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Cavs owner defends stance on LeBron

Correct, cleveland teams are notorious losers, which is why so much faith was put into him by the Cleveland fans that their luck may finally change and change on the back of a local hero. Again, not saying its right, but I'm saying that's part of why it gets such a different reaction in Cleveland.
 
Funny you said that, because I think I finally have a team that if they happened to play the Fakers in the final, I might actually root for the boys from La La land, and I NEVER thought I would ever say that...

When you said "Fakers", I thought you meant Utah, the home of the legendary floppers. :mrgreen:
 
You really don't realize that a large part of the complaints isn't that he left the team, but how?

this is a classic strawman complaint
LBJ was able to generate $millions for the Boys and Girls Club of America, only because of his cleverness
all the ad proceeds from the exclusive ESPN hour went to that organization
and people are complaining about it? would they rather the networks be the ones who profit from the announcement media instead?
this was going to be a huge sports story, and the media/sports figure played it to his advantage. he controlled how the announcement was conducted and he controlled how the ad proceeds would be distributed
smart fellow

A team that has repeatedly tried to accomodate LeBron from reportedly consulting him regarding player personel decisions, choice of coaches, etc.
and notice how classless that same team was when he left

The fact he let them know a week into free agency, after most of the major ones have been picked, that he wasn't resigning with a phone call minutes before announcing it to a national TV audiance?
i do also notice that the team gambled that it would prevail, despite being unable to sign him for a larger amount than any other team
in addition to being classless, management was clueless

The notion that he left his hometown team with an inability to go out and potentially get a even decent replacement by his indecisiveness, and rubbed salt in their wounds of him leaving by making it an enormous TV spectacle.
James did not prevent them from going into the free agency market for additional players. the team made that decision itself

That people see Kevin Durant reup quietly in an off year on Twitter, Amare give a relatively simple 5 minute press conference, and Wade and Bosh simply take a few days and decide in a standard way....but LeBron must have an hour long special after all the major people have signed so all the attention can be on him because he's oh so special and important and everyone must watch the King.
and none of them has the star power LBJ possesses. he is without question the best thing to happen to the NBA since Jordan. why should he be obligated to make a low profile decision? his paycheck is going to be tiny compared to the endorsement money he generates. that major endorsement money does not go to the low profile players

Really, outside of Cleveland...which you know, I can't blame them...whose mad at LeBron for going to a team of his choosing? Most people I've heard upset with LeBron is how he was amazingly dickish with his former team, acted a diva on the level of Brett Favre, and essentially looked like a giant egomaniac.
i see no instance in which James was 'dickish' with cleveland
don't understand the comparison between favre and LBJ, other than each decided leaving their previous team was in their own best interest. what is wrong with that?

In cleveland, yeah they're mad he left. And again, I say I can't blame them really. You have essentially a hometown guy in a city whose notoriously a loser who essentially seemed to give promise to FINALLY breaking that bad streak and doing it with "one of their own".
and he tried to turn around that team, but was never able to win it all. so, what's the problem? if he was so good to have done it with a weak supporting team then why didn't it happen? and if he is not that good to win it all by himself, and no one is, then why knock him alone because his team never prevailed at the end? if he was such bad news while there, why so much drama now that he has left?

The Cleveland market has embraced him, from the giant "witness" banner to the sell outs after sell outs for the team. To that market it was more than simply basketball. I don't think that's right, and I don't think he's wrong for not staying, but those people I can at least not fault for being made he left.
why do you believe the cleveland fans are entitled to be angry at LBJ because he left after you also stated that James was not wrong for leaving cleveland? that contradiction makes no sense

But again, outside of cleveland, I don't know many that actually feel that way.
fans of the game are interested. that was proven by the ESPN broadcast. cleveland is disappointed while miami is elated. but in the end, it was LeBron's choice to make and he made it. and he also made a few million dollars for the Boys and Girls Club charity ... and he compelled the media to frame the announcement in the way that he wanted
don't see why anyone would have a problem with anything that he did ... actually believe he deserves kudos, especially for making this thing work for charity

on the other hand, the way the cleveland ownership acted in the immediate aftermath, can anyone blame James for no longer wanting to be associated with such a classless organization?
 
