I LOVE THIS!

 

Did Gilbert just put a hex on the Heat?  Sweet.

Should have linked that.

 

I didn't even believe it was genuine.  Figure it was just some wishful blogger or other writer putting words in the guy's mouth; usually it's the athletes, not the owners, who say stuff like that.

 

On the other hand, this was probably both cathartic and good business.  A normal, evenhanded, carefully corporate press release would have not done as much to impress on fans and sponsors that Gilbert still intends to invest in making the team a winning team and brand.

Here is the link to the letter:

http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/gilbert_letter_100708.html

 

It has supposedly been confirmed real. 

Should have linked that.

 

I didn't even believe it was genuine.  Figure it was just some wishful blogger or other writer putting words in the guy's mouth; usually it's the athletes, not the owners, who say stuff like that.

 

On the other hand, this was probably both cathartic and good business.  A normal, evenhanded, carefully corporate press release would have not done as much to impress on fans and sponsors that Gilbert still intends to invest in making the team a winning team and brand.

 

I enjoyed it.  The words are nice, lets see what they can do now.

Its amazing (and nice) the negative attention Lebron is getting.

 

Im getting alot of what an A-hole he is even in D.C.

 

Of course my one friend already hated him ever since she met him a couple of years ago. 

She represented Chris Paul and Lebrons gang has been after him for a couple years. 

 

As of this morning:  "After years of recruiting, Chris Paul will finally join LeBron James' LRMR marketing company.

James and LRMR CEO Maverick Carter have been recruiting Paul for more than two years to join their fledgling marketing company, and the All-Star guard finally informed his agency at Octagon that he had decided to leave."

 

Wow, all this time I was standing up for him thinking she was jealous....  She knew what she was talking about after all.

 

 

Go Gilbert!!  Go Cavs!!

 

That letter was just what many, many fans needed in both Cleveland AND Akron. 

 

Many were questioning how Bron's "legacy" would shape out to be if he left town with unfinished business.  Well... he's basically kissed being a Jordan or even a Kobe goodbye, IMO, while vilifying himself to millions. 

 

"The Decision" is now in the past (thank God).  And we have an owner who wants nothing more than to win a championship.  It almost feels as if a weight has been lifted off of our shoulders.  Losing Lebron will definitely not be such a bad thing.  Gilbert is committed to this team, and will do whatever it takes to get a roster together that can go all the way.  He's already demonstrated that he's been willing to do so for the last 7 years with Lebron.  I have no doubt that he will put a championship-calibur team together without Drama Queen James.

 

Keep your head up Cleveland!  This isn't all that bad.

You know what is CRAZY, I was with my buddy out a week or so ago in Boston and we met these girls, one of them was a waitress at a local place in Feniuel Hall here in Boston.  I told her I was from Cleveland and she proceeded to tell me that she waited a table of 8 of his, by herself and was given a $2 tip on a $500+ tab.  I told her I didn't believe it because I didn't.  I couldn't even fathom that a guy who talks about coming from nothing yada yada would piss on people that are working to afford college and or provide for their families... I didn't believe it because I guess I did not want to... after tonight I want to find that girl and apologize for not taking her word.  WOW

 

A know someone else who waited on him.  Lebron made him cut up his steak in little pieces for him, then gave him a lousy tip.  The guys a db.  So along, LeJackass.  I hope and fully expect the Miami thing to implode.  Too much ego, too little surrounding team.

A know someone else who waited on him.  Lebron made him cut up his steak in little pieces for him, then gave him a lousy tip.  The guys a db.  So along, LeJackass.  I hope and fully expect the Miami thing to implode.  Too much ego, too little surrounding team.

 

more proof that he's a db

 

LeBron James rude to ball boy

I'm stunned by what Gilbert said! Totally agree with it, but wow, to say that publicly. Maybe that was a letter he should have saved and then re-read tomorrow morning.

 

I encourage all of you to turn your anger into something positive with the "Cross out 23" campaign at NEOKidsblog.com. It's just sort of my way of channeling my anger/frustration, but please share the link with your friends, and let's do something for Cleveland that is positive.  :-D

 

 

 

i saw that lebron ball boy thing happen live and i was shocked about how much of a db he was to that kid.

 

I love Dan Gilbert, that was the best letter ever.

During the announcement did anyone notice the strategically placed Vitamin Water Vending machine that was neatly stocked directly in the line of site of the camera? *Vitamin Water is one of the companies Lebron has an endorsement deal with.

But wait, Gilbert had even more to say:

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5365793

All I got at that link was a piece of BS that ended with "if even a favorite son has given up hope, what hope is there for those he's left behind."  F-ck ESPN.  They've been rooting for him to leave from go, now they're losing no opportunity to kick us while we're down.

