Lebron James

[ktheodos]

So...he's going to Heat!! How interesting! Sure is making things hot down there in Miami (lol)....thoughts on this?

[ktheodos]

"the" Heat I might say.....I wonder how Shaq is feeling right now....

[Oryon20]

Who cares?  The way he handled this whole thing was egotistical and a major slap in the face to the Cavaliers, their fans, and his home state.  If he wasn't going to return, did he really need to leave the team hanging and do it on national television hundreds of miles away?  I lost a lot of respect for this man tonight.  He will never be an immortal player, and even if they win a few titles in Miami, Wade will always have more than him.  The true greats/immortals won titles and stayed with their teams through coaching changes, rebuilding, good and bad until at least they got older to get them.  They won by leading.  Look at Bird, Magic, Russell, Jordan, Dr. J, Kobe, Duncan, Isiah Thomas.  James now just becomes another hired mercenary, like Shaq.

I'll love to see how they plan on filling this roster out.  After signing the three, they will have a grand total of four players under contract.  Their three draft picks will bring it to seven.  They still need to fill at least five more spots.  Since they were under the cap on July 1st, they don't have the mid-level exception or bi-annual exceptions.  They're going to have to fill them up with veteran minimum contracts.  With other teams having lots of cap space, due to hoping to sign LeBron, and an uncertain collective bargaining agreement looming, good luck getting players to come sign minimum deals instead of them trying to cash in big one last time before a new CBA.  If Darko Milicic can get 20 mil from the Wolves, think what some of these other guys can maybe get now from teams with lots of cap space... like NY, NJ, Clippers, Bulls.  No matter how great these three guys are, you still need good role players and a strong bench to win a title.  Heck, if they don't get a big guy, how are they even going to beat teams like the Magic and Lakers?

Until proven otherwise, even after these signings, the Celtics are still the top dog in the east, anyway.  

[dodgers16]

 this Lebron James story got way to much media coverage, I am just glad that LeBron picked a team and thats it is finally over!!!!!!!!!!!

[lray3152]

Glad its over, I agree.  I am born and raised from the City of Akron and am a die hard Cleveland Fan.  SO glad that his REAL roots came out and we all discovered how terrible of a person he is.  Dont let the door hit you on your way out Lebron.

[rogery]

Next season will be interesting. Now that it's done, maybe I can concentrate on baseball.

[mrisha]

Stop being haters and just wish the man well.  If it had been anybody else you all would be jumping on the band wagon and wishing them well.  It wasn't his fault that the media blew this all out of proportion.

[mmangas]

People need to get a grip.  This is a business decision.  He doesn't "owe" anyone anything.  If I offered you significantly more money, where you can actually win a championship, and in bright sunny florida....who wouldn't take the offer??  I live in Ohio....it's gloomy and crappy out for six months out of the year.  That would be motivation enough if you ask me!!!

[carebearmafia]

At least now there will be something else on espn..lol

[Oryon20]

If I offered you significantly more money, where you can actually win a championship, and in bright sunny florida....who wouldn't take the offer??

Actually, he'll be making significantly less.  Only the Cavaliers could have offered him the most money.

I understand that this is a business decision.  I don't fault him for wanting to win.  Who doesn't want to win at anything?  Basketball-wise, he probably made the most sound decision.  I also don't have a problem with him leaving Cleveland.  Free agancy is just that... the ability and freedom to go where you want.  He owes nothing to anyone, other than maybe courtesy.

What is disgusting to me is how he handled it.  You have mega-successful and billionaire owners flocking from around the country and world to his home trying to woo him and "kiss his ring".  What other athlete have you seen where they don't go visit the teams themselves?  Every other athlete this free agency period has been traveling city to city.  He literally takes the "King" moniker to heart, as if everyone else are his peasants.  Anyone that refers to themself as King or in the third person has to have an out of control ego.  The funny thing is, he hasn't accomplished anything other than a couple MVPs (individual awards. Last check, basketball was a team game) to really even have this kind of ego.

Yes, the media went crazy with it.  But, he didn't also need to feed into it.  Let's be honest, he loved every minute of this dog and pony show.  Anything to "build the brand", as if his "brand" wasn't already the largest in the NBA.  A simple press release on where he decided to sign, or even a modest press conference at his home or Miami would have been acceptable.  To book an hour long show in primetime, and then try to act like it was for charitable reasons?  Please.  Go silently write a check if you truly want to do something philanthropic.

What he did last night was a sucker punch to the gut of Cleveland and their fans.  A big middle finger on national TV.  He could have handled the way he was leaving in a more respectable, dignified way.  He WAS Cleveland sports, the city has nothing else (Indians and Browns are pathetic).  He could have let them down in much easier ways, which didn't have him coming off looking like a narcissist fool.

After last night, Kobe Bryant may finally have been supplanted as the most disliked player by the NBA fandom.  I can't wait to see reactions of cities the Heat travel to this upcoming season.

I'd also like to add that I'm neither an Ohio resident or Cavs fan.  Nor am I am a fan of a team which was wooing him.  I am just an overall sports and NBA fan, and found this all absurd.

[mgint]

good for him he can go where he will be happy just next time don't have to have a hour special just for him little too much for me.

[wsnyyankees2009]

OK Lebron....Move Along, Move Along. 

Don't Let the Door Hit Your @ss On the Way Out!!!

Next,
Any Thoughts On The MLB All-Star Game?

[heartofphila]

So he's trying something new. Lets see how it goes.

[eSineM]

Cleveland management are fukn failures! O_O it was their job to put the right pieces around him and they failed badly...Bringing in Shaq hurt, slowed them down, i couldnt believe they signed his old *bleep*! hehe..and Jamison is overrated...

I get a kick out of this

Dan Gilbert

""I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER 'KING' WINS ONE.''"

lmao

prime example of what you are dealing with there.

That's just adding more fuel to LBJ's fire


Sad.

But I don't think they'll beat Lakers until 2012

[freepcmoney]

I DON'T CARE!!! I DON'T CARE !!! I DON'T CARE !!!