* 2× NBA Most Valuable Player: 2009, 2010
* NBA Rookie of the Year: 2004
* NBA Scoring Champion: 2008
* 2× NBA All-Star Game MVP: 2006, 2008
* 6× NBA All-Star: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
* 6× All-NBA:
o First Team: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010
o Second Team: 2005, 2007
* 2× NBA All-Defensive:
o First Team: 2009, 2010
* NBA All-Rookie First Team: 2004
* Bronze medal with Team USA, 2004 Summer Olympic Games
* Bronze medal with Team USA, 2006 FIBA World Championship
* Gold medal with Team USA, 2007 FIBA Americas Championship
* Gold medal with Team USA, 2008 Summer Olympic Games

Facts begs to differ.
How many NBA championship rings does he have?
 
How many NBA championship rings does he have?

as many as
Maravich
Iverson
Nash
Garnett
Pierce
Allen
Ewing
Malone
Stockton
Barkley
Lanier
Baylor
Gervin
Kidd
Hill
Webber

but now that he is surrounded by talent, his chances to acquire one are much improved
 
as many as
Maravich
Iverson
Nash
Garnett
Pierce
Allen
Ewing
Malone
Stockton
Barkley
Lanier
Baylor
Gervin
Kidd
Hill
Webber

but now that he is surrounded by talent, his chances to acquire one are much improved
garnett, pierce, and allen all have a ring
 
as many as
Maravich
Iverson
Nash
Garnett
Pierce
Allen
Ewing
Malone
Stockton
Barkley
Lanier
Baylor
Gervin
Kidd
Hill
Webber

but now that he is surrounded by talent, his chances to acquire one are much improved

Uhm, I take it you don't follow basketball. Garnett, Pierce, and I assume by Allen you mean Ray, all have rings.
 
this is a classic strawman complaint
LBJ was able to generate $millions for the Boys and Girls Club of America, only because of his cleverness
all the ad proceeds from the exclusive ESPN hour went to that organization
and people are complaining about it? would they rather the networks be the ones who profit from the announcement media instead?
this was going to be a huge sports story, and the media/sports figure played it to his advantage. he controlled how the announcement was conducted and he controlled how the ad proceeds would be distributed
smart fellow

The whole issue here is suggesting the ends justify the means. You seem to imagine this is LeBron wanting to do charity. I see this as Lebron's people realizing it looks INCREDIBLY douchy and was trying to use the Charity thing as an excuse. LeBron could've raised the same amount or donated the same amount easily without making a giant "LOOK AT ME" public spectacle.

You see benevolence. I see narcissism with a cover.


and notice how classless that same team was when he left

i do also notice that the team gambled that it would prevail, despite being unable to sign him for a larger amount than any other team
in addition to being classless, management was clueless

What do you expect them to do when the home grown talent was on Larry King not even days before telling them they were the "Front runners".

why do you believe the cleveland fans are entitled to be angry at LBJ because he left after you also stated that James was not wrong for leaving cleveland? that contradiction makes no sense

Because emotions don't necessarily need to be reasonable for them to be understandable. I didn't say they're entitled, I said its understandable.
 
as many as
Maravich
Iverson
Nash
Garnett
Pierce
Allen
Ewing
Malone
Stockton
Barkley
Lanier
Baylor
Gervin
Kidd
Hill
Webber

but now that he is surrounded by talent, his chances to acquire one are much improved

People already pointed out the glaring hole in your argument with Pierce, Allen, and Garnett on that list.

But even more than that, none of those people you just listed is referenced as "The Best Ever". And at the rate he's going, and where and whose he's playing with now, neither should LeBron.

Like some of those on the list, he absolutely can potential become "One of the best"
 
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