Friday, July 9th, 2010 at 10:45 am  |  198 responses

LeBron James: Public Enemy Number 1 in Cleveland

by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

Let’s agree on a few points first: LeBron didn’t it “owe” it to Cleveland — its fans, players, coaches, and management — to stay, he was an unrestricted free agent, absolutely free to choose where to work next season.

That being said, fans, management, coaches and anyone else who ever cared about the Cavs had every right to be upset with James’ decision. It is devastating to their franchise, some parts of the local economy, and perhaps the most painful thing to ever happen to Ohio sports.

The way “The Decision” was carried out, during an inexplicably silly one-hour television special, only added insult to Cavs fans’ pain and suffering.

Here’s a collection of some of the reaction from Cleveland following last night’s devastating turn of events:

-After finishing up with the burning of LBJ’s jersey and other memorabilia, fans lit up sports radio stations lines and web message boards.

-Dan Gilbert briefly lost his mind, called LeBron a quitter, and his letter continues to dominate the Cavs’ official website.

-Some in the local media predictably compared James to Art Modell, arguably the most hated man in Ohio sports history.

-My favorite reaction to the whole thing, though, comes from the Plain Dealer. Today’s edition features LeBron walking away, and they have a small graphic poking at him for failing to win a title in the seven years he was in Cleveland. Awesome.

The NBA can’t schedule a Heat/Cavs game in Cleveland soon enough.

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  • http://jayemmbee.blogspot.com/ ClutchPerformer

    Shaq was MVP on the team = best player on the team, how can you be best ever when you werent even best on championship team, the skill level between MJ and Pippen was enormous thats why MJ was the MVP it was no doubt, Kobe was 2nd fiddle thats why, which Lebron is now, KG is second Fiddle, cuz KG doesnt claim to be the best. Kareem was already on the decline he had a couple titles to his name as is

  • http://dsjkflf.com Jukai

    Why do the Heat need a point guard? Let Lebron run the point and put Mike Miller in the SF spot. On defense, have Wade guard the point, Miller the shooting guard and Lebron the small foward.
    They simply don’t need a point.
    Just get that center.

  • http://Www.slamonline.com Rhodeeski

    ^^ co-sign. Shaq will be back.

  • http://yahoo Ddub

    I notice that whenever something happens,kobe some how end up being mentioned,leave him out of this.He is a warrior,he would have died before he went and teamed up w/any of them,because just like bird wouldnt haave teamed up w/magic,and mj wouldnt have teamed up with them because they are competitors and they want to beat the best.True Legone was a free agent,but you dont lead fans on a personal joy ride!THAT is why fans fronm other cities are pissed.
    Ifs classless,sort of like Pat Riley when he wasnt man enough to tell the knicks he was QUITTING,Did I say man enough,yes Lebron you didnt owe Cleveland anything,But you quit on your team rt in front of everyone,in the playoff against the Celts, and you they didnt quit on you,so you were the Loser.Front runner,its easy to accept glory, but give those who give you the glory,the proper respect.Ticket holders and those watcing on tv.You knew along time ago what you were going to do,Bosh you are an addition,not a center piece,follower,cant even make up your own mind and be your own man!

  • bill breedley

    ledouche!

  • http://www.hibachi20.blogspot.com Hursty

    “hated on so much, Passion of The Christ need a sequel”.

  • http://www.twitter.com/JoshElam JE

    Here’s something to think about: Will LeBron’s jersey ever be retired in Cleveland?

  • bill breedley

    what a slap in the face for the cavs! karma will haunt ledouche. finally the powder blowing dancing clown has been exposed. funny how ronron is now a hero and ledouce the nba’s heel. fine to move to another team when you realize you dont have it to be the man, but going thru the drama and keeping your loyal fans hanging watching that pathetic show yesterday is something else all together

  • bill breedley

    JE think all the jerseys have been burned, nothing with 23 and james is left to hang in cleveland

  • Dorie in L.A.

    I’m pretty sure the people who’re burning LBJ’s jersey are not the true Akron fans and community who have had his back and benefited from his generosity long before the Cavs ticketholders claimed to love him. I think seven years is enough time to know if Gilbert and company are serious about getting some real help. Dude made a career decision to move forward toward his goals while he’s still young. What’s wrong with that? If anyone continues to work a job after it’s become stagnant he will become bitter. I wish him the best — along with all of his true Ohio family /friends/community that he will continue to love and take care of. I’d like to hear from some of them.

