Lebron James (Los Angeles Lakers)

[buckeyesin07]

It does strike me as ... hmmm, 'odd' isn't quite what I want to say... how about 'off?'--- to be so angry at James for deciding to make his money in Miami and so quiet about Steinbrenner spending his in NYC. Seems to me that in a discussion centered on 'loyalty' neither man did Cleveland right

Don't kid yourself--James' decision had nothing to do with where he thought he could make more money. It had to do with him teaming up with the "traveling all-stars" as an easier way to get a ring.

Neither man did Cleveland right? Unless you can point to me where George said he'd never leave Cleveland until he brings a championship there, said that Cleveland led for his services all along when the facts indicate that an alternate plan was hatched years ago, and scheduled a primetime TV event to tell Cleveland that he was going elsewhere (without so much the benefit of informing them beforehand, for fear that it might steal his thunder), then your analogy, quite simply, fails. This is about way more than loyalty, and I find it hard to believe that you honestly can't see the difference between George's history with Cleveland and LBJ's.

 

[cincibuck]

Don't kid yourself--James' decision had nothing to do with where he thought he could make more money. It had to do with him teaming up with the "traveling all-stars" as an easier way to get a ring.

Neither man did Cleveland right? Unless you can point to me where George said he'd never leave Cleveland until he brings a championship there, said that Cleveland led for his services all along when the facts indicate that an alternate plan was hatched years ago, and scheduled a primetime TV event to tell Cleveland that he was going elsewhere (without so much the benefit of informing them beforehand, for fear that it might steal his thunder), then your analogy, quite simply, fails. This is about way more than loyalty, and I find it hard to believe that you honestly can't see the difference between George's history with Cleveland and LBJ's.

How about this: both saw better opportunities elsewhere. I can't fault either for feeling that way -- which is not to say that I believe either couldn't have achieved their goals in Ohio. At least, as I now realize, George tried to make it in Ohio and went with New York when his effort was rebuffed. Babe Ruth traded for the rights to a failed Broadway musical.

Maybe the same argument could be made for LeBron. For whatever reason management in Cleveland couldn't bring in the right personnel -- and as many B-Ball heads on this board have pointed out -- Miami might not be able to either.

As for LeBron's decision to make a national infomercial -- that's bad PR.

As I stated earlier, we're talking about someone who has had GROWN men begging for his autograph since he was in 8th grade, who at age 17 broke the legal authority of OHSAA to keep him from "going pro" i.e. accept gifts not offered to others, in high school, who, without a job or savings, swung a car loan for a $50 to 70K Hummer at age 18, who found an owner who would give him the right to determine who worked FOR the owner, a private masseuse and, I guess, a blow job in a pear tree if he asked for it... and then you expect someone who has lived this kind of existence to turn around and suddenly worry about being Cleveland's saviour?

If you expect an unschooled high school kid to act with integrity you have to show him what that behavior consists of. LeBron was shown ass kissing instead of integrity and in the end he discovered he could get that done anywhere, so why not some place in the sun?

 

[localyokel]

Just curious, when does this thread reach the point of officially

....?

About 20 pages ago.

But it's not just a thread...it's therapy.

(BTW, a repeat tonight at midnight on TWCable: Bill Livingston, Cleveland Plain Dealer columnist, is the guest on STO's All Bets Are Off. Some fairly interesting conversation at times, assuming you can tolerate Mr. Drennan.)

 

[kn1f3party]

As I stated earlier, we're talking about someone who has had GROWN men begging for his autograph since he was in 8th grade, who at age 17 broke the legal authority of OHSAA to keep him from "going pro" i.e. accept gifts not offered to others, in high school, who, without a job or savings, swung a car loan for a $50 to 70K Hummer at age 18, who found an owner who would give him the right to determine who worked FOR the owner, a private masseuse and, I guess, a blow job in a pear tree if he asked for it... and then you expect someone who has lived this kind of existence to turn around and suddenly worry about being Cleveland's saviour?

If you expect an unschooled high school kid to act with integrity you have to show him what that behavior consists of. LeBron was shown ass kissing instead of integrity and in the end he discovered he could get that done anywhere, so why not some place in the sun?

Don't like excuses... never have. If he is too ignorant to understand or care about the consequences of his actions, that is also reason to fault him.

I don't know anybody that is taking the position that what he did was wrong from an economical ethics standpoint--not sure why this keeps coming up?

 

[bassbuckeye07]

Don't like excuses... never have. If he is too ignorant to understand or care about the consequences of his actions, that is also reason to fault him.

I don't know anybody that is taking the position that what he did was wrong from an economical ethics standpoint--not sure why this keeps coming up?

