well as j40j said, it really won't have AS big of an impact as some people think.  It will have an impact.  The worst indians games typically have as much of an impact as a cavs game.  About 2 years before lebron I had some friends who bought a bar in the gateway district.  The night of the lottery, I was with my friends "celebrating" and they were all ecstatic.  They kept asking each other what color hummer they were going to get.  Well...  The Hummers never came.  What they discovered is that cavs fans are very different than indians fans.  Indians fans (a large part of this is that its the summer), like to get downtown right after work and head to the bar... or just walk to the bar from work.  Drink, go to the game, and then come hang out for a couple hours after the game even if it is wednesday.  Cavs fans, by in large, seem to show up right before the game (its winter), park, go to the game, and go home.  And as a season ticket holder since pre-lebron, I can tell you that many nights I would walk to a bar before the game after work and the bars would be very sparsley attended.  On weekday games often there were few people out after the game.  Now what WILL have a big impact is the playoffs.  The playoffs (in the spring / summer) do bring huge crowds down of people who just want to watch the game near the q and hang out long into the night.  With no playoffs, or at least no playoffs where people feel they have a legitimate chance to win... it's the bar equivalent of your employer announcing to you that they are canceling your bonus program.  It's going to sting a good bit.

Business downtown WILL take a hit.  Some of them are going to close because of this.  The Cavaliers brought large crowds of people, many who didn't even attend the games, into downtown 41 nights a year.  That's over with.  The Cavs will still be around, it will be awhile before the fans come out to support them like they did over the past seven years.

 

This is the main thing I'm worried about.  Not that Lebron doesn't play for us or that we might not win as many games, etc.  But then I think of when the Indians stopped selling out.  Downtown has still been thriving (even more so since 2000).  And that was a much bigger impact.  The Indians brought 42,700+ people downtown 82 times a year, and that has dropped to about 15,000.  So we lost almost 30,000 coming downtown 82 times a year.  With the Cavs, even if we only get 5,000 a game, that would be a 15,000 loss 41 times a year, 4 times less of the impact.  And maybe instead of people buying tickets, they will come downtown to enjoy other things and have more money to spend doing them.

 

Exactly!

 

Not to mention, these fans were supporting downtown business's in the middle of winter.  A time when the business needs a shot in the arm the most.

 

But why not come anyway.  Do you need the excuse of a baskeball game to go downtown?  Anyway, if you truly love the game, then you will go see the Cavs with or without Mr. James. 

^I had my tickets before, I'll have them after.

Have we already covered the content of the Lebron interview last night?  Did he really say that the whole free agency thing has been "humbling"?  I'm pretty sure having teams and fans begging you to let them pay you tens of millions of $ is the opposite of humbling.

I know that Gilbert said he want's to win a championship before the King, but come on.  The Heat will win it next year.  They are stacked.  Over the past 5 years, LeBron's been regarded as the best, and that is hard to live with, and live up to.  LeBron is probably the most nervouse athelete on the planet in the playoffs.  It comes as expected for him to win it all, and that can not sit well on him in the middlew of each game. He is going to the Heat with probably 2 of the top 5 NBA players.  I have always said Wade is possibly the best in the NBA.  You have 3 of the best matching up with eachother.  Even if one fumbles, they will be fine.  No one will contend with them.  Heck, I will probaly root for them, outside of a Cleveland matchup. This is going to be a winning organization, and I give credit to the Heat for pulling it off.  They have contended year in and year out for the psat couple, and now they just added two of the best.  The Cavs never contended.  They were always a long shot in winning the championship.  Even in the Finals in 07, they were walked all over for SA. 

 

I am so sad LeBron is leaving, because I love watching his stregnth down-court.  We probably will never see it again.  they way he did it, why not.  Who cares.  The world was watching for the past month.  I guess the classiest move may have been to come on the local news last night, and just explaing it to Cleveland, but he didn't, and oh well.

 

Lastly, Gilberts comments were the unclassiest, and impulse driven comments I have ever seen.  LeBron James made this man alot of money over the past 4 or 5 years, and the choice was his to make.  Gilbert owes James alot.  Again, the team was not built good enought to contend for the past several years, possibly do the complete defensive-minded coaching that can't field a solid set of 5 and control the bench at any of the right times.  Pathetic Actually. 

 

So, good luck to James in Miami.  I hope he wins several rings.  One of the best always deserves it.  Heck, even Ronnie Belliard got one with STL. 

