Cavs Owner's Open Letter to Fans... Lol

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by peter12

At the end of the day, he is wealthier and smarter than LeBron James. He signed the guy's cheques for the first part of his career, I'm sure he expected some loyalty.

Well clearly he and his GM wasn't smart enough there. The media has been expecting James to leave two years ago. If they weren't absolutely certain that he was going to stay, considering the market interest he would have if he gone to FA, they should have got him locked up earlier. If he should indication he wasn't that interested, then the only thing you can fault him on is bringing too much attention to himself.

But the media and people are completely sucking this up, so who's to blame James for taking a once in a lifetime opportunity to be front page news all over America.

[Bertuzzied]

wow there are people that actually give sympathy to Lebonbon? hahaha

The guy will get what he deserves. Either no title or one where he is a passenger.

and no wonder that Lebonbon special was so god awful. It was the idea of Jim Gray. the worst sportscaster/interviewer in the US.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Joborule

Well clearly he and his GM wasn't smart enough there. The media has been expecting James to leave two years ago. If they weren't absolutely certain that he was going to stay, considering the market interest he would have if he gone to FA, they should have got him locked up earlier. If he should indication he wasn't that interested, then the only thing you can fault him on is bringing too much attention to himself.

But the media and people are completely sucking this up, so who's to blame James for taking a once in a lifetime opportunity to be front page news all over America.

Lebron was the one that never said to the Cavs he was gone. He kept them hanging.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Azure

Lebron was the one that never said to the Cavs he was gone. He kept them hanging.

Exactly, the Cav's felt good about the meetings that had happened between James and themselves.

It was James who delayed letting teams know so that he could have his superstar mega variety hour on T.V.

I doubt that the owners are going to treat the Cav's owner badly at owners meetings, in fact with the exception of Miami's owner he's going to be a bit of a folk hero for blasting James over his backstabbery.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Azure

Lebron was the one that never said to the Cavs he was gone. He kept them hanging.

Nah, should never allowed the player to hold the hammer. Give the player an ultimatum. The team must always be in control of the situation. Why is it Iginla is never a free agent? Because the Flames lock him up first.

'If you like us, you sign an extension now. If you refuse to sign an extension now then you don't like us and we'll explore other avenues."

They hung on to Lebron to get that elusive championship and loved having the fans fill the arena every night. That's the risk they took.

[IliketoPuck]

Apparently Miami is the team to beat now.

I asked my college basketball friends what they thought of the move, and to put it in terms that I would understand.

They said that Bosh, Wade and LeBron playing on the same team would be the equivalent of Team Canada playing against a regular NHL hockey team.

I'm shocked at the size of LeBron's ego though, and even though he "donated to charity" the fact that he had an hour long love fest about himself on ESPN just shows how egotistical and shallow the guy is.

[CaptainCrunch]

Except that its pretty rare that a all star team builds championships.

Just because you buy three huge stars the cost has to come from somewhere, and the Heat will lose some games due to bench strength, rebounding etc.

[IliketoPuck]

Agreed, they have no choice but to compensate their salary structure with avg to below avg bench players.

But those are 3 awefully good ball players. My thought is just how 3 alpha dogs will be able to share the limelight as a cohesive team or not.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Nah, should never allowed the player to hold the hammer. Give the player an ultimatum. The team must always be in control of the situation. Why is it Iginla is never a free agent? Because the Flames lock him up first.

'If you like us, you sign an extension now. If you refuse to sign an extension now then you don't like us and we'll explore other avenues."

They hung on to Lebron to get that elusive championship and loved having the fans fill the arena every night. That's the risk they took.

Yeah but Jarome had to agree to that. He could've left if he really wanted to. Let's not fail to understand that Jarome Iginla is pretty much one of, if not the most classy person in pro sports. None of these NBA superstars could hold a candle to his level of professionalism.

Its funny how guys like Lebron try to put up a bit of a front to being a modest, humble superstar, but you watch how they operate and its clear they have bought into their own hype. Iginla has never once come across that way.

[nik-]

Just because Bosh was the main guy on the Raptors doesn't mean he's an Alpha dog, and I think LeBron has definitely shown he's not an alpha dog in the last week.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Igottago

Yeah but Jarome had to agree to that. He could've left if he really wanted to. Let's not fail to understand that Jarome Iginla is pretty much one of, if not the most classy person in pro sports. None of these NBA superstars could hold a candle to his level of professionalism.

Its funny how guys like Lebron try to put up a bit of a front to being a modest, humble superstar, but you watch how they operate and its clear they have bought into their own hype. Iginla has never once come across that way.

Exactly.

Jarome sat down with the Flames and got the contact extension signed without even giving anyone the indication of going to free agency. It was all very respectful, very professional.

Lebron on the other hand kept the Cavs hanging till the end, and then screwed them over anyways.

[MJM]

Originally Posted by nik-

Just because Bosh was the main guy on the Raptors doesn't mean he's an Alpha dog, and I think LeBron has definitely shown he's not an alpha dog in the last week.

