Ferry. Clearly, this is an owner committed to his superstar capturing a title in Cleveland.
Here is a copy of the letter:
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 homegrown “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
Could someone please comment on this post, if you are not incredibly angered after reading this letter. Gilbert first proclaims that James is narcissistic and arrogant. By turning down $30 million more to play in Miami, this statement seems to be devoid of any possible logic. Moreover, James exhibits in the move to the Heat that being the alpha-male on a championship team is not essential. In other words, the six time All-Star has an ego problem, but will accept a lesser role just to win. Does that make any sense?
Gilbert goes on to deny completely that James is truly the ‘King?’ Fine, except what weight does such a statement carry, knowing a banner that spans an entire city building reads, “Witness,” with James’ picture. Don’t forget, who is in charge of approving this type of marketing campaign frenzy? Yes, that again would be Gilbert. His next, most ambitious claim asserts Cleveland will win an NBA Championship before LeBron triumphs in Miami. Well, Gilbert wants to sell tickets, so this statement can be viewed as a marketing ploy. Nevertheless, Mr. Gilbert, I wanted to know who on your roster now allows you to win a championship? James is gone, and your starting lineup is Mo Williams at point guard, Delonte West at shooting guard, Antawn Jamison at small forward, J.J. Hickson at power forward and Anderson Varejao at center. How will you win with this nucleus if your team didn’t get the job done with the same unit coupled with the two-time reigning MVP? Boston and Orlando will not suddenly self-destruct at the heels of that Cavaliers’ team.
To this point, the letter illustrates Gilbert as a hypocritical sore loser, but of course the team’s majority owner is not finished. He proceeds to blame the failures of the entire franchise and, on a grander scale, of the entire city’s championship drought on James. As if the Cleveland Indians’s debacle in 1997 was caused by the presence of LeBron, and the entire city was stricken with a disease of failing because of James.
What I really do not understand is how LeBron James is a loser if he lead the Cavaliers to two consecutive 60 win seasons, and in the prior year, he single handedly dragged Cleveland to the NBA Finals in 2007. Remember, James his team’s final 25 points to defeat the Detroit Pistons to advance from the Conference Finals. To this day, not a soul could characterize his performance as belonging to a loser.
Perhaps the best evidence against Gilbert’s most radical statement is trading for Mo Williams and later Shaquille O’Neal. Both players were brought in to fix problems in previous playoff appearances. Williams was brought in to defend elite point guards, after Tony Parker torched Cleveland in the NBA Finals, and Shaq was obtained to defend Dwight Howard. Of course, Gilbert correctly assessed n 2008 that the Magic center was why the Cavaliers lost in six games. James, on the other hand, played terrificly throughout the entire playoffs. He was consistent, while his teammates faltered.
Watch out, new coach Byron Scott and current General Manager Chris Grant. Dan Gilbert is on the prowl.
- Daniel Radov
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I am absolutely outraged at these comments by Dan Gilbert. Talk about a sore loser. Just look at all the highlights where LeBron has Gilbert's stadium packed to the max. LBJ has single-handedly turned around the franchise and put Gilbert's name on the map. Gilbert should be writing a letter to LeBron thanking him for all he's done. Truly ungrateful and disrespectful on the part of Dan Gilbert. He should be embarassed with himself.
