Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight; As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier. This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment. Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us. The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you. There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you. You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal. You have given so much and deserve so much more. In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight: "I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE" You can take it to the bank. If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our "motivation" to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels. Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there. Sorry, but that's simply not how it works. This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow-up to become. But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called "curse" on Cleveland, Ohio. The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south. And until he does "right" by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma. Just watch. Sleep well, Cleveland. Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day.... I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only: DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue.... http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/gilbert_letter_100708.html
Doing it in a standard press conference, borderline forgivable. Doing it on national TV on an hour long egotistical special? When it's your hometown? That's cowardly betrayal.
Congratulations on your owner having balls, Cavs fans. Channeling Bad Boys' Mike Lowery: "Now that's how you write and Eff You letter! From now on, THAT'S how you write an Eff You letter!"
I agree its just the beginning of the skeletons in the closet coming out for LeBron. They are going to crucify him in Cleveland. He's become a pariah.
Not even close. No matter how passionate the hate is for LeBron right now, it'll always be 1. Modell 2. anybody else because of what he did to this city.
Dan Gilbert sucks, if he had put in more effort in surrounding LeBron with quality teammates instead of just depending on LeBron to carry the load then maybe he would have stayed. Basketball is a team sport. LeBron did his best getting the Cavs the best record but that's the farthest he could go with the team he was given. Sucks for Cleveland. LeBron put that city on the map, and now he's wiped it off. Haters need to stop blaming individual superstars because it is the organizations' job to build a team, not the players'.
Yep, and it's a superstar's job to commit to the franchise and give them a shot to build long term rather than signing shorter contracts and amping up the pressure by threatening to leave. Or, in this case, working it out with his buddies years in advance that he's leaving anyway to play in South Beach. LeBron's the villain here, not Gilbert.
I'd understand the frustration of the Cleveland fans with their best player leaving them and announcing it on TV and all. but don't you think it's too much. LeBron did pass up more money and left his hometown to go and win championships. I think its great that he's able to admit that he can't do it alone and I doubt it was an easy decision for him to leave.
And I think it's absolutely unforgivable to do it on national tv on a one hour special. There's decorum regarding this sort of thing, I could have accepted it had he just done a press conference with his new team, but this...this was classless.
I disagree. The Cavs did build a Championship team and took on the expensive contracts to support LeBron. This team was the #1 seed two straight years and won over 60 games. They were the favorites both times to win the title what more could the Cavs have done? It's not like the other 29 teams in the league want to help the MVP out either. Also raidenman made a key point. Other marquee free agents weren't sure what LeBron was going to do so they wouldn't commit to the Cavs long term.
Case in point, Trevor Ariza last year. Would not commit to the Cavs, went to the Rockets because LeBron would not commit to being here this year.
They won because of LeBron the rest of the cast is mediocre. In the playoffs Mo can't hit a bucket against the Magic or Celtics which is all that matters. They could have done something with Mo Williams who played terrible the year before (Derek Fisher is your second best player), and was the reason they lost two titles. They didn't hire the coach to put the best possible lineups on the court. LeBron gave them seven years, no one said they had to make quick moves and win it all in one season. And Bosh wouldn't come to the Cavs even with a Sign and Trade for Max dollars and Lebron going back. They made a decision to take less money in Miami.
Cavs fans are wondering why LeBron didn't make the same recruiting efforts when he played for them. He blew off Ariza, he blew off Amare, he blew off Tom Izzo, who knows who else he slighted along the way.
