Lebron James (Los Angeles Lakers)

[DontHateOState]

seems pretty obvious after Gilberts childish letter that Bron probably knows him a lot better than all of us. A person who puts out a scathing letter like that 20 seconds after the announcement is probably somebody Bron didn't want to continue playing for anyway.

Somebody in that Cavs organization [censored]ed him off somewhere, that's the only reason for something like this.

For the record, I don't agree with how he went about making the decision live on TV. Could have done it in a better way. But he did raise 5 million bucks for the Boys and Girls club.

I know you're a Michigan fan, but you can't really be this dumb?

The B & G Club was a cover-up so LeBron could have his hour-long, narcissistic, ego-trip, provided by ESPN.

Gilbert bent over backwards to appease LeBron- it's why the Cavs are in this financial trouble right now. If they had said "screw it, we're dumping cap to compete in 2010 free agency," then they'd have as much cap space as the Heat.

LeBron has the right to go elsewhere, but he is not going elsewhere because of Dan Gilbert.

 

[Meyer]

Anyone remember this.....

Lebron James: "I got a goal and it's a huge goal, and that's to bring a championship here to Cleveland. And I won't stop until I get it."

This is why you are a traitor. This is why you are the biggest bitch and biggest pussy and least loyal person I've ever seen. This is why you have no home now. You were from Ohio. [censored] You LeBron James.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_a...i_wont_stop_until_i_bring_title_to_cleveland/

 

[DubCoffman62]

What do you think [censored]ed him off more? His boys getting paid more than Assistant Coaches, or the cars they drove around that were nicer than players like Bobbie Gibson and Anthony Parker?

Maybe it was the personal mausseuse they hired for him because he likes his massages.

They bent over backwards for this guy...only person he can be upset at is Delonte West.

I agree, they totally stroked him, gave him anything he wanted probably too much if you ask me. It's like trying to get into a woman's pants for years, you wine her, dine her, give her everything she asks for only to have her go off and fuck someone else and leaving you with blueballs. I'll say it agin, I think Gilbert handled this badly but at the same time I don't know how the organization could've pissed him off that badly. I do feel for DG and the city as a whole but DG has got to be smarter than that.

 

[jlb1705]

February 19, 2009: If Cleveland traded Wally Szczerbiak's $13 million expiring contract, they could have gotten a legitimate #2 for LeBron, probably would have won 1 or 2 rings, and there would be no Decision (sponsored by the University of Phoenix). Instead, they stand pat, confident of their record and chemistry, only to miss out on two championships and LeBron's entire career.

First of all, your citation was incomplete when you quoted that. That came from one of his readers, not Simmons himself.

Second of all, trade Wally for whom? Casual fans should just watch the playoffs and not concern themselves with the rest. We can see the most people are clearly out of their depth when they try to talk about player movement in the NBA.

 

[coryhulbert]

Just remembering the big "fuck you" he did to Cleveland fans on a couple of occasions. Should have seen this coming I guess. It just makes me wonder if he really ever cared about Cleveland or if he just thought that he was doing the fans a favor and they all owe him.

 

[bukIpower]

I know you're a Michigan fan, but you can't really be this dumb?

The B & G Club was a cover-up so LeBron could have his hour-long, narcissistic, ego-trip, provided by ESPN.

Gilbert bent over backwards to appease LeBron- it's why the Cavs are in this financial trouble right now. If they had said "screw it, we're dumping cap to compete in 2010 free agency," then they'd have as much cap space as the Heat.

LeBron has the right to go elsewhere, but he is not going elsewhere because of Dan Gilbert.

While I agree Gilbert did all in his power to retain Lebron I think they made the wrong moves personnel wise to keep Lebron. Call it Gilbert or Danny Ferry's fault but I just feel that had we gone out and got someone to be more of a threat than say Mo Williams or A.Jamison then Lebron would't have considered Miami. He only left because he knows there's no shot to beat a team like Orlando/Miami/Boston without that Ray Allen, Bosh, or Carter/Lewis. Lebron's Theory is if he can't beat them, then join them. I don't respect that theory and it will hurt his image if he does happen to win a championship but I understand his reason.

Bottom Line is Lebron is taking so much less money in order to join up with two talents who are on the same level as him. If he would've left for the money I would be with everyone who's calling him a traitor, but he's not doing it for the money he's doing it to win NOW. Sure, the cavs may have won with Lebron next year but boy would it be tough to turn down Bosh/Wade. Those three are 3/5 of the all star starting lineup! I'm shocked he left home, but I'm more shocked that he turned down probably an extra 5-7 million a year.

