By now, I’m sure most of you know that LeBron James has made arguably the biggest free agent decision in not just NBA but, American sports history. While the sports world has been filled with water cooler talk of where James would end up for not just weeks or months but, years, it took all of about 30 minutes for me to lose all respect for LeBron James and not in the way one might think. I completely respect LeBron as a basketball player and don’t necessarily argue the decision from a basketball standpoint. While many will argue that he can’t be compared to M.J. with this trio now in place in South Beach or ask “how could he string the Knicks and Nets along like this”, I get those points but, still don’t have a problem with the actual basketball decision. I am completely sickened by LeBron James’ actions as a human being on Thursday night and the way in which he announced his decision.
To claim that this 1 hour ESPN special was being done for a good cause (i.e. The Boys and Girls Club) is a slap in the face to the organization and, LeBron and his team of hanger onners should be absolutely ashamed of themselves. This was nothing more than a marketing maneuver to promote his new Vitamin Water Drink. Within minutes of seeing that commercial for the 1st time, I was disgusted just as my fellow correspondent and JAS Announcer, Pat Carey, was when he texted me within seconds thereafter. It was a despicable act of an immature, egomaniacle, 25 year old jerk and his 25 year old friends. They all looked real professional too in their t-shirts, baggy jeans and sneakers (LeBron in his lumberjack shirt and Ugz). This whole sham that we were witness too was the brain child of a bunch of Entourage wannabees with zero PR experience. Now wait for the backlash fellas. There’s no Ari Gold or Eric here to handle things for Vince…this is real life guys and you certainly are not the toast of Hollywood right now. In fact, outside of Miami, LeBron and his team of followers may be the most hated individuals in pro sports at the moment. Earth to team James, even if Vince were real, actors play till they’re 80…what are you all going to do without public support when LeBron is 40 years old and retired?
Finally, I do have to admit that I am a true mark of a Knicks fan. I have loved them since the days of Ewing, Oakley, Mason, Starks and Harper…my frustration and anger here is not for the city of New York though but, much more so, for the city of Cleveland. I wouldn’t have had a problem if LeBron had called a press conference on Thursday afternoon to hold up his Heat jersey with Wade and Bosh and shake Pat Riley’s hand. To have an hour long announcement where you slap your hometown in the face to promote your new drink is as low a sports moment as I have witnessed in my 28 years here on Earth and we all know the past 28 years have had some horrible moments in the world of athletics. To nationally do what you did to a city that has loved you through the days of you wearing your Yankees hat to an Indians/Yankees game or cheering for the Cowboys over the hometown Browns cannot even be put into words. Cleveland has been beyond loyal to you and you have spit on them. Cleveland, just like an unfaithful spouse, you deserved a better person to be your hero and should be happy you found out about LeBron sooner rather than later.
I hope Cavs owner Dan Gilbert is right with his guarantee that Cleveland will win a title before James ever does. I hope you finish your career without a ring LeBron. There’s a right way and a wrong way to quit your job and take on a new one and this was not just the equivalency of not giving your boss 2 weeks notice. This was like quitting on the day you were supposed to give the big presentation to save your company.
I hope you have a conscious LeBron and I hope it’s very guilty right now.
Long live the Queen!
~ Tim Rescigno
Filed under: Basketball | Tagged: Cleveland Cavs, LeBron James, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, The Decision
Before I give my thoughts about the Decision 2010 let me preface it with this…it’s well within LeBron’s rights to leave Cleveland after six years of service. Despite some questionable performances in this year’s playoffs I’d say LeBron gave his all to the city. It takes a stronger person to stick by your hometown team when there are more attractive options out there. Like Tim, I don’t fault LeBron for leaving, but I do find fault in the way he conducted himself during his free agency period.
A couple thoughts about the whole thing:
• As soon as I saw the spot for the new LeBron James Vitamin Water air in the break directly before he made his decision I knew this was all just one big marketing strategy. I don’t have the numbers, but I would guess that upwards of 14M people were tuned it to the “Decision” and that ad space, especially before his announcement, was extremely valuable real estate.
• I hate Cleveland more than anyone, but I think it was truly sad what LeBron did to that town. Being an Oriole fan has heightened my sensitivity to smaller market teams being slighted by big time players, but there’s a right and wrong way to do things. Tex did it the right way, LeBron did not. If LeBron had any class or respect he would have informed Cleveland of his decision via a heartfelt statement and then a couple days later he would have flown to Miami for a presser. Instead LeBron gave a fake apology to Cleveland fans during a three-ring circus show, which he and his handlers created.
• LeBron got some bad advice. From the reported Nike free agency shoe tour idea to the primetime ESPN special to the decision to play in Miami with two other super stars. He is the victim of his own stupidity…he gave friends and family jobs within his camp that they are not qualified for.
• I really enjoyed mid-late 90’s NBA where super stars would team up with complimentary pieces and do battle with other superstars. Now we have two of the top three players in the league teaming up with another top ten guy to form a juggernaut in South Beach. I don’t care what anyone says any championships this team wins will be bitter sweet at best. LeBron’s legacy will never come close to Jordan’s or Kobe’s now.
• Miami is a terrible sports town and will care about this Heat team about a ¼ as much as their counterparts in Cleveland would in a similar situation.
ESPN is despicable too. My disgust with them came to a head when Stew Scott asked his first question to LeBron post-announcement. It was something to the effect of, “LeBron tell us the most influential text you’ve received since making your decision. What text really got you thinking?”
Great feedback Pat…I want to hit on 2 points you made that I couldn’t agree with more.
LeBron got horrible advice…I mean, it was seriously as though he was watching an episode of Entourage and turned to his Drama and Turtle to see what the best route to take would be. For all the people that have said how he’s mature beyond his years, this reeked of 24-25 year olds with too much power and, trust me, after the backlash, some of these hanger onners will be back in Cleveland w/out a job.
Miami, as you said, is an awful sports town. I’d like to call out Israel Guttierez who sometimes does The Sports Reporters and is a Miami beat writer. He stated, “Now we don’t just have to be a football town”, shortly after LeBron’s announcement. A football town? Miami is probably #30 out of #32 teams on the list of “football towns” in this country and, is about the same on the basketball list. Hell, I’ll even give L.A. more credit for being a sports town than Miami. Even Dan LeBatard said, “Miami is a bad sports town”, and he lives and works there. He mentioned how until the Heat made the playoffs in 2006, they weren’t selling out games and, also, how when the Dolphins were 9-2 a few years back and looking like a Super Bowl team, they had to blackout local games due to non sell outs. What a joke…I loved seeing all the idiots in the Miami bar on ESPN, when the flashed over, going nuts as though they even know how basketball is played.
I also have heard today that LeBron has not returned a text or call from Dan Gilbert since the end of the season and, the only time they spoke was during their face to face meeting a week ago. That is classless. Everything about this has been unprofessional, from showing up to the meetings with teams in a t-shirt and shorts to last night…LeBron is an a-hole…
Just needed to post the most idiotic comment from last night by the way…you think this kid skipped college or something?
James: “For me it’s not about sharing. You know, it’s about everybody having their own spotlight and then just doing what’s best for the team.”