 

edit: I see now, there's an article beneath the piece of crap video, which have nothing to do with each other.

not the owners, who say stuff like that.

 

Pshht. I'd expect that kind of reaction. The owners basically lost their meal ticket. Though Gilbert does have a lot of character and he carries it with him in business so I do believe it's genuine. Really well written to. Makes LeBron look like a douche. *verbal Smack* How's that taste for ya', LeBron :)

OK, Gilbert's reaction is a little crazy, but I absolutely love it. I will buy several Cavs tickets next year. I will redouble my efforts to spread some of my cash around downtown.

You know what is CRAZY, I was with my buddy out a week or so ago in Boston and we met these girls, one of them was a waitress at a local place in Feniuel Hall here in Boston.  I told her I was from Cleveland and she proceeded to tell me that she waited a table of 8 of his, by herself and was given a $2 tip on a $500+ tab.  I told her I didn't believe it because I didn't.  I couldn't even fathom that a guy who talks about coming from nothing yada yada would piss on people that are working to afford college and or provide for their families... I didn't believe it because I guess I did not want to... after tonight I want to find that girl and apologize for not taking her word.  WOW

 

The girl is lying!  Why?  Anyone who dines out knows that a table consisting of 5/6 or more the gratuity is automatically added to the bill.

Well now that Lebroncalypse is over, we should close this thread and start a new Cavs (post LeBum) thread!

With that response, Dan Gilbert is now officially a Clevelander. He's all in.

Thank you LeBron.

 

If I read socio-economic depressed state/city/region in one more article I might cry.

 

 

Windhorst tweeted something interesting last night before the show started. He mentioned that the Boys & Girls club was getting $2.5MM from the event, but that over $6MM had been paid by advertisers. I'm sure there's production costs, etc. that had to be paid, but what happened to the other $4MM?

 

Since the LBJ thing was a foregone conclusion, I had already tensed my stomach for the punch. I was more disappointed to hear that the T-wolves weren't interested in trading Jonny Flynn to us. I'd love to get that guy in here as the foundation of a new team. After watching the 6x overtime Big East game vs UConn, the one thing I can say is that kid will never quit.

Pinning the hopes of the city/region on one sports star isn't fair to any of us, LeBron included.  Best of luck to him.  Just think -- if as much energy, engagement, and "team spirit" that went into the LeBron campaign could be put into such things as improving our schools, decreasing crime, putting solid leaders in place, and public and private sectors working together for a strategic vision for the city and area -- people, including sports stars, will want to come here.  Move on LeBron, move on Cleveland.

^THIS.  I've been saying that for weeks, glad to see someone agrees.

Pinning the hopes of the city/region on one sports star isn't fair to any of us, LeBron included.  Best of luck to him.  Just think -- if as much energy, engagement, and "team spirit" that went into the LeBron campaign could be put into such things as improving our schools, decreasing crime, putting solid leaders in place, and public and private sectors working together for a strategic vision for the city and area -- people, including sports stars, will want to come here.  Move on LeBron, move on Cleveland.

 

This is a sports thread, there is no room for logic here :)

 

Mostly I am pissed that we got played by Chris Bosh. He was the catalyst.

 

Best analysis yet form the slate.com blog of them watching the "special"

 

JL: It's like he's having an affair and he just gave the Tiger Woods speech rather than the David Letterman one.

 

We lend Miami our world-class Orchestra, let them build a Cleveland Clinic down there.....and now they take our superstar....Miami just loves Cleveland....!

 

My Lebron hangover is almost over.  BTW, that's my girlfriend crying at like the 40 min mark on Sportscenter today (the blonde in the Lebron jersey for like 3 secs @ RJ Boland's)...anyone see that?

Pinning the hopes of the city/region on one sports star isn't fair to any of us, LeBron included.  Best of luck to him.  Just think -- if as much energy, engagement, and "team spirit" that went into the LeBron campaign could be put into such things as improving our schools, decreasing crime, putting solid leaders in place, and public and private sectors working together for a strategic vision for the city and area -- people, including sports stars, will want to come here.  Move on LeBron, move on Cleveland.

 

You're right, of course. He was a point of pride for the city, but by no means the heart. That said, this hurts because he was supposed to be 'one of us' and understand how important sports is to people (especially when times are tough), and the heartache the Cleveland sports fan has gone through over the last 50 years.

 

Then he went and very purposefully exploited that pain on national television. I don't buy for a minute that he was naive to the fact that everything about that show was meant to amplify the anguish this 'decision' was going to cause Cavs fans.