^so who guards anyone in the post?  I think they'll have a big time problem with any team with a real front court.

^I had my tickets before, I'll have them after.

 

Exactly.  My uncle has a suite, several families, in my extended family, have club and adjacent corner seats.  They'll still go. 

 

This year ticket prices may fall and make expand the brand to those who've never seen the cavs play live.

Business downtown WILL take a hit.  Some of them are going to close because of this.  The Cavaliers brought large crowds of people, many who didn't even attend the games, into downtown 41 nights a year.  That's over with.  The Cavs will still be around, it will be awhile before the fans come out to support them like they did over the past seven years.

 

This is the main thing I'm worried about.  Not that Lebron doesn't play for us or that we might not win as many games, etc.  But then I think of when the Indians stopped selling out.  Downtown has still been thriving (even more so since 2000).  And that was a much bigger impact.  The Indians brought 42,700+ people downtown 82 times a year, and that has dropped to about 15,000.  So we lost almost 30,000 coming downtown 82 times a year.  With the Cavs, even if we only get 5,000 a game, that would be a 15,000 loss 41 times a year, 4 times less of the impact.  And maybe instead of people buying tickets, they will come downtown to enjoy other things and have more money to spend doing them.

 

Exactly!

 

Not to mention, these fans were supporting downtown business's in the middle of winter.  A time when the business needs a shot in the arm the most.

 

But why not come anyway.  Do you need the excuse of a baskeball game to go downtown?  Anyway, if you truly love the game, then you will go see the Cavs with or without Mr. James. 

 

I will, but I'm not sure all suburbanities feel the same way.  And that's to say nothing of the out-of-town visitors that had come here in the past to see the Cavaliers play.

one thing is for sure, that whiny new money carpet bagger of an owner set the cavaliers recruiting back a decade. ted stepian II.

 

 

I know that Gilbert said he want's to win a championship before the King, but come on.  The Heat will win it next year.  They are stacked.  Over the past 5 years, LeBron's been regarded as the best, and that is hard to live with, and live up to.  LeBron is probably the most nervouse athelete on the planet in the playoffs.  It comes as expected for him to win it all, and that can not sit well on him in the middlew of each game. He is going to the Heat with probably 2 of the top 5 NBA players.  I have always said Wade is possibly the best in the NBA.  You have 3 of the best matching up with eachother.  Even if one fumbles, they will be fine.  No one will contend with them.  Heck, I will probaly root for them, outside of a Cleveland matchup. This is going to be a winning organization, and I give credit to the Heat for pulling it off.  They have contended year in and year out for the psat couple, and now they just added two of the best.  The Cavs never contended.  They were always a long shot in winning the championship.  Even in the Finals in 07, they were walked all over for SA. 

 

I am so sad LeBron is leaving, because I love watching his stregnth down-court.  We probably will never see it again.  they way he did it, why not.  Who cares.  The world was watching for the past month.  I guess the classiest move may have been to come on the local news last night, and just explaing it to Cleveland, but he didn't, and oh well.

 

Lastly, Gilberts comments were the unclassiest, and impulse driven comments I have ever seen.  LeBron James made this man alot of money over the past 4 or 5 years, and the choice was his to make.  Gilbert owes James alot.  Again, the team was not built good enought to contend for the past several years, possibly do the complete defensive-minded coaching that can't field a solid set of 5 and control the bench at any of the right times.  Pathetic Actually. 

 

So, good luck to James in Miami.  I hope he wins several rings.  One of the best always deserves it.  Heck, even Ronnie Belliard got one with STL. 

 

You've gotta be kidding me with this post.  I don't even know where to begin.  If you're rooting for the Prince after this whole thing, then you're out of your mind.

 

LeBoob hamstrung the Cavaliers.  They did EVERYTHING for him to make him comfortable and surround him with as much talent as possible.  Don't blame the organization, it's not their fault.  The fault falls solely on the shoulders of the traitor himself.

 

And one more thought, this couldn't have happened to a less-deserving city than Miami.

one thing is for sure, that whiny new money carpet bagger of an owner set the cavaliers recruiting back a decade. ted stepian II.

 

 

:roll:

 

Have already covered the content of the Lebron interview last night?  Did he really say that the whole free agency thing has been "humbling"?  I'm pretty sure having teams and fans begging you to let them pay you tens of millions of $ is the opposite of humbling.

