All the hate now

[erich1r]

Why is all the hate for Lebron James. He did what he had to do. The Cavs didnt do anything to improve the team. It's obvious it's not about money cause he could have made more if he'd stayed or went to the Knicks. Who cares how it went down. He gave the money to charity. If this owner was smart he never would have given Lebron an extention with an option to opt out(that was just dumb) did nothing else to improve the team other than Shaq which did'nt work out. In my opinion it was what's the best way to win a ring and on paper it was the Heat. Blame the Cavs owner for not building a better team Lebron..

 

[Yeagermeister]

Why is all the hate for Lebron James. He did what he had to do. The Cavs didnt do anything to improve the team. It's obvious it's not about money cause he could have made more if he'd stayed or went to the Knicks. Who cares how it went down. He gave the money to charity. If this owner was smart he never would have given Lebron an extention with an option to opt out(that was just dumb) did nothing else to improve the team other than Shaq which did'nt work out. In my opinion it was what's the best way to win a ring and on paper it was the Heat. Blame the Cavs owner for not building a better team Lebron..

James probably wanted the opt out clause so they had no choice.

 

[nflandbooze]

Well first and foremost, I can't believe anyone would have the audacity to defend the way he left, considering how brutal that hour long special he had to publicly rip Cavs fans hearts out and then defecate all over them was. If somehow, some way, DeMarcus Ware pulled that crap on us, I can guarantee you we wouldn't be shrugging it off like it wasn't a big deal. Even if he did, it couldn't match what LeBron did. A native guy, born and raised, coming back with all the hype and promises in the world, and then he publicly breaks up with them. I almost can't believe that made sense to him, but it obviously did. LeBron leaving Cleveland was going to hurt no matter what, but to make a show out of it was pretty classless, and I don't care where the money from that skeptical went.

Now to be fair, the only way he wasn't going to get ripped to shreds by fans and the press, was if he stayed in Cleveland and the Cavs would have been able to get Bosh, or at least Boozer, and then gone on to win it all this year. The problem is, nobody wanted to go to Cleveland, especially since they couldn't offer a big contract, and James wasn't willing to take a big pay cut to stay there. Maybe their FO could have done a better job the past 7 years, but lets not pretend that franchise didn't bend over backwards to accommodate this guy for the past 7 years either.

What makes all of this even more brutal, is that after 7 years of hype in the NBA and all this talk about how he's the best in the game, the way he looked in his final playoff series as a Cav was pretty sad. There was nothing great about him, and the way he took that jersey off for the last time just let us all know, that we was frickin' done. I don't know if he cares about his legacy or not, but he's the single greatest factor that it just took a huge hit.

 

[casmith07]

Well first and foremost, I can't believe anyone would have the audacity to defend the way he left, considering how brutal that hour long special he had to publicly rip Cavs fans hearts out and then defecate all over them was. If somehow, some way, DeMarcus Ware pulled that crap on us, I can guarantee you we wouldn't be shrugging it off like it wasn't a big deal. Even if he did, it couldn't match what LeBron did. A native guy, born and raised, coming back with all the hype and promises in the world, and then he publicly breaks up with them. I almost can't believe that made sense to him, but it obviously did. LeBron leaving Cleveland was going to hurt no matter what, but to make a show out of it was pretty classless, and I don't care where the money from that skeptical went.

Now to be fair, the only way he wasn't going to get ripped to shreds by fans and the press, was if he stayed in Cleveland and the Cavs would have been able to get Bosh, or at least Boozer, and then gone on to win it all this year. The problem is, nobody wanted to go to Cleveland, especially since they couldn't offer a big contract, and James wasn't willing to take a big pay cut to stay there. Maybe their FO could have done a better job the past 7 years, but lets not pretend that franchise didn't bend over backwards to accommodate this guy for the past 7 years either.

What makes all of this even more brutal, is that after 7 years of hype in the NBA and all this talk about how he's the best in the game, the way he looked in his final playoff series as a Cav was pretty sad. There was nothing great about him, and the way he took that jersey off for the last time just let us all know, that we was frickin' done. I don't know if he cares about his legacy or not, but he's the single greatest factor that it just took a huge hit.

None of it matters. He's gone to bigger and better things as any one of us would if offered a better job.

