Posted on 07/08/2010 9:51:53 PM PDT by NohSpinZone
Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert wrote an open letter to the team’s fans after LeBron James(notes) announced his decision to leave the franchise after seven seasons. Here it is in its entirety.
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.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...
Exactly.
Strong words, Mr. Gilbert. Strong, bizarre, and ultimately hollow words. Welcome back to irrelevance, Cavaliers!
LeBron couldn’t win in Cleveland so he bailed. It just means he’s not as good as everyone thinks he is. Hope they finish fourth.
I never have been a fan of the NBA but has a mildly positive image of Mr James. The narcissistic show of the last week has certainly turned that around. I am more likely to avoid anything he touts.
The problem is high taxes and unions.
What...you don't like "Wow, what great teamwork and strategy, perfectly executed for.... two points..." ...and relies on many trials and statistics to tease out a winner? :-)
Put your hands together with the fingers up. Wiggle the fingers to the right and >swish! Two points!< then wiggle your fingers to the left and >swish! Two points!<. Repeat (maybe varying things slightly sometimes) until clock nearly expired--then intentionally thumb wrestle (intentionally breaking rules is part of the game, you know) and slow things way down.
If you want similar action but faster paced, try watching ping-pong.
But... you can't argue with the market. It makes money..people don't seem to care for good design. And there's a market for self-absorbed showmen in America.
Ouch!
The thing LeBron is gonna find out, is that he wont be the go-to guy in Miami. He is a better athlete and physical specimen than Wade, but if they have 1 shot left to win in a playoff game, I think Wade takes it. Wade has more killer instinct and puts more effort out than LeBron.
How long until the “King”s ego makes him leave so he can be the number 1 somewhere else?
I’d almost agree but LeBron James plays more in the mold of Earvin “Magic” Johnson—distributor first and shooter second. James playing on the Heat will be used to distribute the ball to Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. Indeed, much of Kobe Bryant’s recent success came from the fact he became a distributor first and shooter second.
From a taxes standpoint, it makes sense to go to Miami since there’s no state income tax — only Orlando or the three Texas teams can compete there. At his income level, that adds up fast.
From a marketing standpoint, he’s already an international figure, so any team would have been fine from a national or international perspective.
So financially, it comes down to whether the local marketing opportunities in NYC or LA or Chicago could bring in enough revenue to overcome the impact of local taxes on his entire income. Probably not.
Of course, he’s making this decision based on the easiest place to win (and perhaps the hotness of the babes in Miami).
Wow. By choosing Miami over NYC, he saves $12.34 million over a five year $96 million contract. And that doesn’t include the savings on the rest of his income. He saves $5.69 million over staying in Cleveland and $10.32 million in avoiding the NJ Nets (from NY Post). No wonder rich people are abandoning NYC.
I recently moved out of Cleveland, so I’m not privy to all the local news I once was, but I don’t believe Gilbert wrote this. I can’t believe he’d have the nerve to guarantee a winning of a championship in Cleveland even during this century let alone before James wins one.
This is just another in a long line of heartbreaks us Clevelanders have had to endure rooting for sports franchises. I don’t wish ill-will towards him but will not be surprised if it happens. What goes around does indeed come around. He’ll still be rich when it comes around though.
One of the Cleveland talk-show hosts (Mike Trivisano) always called him “LeBoob” because he always wore a Yankee’s baseball cap even while attending Cleveland Indians Games. I thought then that the name “Leboob” was over the top, but now I tend to call him that myself. I never bought one of his jerseys and now I’m glad I didn’t.
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