 

Direct quote from his interview with Michael Wilbon:  "One thing I didn't want to do was make an emotional decision.  I wanted to do what was best for LeBron James and what LeBron James is going to do to make him happy." 

 

Yeah, "humble" people always talk about themselves in the third person. :roll:

lets be real homies -- some of the fault here lies on the city itself. one of the brightest stars in the history of the nba and noone would come to play with him? stoudamire? bosh? no way jose. he was a cav for seven years! oh well, a hope is clevelanders can redirect their anger toward rebuilding downtown and making the city and particularly downtown more attractive. even if the sports teams are terrible for awhile, everybody benefits from that. rant over - ha!

RATINGS....too bad so many Clevelanders had to tune in to witness their hearts getting ripped out on National Televsion.  Seriously, I haven't seen such a high rating for the Cleveland area since, what...the Super Bowl?

 

James decision draws big ratings for ESPN

 

In Cleveland, "The Decision" drew a staggering 26 rating — meaning more than one in four homes had TVs tuned to ESPN to see James say he was leaving his hometown Cavaliers for the Miami Heat.

 

In Miami, the show had a 12.8 rating.

 

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iPhmfL2Mt1wMPYEnEFnqkF4jAMGwD9GRK12G0

 

one thing is for sure, that whiny new money carpet bagger of an owner set the cavaliers recruiting back a decade. ted stepian II.

 

 

 

Funny! 

I don't see how much you can really have loved the guy if he makes a bad decision and now is the Devil. Did you only love him because he was here? Was he only deserving of a ring or a successful career because he was in Cleveland?  I agree that his methods were horrible and extremely insulting, but I don't see why the decision to play somewhere else makes him a "traitor" and the devil.  Nobody goes into professional sports for a career and signs a contract in their blood that they will never, ever leave their first professional team.

 

I agree this could have some impact around playoff time. I would love if Gilbert was able to get us to the playoffs next year without lebron, even if we don't win.  I expect cavs fans to turn out with even more rabid support for their team than ever before.

RATINGS....too bad so many Clevelanders had to tune in to witness their hearts getting ripped out on National Televsion.  Seriously, I haven't seen such a high rating for the Cleveland area since, what...the Super Bowl?

 

James decision draws big ratings for ESPN

 

In Cleveland, "The Decision" drew a staggering 26 rating — meaning more than one in four homes had TVs tuned to ESPN to see James say he was leaving his hometown Cavaliers for the Miami Heat.

 

In Miami, the show had a 12.8 rating.

 

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iPhmfL2Mt1wMPYEnEFnqkF4jAMGwD9GRK12G0

 

 

I just found out that someone I work with very closely was apart of making this ESPN BS a reality.

 

I never mix my personal life with my business life but this stings a bit.

Also, it regards to the Dan Gilbert letter:

 

"Gilbert said James never returned a single phone message or text since the end of the season and that the Cavs were not informed of James' decision until he went on the air. "

 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/pointofview/2010/07/cavs-owner-slams-lebron-james-did-james-make-the-right-move.html

 

I'd be pretty pissed off too...

 

I don't see how much you can really have loved the guy if he makes a bad decision and now is the Devil. Did you only love him because he was here? Was he only deserving of a ring or a successful career because he was in Cleveland?  I agree that his methods were horrible and extremely insulting, but I don't see why the decision to play somewhere else makes him a "traitor" and the devil.  Nobody goes into professional sports for a career and signs a contract in their blood that they will never, ever leave their first professional team.

 

Thats what is the biggest sticking point to me.  an now that I know who orchestrated this - a person with no heart - I now have a better understanding on why this was done in the manner it was.

 

I agree this could have some impact around playoff time. I would love if Gilbert was able to get us to the playoffs next year without lebron, even if we don't win.  I expect cavs fans to turn out with even more rabid support for their team than ever before.

 

Agreed and I hope the current players play with more love and passion than ever before!

i want tickets to his first game back. I hope he gets booed every time he touches the ball

I don't see how much you can really have loved the guy if he makes a bad decision and now is the Devil. Did you only love him because he was here? Was he only deserving of a ring or a successful career because he was in Cleveland?  I agree that his methods were horrible and extremely insulting, but I don't see why the decision to play somewhere else makes him a "traitor" and the devil.  Nobody goes into professional sports for a career and signs a contract in their blood that they will never, ever leave their first professional team.

 

I agree this could have some impact around playoff time. I would love if Gilbert was able to get us to the playoffs next year without lebron, even if we don't win.  I expect cavs fans to turn out with even more rabid support for their team than ever before.