-Cedric
Gilbert has every right to be angry. Lebron destroyed a city, not because he left, because he dragged out his free agency and made his decision on ESPN. Why did Lebron pretend that he was going anywhere but Miami once Bosh signed with them. Maybe he should have not been so bold with his words, but he successfully summed up the feelings of the Cavalier fan base in his letter. I usually don't wish bad things on players, even if i hate them(i.e roethlisberger, polumalu) but i honestly hope that Lebron never wins a ring and is chased out of Miami
-Will
yea i agree with you daniel. king james is left 30 million on the table to go to a place where he will take a lesser role to go on a win a championship. in miami he will go play point forward and maybe even average a triple double. just because he is from akron doesnt mean he needs to tie himself to the city of cleveland, which he put on the nation's basketball map. and gilbert is crazy to say lebron tanked during the playoffs…he was playing at 70 percent (and still dropping 25 plus a game) and had just found out about the affair between his mom and delonte west and was shocked
-john
woundtightstringer330,
i feel no matter which side you believe in, the fact that james had the right to do what he wanted and that Gilberts actions were classless or that lebron desserted the city, i think it is clear that the behavior of Dan Gilbert expressed through this letter is completely out of line and indeed classless, especially at the level of sports entertainment such as the NBA. If he is saying "This shocking act of disloyalty from our homegrown "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." he is being a complete hypocrite. THIS is exactly what the kids should not become when they grow up. He is setting a terrible example while attempting to say that what Lebron did was what they should not look up to. As they guys at monday night football say: C'MON MAN
Gilbert deserved to be angry because of the way Lebron conducted himself throughout. The city of Cleveland and all the other cities deserve to be angry because of how Lebron dragged this out. Lebron is a hypocrite and Gilbert called him out on it. Lebron built a brand that highlighted his ultra-competitiveness and loyalty to everyone. Dan Gilbert was absolutely right when he said that him leaving Cleveland showed who he really is, a narcissistic and ego-driven jerk, and really the fans are to blame for building his ego.
-Will
Dan Gilbert epitomizes a sore loser. If James had destroyed his chances of a career embellished with championships and signed with the Cavs, making an absolutely horrible move for himself and for the city of Cleveland (the fans’ expectations would remain high on a false hope of ever beating Miami, Orlando, or Boston in the postseason and they would face heartbreaking disappointment year in and year out) Gilbert would have praised him as the true “king” and said so much other ass-kissing stuff. But because his team and all the other 4 teams lost to the Heat in the game of Lebron, Gilbert calls him a loser. I understand that he is upset but this is not betrayal in the slightest. Lebron James did what was best for everybody. All Gilbert did with this letter, which he posted on the site in the immature font of comic sans ms, was hurt his chances at signing any good free agents because he displayed his crazy, and he also is becoming a less respectable person than big Ben himself.
You know big ben rapes people right? How is that more respectable than displaying anger. If lebron james had just said im going to Miami when he made the "decision", there would not be so much ill-will. Alonzo Mourning just told the press that he knew Lebron James was coming to Miami days before his decision. Since lebron james waited so he could convince himself how important he was, the other 5 teams pretty much struck out on the rest of the free agents. We are all "witnesses" to the biggest loser in sports,and when i say loser im saying he will never win a championship.
your kidding me when you say he's never going to win a championship right? hes got skills like magic johnson and is gona be paired up with wade and bosh, and if they dont win this year they absolutely will win in the following years as the heat's roster begins to fill out with role players and vets who want a chance to win. you are in some serious denial if you think lebron will never win a championship. and you are also in denial if you don't believe he is the best player in the league
-john
Lets compare Lebron to Magic when Lebron does win championships. How do you win a championship with no three point shooters or servicable big men. Sorry, Mike Miller isnt going to get it done, and neither is Udonis Haslem. The Magic, Celtics, and Bulls have the tools to stop them in the East. Unless Miami can find some really good role players who are willing to take less money, they arent going to win. And whose going to bring up the ball for Miami? Mario Chalmers? And Lebron took himself out of the best player in the league conversation. The best player in the league doesnt need the 3rd best player in the game and another All-star to have a shot at a championship. Kobe had Pau Gasol and Ron Artest. Those two players can barely compare to Bosh and Wade.
Great article.
First and foremost, Gilbert has a responsibility to his team – and making comments like this about a guy who has not only raised the value of the franchise, but made millions upon millions for Gilbert isn’t exactly wise. Potential players will look at the vehemence that Gilbert showed, and think twice before signing on the dotted line.
Some other notes…
- I get Dan’s anger… but the way he expressed it was succumbing to idiocy.
- Absolutely. Comparing James to Magic at the moment is fool’s gold. But that’s not to say that James won’t win a title. With the team that is growing at Miami, I’d say a championship (or 3) is inevitable.
- @Will Baldwin: really? Pau Gasol “can barely compare to Bosh”? What are you smoking? Pau Gasol is vastly superior to Bosh. And plays BOTH ends of the floor. As far as Wade-to-Artest, well… yes: currently Wade’s overall better. But Artest fits what LA needs better than Wade could.