Also I dont understand why the Lebron apologists wont let the rest of us vent........ I feel like when my college girl friend broke up with me and im bitching about her to my friends for cheating on me.... then her friends keep popping into the conversation saying "she did it because you suck" Im all "get the fuck out of here"



hahahahahaha im totally exagerating of course

 

[AuTX Buckeye]

Also I dont understand why the Lebron apologists wont let the rest of us vent........ I feel like when my college girl friend broke up with me and im bitching about her to my friends for cheating on me.... then her friends keep popping into the conversation saying "she did it because you suck" Im all "get the [censored] out of here"



hahahahahaha im totally exagerating of course

Let them apologize for him (I've always enjoyed a good argument even if its with a brick wall), then watch LeBronze show his true colors

Brian Windhorst via Twitter Brian Windhorst (PDcavsinsider) on Twitter

LeBron the recruiter has new target, sources say: Jawad Williams. He's a restricted free agent tho & Cavs interested in bringing him back.

if our team sucked so bad, why is LeBronze recruiting half the guys from the team to come join him for less money in Miami?

Also another interesting story about LeBronze's buddy Maverick Carter

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

Rather sickening display of what a bunch of ghetto street thugs the LeBrontourage really is. One has to wonder how much trouble they are going to get into in South Beach.

OTOH, it's hard to feel too sorry for Dan Gilbert and all his 11th hour morality and rage. After all, he blessed, enabled and covered up for this behavior for years when it suited his plans.

 

[kn1f3party]

Also I dont understand why the Lebron apologists wont let the rest of us vent........ I feel like when my college girl friend broke up with me and im bitching about her to my friends for cheating on me.... then her friends keep popping into the conversation saying "she did it because you suck" Im all "get the [censored] out of here"



hahahahahaha im totally exagerating of course

That is exactly what this is: a bad breakup. Only LeBron went on national television and basically said I'm going to Miami because they are better in bed and will satisfy me. Gilbert, fueled by the enormous self-esteem blow he just took, did the equivalent of berating your ex on Facebook or MySpace. Now us Cavs fans are sulking and need some emotional support while bystanders that aren't in our shoes just say shut up and toughen up.

I haven't found a single Cavs fan that doesn't feel jilted by this. You would think there would be one out there if we were being unreasonable.

 

[localyokel]

Rather sickening display of what a bunch of ghetto street thugs the LeBrontourage really is. One has to wonder how much trouble they are going to get into in South Beach.

Umm hmmm, classy bunch.

That's OK. I'm looking forward with eager anticipation to all the frivolity after LeGoodRiddance's flock of these inevitably come home to roost.



Can't happen a moment too soon for me.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

Not what I'm mad about. I'm mad about him playing the state of Ohio like a fiddle, fooling everyone that believed his bull[censored] about bringing a championship and not quitting until he does. I'm [censored]ed off that he took the biggest [censored] on a sports team that any player ever has on national television. I'm irritated that he dragged the team I love through this [censored] when the decision was made a long time ago. Most importantly, I'm [censored]ed off that he isn't the kid he was 7 years ago, anymore, and he is now a narcissistic monster with little or not motivation to live up to the expectations the NBA world had for him. He is the NBA's A-Rod. That will be his legacy from here on out.

This is where I have an issue with what some people are saying here. He didn't do anything to the state of Ohio. He did it to the Cavs and their fans. If you want to make a giant leap and bring up all the financial implications of where he wants to play, more power to you....but I don't think that should have any effect on his decision.

 

[kn1f3party]

This is where I have an issue with what some people are saying here. He didn't do anything to the state of Ohio. He did it to the Cavs and their fans. If you want to make a giant leap and bring up all the financial implications of where he wants to play, more power to you....but I don't think that should have any effect on his decision.

I may have over-generalized, but saying the Indians and their fans, the Browns and their fans, and the Cavs and their fans just doesn't have the same effect.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

Lebron didn't do anything to the Indians or their fans, or the Browns or their fans. Lebron != Ohio. Cavs fan != Indians fan != Browns fan != Ohio State fan.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Lebron didn't do anything to the Indians or their fans, or the Browns or their fans. Lebron ≠ Ohio. Cavs fan ≠ Indians fan ≠ Browns fan ≠ Ohio State fan.

FIFY

 

[OH10]

My allegiences lie with family, friends, high school, hometown, state of Ohio, The Ohio State University, The University of Akron, Cleveland sports, the United States of America and the human race.

Lebron does not have the same allegiences, nor is he required to do so. However, I feel the same way about him as I would feel if Tim Howard or Landon Donovan left the U.S. to become a Spanish citizen so he'd have a better chance of winning the World Cup. They'd have every right to do so, and I would have every right to call them traitors.

Lebron is a traitor. Plain and simple.

 

[Mike80]

My allegiences lie with family, friends, high school, hometown, state of Ohio, The Ohio State University, The University of Akron, Cleveland sports, the United States of America and the human race.

Lebron does not have the same allegiences, nor is he required to do so. However, I feel the same way about him as I would feel if Tim Howard or Landon Donovan left the U.S. to become a Spanish citizen so he'd have a better chance of winning the World Cup. They'd have every right to do so, and I would have every right to call them traitors.

Lebron is a traitor. Plain and simple.

Well that and no one gives a fuck about soccer outside of World Cup years.