CLEVELAND — A fan wearing a Miami Heat jersey of LeBron James drew the ire of the crowd at a Cleveland Indians game and was escorted out of the ballpark. Fans in the left-field bleachers chanted obscenities and pointed at the man Wednesday night during the sixth inning of the game between the Indians and New York Yankees. Hundreds of fans joined in before security led the man out of Progressive Field. As he left, some fans followed him toward the gate with more derisive chants.
Time was when wearing a LeBron James jersey in Cleveland was de riguer, something akin to a banker wearing a suit and tie to work. Then James decided to take his talents to Miami and Cleveland became the poster child for bemoaning the lack of loyalty where none was required or deserved. While I can understand the disappointment of Clevelanders, I’ve long since grown tired of the whining and the aggressive inferiority complex. C’mon, y’all…YOU LIVE IN CLEVELAND, ferchrissakes…. How many of us, if presented with the choice between living in Cleveland or Miami, wouldn’t make exactly the same choice James did? James owed nothing to Cleveland, and he was free to make a business decision that he felt would be in his best interests. He made the decision; deal with it.
Having said that, I’ll grant you that wearing a new Miami Heat jersey with James’ name and number on it to a Cleveland Indians game is not the smoothest (or smartest) of moves. Anyone who would do that can’t reasonably claim to be surprised when they’re not exactly welcomed with open arms. DUH….
To those of you who are unfortunate enough to still live in Cleveland, I would only offer a couple of heartfelt suggestions: either A) get over yourselves, or B) seek professional help. If the worst problem to invade your charmed existence is a sense of abandonment from the departure of a spoiled, hyperglandular, supremely talented professional athlete, you’re in pretty good shape. LeBron James left Cleveland for Miami, but you have bigger problems- you still live in Cleveland. Now THAT’S something you could legitimately be upset about.
Jeebus, y’all; learn to let go already. LeBron James owed you nothing. He made a business decision, pure and simple. As a free agent, James made the sort of decision any other free agent would have. You have no claim on James, nor any right to expect anything resembling loyalty. LeBron James was not your property. You have no right to demand anything of him. The whining and crying is becoming tiresome. All you’re doing is making yourselves look small, petty, and exceedingly immature.
Relax, take a deep breath…and remember that you’re obsessing over a professional athlete. Isn’t it time you worked on developing something resembling perspective? Disappointment is understandable; rage and a feeling of betrayal is just plain silly and beyond immature. Get over yourselves.