If I could stay working for a mediocre company in my hometown or take a job in Miami, FL with a much better chance to hit the big time, I'll holler at you from South Beach.

 

[erich1r]

What did the fans and owner expect when you gave him the option to opt out and not put anything around him to keep him. Regardless of the hometown status.The fans should have put pressure on ownership to improve the talent around him . What does he owe this owner,nothing cause he filled that arena for 7 straight years. Dan made money hand over fist off of Lebron so it's not like he got nothing in return.Who honestly came to see anyone else on that team. Maybe he went about wrong but you also can't blame him. I would do the same thing I've been with my job 16 yrs and love working there but if something better more stable better benefits job security whatever makes the new job better than the old one I would leave in a heartbeat.

 

[jimmy40]

Well first and foremost, I can't believe anyone would have the audacity to defend the way he left, considering how brutal that hour long special he had to publicly rip Cavs fans hearts out and then defecate all over them was.

at least he didn't have ball caps from several teams to pick from.

 

[nflandbooze]

None of it matters. He's gone to bigger and better things as any one of us would if offered a better job.

If I could stay working for a mediocre company in my hometown or take a job in Miami, FL with a much better chance to hit the big time, I'll holler at you from South Beach.

Well don't leave out the part about gathering everyone from your current workplace together and giving them the middle finger as you walk out the front door.

Going to Miami is one thing, going there while wiping his butt with Cleveland is another.

 

[erich1r]

There should be post like this about every FREE agent that bolts to another team. He was a free agent for a reason. mgmt should have come up with a better contract than a 3 yr with an opt out clause. they could have protected themselves. Remember it's a business. that's what they say when they release a player.

 

[nflandbooze]

There should be post like this about every FREE agent that bolts to another team. He was a free agent for a reason. mgmt should have come up with a better contract than a 3 yr with an opt out clause. they could have protected themselves. Remember it's a business. that's what they say when they release a player.

No there shouldn't be. This is a very unique, and sad set of circumstances.

 

[Vintage]

He sacraficed some money, that is for sure, in the contract. But he and Bosh both got the 6th year attached to their deal, in contracts over 100M.

What this may hurt is money being made outside of the arenas. My guess is LeBron isn't all that popular in LA (Kobe has that on lock).

He pissed off the NY and Chicago markets as well. Thats the 3 biggest markets; NY, LA, and Chi... and they may not be overly supportive when it comes to LBJ's merchandise.

And its not just those markets that were turned off by James. Obviously, Cleveland is in the mix too..... but all it takes is a quick hop over to other boards and you can sense the ire many feel towards James. His brand is in trouble.

Now, can he recover?

Absolutely.

Kobe came back from the rape allegations (which is far worse), but even then, he hasn't made a full recovery.

But then again, guys like MJ and Kobe have more charisma and are easier to market (Kobe, pre-rapegate) than James.

Again, its not so much that James left Cleveland... but how he did, that has soured many basketball fans towards him.

And Miami isn't exactly a basketball hotbed. They've had trouble filling the stands for years - and that's with one of the league's superstars on their roster.

Also, FWIW, I heard only 13K people showed up to the press conference announding them. That's with them giving away tickets for free.

Its going to be interesting to see how this plays out...

But one thing is for sure: they have amassed a ton of talent.

 

[jackrussell]

There should be post like this about every FREE agent that bolts to another team. He was a free agent for a reason. mgmt should have come up with a better contract than a 3 yr with an opt out clause. they could have protected themselves. Remember it's a business. that's what they say when they release a player.

He quit. In a playoff series.

Then **** on the people that have supported him for the last 11 years...the same ones who he himself pledged loyalty and promises to.

Gee, I don't see why anyone with a brain couldn't see why there is some hate.

 

[jackrussell]

He sacraficed some money, that is for sure, in the contract. But he and Bosh both got the 6th year attached to their deal, in contracts over 100M.

What this may hurt is money being made outside of the arenas. My guess is LeBron isn't all that popular in LA (Kobe has that on lock).

He pissed off the NY and Chicago markets as well. Thats the 3 biggest markets; NY, LA, and Chi... and they may not be overly supportive when it comes to LBJ's merchandise.

And its not just those markets that were turned off by James. Obviously, Cleveland is in the mix too..... but all it takes is a quick hop over to other boards and you can sense the ire many feel towards James. His brand is in trouble.

