With the LeBron James "decision" brings the question, where is the loyalty in sports? Quick answer. Never has,never will be. Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert found this out the hard way. Now he's acting like an angry ex wife whose husband has decided that he wants to move on because he knows things aren't going to work out.
Thing is,Gilbert tried a dirtbag move when he tried to pry Tom Izzo out of Mchigan State. Nevermind the fact that Michigan is the place where Izzo was born and raised and he bleeds green and white. He fired a coach and general manager that got the Cavaliers to their only Finals appearance in franchise history. There's no loyalty there. So,of course when James skips town, he questions his loyalty to the franchise, city of Cleveland, and the state of Ohio. Furthermore, selling James' Fathead for $17.41. The year 1741 is Benedict Arnold's birth year.
I can understand his frustration. He just doesn't have to act like a child that didn't get his way. Cavalier fans were already running around burning James jerseys and the way it was going it could've been a near riot.Then Gilbert writes his open letter to te fans to further stir up the hornets nest. I do see where he's coming from. Circling the wagons, rallying the fans, to keep some interest in his team. Especially since its value is losing millions as we speak. With the open letter, he might have saved a little value. But we all know that the Cavs are gonna be worth a 77 Pinto and a bag of hockey pucks when its all said and done. He could've done this differently. I don't disagree with what he did, just how he did it. He did this clumsily and it could cost him with high profile players in the future.
Gilbert is a businessman, a pretty good one from what I understand. I'm sure he's had to let some people go in this current economic climate. He should know this is a cutthroat world and sports isn't any different. He should go ask Mike Brown and Danny Ferry about that.
Friday, July 9, 2010
The King's Final Decision
The LeBron-a-thon is finally over. After weeks of specualation and self promoting, LeBron James decided that Miami was the place he wanted to be. Its now time to usher in the era of "buddyball" as James will join Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade wth the Miami Heat.
I don't blame LeBron for leaving Cleveland. He was a free agent. Something every professional athlete works for, namely to better teir situation,financial or otherwise. Basketball wise I would've chosen Chicago,but word on the street is that Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf wouldn't give James' "team" the run of Chicago. You know James' team, His buddies from high school,hangers on that get perks like LeBron and get their bills paid for being yes men for him. Anyways, the way the Cavs were constructed they would've contended,but it just seems that whoever they put around him just doesn't seem to work out there. I personally don't think tey would've won a title. But if James stays and they win,its his title. He wouldn't look like the carpetbagger he is today. He truly would've been King James. Now it looks like he's trying to piggyback his way towards a title. I don't blame him though. He wants to be a champion and he figures going to play in Miami is the best way to get one or more. He left millions on the table to go chase a ring. Cavs fans, what is the crime in that? None last time I checked. I had a previous post about forgoing money for titles. There's nothing wrong with that. I just don't agree with the way he did it. We didn't need a faux 60 Minutes special for him to make his "decision" and dragging this out.
Everyone will say the Heat is trying to buy a title. Doing it the "Yankee Way". Once again there's nothing wrong with an owner willing to come up with money to spend to get a winner in the city their in. The only problem I see is their current depth. Who do they get to surround Bosh,James, and Wade? At least the Celtics had a few young pieces in place when their big three won their championship. I guess they have a deal with Mike Miller, but also traded former number two pick,Michael Beasley to Minnesota. Also don't be surprised if Pat Riley finds his way back to the bench, backstabbing Erik Spoelstra, just like he did Stan Van Gundy. Don't hand the championship to them just yet, as they still have to contend with Orlando, the "Green Monster" in Boston, and of course, Kobe and the Lakers.
I don't blame LeBron for leaving Cleveland. He was a free agent. Something every professional athlete works for, namely to better teir situation,financial or otherwise. Basketball wise I would've chosen Chicago,but word on the street is that Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf wouldn't give James' "team" the run of Chicago. You know James' team, His buddies from high school,hangers on that get perks like LeBron and get their bills paid for being yes men for him. Anyways, the way the Cavs were constructed they would've contended,but it just seems that whoever they put around him just doesn't seem to work out there. I personally don't think tey would've won a title. But if James stays and they win,its his title. He wouldn't look like the carpetbagger he is today. He truly would've been King James. Now it looks like he's trying to piggyback his way towards a title. I don't blame him though. He wants to be a champion and he figures going to play in Miami is the best way to get one or more. He left millions on the table to go chase a ring. Cavs fans, what is the crime in that? None last time I checked. I had a previous post about forgoing money for titles. There's nothing wrong with that. I just don't agree with the way he did it. We didn't need a faux 60 Minutes special for him to make his "decision" and dragging this out.
Everyone will say the Heat is trying to buy a title. Doing it the "Yankee Way". Once again there's nothing wrong with an owner willing to come up with money to spend to get a winner in the city their in. The only problem I see is their current depth. Who do they get to surround Bosh,James, and Wade? At least the Celtics had a few young pieces in place when their big three won their championship. I guess they have a deal with Mike Miller, but also traded former number two pick,Michael Beasley to Minnesota. Also don't be surprised if Pat Riley finds his way back to the bench, backstabbing Erik Spoelstra, just like he did Stan Van Gundy. Don't hand the championship to them just yet, as they still have to contend with Orlando, the "Green Monster" in Boston, and of course, Kobe and the Lakers.
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