  • robbie

    Man, I thought lebron was goin to NYC. But I think a lot of us had the wrong idea about him to begin with. I think he realized that his best option for success would be on a team where he isnt the best scorer. Like many have said, he is a lot more Magic than he is MJ, and now he’s going to embrace it.

  • buggy

    CANT WAIT TILL NEXT SEASON,lets go number 6

  • ciroqobama

    whoaaaa wait wait wait…. “The Seed” cut-and-paste’s ‘his’ arguments from other writers?! Wow what a fn loser

  • http://www.kb24.com The Seed

    I only cut and pasted on two statements,about MJ going to Pistons and top 5 reasons Lebron is not the man. from this dude at si. BOOK IT!!!

  • nombre

    Lebron isnt like MJ, he’s a lot like Magic, game and personality-wise. DWade and Kobe are the closest thing to MJ currently playing. Still, never thought Lebron would be willing to play second fiddle to anyone, and that is what he’s doing, this is very much DWade’s team.

  • jay

    one of late great John Wooden’s quote comes to mind. “It takes talent to make it to the top, but character, to stay there.” Oh did Lebron ever make it to the top.

  • J-Bird

    Dont compare Lebron to MJ, compare him to Magic. DWade is the biggest winner in all of this, he got two all world talents to leave their teams to come to his and be sidekicks, unbelievable.

  • jay

    here’s hoping Delonte knocks up Gloria.

  • Fat Lever

    I’m sorry, but for a person so concerned with his image and his basketball image, I can’t imagine MeBron being satisfied with taking a substantial cut in point production, especially with everyone looking at him now so closely. This guy is the most egotistical person in the NBA(which is saying something), so now I’m supposed to believe he’ll be ok averaging 16 ppg and 10 assists? BS, especially if they dont’t win the title. He left Cleveland to win to, in a sense, protect his legacy/image in the game. You don’t go from being the most self-conscious person in the league to the most giving and selfless person. Doesn’t happen.

  • jay

    oh cmon fat lever,you really think Lebron is trying to be a “giving, selfless person”? From the time the ESPN special was announced, everyone was getting fedup with the guy. what was suppose to be a major marketing, PR move was backfired with justified accusations of narcissistic, egotistical, self-centered behaviour. the only way to recapture the “image” was to make a move that will damn near guarantee championships, so all the fu*kery can be forgiven. also “word” to “Dan Gilbert”.

  • jay

    oh cmon fat lever,you really think Lebron is trying to be a “giving, selfless person”? From the time the ESPN special was announced, everyone was getting fedup with the guy. what was suppose to be a major marketing, PR move was backfired with justified accusations of narcissistic, egotistical, self-centered behaviour. the only way to recapture the “image” was to make a move that will damn near guarantee championships, so all the fu*kery can be forgiven. also “word” to “Dan Gilbert”

  • JD

    I loved on ESPN when they were talkin to the woman in Cleveland and they asked does anyone understand this decision?
    No.

  • ciroqobama

    BOOK nothing Seed, you are a tool

  • http://dsjkflf.com Jukai

    ^^^^^
    Co-sign

  • julianosorio

    tmoney, fresh prince, you all right on, you play, you ain’t there to be seen, you there to win. forget everything, you there to win period.

  • Clay

    Remember when KG, Pierce and Ray Allen were teamed up in Boston? They did all their interviews together. LeBron is too good to announce his decision with Wade and Bosh. Take out of it what you may.

  • Jim Willis

    I don’t live in or near Ohio but I am a Cleveland fan. I AND perhaps most of us are not angry about LeBrons decision to Leave!. The WAY he carried out that decision was disrespectful and ego-centric. The Cleveland fans and mabagement are partly to blame for this over size Ego. They gave LeBron everything he asked for and d d not chide him when he behaves as an Ego- centric child. – but even so, LeBron. All of the people who begged and prayed for you to stay..little grandmas who baked you cookies.. Management and officials who tried to give you everything , did not they deserve a kinder goodbye!. Did they have to wait and watch Your Special Show?.. WASN’T that a little too much All AboutYou ?… -I appreciate that open letter from Dan Gilbert. SOMEONE HAD TO GIVE US FANS A REASON TO FEEL UPBEAT ABOUT OUR CITY AND OUR TEAM!.. Dan did what a good leader does!. I am now a more devoted Cleveland fan. -On another note, LeBron, the triangle and other hand signs you make are as You know, Satanic signs !

