Dear Cleveland,
So the King is returning to his faithful, eh? Lebron James is coming back home to the Mistake by the Lake. I can hear the hypocrisy from here on the left coast. Those of you who were crying and whining and condemning James’s “disloyalty” and “perfidy” in 2010 are now welcoming him back with open arms.
“Welcome home, Lebron! All is forgiven! We never meant all those mean, nasty things we said about you, anyway, right??”
WTF??
In 2010, James made a business decision, the same as any player in his position would. He chose Miami over Cleveland (Who in their right mind wouldn’t?), and y’all acted as if Lebron James was Judas Iscariot, a traitor who sold his soul to Satan for 30 pieces of silver. D’ya not see the hypocrisy and self-interest in play here…or do you just not care?
Four years ago, y’all would have taken a contract out on King James’ life given half the chance. Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert fed your self-ascribed victimhood and sense of entitlement with his now infamous letter to Cleveland fans…which mysteriously disappeared from the team’s website a few days ago. It was a self-serving, gratuitous, and patently offensive attempt at self-aggrandizement. In an effort to fan the flames and ingratiate himself with the team’s fan base, Gilbert wrote
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….
This shocking act of disloyalty from our homegrown “chosen one” sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And “who” we would want them to grow up to become.
“Shocking act of disloyalty?” Who did James owe loyalty to- beyond himself and his family? It seemed at the time that Gilbert wanted the children of northeast Ohio to grow up feeling as if athletes are property and “owe” the fans their undying loyalty. Gilbert’s reaction was a childish as it was immature and inflammatory.
Wow…when y’all get your hypocrite on, y’all do it up big, don’tcha?
Professional basketball is a business. Period. Fans love players as long as they produce. When that ceases to be the case, they’re kicked to the curb faster than Drew Carey chasing a hooker. A fan’s loyalty and love is as conditional as it is self-absorbed…so why would you possibly believe Lebron James owed you anything at all? An athlete’s loyalty is and should be to himself, to his family, and to his career- which will end all too soon. In 2010, James what he felt was a sound business decision. Sure, it was announced in a silly and supremely self-congratulatory manner. Consumed by their rage as they were, y’all forgot that the proceeds from ESPN’s broadcast of his decision benefitted the Boys and Girls Club of Akron, his hometown. You were WAY too wrapped up in your rage and sense of entitlement to consider anything but your unjustified feelings of betrayal.
Four years later, he’s made another business decision. He’s returning to the Cavaliers…and suddenly those of y’all burned your #23 jerseys and “Witness” t-shirts are singing hosannas and praising him from stem to stern.
WTF??
Evidently, Lebron James is a better person than I am. I would have dedicated the rest of my career to grinding Dan Gilbert, Cleveland fans, and the Cavaliers into dust and then scattering them to the four winds. Given the whiny, immature manner in which so many of you reacted to James’ decision, y’all really deserve nothing less.
I’m surprised by James’ decision, but then the only people he owes an explanation to are his family and teammates, all of whom undoubtedly are well-versed in the fickle nature of professional sports. The rest of y’all can go pound sand.
Lebron James may in fact bring an NBA championship to Cleveland. When he does, I hope he stands up with the trophy at the parade and gives Cleveland the middle-finger salute. Y’all deserve it. The last thing the whiny, angry, immature fans of northeast Ohio deserve is to be allowed to claim ANYTHING Lebron James achieves as their own.
Move along, people. No hypocrisy or self-interest here….