 

[buckeyemania11]

Bottom Line is Lebron is taking so much less money in order to join up with two talents who are on the same level as him. If he would've left for the money I would be with everyone who's calling him a traitor, but he's not doing it for the money he's doing it to win NOW. Sure, the cavs may have won with Lebron next year but boy would it be tough to turn down Bosh/Wade. Those three are 3/5 of the all star starting lineup! I'm shocked he left home, but I'm more shocked that he turned down probably an extra 5-7 million a year.

I dont buy this

if he really wanted to just win a title why doesnt he play for like 12 mil per year, so the heat can have some money to sign some solid bench guys

im sure he will more than make up that 5-7 mil in endorsements

he is not going to be hurting for money, so trying to make him out as a "noble" guy for leaving to play for not a huge amount less (which will be made up in endorsements and other crap) is idiotic

 

[Buckskin86]

LeBron James Fathead Price Cut Is Sparked by Birthyear of Benedict Arnold
By Barry Rothbard - Jul 9, 2010

Even Benedict Arnold has been dragged into LeBron James?s decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat.

A company held by Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert -- who last night called James?s decision an act of cowardly betrayal -- cut the price of James memorabilia to $17.41, echoing the year of Arnold?s birth.

Gilbert?s Fathead LLC had sold life-size wall stickers of James in a Cavaliers uniform for as much as $99.99. Arnold was a colonial army officer who offered to surrender West Point to the British for money during the Revolutionary War.

LeBron James Fathead Price Cut Is Sparked by Birthyear of Benedict Arnold - Bloomberg

LeBron James Slam Dunk - Cleveland Cavaliers - NBA - Fathead Official Site

 

[redbenn]

First of all, your citation was incomplete when you quoted that. That came from one of his readers, not Simmons himself.

Second of all, trade Wally for whom? Casual fans should just watch the playoffs and not concern themselves with the rest. We can see the most people are clearly out of their depth when they try to talk about player movement in the NBA.

I would think when someone posts THE MAILBAG, a quote from the article, would be from a reader.

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

Even if James had handled everything perfectly, there still would be a portion of Cleveland fans that would vilify him for the crime of leaving. That's just an unfortunate reality. What makes this different and why people all over the country have reevaluated James character go far beyond his leaving.

• The high likelihood that this was all planned out with Wade and Bosh before this season even started meaning that this whole tortured process has been nothing more than an elaborate--and increasingly half assed--publicity stunt.
  
• The accounts of his petulant and narcissistic behavior while with the Cavs organization.
  
• The amateurish, half-witted entourage running his business affairs
  
• The Decision--and frankly trying to disguise that self-indulgent p.r. stunt as charity just made it even more wretched
  
• Pussying out and heading to the team where he can win a ring without being the team leader

Combine all this, and you have absolute fail in regards to his brand, his on-court legacy and his public relations that goes far, far beyond the Cuyahoga.

 

[DubCoffman62]

While I agree Gilbert did all in his power to retain Lebron I think they made the wrong moves personnel wise to keep Lebron. Call it Gilbert or Danny Ferry's fault but I just feel that had we gone out and got someone to be more of a threat than say Mo Williams or A.Jamison then Lebron would't have considered Miami. He only left because he knows there's no shot to beat a team like Orlando/Miami/Boston without that Ray Allen, Bosh, or Carter/Lewis. Lebron's Theory is if he can't beat them, then join them. I don't respect that theory and it will hurt his image if he does happen to win a championship but I understand his reason.

Bottom Line is Lebron is taking so much less money in order to join up with two talents who are on the same level as him. If he would've left for the money I would be with everyone who's calling him a traitor, but he's not doing it for the money he's doing it to win NOW. Sure, the cavs may have won with Lebron next year but boy would it be tough to turn down Bosh/Wade. Those three are 3/5 of the all star starting lineup! I'm shocked he left home, but I'm more shocked that he turned down probably an extra 5-7 million a year.

I just don't see how he has a better chance of winning in Miami. Three superstars yes, but the rest of the roster has nothing. I think he's have had a better chance staying put. They did have the best record in the league and a new coach with a good track record. Who knows what could've happened.

 

[bukIpower]

I guess the only beef I have with Lebron now is that if Money wasn't his issue he should've took a pay cut and allowed a big name to max out with the Cavs. That way he still would've been the best/leader here at home, and he would've then gotten the chance to stay home.

 

[PlanetFrnd]

amazingly, I can see the humor in this now... ihatelebronjames.com

 

[BuckeyeTillIDie]

The question is.. will all of us remember yesterday for the rest of our lives?

(callback to a Broussard tweet earlier in the week)

 

[Gatorubet]