I wouldn't stay at a job for more than 7 years if my boss couldn't hire some comptent coworkers. Stop crying like little bitches and Dan Gilbert, you exhibited the lack of class that you claimed James didn't have. I applaud James for taking less money for a chance to win.
Agree completely. He didn't leave for more money. He didn't leave to go to a rival like the Pistons or Bulls. He just wanted the best chance to win a ring.
He gave 7 great years in his prime to Cleveland. He made them a better team by far and took most Cavs fans on one of the most exciting rides in the franchise history. He fulfilled his 7 year contract and just decided to try another option to win a ring.
None of the fans are saying thanks for the great years, just ripping him apart.
How could you go to southbeach, passing up this????:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysmLA5TqbIY&feature=player_embedded
All these big-city reporters making the same statement that he owes NE Ohio "nothing" don't know what they are talking about and neither do you.
If you have read any books on LeBron James (biographies) you would know that the people of Akron took in and raised the young man even before he was anybody to anybody else. His mother gave him away and he was taken in by the city, boy's and girl's clubs of Akron, local parents, the tax payers, St. V St. M HS (who do you think payed James's tuition for this private school??), etc...Then he goes and does the citizens of Akron/Cleveland like this...
So he's obligated to play for them the rest of hs life? LeBron more than paid his debt back if he even had one in the first place. He earned their economy hundreds of millions of dollars, lived up to the hype, revived a franchise, brought significance to Cleveland sports, and fulfilled his contract. Now he has to move on to what is best for him and do what he wants, not what a bunch of ungrateful idiots in Ohio want.
It hurts to agree w/ Nobama.
He's obligated to end his career with Cleveland in a classy way considering how much the people of NE Ohio helped him out as a young kid. People in CLE are largely upset about the move to MIA due to the egotistic approach, holding the city hostage, not even answering phone calls from Dan Gilbert, etc, etc...why did he need to stab his home on National Television and make a mockery of the process?
Falk wrote:
Agree completely. He didn't leave for more money.
I don't think he was obligated to stay. But just don't do the whole spotlight and build-up. He had to have the spotlight on himself when he was knocked out of the play offs.
As for the money - c'mon. The tax situation is just a little different in Miami and mechandising and other $$$ not related to his salary....
You are a fool if you think he is not getting some nice payola.
needless to say:
I'm glad he's in Miami now, I was sick and tired of the only team getting televised games to be cleveland. Aside from Lebron, the cavs are/were easily the most boring team to watch in the nba, and now they won't get any air time and I couldn't be more glad. Go Miami!
Ralphy wrote:
If you have read any books on LeBron James (biographies) you would know that the people of Akron took in and raised the young man even before he was anybody to anybody else. His mother gave him away and he was taken in by the city, boy's and girl's clubs of Akron, local parents, the tax payers, St. V St. M HS (who do you think payed James's tuition for this private school??), etc...Then he goes and does the citizens of Akron/Cleveland like this...
So now he's in debt to Cleveland for the rest of his life and can't ever move away to a nicer part of the country or to take a better job?
Nobama...you're are correct but only partly. He owes NEO nothing as a person, but professionally he did not handle the simple business-end of this with much class.
You cannot disagree that scheduling a one hour special on ESPN wasn't more than a bit narcissistic and a direct kick in the teeth to Cleveland. It is clear in hindsight he knew what he wanted to do all along, but dragged this out far too long and left the franchise with no other free agents to go after.
The backlash in Cleveland is more about the HOW and not nearly as much about the WHY. The morons burning jerseys etc. are found in every city - nobody likes them and I wish ESPN wouldn't keep showing those guys few people over and over. The rest of us cursed at the TV then moved on.
I live in Cleveland and have never understood why so many, especially posters on this board, bash our town. Its a good place to live. Yeah, we have some problems and issues, but we'll move on.
Ralphy
All these big-city reporters making the same statement that he owes NE Ohio "nothing" don't know what they are talking about and neither do you.