Bosh is a compliment player. If you can't lead your team into the playoffs in the pathetic Eastern Conference, you are not an elite player. Simple as that. Can't say I really care that he is moving on, just wish the Raps had got more for him, and he had handled it with a little more class.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Azure

Exactly.

Jarome sat down with the Flames and got the contact extension signed without even giving anyone the indication of going to free agency. It was all very respectful, very professional.

Lebron on the other hand kept the Cavs hanging till the end, and then screwed them over anyways.

Yup but that is my point. If I were owner or GM, I only want the type of player like Jarome on my team. If Lebron doesn't sit down with me and hammer out a deal respectfully or professionally then I'll trade him while I still can. Don't put myself in a situation to get screwed.

None of this hope and mystery stuff. They put Lebron up on a pedestal while not locking him up to get a few extra butts in the seats and paid for it.

[malcolmk14]

As a die-hard LeBron fan since about 2001 (his junior year), the last five days have been heartbreaking and disappointing. I've always known deep down that athletes don't look at pro sports like fans do, but this was the first time in my life that I've ever felt betrayed by an athlete that I adored.

It's not even that he left Cleveland. That I can at least understand. The way he did it (absolutely murdering the city in cold blood on national TV) was immature and narcissistic. Even that I'm not too broken up about, he's essentially a 25 year old teenager with no father figure and no one around to tell him he should know better. That's not really any fault of his own, he's just incredibly naive.

What bothers me the most is finding out that LeBron's priorities just aren't in the proper place to make him great. He had the potential to be one of those generationally transcendent athletes, and really put his mark on basketball for a decade, like Michael Jordan.

LeBron chose playing pick-up basketball with his buddies over winning, and that's the most disturbing part of all this. He now has zero chance of ever being mentioned in the same breath as some of the greatest athletes of our time. His ceiling was Michael Jordan greatness. Now that's not even a remote possibility. And that's the most disappointing part for me, a guy with that talent and that image threw all that potential away for some fun with his buddies in Miami.

Would Jordan have ever done something like this? Not a chance. He would have gone to Chicago, stayed in Cleveland, gone to New York, and destroyed Wade and Bosh on the court.

This to me, is the equivalent of Tiger Woods just picking up and going to the Nationwide Tour. Yeah, he would still be the most talented golfer in the game, arguably of all time, but he'd never be considered great if he doesn't take on and conquer the biggest challenges possible.

[Jason14h]

If Lebron doesn't sit down with me and hammer out a deal respectfully or professionally then I'll trade him while I still can. Don't put myself in a situation to get screwed.

Cleveland had the best record in the NBA..... And you would trade the best player unless he signed an extension before the season was over?

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Cleveland had the best record in the NBA..... And you would trade the best player unless he signed an extension before the season was over?

Pretty much.

An extremely tough position to be in. Especially considering they could have won it all this past year.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

As a die-hard LeBron fan since about 2001 (his junior year), the last five days have been heartbreaking and disappointing. I've always known deep down that athletes don't look at pro sports like fans do, but this was the first time in my life that I've ever felt betrayed by an athlete that I adored.

It's not even that he left Cleveland. That I can at least understand. The way he did it (absolutely murdering the city in cold blood on national TV) was immature and narcissistic. Even that I'm not too broken up about, he's essentially a 25 year old teenager with no father figure and no one around to tell him he should know better. That's not really any fault of his own, he's just incredibly naive.

What bothers me the most is finding out that LeBron's priorities just aren't in the proper place to make him great. He had the potential to be one of those generationally transcendent athletes, and really put his mark on basketball for a decade, like Michael Jordan.

LeBron chose playing pick-up basketball with his buddies over winning, and that's the most disturbing part of all this. He now has zero chance of ever being mentioned in the same breath as some of the greatest athletes of our time. His ceiling was Michael Jordan greatness. Now that's not even a remote possibility. And that's the most disappointing part for me, a guy with that talent and that image threw all that potential away for some fun with his buddies in Miami.

Would Jordan have ever done something like this? Not a chance. He would have gone to Chicago, stayed in Cleveland, gone to New York, and destroyed Wade and Bosh on the court.

This to me, is the equivalent of Tiger Woods just picking up and going to the Nationwide Tour. Yeah, he would still be the most talented golfer in the game, arguably of all time, but he'd never be considered great if he doesn't take on and conquer the biggest challenges possible.

I used to like the guy too.

But his true side has come through now. He will not even come close to licking the soles of Jordan's shoes.

[malcolmk14]

The "Cold-Blooded Assassin" is the most appealing sports figure to me. I thought for years that LeBron had it in his DNA. He had the look, the swagger, the ability.

He just didn't have the drive or the determination. How unfortunate.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

James is now the biggest villain in the NBA and because of it I think his reputation will forever be tarnished. He could've been up there with the all time greats and now he will be forever hated.

Unless of course Miami wins like 6 titles in a row. Then he'll be a hero again.

[CaptainCrunch]

I can't wait to see how the Cav's promote his return to Cleveland.

I'm guessing free guns and grenade day are out.