 

 

^ yep - case in point wade doesnt play for chicago either and he is from there. he wouldnt bite chicagos pitch.

So many things I can say about this.... But the one thing that comes to mind today is the fact that it is not as if LBJ was approaching the waning end years of his career with still no trophy...and so such a desire for change may be warranted.... But he's young and can play for many years to try and get it done here. At least, sign a 3 year deal and if it is not working out then ask to be traded.

 

But this stunt was the classic bad example to send to so many, and just out of utter self. Tired of hearing how much he has done for the area...and think we need to focus on how much the area/everyone else has collectively done for him!  Let's set it straight and quit coddling self indulgent/entitlement egos like this, sending the message that its OK to treat your supporters.city/region like this. Its not.

 

Although I expected this... I admit that there was a shred of feeling still left that we'd for once, see someone do the right this and place words like loyalty, integrity, devotion, above ME, SELF, and I...  Sends a message to young ones that such is all that matters. Little do we see the repercussions being raised in such a way is party to. last thing we need these days is more self entitlement brats presenting such an image who we are from a larger world perspective.

 

I am getting really irritated with the LBJ apologists, and again, we really need to see this sort of thing as a red flag that we really need to start making heroes out of other deserved people than big name athletes who just help no one but themselves and launch networks like ESPN's ratings way up.  We end up being the real suckers for buying into all of it...and yes, now is the time to support the team without him. (key word, being "team")

 

Look at this Cleveland Dot Com piece... Bernie had a reaction similar to mine.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/index.ssf/2010/07/bernie_kosar_former_browns_qua.html

What was with the Amish beard BTW? If you are going to make a spectacle of your self at least look good doing it!

 

 

I don't see how much you can really have loved the guy if he makes a bad decision and now is the Devil. Did you only love him because he was here? Was he only deserving of a ring or a successful career because he was in Cleveland?  I agree that his methods were horrible and extremely insulting, but I don't see why the decision to play somewhere else makes him a "traitor" and the devil.  Nobody goes into professional sports for a career and signs a contract in their blood that they will never, ever leave their first professional team.

 

My anger today is all about the way he did it.  I have a hard time believing, at this point, that this was not always the plan.  One of his new teammates, Chris Bosh, made clear that he was going to leave the Raptors before free agency even started.  It allowed Toronto to weigh it's options accordingly.  You have to understand how the salary cap works and that would take an essay to explain, but going about it the way he did took away options we might have elected to exercise.

 

Personally, I believe he should have divorced himself from our franchise first.  He should have done it the second he made up his mind.  If that was yesterday morning (I doubt it) as he claims, then he should not have put us through that spectacle last night.

 

Players leave their team because the team sucks, or the team won't pay as much as their suitors, or they want to be close to family.  Nobody has ever left a franchise as highly successful as the Cavs have been over the past several years, which was willing to pay the most money, and also was the players' home team.  Unprecedented.

 

People's opinions are going to vary.  If you are a casual sports fan, it really is no big deal.  However, if you are invested, emotionally, financially, whatever, in Cleveland sports, then it is a much bigger deal to you.  I'm still pissed today because I fall into the latter.  I'll get over it, but I have every right to be pissed at the situation and at him.  This team was built around him to win (and it did win A LOT) and, now, our options are very limited no that he removed the keystone to the entire foundation.

 

He said several years back that he was not going to "ring-chase", that he was going to build a dynasty here in Cleveland, that loyalty was most important to him.  Maybe he was being genuine, but I find that unlikely putting all the clues together. 

 

Whatever Lebron turns out to be (multiple championships, whatever), he will never be what many of us hoped he was (even if that hope was the result of turning a blind eye to his true character).

 

Great piece by Wojornowksi BTW (bashing both LBJ and Gilbert) - http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AgiDRsCdAFLaMW4O67sXauA5nYcB?slug=aw-lebrondecision070910

^ Agreed.

Agreed.  There are classy ways to leave; ways to make an amicable split.  This wasn't it.  He made a spectacle of it.  He also made it damned near impossible for the Cavs to make adjustments before next season. 

I agree with you that he has known for awhile he would leave. My money is on him making that decision before the playoffs, and that he threw the game(s) there so he'd have an "excuse" to leave.  Also agree that his methods suck, we're all in agreement there.  But I'm sure he's not the first "hometown hero" sports guy to leave and go work for another team, is he?