  • Jim Willis

    LeBron follows Jay-Z and ther Satan worshippers. THE HAND SIGNS that is part of LeBron’s pre game are known satanic signa. THEY ALSO WORSHIP 666. THat is why he picked 6 as his new number. LEbron is “cursed”. You can see it in his eyes. – Also, LeBron went from being number one on the team to now, number three. SADLY. He will Never win a title.

  • e

    lebron been looking real sad since he announced it i think the powers that be forced this on him

  • nastierthanu3

    @javy and jesus saves when someone, and I don’t care how famous the person is, raises half a million for a people that need it god bless them. Down the road after the convo has died down and the city of cleveland has recovered, emotionally, that money will still be helping people. All of us must look at ourselves and say “what am I doing for anyone else except myself?”. So I ask u both. What have u done this week for those who are in need?

  • http://www.hibachi20.blogspot.com Hursty

    Beware the Nazgul foooooool!

  • http://www.threadsandkicks.com.au Eduardo

    You don’t get the best record in the league two years straight with a week supporting cast! Dan Gilbert invested to build a championship team around his star player. It’s not like he was in the same situation that McGrady was in with the Magic in 03, Francis in Houston 2000, G Hill in Pistons 05-99, Kobe 05-07. LeBron had a championship caliber team that was at times selected and approved specifically by his choosing to keep him happy. Best record in the League for 2 years, 66 which was just 6 games away from Jordan and the Bulls 72 wins. So people can’t say that this was a weak team. Allen Iverson took a mere nobody team all the way tot he Finals in 01. And that team literally had NOBODY! Ask yourself if Kobe had the same team LeBron had the past few years would he have lost with that exact team during the Playoffs? All signs and all fans will and should agree honestly… NO.

  • http://Www.dimemag.com Royal

    I would love 2 meet these tough ass bloggers in a alley in Baltimore, we might could have respectful debates! We are grown men and on any ocassion with the stuff said on these sites would get your a$$ kicked! Reality check, none of these guys will give any of us regular folk the time of day, not LBJ not Kobe not even Tim Thomas old a$$ will even sign a autograph for you at the local Dennys restaurant! Let’s be respectful of one another please!

  • matt.t

    Lebrons closest comparison from the past judging from his career so far is Dominique Wilkins.

  • Leo Pratama

    Hey, Lebron …… Winning the titles in Miami with Wade and Bosh isn’t a challange. It is an expectation. You need challange? Stay and win it with Cleveland.
    Also, if you’re leaving cleveland at least you can give them respect by telling them straight up, so they can move on. Give them time to reorganize, chase other free agents (there are other people than you, you know). For God’s sake they fired Mike Brown and let Danny Ferry go for you.
    Now you left them no time and nobody to sign. Who are they going to sign now?? Stephon Marbury or Allen Iverson, I suppose.
    All the top free agents are gone while they were waiting for you to make decision. But their nightmares were not over. You chose to announce the decision on national TV. What a shame. You lost my respect, Lebron. and I believe many others, not just Cleveland fans.
    Even if you win the championship it wouldn’t be a great accomplishment. You wouldn’t be the centerpiece, are you ready for that?
    Just ask Kobe. I’m out.

  • Bruno, RJ

    thanks for making al my comments right for the last 8 yars, LeQuitter…
    you have just signed the “I can’t deliver” letter to al your fans (i was never included).
    i’m happy that you found a REAL MAN to get you a championship.
    nice thing from some self-proclamed king or chosen one.
    we all really witnessed… witnessed overated mom’s kid mailed in and choke every time someone needed you.

  • Bruno, RJ

    i hope cavs fan chant atrocities at him every game, throws coins in the court and bring all kind of hell at him…
    is it too soon to ask him how does wade’s balls taste?!

  • Peter B

    Well, as a Kobe fan I’m kind of glad he is no longer the most hated player in the NBA, thanks Lebron. The more Lebron wins the more people are going to hate him, the more he loses the more he will be criticised for not winning as part of a dream trio, he’s in a catch 22.