 

I don't know what's transpired over the last few months between LBJ and the Cavs, but this event leads me to believe that there's more going on than we know, and this was meant to be the F@#$ you it was.

 

That's the last time I ever bring that guy up. Now, like I said....what are we doing to convince the T-wolves that Jonny Flynn needs to be here, dammit!!

Thank you LeBron.

 

If I read socio-economic depressed state/city/region in one more article I might cry.

 

 

 

lol that's ALL the media has focused on for the last 2-months.  I was just back in CLE to visit family 2 weeks ago.  If it weren't for the national media I would have never known what a depressing place I had just visited.

Pinning the hopes of the city/region on one sports star isn't fair to any of us, LeBron included. Best of luck to him. Just think -- if as much energy, engagement, and "team spirit" that went into the LeBron campaign could be put into such things as improving our schools, decreasing crime, putting solid leaders in place, and public and private sectors working together for a strategic vision for the city and area -- people, including sports stars, will want to come here. Move on LeBron, move on Cleveland.

 

You're right, of course. He was a point of pride for the city, but by no means the heart. That said, this hurts because he was supposed to be 'one of us' and understand how important sports is to people (especially when times are tough), and the heartache the Cleveland sports fan has gone through over the last 50 years.

 

Then he went and very purposefully exploited that pain on national television. I don't buy for a minute that he was naive to the fact that everything about that show was meant to amplify the anguish this 'decision' was going to cause Cavs fans.

 

I don't know what's transpired over the last few months between LBJ and the Cavs, but this event leads me to believe that there's more going on than we know, and this was meant to be the F@#$ you it was.

 

That's the last time I ever bring that guy up. Now, like I said....what are we doing to convince the T-wolves that Jonny Flynn needs to be here, dammit!!

 

The press alludes that this was no last minute, gut-wrenching decision for James but that it has been 2 years in the making.  I think this was a foregone conclusion - and yea, the play-off prerformance was a harbinger of things to come.

Thank you LeBron.

 

If I read socio-economic depressed state/city/region in one more article I might cry.

 

 

 

lol that's ALL the media has focused on for the last 2-months.  I was just back in CLE to visit family 2 weeks ago.  If it weren't for the national media I would have never known what a depressing place I had just visited.

 

Is your family still in Bay? That's depressing out there, mainly because it's dry :)

 

Whoa is Cuyahoga County with our 9.1% unemployment rate vs Miami-Dade County's 11.3% unemployment rate. Actually if you add the trend line for all of the US you see that Cuyahoga county is average. We missed the boom caused by housing in the 2000's but once that went bust we were right back to being average. We are the control group I guess....But I guess we had the employment that LeBron brought so maybe our rate will climb again (tounge in cheek)

 

http://www.google.com/publicdata?ds=usunemployment&met=unemployment_rate&idim=county:CN390350&dl=en&hl=en&q=unemployment+cuyahoga+county+oh#met=unemployment_rate&idim=county:CN390350:CN120860

Pinning the hopes of the city/region on one sports star isn't fair to any of us, LeBron included.  Best of luck to him.  Just think -- if as much energy, engagement, and "team spirit" that went into the LeBron campaign could be put into such things as improving our schools, decreasing crime, putting solid leaders in place, and public and private sectors working together for a strategic vision for the city and area -- people, including sports stars, will want to come here.  Move on LeBron, move on Cleveland.

 

Tell that to the factory worker who lost his job five years ago but found employment downtown as a parking lot attendant who may lose his job again.  Tell that to the single mom working her way through college at a bar in the Warehouse District who may lose her job.

 

Yes, eventually our anger will subside a bit, and from there it's up to us turn things around here, but don't be so callous right now.  This one hurts, and it's more than just the on-the-field aspect.  Heck it's more than just the economic aspect.  One of the greatest athletes in the world, a native, just spurned us on national television.  There's no "getting over it."

That's the last time I ever bring that guy up. Now, like I said....what are we doing to convince the T-wolves that Jonny Flynn needs to be here, dammit!!

 

Johnny Flynn is represented by LRMR.  I don't think it's going to happen.

That's the last time I ever bring that guy up. Now, like I said....what are we doing to convince the T-wolves that Jonny Flynn needs to be here, dammit!!

 

Johnny Flynn is represented by LRMR.  I don't think it's going to happen.

 

LRMR is a marketing company (allegedly). I don't know who his agent is, but that's who'd advise him (I hope). Given LRMR's success rate, I doubt they'll keep him for long anyway.

 

Bigger obstacle is the T-wolves GM flat out said they don't want to trade him. I think they want to hold him until they figure out what Rubio is, or is not, going to do.