^ yep - case in point wade doesnt play for chicago either and he is from there. he wouldnt bite chicagos pitch.

 

Must be the city then.  Maybe they should rebuild their downtown.  Neither DWade nor Lebron wanted to play there.

I agree with you that he has known for awhile he would leave. My money is on him making that decision before the playoffs, and that he threw the game(s) there so he'd have an "excuse" to leave.  Also agree that his methods suck, we're all in agreement there.  But I'm sure he's not the first "hometown hero" sports guy to leave and go work for another team, is he?

 

Not the first by any means. But probably the first leaving for less money, after his teams have the best records two years in a row at the prime of his career. I can't think of anybody who left under such favorable conditions. Usually they leave to chase the money either under their own accord or from pressure from the players union. Or at the end of their carreers chasing championships.

I agree with you that he has known for awhile he would leave. My money is on him making that decision before the playoffs, and that he threw the game(s) there so he'd have an "excuse" to leave. Also agree that his methods suck, we're all in agreement there. But I'm sure he's not the first "hometown hero" sports guy to leave and go work for another team, is he?

 

no he's not the first to leave.  but he is the first to turn the process into a circus, drag 5 cities through the mud, and then buy an hour long tv special just to give a middle finger to his current team / city / home.

I agree with you that he has known for awhile he would leave. My money is on him making that decision before the playoffs, and that he threw the game(s) there so he'd have an "excuse" to leave.  Also agree that his methods suck, we're all in agreement there.  But I'm sure he's not the first "hometown hero" sports guy to leave and go work for another team, is he?

 

no he's not the first to leave.  but he is the first to turn the process into a circus, drag 5 cities through the mud, and then buy an hour long tv special just to give a middle finger to his current team / city / home.

 

No more calls, we have a winner!  Actually the airtime estimated at $3.5 million was donated by ESPN with the sponsors matching that amount and donating the proceeds to charity!

^ yep - case in point wade doesnt play for chicago either and he is from there. he wouldnt bite chicagos pitch.

 

Must be the city then.  Maybe they should rebuild their downtown.  Neither DWade nor Lebron wanted to play there.

DWade needed the max contract from Miami because he will be 33 the next go around and he is injury prone. This could be his last chance for the big dollars. So it really was worth the extra $30M or so to him.

 

Also he just got divorced...

I agree with you that he has known for awhile he would leave. My money is on him making that decision before the playoffs, and that he threw the game(s) there so he'd have an "excuse" to leave. Also agree that his methods suck, we're all in agreement there. But I'm sure he's not the first "hometown hero" sports guy to leave and go work for another team, is he?

 

no he's not the first to leave. but he is the first to turn the process into a circus, drag 5 cities through the mud, and then buy an hour long tv special just to give a middle finger to his current team / city / home.

 

And in addition, he is possibly the biggest and most well-known hometown hero in the history of pro sports.

RnR - That's simplyfying it a bit.  Although even with that simplification, I don't know of another example.  Anyone?

 

This wasn't just the hometown hero leaving.  He is leaving a winning organization.  He is leaving a fanbase that sold out every single game.  He is leaving an owner who, for better or worse, catered to his every demand.  He is leaving a supporting cast that enabled him to be the MVP of the league two years running. 

 

Did you know that we won more regular season games in the past two years than any other team since the Bulls' dynasty during the Jordan years?  It is not like the future was bleak.  It is not like fan support was dwindling.  It is not like he was not making millions upon millions in endorsements.  It is not like his friends and family were not taken care of (once again, for better or worse). 

 

He COULD have won a championship here, but it seems as if he always felt one should just be handed to him.  That's what we call a sense of entitlement and it is insulting to an area of the country that has to scrape and claw for everything we get.

 

All that said, he had every right to leave.  I would have disagreed and would have been unhappy.... but "The Decision".... c'mon.  With him knowing and often citing to "The Drive", "The Fumble", etc., this was a true spit in our face whether he realizes it or not.   

RnR - That's simplyfying it a bit. Although even with that simplification, I don't know of another example. Anyone?

 

This wasn't just the hometown hero leaving. He is leaving a winning organization. He is leaving a fanbase that sold out every single game. He is leaving an owner who, for better or worse, catered to his every demand. He is leaving a supporting cast that enabled him to be the MVP of the league two years running.