Now, can he recover?

Absolutely.

Kobe came back from the rape allegations (which is far worse), but even then, he hasn't made a full recovery.

But then again, guys like MJ and Kobe have more charisma and are easier to market (Kobe, pre-rapegate) than James.

Again, its not so much that James left Cleveland... but how he did, that has soured many basketball fans towards him.

And Miami isn't exactly a basketball hotbed. They've had trouble filling the stands for years - and that's with one of the league's superstars on their roster.

Also, FWIW, I heard only 13K people showed up to the press conference announding them. That's with them giving away tickets for free.

Its going to be interesting to see how this plays out...

But one thing is for sure: they have amassed a ton of talent.

A fair assessment.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

But then again, guys like MJ and Kobe have more charisma and are easier to market (Kobe, pre-rapegate) than James.

Kobe Bryant has charisma?

 

[Vintage]

He quit. In a playoff series.

Then **** on the people that have supported him for the last 11 years...the same ones who he himself pledged loyalty and promises to.

Gee, I don't see why anyone with a brain couldn't see why there is some hate.

There are two sides of this.

There are the rumors he quit and plenty of evidence to suggest that.

And there is also the story that he had just found out about his mom and Delonte West, and apparently, he was the only one who didn't know... and it distracted him.

I mean, if one of your teammates was banging your mom, that's gotta be a huge distraction/blow to team chemistry.

It could be a combination of the two as well. It provided a distraction and he quit.

Hard to say, really.

 

[Vintage]

Kobe Bryant has charisma?

I think Kobe pre-Denver, was certainly a more marketable guy than LBJ. We can debate the talent....

But when it comes to marketability.... looks, how one speaks, how one handles the media, etc matter.

MJ pioneered that to new heights. Tiger was doing it before this sex scandal stuff.

And I think Kobe pre-Denver, while not in the MJ/Tiger class, was a notch above LBJ.

 

[nflandbooze]

Kobe Bryant has charisma?

Eh, he does, but it's buried underneath that smug crap that turns a lot of people off to his image.


I think the most important things Kobe have is a huge stage and 5 rings.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I think Kobe pre-Denver, was certainly a more marketable guy than LBJ. We can debate the talent....

But when it comes to marketability.... looks, how one speaks, how one handles the media, etc matter.

MJ pioneered that to new heights. Tiger was doing it before this sex scandal stuff.

And I think Kobe pre-Denver, while not in the MJ/Tiger class, was a notch above LBJ.

I agree, but MJ and Tiger have winning smiles blah blah blah.

Kobe is pretty bland as a personality. And while MJ and Tiger come off cool, Kobe just looks like an arrogant show-off.

LeBron is pretty much like MJ, attitude wise. He looks a guy you would want to hang out with.

 

[jackrussell]

There are two sides of this.

There are the rumors he quit and plenty of evidence to suggest that.

And there is also the story that he had just found out about his mom and Delonte West, and apparently, he was the only one who didn't know... and it distracted him.

I mean, if one of your teammates was banging your mom, that's gotta be a huge distraction/blow to team chemistry.

It could be a combination of the two as well. It provided a distraction and he quit.

Hard to say, really.

What, did Rondo or Pierce tell him this in the 2nd quarter? Because you can definitely pinpoint the moment he quit.

And besides, you're still talking unsubstantiated rumors. From a fan's stand point, the dude quit on them.

 

[Vintage]

What, did Rondo or Pierce tell him this in the 2nd quarter? Because you can definitely pinpoint the moment he quit.

And besides, you're still talking unsubstantiated rumors. From a fan's stand point, the dude quit on them.

Like I said... I have no idea what exactly happened nor any insight into LeBron's thought process.

But yeah - something happened in that series. Because that wasn't the LeBron type of performance that was expected.

And I think the Gloria James - Delonte West is stuff is beyond being a rumor now.

 

[jackrussell]

Like I said... I have no idea what exactly happened nor any insight into LeBron's thought process.

But yeah - something happened in that series. Because that wasn't the LeBron type of performance that was expected.

And I think the Gloria James - Delonte West is stuff is beyond being a rumor now.

So the fans are to accept being stiffed because of his promiscuis mom. I feel much better now.