  • http://kamndestiny@yahoo.com swisha sweet

    kinda reminds me of when Shaq left Orlando…Maybe Lebron was tired of being a big fish n a small pond…..Buisness is buisness, at the end of the day Lebrons has made the NBA enough money. The guy can play ball, its his gift and we need to appreciate it. Its alot of guys that shoudnt b n the NBA. Like the magics first round draft choice. 2 points 1 rebound per game. career college stats but now hes a millionaire …ITS MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO TALK ABOUT BUT THE MEDIA DOESNT KNOW HOW TO KEEP IT REAL>

  • Harlem_World

    He never said he wanted to be MJ. Different DNA. I’m glad he left Cleveland, more so now because of how Gilbert is reacting. Maybe Cleveland fans should be taking a closer look at the REAL reason it all went so wrong for the Cavs…Dan Gilbert. I don’t care how mad you are at him leaving, doing what he did with the letter and personal attacks are classless. Do you really think other FA’s are ever going to want to come and play for an organization that show’s so little class? Dude is shooting his investment (franchise) in the foot.

    I agree Lebron should not have done the show, but maybe this was a personal dig at Gilbert, not the fans. I think there’s more to the whole Gilbert/Lebron relationship than is being told.

  • VIVIAN

    I do not blame LeBron for leaving Cleveland. He had to do what he felt was best for his career. The shameful part was HOW he did it , totally no class and no respect for the many good eveyday people who catered to him. – What Dan Gilbert did was very classy and very much needed. Someone had to lift these fans up with a reason and a promise to remain excited about and hopeful for Cleveland. That job fell to Gilbert , and he handles it Wonderfully… PROUD TO BE A CAVALIER FAN !!!

  • D-Mack

    maybe I’m the only one, but I didn’t find the 1-hour special silly. In the entire free agency period, Lebron did one interview, the special.

    If Lebron would have left Cleveland and just issued a press release and showed up in South Beach, I would be pissed off. He left and he didn’t even have the balls to face the fans and tell everyone he was leaving and why.

    And if Cleveland fans reacted that way, how much loyalty was there to begin with? I guess the loyalty was contingent on Lebron bowing to the wishes of the city. The guy took control over his career and his life, I can’t be mad at that.

  • AJBALLER

    brons 2 good not to win a championship so probly not this year but soon he will win it with the heat

  • buccetz714

    KINDA OF HATE TO ADMIT IT THOU HE PRETTY MUCH SOLD HIMSELF TO THE DEVIL.. WHY HE DID IT????? ITS THAT MARKETING TEAM IM TELLIN U.. THOSE KIDS HAVE NO IDEA WAHT THEY JUS DONE. AT LEAST BUILD AN EMPIRE IN NY OR CHI… BUT MIAMI???? I WAS A BIG FAN EVER SINCE SLAM HAD HIM BACCCCCCC IN THE DAY AS A HS SOPH.. REMEMBER WHEN HE DUNKD ON CHRIM MIHM AS A HS JR AND JOHN LUCAS GOT FINED 1/2 A MILL…. I DONT THINK THE RIGHT PPL HAVE MANAGED HIM CORRECTLY…. WELL C WHAT HAPPENS BUT GOTTA ADMIT LOST ALOT OF RESPECT FOR HIM FOR DOIN CLE LIKE THAT. IM OUT LIKE BONE THUGS AND ANYTHING GOOD IN CLE..

  • mellmeister

    Let’s just face the fact that LeBron got tired of cararying the load for CLEVELAND… 7 Long Years of being in the spotlight and not much getting support. The Organization found players that is complimented by LeBron’s GAME… they should’ve found some players that would take much of the weight from LBJ. He’s 25 and gotta make a decision on winning now, and not be 31 and push for a sign and trade like what happened with KG.

    The Organization of Cleveland Kissed his ASS without him asking for it, was hailed as a messiah for a city that made money out of him. for the business he brings to the table.

    The Guy is a winner, and he knows that basketball cannot be won by one man alone… so he joined the Heat.

    I love the idea of one defying odds… but let’s remember that he found out that he was “human” when he got his injury during the playoffs, he’s going to get more if he’ll do it alone.

    Since Cleveland couldn’t give him “support” on the court, He’s going to be the “support” that’s needed in Miami, even more…

  • http://Slamonline.com Philly

    lebron is nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • http://mtelford@worldwls.com alli

    People are pathetic. Find Jesus Christ fast. This is what happens when people worship man. How sad that people are wasting time and energy sweating where a guy is going to play basketball when we have a war, record unemployment, illegal immigration and corrupt politicians running amok.
    NEWS FLASH, no matter what team Lebron plays on his paycheck will not affect the general public and he isn’t going to lose sleep over it so why are people tripping off of it? God, get over it.

  • The Philosopher

    ^Because he is… THE KING.

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