• People say that Gilbert’s response makes him look ridiculous.  Personally I think it makes him look like an owner who gives a shit.  Sure he may scare away a couple of potential free agents with that blast, but I’m guessing in the end it may show how passionate he is.
• I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… I’m not upset that James is leaving Cleveland.  He’s earned the right to go where he feels he’s in the best situation.  What I take issue with is the public bitch slap of Cleveland on national TV.  There’s a way to handle your “bidness” and James simply didn’t do it.
• To that end, I think LeBron’s been getting some very bad advice for the last year.  An “adult” would never have allowed him to conduct himself in this manner.
• Not sure what the tone is like outside of Cleveland, but in my eyes with last night’s move, he went from Jordan comparisons to Pippen comparisons.  Even if he starts winning he’ll never have been “the man”.
• I think it’s effing hilarious that LeBron’s got a “donate” button on his website.  If you’re donating to King James you’re dumber than a box of hammers.
• LeBron seemed genuinely shocked last night when shown images of his jersey being burned.  Really?  He didn’t see that coming?
• It won’t happen, but it would be awesome if Cleveland sold out every game next year.
• LeBron (or more likely his people) called the paparazzi to ensure that they’d be on hand for his arrival at 3:00 AM last night.  Come on dude.
• Speaking of calling… LeBron never even called the Cavs personally and informed them of his decision.  Sack up dude.  I said that you don’t owe Cleveland anything, but you owe the Cavs that.
• I saw tweet that rang true today: “Born here. Raised here. Played here. Betrayed here.”
• Anytime I can reference one of my favorite movies I will: “It’s all on the wheel… it all comes around.”
• One last thought… I was a CAVS fan long before LeBron James, and I’ll continue to be a CAVS fan now that he’s gone.

James obviously doesn’t care what it’s going to do to the city and when it boils right down to it he shouldn’t.  That issue should have been dealt with long ago by the city’s politicians.  I guess what irritates me the most is that I got duped.  I got fooled into believing that words like “loyalty” meant something to LeBron.  And PLEASE don’t lump me in with those people that feels LeBron “owes” Cleveland something… he doesn’t.  What I don’t like is the fact that for years he told us THIS is where he wanted to be, that he wanted to put Akron/Cleveland on the map, etc.  I’ll give him one thing… at least he didn’t follow the money.  He’s going where he feels that he’s got the best chance to win a championship.  Good for him.

What really floors me about this whole situation is how James seems to no longer care about his legacy.  I was always under the impression that he wanted to be known as the best ever.  With this move, he just cemented the fact that he’ll never be known that way.  Even if he wins a slew of NBA championships now, he’ll be known as “one of the guys” rather than “THE guy who could elevate his team.”  I’m not sure if he knows that quite yet.  Who knows… maybe he doesn’t care.  Two days ago he was trying to get Chris Bosh to come to Cleveland.  Now he’s turned from the King to a follower.  All I know is James better take his family (mom included) and leave town never to return.  I hate to say it, but it’s no longer safe for him here.  There are too many crazies in this town.  One thing’s for sure… Art Modell is a happy guy tonight.  He’s no longer the most hated guy in Cleveland history.

When I logged on to the Cavs site tonight I was greeted with this open letter from Cavs owner Dan Gilbert.  I’m archiving it here cause quite frankly I don’t think it’ll be around long.  Regardless of how everything plays out, THIS is the kind of owner that I want running the show.  Not sure how long this link will be active, but for now you can view it here: http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/gilbert_letter_100708.html

Rock on Dan Gilbert – my respect just went up tenfold.

For those too lazy to click on the link, I’ll leave you with Mr. Gilbert’s letter and one final thought.  Get a good night’s sleep Cleveland… if there’s one thing we’re good at, it’s bouncing back.  See you on the flip side.

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….

Dan Gilbert
Majority Owner
Cleveland Cavaliers

Is he a great basketball player?  Sure he is but he’s won exactly the same amount of NBA championships as I have… ZERO.  Am I bitter?  Sure I’m bitter.  I’m a Cleveland fan who’s been fucked over so many times by the sports Gods that I’m sick of it.