I never bought a Cavs jersey because I wasn't sure if I actually wanted a Lebron jersey.  Now I know what jerseys I'm gonna buy - Z for the Cavs, even if he is old, he is still an awesome person, and Cribbs for the Browns to replace my sir-drops-a-lot (Edwards) jersey.

I'm a bad dad. I've saddled my poor 5yo with an LBJ jersey, an Edwards Jersey, and a Jhonny Peralta bobblehead. I'm just buying him a Syracuse 44 jersey from now on.

Oh for the kids we have an LBJ jersey, a Frye jersey and a Quinn Jersey. And Haftner and Sizemore Indians shirts (matter of time). Started to wise up and buy non-player specific fan gear.

 

EDIT: The Frye jersey was a gift I believe. Even I could see that was a poor investment. Although I do make sure the kids wear Browns gear on Football sundays, even last year after I quit watching the games around week 8.

 

 

I've had 4 people personally come up to my desk this morning (in NC) and give me condolences.  I guess much of the county does truly feel bad for Cleveland fans....

I've had 4 people personally come up to my desk this morning (in NC) and give me condolences. I guess much of the county does truly feel bad for Cleveland fans....

 

My mom, who can blab on the phone at me for hours, left me literally a 5 second voicemail last night saying "Condolences for your loss of Lebron."

I felt worse about Cliff Lee being traded.  I thought my lack of caring was my Cleveland sports reflex protecting me, but no, after a nights sleep I'm just not really all that broken up about the guy.  He's a d-bag for the way he went about the dog and pony show, but otherwise nothing.

There is a certain sense of relief, I must admit.... as disappointed as I am.  With him on the team, there was always this sense that anything less than a championship was a failure.  That if we fell short, he was going to leave.  It was always over our heads.  We literally had some of the best seasons in Cavs' history and were not able to truly celebrate that.  The 2007 Finals being the exception, just because we were so shocked to be there in the first place.

 

Great memories.... but yeah, I'm bitter.  No way around it for me.  It sucks that we had one of the best teams in the league, won more than any other team in the league these past several years and still had to beg our superstar to stay.  Unprecedented.

ESPN.com's J.A. Adande said it best: "How could any non-Heat fan watch this thing play out and think, "I wanna root for this guy?"."

I'm with KJP.  Get over it already.

 

LeBron will not make or break Cleveland or the activities/restaurants/momentem etc in downtown.  Those business have great business models and will continue to thrive on their own.

 

The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.  LeBron was just a part.

 

MOVE ON PEOPLE DAMN!

I'm with KJP. Get over it already.

 

LeBron will not make or break Cleveland or the activities/restaurants/momentem etc in downtown. Those business have great business models and will continue to thrive on their own.

 

The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. LeBron was just a part.

 

MOVE ON PEOPLE DAMN!

 

Amen!!!!!

Sports was intended as a sideshow to life. My advice: Keep it there for sake of your own sanity.

I'm with KJP. Get over it already.

 

LeBron will not make or break Cleveland or the activities/restaurants/momentem etc in downtown. Those business have great business models and will continue to thrive on their own.

 

The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. LeBron was just a part.

 

MOVE ON PEOPLE DAMN!

 

Says the guy who spends so much of his time in New York?

 

Yeah, I see you've already moved on.  But don't tell us how to feel or what to do.  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.

Sports was intended as a sideshow to life. My advice: Keep it there for sake of your own sanity.

 

Sorry, but when the public starts financing stadiums that cost hundreds of millions of dollars, it's no longer a sideshow.  Our region has a lot invested in this.

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.

I'm with KJP.  Get over it already.

 

LeBron will not make or break Cleveland or the activities/restaurants/momentem etc in downtown.  Those business have great business models and will continue to thrive on their own.

 

The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.  LeBron was just a part.

 

MOVE ON PEOPLE DAMN!

 

Says the guy who spends so much of his time in New York?

 

Yeah, I see you've already moved on.  But don't tell us how to feel or what to do.  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.

 

Do not make assumptions.  You dont know me, so how can you make that statement? 

Yes my job is physically in NYC, but I am a Clevelander. 

 

I'm a state of Ohio & [glow=red,2,300]Cleveland [/glow] resident.  My paycheck lists my Cleveland address.  My money goes into banks in Cleveland.  Even when I lived in London, my address was XXXXX Shaker Boulevard!  I will never list any other city as my HOME than Cleveland!

 

So what he brought people downtown for 41  night.  The other 320 days of the year, those business need to perform at a high level.

 

Again, basketball and Lebron are a small piece of the overall picture.

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!

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.