If you have read any books on LeBron James (biographies) you would know that the people of Akron took in and raised the young man even before he was anybody to anybody else. His mother gave him away and he was taken in by the city, boy's and girl's clubs of Akron, local parents, the tax payers, St. V St. M HS (who do you think payed James's tuition for this private school??), etc...Then he goes and does the citizens of Akron/Cleveland like this...
Hmmmmm, well your facts are a little off, but anyway...just to humor you.....To point out the obvious the whole city didnt take him in, and he more then paid that debt in all the years that he played basketball in Cleveland bringing in an upward of $150 million per year to the economy of Cleveland. That should more then cover any cost it took to raise him....and if you knew anything about Lebron you would know that he was only apart from his mom for a short period of his childhood....and the money that he donated to the boys and girls clubs last night from the show, more then makes up for any money the tax payers paid raising Lebron.
Now onto the cost of his private school tuition....well that was covered by all the revenue the school made off from him during his 4 years there, and the 3 state titles that he helped them win.....funny you dont recall the school over-charging there basketball games and the tv money they got.
LEBRON DOESNT OWE THE CRAP STATE OF OHIO ANYTHING, HE MORE THEN PAID HIS DEBT THAT YOU CLAIMED HE HAD!!!!
The NBA is a business people. Lebron James did what was best for his personal business and for the NBA. Noone should care that he left the way he did except for the sad Cleveland fans. It is now exciting to think of Lebron and Wade playing together in a sexy town like Miami. Like it or not this is great for the NBA. Hopefully we will finally get a Lebron/Kobe finals.
Dave the Dude wrote:
I don't think he was obligated to stay. But just don't do the whole spotlight and build-up. He had to have the spotlight on himself when he was knocked out of the play offs.
As for the money - c'mon. The tax situation is just a little different in Miami and mechandising and other $$$ not related to his salary....
You are a fool if you think he is not getting some nice payola.
Spot on. I don't believe they pay state taxes in Florida, I could be wrong. At his level of pay that could be a huge amount extra in his pocket. Besides, who the heck would want to stay in Cleveland any longer? His legacy is at stake here, he will be judged by how many rings he has on his fingers, good for him for leaving. And I'm an Ohio resident who has been a casual fan of Cleveland since Mark Price and the rest were getting owned my M.J.
If not for Lebron, Cleveland would be Detroit.
LeBron should do be able to do what he wants, go with a better team, better money, whatever, it's his life and career. But it just was not classy HOW he did it. He by design made it a media event, which ended up just heightening the embarrassment of Cleveland, getting kicked to the curb on prime time TV. No class.
It just encourages spoiled elite high school player to do the same thing. It makes me sick when high school basketball players hold press conferences with the hats of three different universities in from of them and fake and bob in front of the cameras as to which one they pick.
Well,
He did not have to stay.
But, the way he did it, he really tore out the heart of all of Cleveland.
This is his home town? This is how he lets them know?
I guarentee you, no matter how many rings he gets, he will never be a king in Ohio ever ever again.
The people of Cleveland deserved better, that's all.
He lead them on, and didn't even address them alone.
He made no effort in the playoffs. Dwayne Wade won rings without King James.
James hasn't won anything!!
F*** cleveland, F*** dan gilbert, F*** all of the crybabies questioning lebrons loyalty. There is no loyalty in professional sports, not from ownership, not from players, and definately not from fans. Tough choice... South Beach, or The Mistake by the Lake
eat me wrote:
F*** cleveland, F*** dan gilbert, F*** all of the crybabies questioning lebrons loyalty. There is no loyalty in professional sports, not from ownership, not from players, and definately not from fans. Tough choice... South Beach, or The Mistake by the Lake
Exactly!
Kobe asked for help and got Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. Pierce asked for help and got Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. LeBron asks for help and gets Anderson Verajo, some guy who's sister is better than him (Anthony Parker), a washed up Shaq who's more worried about being a cop, a guy in Delonte West who's bangin' his mom, and some dude named Boobie.
Now ask youself Cleveland...why do you think he bolted? Your owner (who's from Michigan) took advantage of you and LeBron and now he's tugging your heart strings not so that you hate LeBron, but so that he can keep nickel and dimeing you fools to buy season tickets by thinking that he's on yourside. Straight business 101