• The Drive
• The Fumble
• The Jordan Shot Over Ehlo
• The 95 Indians
• The 97 Indians
• Art Modell Moving The Browns

Need I go on?  Needless to say I’m sick and tired of being on the short end of the sports spectrum.  So I see this going down in one of two ways.

1. LeBron gets to the end of his ego-inflating TV time and tells the world that he’s decided that even though he loves Cleveland/Akron, he’s decided to do, “What’s best for him, his family and his career” and go play with [Insert Team Here].
2. LeBron gets to the end of his ego-inflating TV time and tells the world that he’s decided that he love “home” so much he’s going to stay in a Cleveland uniform.

Quite honestly, I’ve got huge issues with either.

In scenario #1, he instantly becomes the biggest dick in sports history by essentially “breaking up” with a city on national TV.  Come on dude… even Tiger Woods has more class than that.  And I’m not just talking Cleveland fans here.  Sure we’ll be pissed, but let’s face it, we can handle it.  I’m thinking this is the kind of stuff that the whole sports world will look at and be like, “What a dick move that was.”  Art Modell is PRAYING for this to happen.  He’ll no longer be the most hated dude in C-Town.

In scenario #2, he instantly (again) becomes the biggest legend in Cleveland sports.  But he cements (at least in my mind) the fact that he’s got the biggest ego that I’ve ever seen.  Again… I’m not calling into question how good he is as a basketball player.  He’s awesome.  In fact, he’s the second best player I’ve ever seen play (behind Jordan).  And therein lies the problem.  I don’t recall Michael Jordon, Larry Bird, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, etc. EVER holding an hour long, prime time event just to tell the world what his decision is.  Hell, in Kobe’s case, it took RAPE for people to care this much.  But at least Kobe’s a winner… LeBron can’t say that much yet.

So… I spose I’ve come this far, I might as well make a prediction.  I’m thinking at the end of it all, LeBron is going to stay.  Based on the fact that his ego is just SO damn big I can’t see him taking the kind of publicity hit that scenario #1 would induce.  If he’s going to leave Cleveland, I’m guessing he would have done it nice and quietly and then moved on to other things.

I had a co-worker bring up an interesting (though I think pretty far-fetched) theory.  Maybe… just maybe, LeBron is going onto TV to tell the world just how damn great Cleveland is and he thinks the rest of the world should stop making “Mistake By The Lake” references and reminding us that our river caught on fire.  Yeah… like I said… pretty far fetched.

In all fairness, the one GOOD thing that I see coming out of all of this is the Boys and Girls Club of America is getting all the proceeds from any advertising dollars spent during LeBron’s hour on ESPN.  That’s a good thing.  One more way to enforce on our young children that ego pays.

They hate each other.
Their fans hate each other.
The two cities hate each other.

That said, there are a few people living in Cleveland that like the Steelers and I happen to be one of them.  I’m a lifelong Steelers fan and I always will be.  I bleed Steeler blood.  I hate when my team loses and I go crazy when they win.  The fact that that Steelers have won more Super Bowls than any other team in history is irrelevant to this discussion.

The rest of my family absolutely HATES the Steelers.  They root against them with as much passion as they root for the Browns.  When I was recently watching the Super Bowl they were SO happy when it appeared that the Steelers had let the game slip away and were SO angry when they saw them come back and win the game.

I’m sure I’m not the only one that’s in this particular situation.  I’m sure there are Packer fans living in Chicago, Cowboy fans living in Washington and Raider fans living in Denver.  However, since I’ve lived in Cleveland for nearly 3 decades I’ve honestly come to love the Browns as well.  When they play the Steelers I still root for the Black & Gold but otherwise I’m rooting for the Brownies.

When people learn this they tell me how weird I am.  They tell me that I simply CANNOT have allegiance to two teams.  I suppose they’re right.  When forced to make a choice (on gameday) I root for the Steelers.  Now I’m just babbling but I’m looking to know… Am I crazy?  Am I the only one in this situation?  Am I the only one that doesn’t completely hate the opposition?