 

Did you know that we won more regular season games in the past two years than any other team since the Bulls' dynasty during the Jordan years? It is not like the future was bleak. It is not like fan support was dwindling. It is not like he was not making millions upon millions in endorsements. It is not like his friends and family were not taken care of (once again, for better or worse).

 

He COULD have won a championship here, but it seems as if he always felt one should just be handed to him. That's what we call a sense of entitlement and it is insulting to an area of the country that has to scrape and claw for everything we get.

 

All that said, he had every right to leave. I would have disagreed and would have been unhappy.... but "The Decision".... c'mon. With him knowing and often citing to "The Drive", "The Fumble", etc., this was a true spit in our face whether he realizes it or not.

 

And he took a pay cut to leave.  And he never once thanked the fans of Cleveland during his one hour TV special.  And he left to play with somebody (Bosh) who just dissed our town.

 

I'm sick of hearing how we never "put the pieces in place" for Lebron.  That's bullsh1t.  We got Mo Williams, who played great most of the time even though he did end up choking in the playoffs.  We gave him Delonte West, who turned out to be a pretty solid player.  We gave him Shaq, who gave us a tough presence down low even though I felt we didn't always use him right.  We gave him Antawn Jamison, who is a good outside shooter, rebounder, and knows how to put the ball in the basket.  We kept Z around, which seemed to be something Lebron wanted.  We got Anthony Parker to help surround Lebron with 3-point shooters.  We developed Hickson into a promising big man.  We kept Varejao around for his hustle, defense, and the intangibles he brought to the court.  I'm sure I'm missing some while I ramble here, but I feel part of the problem is that Lebron doesn't really make many guys better players.  Instead, many players with offensive talent would come to Cleveland and all of a sudden have to stand around watching Lebron dribble the ball for 80% of the 24-second shot clock, or they all of a sudden would have to snap out of their funk and do everything for a few minutes when he was either out of the game or for those times he decided to just hide on offensive and pass the ball the instant he touched it to "let other people score".

 

After watching Lebron for 7 years, I think my conclusion is that he's quite the physical specimen and has a lot of amazing and showy basketball talents (fancy passes, high-flying dunks, cornerback style pass interceptions), but he's not as great of a winner as many people thought he would be.  I think what may exemplify this more than anything is how he seemed more comfortable shooting tough high arching fading away and to the left jump shots from the baseline corner with the shot clock running down than wide open jump shots.  If you make the latter it's expected and if you miss it looks bad.  If you miss the former it's expected and if you make it you're on the highlight reel.

Comment that sums it up nicely from the Windhorst article on ESPN explaining Dan Gilbert's letter.

 

stanfrombrooklyn (7/9/2010 at 1:19 PM) Report Violation

 

The point of the article is that the Cavaliers organization made a lot of long-term commitments to appease LBJ and he wouldn't do the same. Had he signed an extension last year then Bosh and Stoudamire might have gone to Cleveland. Or maybe even Wade. Who knows? It's like you ask a girl to marry you and she says you have to quit smoking weed. So you quit smoking weed. Then she says you have to quit the Jack and Cokes. So you quit the Jack and Cokes. Then she asks you to quit going out every night with the boys. So you stay home with her and watch Project Runway. Then after you've done all that, she turns down your marriage proposal. You're left with nothing but your wiener in your hand.

This gave me a little chuckle -

http://www.dailygoat.com/2010/07/lebron-james-gives-thanks-god-signing-10-year-100m-endorsement-deal-heaven/

^ yep - case in point wade doesnt play for chicago either and he is from there. he wouldnt bite chicagos pitch.

 

Must be the city then. Maybe they should rebuild their downtown. Neither DWade nor Lebron wanted to play there.

 

So we build an entire city around what Wade and LeBron want? This is exactly the same sick logic that leads to us becoming so co-dependent on this stuff...or at least to us thinking we cannot exist without it! My brother lives in south Florida...and I can tell you that even in beloved Miami...there are some sickly sights to behold... Let's venture OUT of the entertainment districts to take a tour of what people who make deliveries all over the city, see. I saw it and was not impressed, so let's not make this a "how terrible is Cleveland" thing.

^ yep - case in point wade doesnt play for chicago either and he is from there. he wouldnt bite chicagos pitch.

 

Must be the city then. Maybe they should rebuild their downtown. Neither DWade nor Lebron wanted to play there.

 

oh sure, the city, the ownership and who wants to play there are totally unrelated.

