LeBron James might have left the Cavs for the Heat, but suddenly there’s a lot more heat back in Cleveland. According to the Associated Press, the Rev. Jesse Jackson is upset with an open letter written by Cleveland Cavs owner Dan Gilbert after his star player decided to move to Miami. The bitter comments directed toward the free agent sound like they’re directed at a “runaway slave,” according to Jackson. Gilbert’s letter, addressed to his team’s fans, derided James as “narcissistic” and claimed that he “deserted” Cleveland.
I’m in no shape, manner, or form a fan of Jesse Jackson. While I admire his commitment to social and economic justice, and his willingness to speak out when he senses injustice, Jackson is the very definition of “media whore”. The man has never met a camera he wasn’t willing, ready, and able to get in front of. I’ve often found it difficult to take him seriously, as he frequently seems more concerned with face time than effecting change. Of course, I realize that’s a rather harsh judgment, and I may be a bit out of line, but I don’t think my perception is altogether inaccurate.
Having said that, I’m willing to get behind Jackson in this case, because I think he’s spot on. While I find the reaction of Cleveland fans understandable to a degree (I get that they’re disappointed), the basis for their reaction is flawed, out of whack, and borderline racist. Then there’s Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, whose letter to Cleveland fans make it sound as if LeBron James revealed himself to be the feckless, ungrateful house slave. Gilbert was incensed that James exercised his right as a free agent to choose his own employer. Apparently, to Gilbert’s way of thinking, James was his property and therefore obligated to display loyalty to Cleveland fans and fealty to Gilbert. James’ “ingratitude” and “disloyalty” was more than Massa could handle.
What GIlbert fails to understand is that LeBron James owed him absolutely nothing. The NBA free agency system is what it is, and owners like Gilbert participated in its creation. Now that James has taken advantage of the opportunity available to him to choose where he plays, he’s a traitor to Cleveland in general and to Dan Gilbert in particular? How many hundreds of other NBA free agents how done exactly the same thing over the years…with no one accusing them of treachery, disloyalty, or worse? Why was LeBron James held to a different standard?
I don’t know that Dan Gilbert is a racist, but you’d never know it from his letter. I believe Jesse Jackson has a good point. The NBA needs to investigate the matter, because it’s not exactly a stretch to interpret Gilbert’s letter as incipient racism run amok. A White owner eviscerates an African-American ex-employee in a letter, accusing him of disloyalty, narcissism, and worse…and we’re not supposed to see that as racism?
LeBron James owed NOTHING to Gilbert or Cavaliers fans. Certainly, it would have been naive for James to not expect a strong and very negative reaction, but he had every right to make the decision he did. LeBron James made a business decision…and lets’ face reality, shall we? How many of us, if faced with a choice between living and working in Cleveland or Miami, wouldn’t make exactly the same choice James did? It was his choice, and he made it. Period. End of story. If you believe that James is guilty of disloyalty, if you believe that he owed it to Cleveland to stay, you really need to get over yourself, because nothing could be further from the truth.
Dan Gilbert should be ashamed of himself. I’m tired of hearing people defend him as a passionate owner, because his immature, racist diatribe goes far beyond passion and descends into something far uglier. LeBron James was not Gilbert’s house slave; he’s a business man who had the absolute right to make the choice he did. Gilbert should at the very least be making a very public apology to James and to NBA fans everywhere for his disgusting display of immaturity and racism.
WE DESERVE BETTER.
