Post by G on Jul 10, 2010 12:45:35 GMT -5
Not that this is a sports board because it's not. But we've always been free to discuss it and this is one of those moments that don't come around everyday like this one did.
I can't fault Lebron James for leaving Cleveland to go the Miami. Lots of players decide to do that every day. They go from one team to another like changing underwear. But this guy kinda took the cake.
Cleveland was his hometown and rooted for him all his life. Got him as their own and cheered him on to be the Superstar he is. And yet, he never won them the title he kept promising the city he would get.
For the past 2 years, this count down to his contract running out has been one of the biggest interests in sports and whether or not he was going to leave. The whole time he kept saying Cleveland had the edge, it would take a lot to leave Cleveland. I don't know why other people are saying these things.
Finally the time arrives. He whores himself to teams making them come to him (a rarity) and hearing proposals. Still, thats all fine. The problem was when it was time, instead of just signing and it being a press release like everyone else. He books a 1 hr special on ESPN and announces it to the entire world and slaps Cleveland in the face with humiliation and grief.
Now this in itself is still not too terribly outlandish, but you have to remember that Cleveland hasn't won a championship in ANY sport since 1964 and have pinned all their hopes on Lebron James. After their lifelong adulation of the guy, the first chance he gets is he smacks Cleveland in the face. As expected, they are devastated and begin burning his uniforms and whatnot. But to make matters even worse.....
The very next day, the very next fucking day. The Miami Heat who have now won the Lebron bidding war throw a celebration party and parade Lebron around in his new uniform. Just one day after telling Cleveland he was gone, there he is prancing around like he just got married. To put it mildly, he just rubbed Cleveland's face in it parading around in his new uniform. I think this passed it from mere bad taste to just plain disgraceful. Heck it would have been just slightly better if he came out in plain clothes. But to parade around in your new uniform all cocky and shit the day after you shit on a town is just pure dickheadedness.
Now as a businessman, the dude can do what he wants. But there are ways to do what he did and show some class. This just isn't it.
I don't know and for the most part, I don't care. I'm not a Cleveland or Miami fan one bit. But I am a fan of people showing class. This dude did not show any to the town that adored him all his life. He has to go back and play their later this year. I predict a riot when that finally happens. That city is fucking mad!