I was being sarcastic.  I was saying that it's ridiculous to say (as mrnyc did) we need to rebuild our downtown because Chris Bosh and Lebron James didn't end up playing here.

^We improved virtually every year Gilbert owned this team from a talent standpoint.  There were no indications that we were headed for a regression, rebuilding, etc.  We would have competed for championships for years to come if he would have stayed.  "Competed" being the key word and I believe that is what scared him.  He is so concerned about being a great player without a ring, that he felt he needed to put himself in a situation where winning a ring is all but guaranteed (not saying that I agree with that line of thinking - Miami still has some significant holes they have to fill - but I do believe that was his thought process).

Easy come, easy go for King James

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AgiDRsCdAFLaMW4O67sXauA5nYcB?slug=aw-lebrondecision070910

oh sure, the city, the ownership and who wants to play there are totally unrelated.

 

Not completely, but you can't say those three ended up in Miami because Cleveland sucks any more than you can say they went to Miami because Chicago sucks or New York sucks.  They ended up in Miami because D-Wade was staying put, all three of them wanted to play together, and Miami was the only place that could happen.  I guarantee you that if the Grizzlies were the only team where all three had the option of teaming up Lebron would have been announcing his departure for Memphis last night.

 

By the way, Shaq wanted to play here, so it's not like nobody would come here.

"Fathead" is now offering Lebron James wall graphic at a discount price......DRUMROLL.......Benedict Arnold's date of birth: $17.41.

 

http://www.fearthesword.com/2010/7/9/1561183/lebron-james-fat-head-drastically?ref=yahoo

 

(psst...anyone know who owns Fathead by the way?)

"Fathead" is now offering Lebron James wall graphic at a discount price......DRUMROLL.......Benedict Arnold's date of birth: $17.41.

 

http://www.fearthesword.com/2010/7/9/1561183/lebron-james-fat-head-drastically?ref=yahoo

 

(psst...anyone know who owns Fathead by the way?)

 

Dan Gilbert

oh sure, the city, the ownership and who wants to play there are totally unrelated.

 

Not completely, but you can't say those three ended up in Miami because Cleveland sucks any more than you can say they went to Miami because Chicago sucks or New York sucks. They ended up in Miami because D-Wade was staying put, all three of them wanted to play together, and Miami was the only place that could happen. I guarantee you that if the Grizzlies were the only team where all three had the option of teaming up Lebron would have been announcing his departure for Memphis last night.

 

By the way, Shaq wanted to play here, so it's not like nobody would come here.

 

well i appreciate the boosterism lets be real, no those three would not play for memphis. and please shaq is not 'that' shaq anymore.

 

sure it comes down to a combination of ownership, the team and the city itself. the team was the best of the three and that was not enough to land the top tier players. obiviously the comical new money ownership has shown its true self as embarassing and off-putting, so that leaves the attractiveness of playing in cle, where while its fine for families we all know it could be better for vibrancy and attracting young people -- such as pro athletes. dont downplay that factor either.

 

dont downplay that factor either.

 

So we "rebuild downtown" so people like Lebron want to play here?  No thanks.

Someone with more basketball knowledge please help me:  how do the post Lebron Cavs stack up against the Knicks in terms of 3-year outlook?  Or do we have to wait until after the free agents finish shaking out.  The Knicks have struck me as the most inept sports franchise in the country over the past several years despite every natural advantage- it would be sad to see the Cavs slip below.

Refuse to cater to these athletic assholes any longer by building all life around them. Vibrant and healthy life existed before them and will go on well after they're gone. Let's re-discover how we can make that happen. Afterall, the Whos in Whoville went on with life even when the Grinch thought he could steal it away! Don't underestimate the little lesson in that story. I learn from LeBum, and these other athletes....all that I would not want my children to be like. (that in the end, it is about YOURSELF!) I think I'd rather have Jacques Cousteau as a roll model. He shows how all life and actions are intertwined. Here's a fresh idea....How about building a city to attract young minds and talents such as his kind? Offering nothing but booze and sports won't cut it. We're so much more than this and people need to start re-discovering it. Let's set some higher standards.

dont downplay that factor either.

 

So we "rebuild downtown" so people like Lebron want to play here? No thanks.

 

well more like im hoping the anger can lead to a little civic introspection and that the energy can be turned toward something more positive that everyone can benefit from.

 

its sorta happened before, we got cbs out of the browns leaving.

 

ah well -- im just looking to make lemonade out of lebrons lemon!