This one hurts.
Northeast Ohio native LeBron James has turned his back on us. Arguably the greatest pro athlete ever to call Cleveland home has decided he'd rather play in Miami. He's chosen to leave the team that plays an hour from his hometown in order to play in a city to which he has absolutely no personal connection whatsoever. Not to mention, he left $30 million on the table to do it.
Over the 11 hours or so since LeBron made his announcement last night, I've had about a million different things go through my head that I thought about addressing in this space this morning, and if I had all day to write this post, I probably still wouldn't get to them all. But I think the thing that hurts the most about this is the knowledge that LeBron will probably win multiple NBA championships, but not for Cleveland.
It's hard to make sense of what LeBron just did. I can't help but think he doesn't really understand it himself. A celebrity of LeBron's stature lives his life in a bubble, and while he certainly knows he'll be leaving behind some hurt feelings back here, I don't think he realizes the full ramifications of this. If he'd stayed in Cleveland, he'd have been the city's greatest athletic hero of all time. After he retired, they'd have built a statue of him outside the Q (or whatever it'll be called then). He'd be universally loved in his hometown of Akron and the entire region. Now, he'll be forever despised here. This is not like Manny Ramirez or Jim Thome leaving for more money somewhere else. This is someone who was from here and could have made more money to stay, but chose to leave anyway. The fact that he's his sport's best player makes it hurt just that much more.
LeBron's stated reason for going to Miami is that he feels that's his best chance to win a title. I must admit, you can look at the Heat roster as it stands now and defend that sentiment. They've got Dwyane Wade and now Chris Bosh to go along with LeBron. I do believe LeBron is genuine when he says that's his reason for leaving. But here's the thing about that — he could have won a title in Cleveland THIS YEAR, if he himself had played up to his own standards in the playoffs. He wasn't the only Cavalier who didn't play well in the Boston series, but we've seen him play a whole lot better than he did then. Yes, with players like Wade and Bosh on his side, he won't shoulder so much of a burden, but if he'd stayed in Cleveland, the Cavs could have gotten him somebody like that. Bosh balked at playing with LeBron in Cleveland, but if LeBron had made the decision to stay here, I'll bet Bosh would have reconsidered.
Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert's angry letter to fans guarantees that the Cavaliers will win a title before LeBron does. I wish I could believe that. Without a marquee player like LeBron, this team will be lucky just to reach the playoffs next year.
We Cleveland sports fans have been through a lot in our lives, and every time we see an event such as The Drive or The Shot or Jose Mesa's meltdown, it's another dagger in our hearts. As I've matured over my 39 years on this planet, I've learned to try to keep myself from getting too wrapped up in the outcomes of sporting events. Ever since the world learned what LeBron James has chosen to do with the next five years of his life, I've tried very hard to remind myself that it's just sports, that it's not really anything important. But so far, I haven't really been able to convince myself that this doesn't hurt.
It does. It hurts like hell.
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7 comments:
Couldn't have said it better. And I agree that he doesn't fully understand the ramifications. Reflecting on last night's circus, I am struck by how uncomfortable everyone looked - including LeBron himself. He didn't look happy pre or post-announcement. And when shown footage of someone burning his jersey, he said, "I can't get into all that." Well, you're in it buddy. You're in it to win it, apparently.
He is a punk.
Didn't take very long for him to go from the most loved...to the most hated person in Ohio.
Mullett, while LeBron's departure from Cleveland is tragic for the city's sports scene, I believe he's getting undeserved criticism.
After all, he honored his contract with the Cavs and vastly increased attendance, winning percentage and the value of the franchise -- singlehandedly.
Here is a list of things that LeBron has NOT done:
* held out to try and renegotiate a contract;
* criticized team ownership or coaches;
* been convicted or even arrested for a crime;
* made a promise to anyone that he would remain a Cleveland Cavalier forever.
Steve, he honored his contract and now he has the option -- like anyone who signs a contract that expires -- to search for another position that is more to his liking.
Just what exactly has LeBron done to merit people's anger?
(OK, maybe the hour-long ESPN show was a bit over the top, but that didn't hurt anyone -- but he DID raise a lot of money for a charity).
People have compared LeBron's choice to not re-sign with Cleveland to when Art Modell moved the Browns away from Cleveland.
To me, it's an apples to oranges comparison.
First of all, Modell signed a lease -- made a commitment -- to the City of Cleveland that he would stay, and he broke that lease (a contract).
LeBron didn't break any commitment.
He was honest throughout his decision-making process, and he was under no obligation to tell anyone anything -- he's a grown man and it's his decision.
Furthermore, after being the most hyped high school basketball player ever, he not only lived up to the ridiculously high expectations, he EXCEEDED them -- at least as an individual.
How many high profile high school or college players have failed to live up to their potential as a professional athlete?
Hundreds? Thousands?
What do you think of my assessment, Steve?
Agreed Steve and well said. This just hurts.
However, I do think that LeBron understood what he was doing. It’s hard to leave your home. As Jen said, he didn’t look happy. In a perfect world I bet LeBron would have preferred to have Bosh and Wade come to Cleveland. But that wasn’t happening and in James’ judgment it was best for him to leave.
I also disagree James is the sport’s best player. The best player doesn’t play against the Celtics like he did, whether you believe he quit or not.
I wish Gilbert hadn’t been quite so harsh. I understand his anger and James should have done some things differently. But Gilbert made the Cavs look bad also.
More than anything I just feel sad at this whole situation. Cleveland deserves better. There are a lot of good people there.
As a die-hard Green Bay Packer fan, I feel your pain. Brett may not have been born and raised in the region, but for 16 years he made Wisconsin his 6-month-plus home where he hunted, fished, golfed, married, raised his family. The community embraced him and his in so many ways. He, too, left for what he perceived to be greener pastures. However, I believe that the sweetest revenge is to push forward with your team, light a fire under them without that "star" and go on to many victories. Hope the Cavs will show the world this development is only deeper motivation.
Mullett, about Dan Gilbert's trashing of LeBron James in the media:
* I'm sure it was cathartic for him, as a way to blow off some of his steam; and
* Cleveland fans sure appreciated it.
However, after a short-term victory march, it could have long-term consequences that further undermine the Cavs ability to return to respectability:
What free agent players are going to want to play in Cleveland now?
If they fear being condemned and trashed by the owner of the team if they do something he doesn't like, why would they subject themselves to that?
Especially when Cleveland already doesn't have much appeal as a destination for top-tier players... why would Gilbert make it all the more difficult on himself by doing this?
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