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I've been gone from Cleveland almost two years now, but it came as no surprise to me that basketball star LeBron James picked Miami in a quest for slam dunking fortune and fame. If I understood that he would eventually leave the Cavaliers – after living and working in the city for almost a decade – then the good folks who have never left should have understood it even better.

But what does surprise me is the status so many citizens of Cleveland have bestowed on their local hero now that he's departing. Shouldn't Cleveland be proud of more than an extremely gifted man-child athlete? Shouldn't the city seek celebration in something more meaningful to the daily welfare of its populace?

I guess not, given the reactions of spurned fans in Cleveland. The same fanatics who gleefully shelled out hard-earned money for expensive replica jerseys and WITNESS t-shirts set fire to their souvenirs on television cue after James announced he was taking his game to South Beach. No less than the diminutive team owner Dan Gilbert showed how really small and petty he is by posting a blistering letter on the team's website, accusing the object of his affection of “cowardly betrayal.” I wonder what Gilbert might have said if James had pledged to continue to make him and his team wealthy?

LeBron–one of those rarest of American celebrities known by one name–will still be the same person he is today as a future Miami resident. Nothing's changed since a parade of civic leaders from across northeast Ohio begged him to stay close to home. (Curiously, the video has been scrubbed from most Internet sites, suggesting the shame of the failed and humbling effort.) Perhaps the only difference is that some in the region can't lean on LeBron to make themselves feel better. That's the shame of it all.

For some in the Cleveland community to pin its civic pride and ambitions on the whims of one coddled and spoiled young athlete is sad–and dangerous. You don't have to be brilliant or a native to see what's real in Cleveland. Nation-leading levels of poverty. Racial tensions. Corrupt political leaders. Disrespect for the value of education. Resistance to egalitarian and progressive views. Xenophobia. I saw and wrote about it all as a newspaper columnist.

To be sure, a great many people across northeast Ohio are working their hardest to make positive improvements. I met and wrote about them too, the community activists, business leaders, philanthropists and private citizens doing amazing feats with little of the public attention that follows a three-point shot. Why not spend as much attention celebrating and cheering them on? Where are the 20,000 fans, like the ones who filled The Q last season for Cavalier home games, for sincere civic leadership?

The loud and obnoxious Cleveland sport fans who feign hurt feelings from LeBron's foolish spectacle on ESPN, which gave up any pretense of journalism in that hour-long infomercial, speaks more about misplaced priorities than it does about character of a 25-year-old who wears short pants to work. Let's face it, LeBron was never going to be a lifer in Cleveland and folks across the city should have known he wasn't staying any longer than necessary. His passion wasn't in the region; witness his wardrobe of New York Yankee caps and Dallas Cowboy paraphernalia.

What's more, Clevelanders knew–or should have known–he would seek out an opportunity to win an NBA title elsewhere because it seemed unlikely in his hometown. If the Cavs' season-best record didn't produce an NBA title last season, it wasn't going to happen.

I still have warm feelings toward what Cleveland could be. But for that to come to pass, many more residents must put the same level of passion into civic concerns as they do in their beloved, if hapless, sporting teams. I left Cleveland thinking that the people who claim to love the city most do the most damage to themselves by wallowing in prideful denial and taking comfort in palliatives such as sports heroes who eventually and sadly let them down.

So when LeBron decided in the glare of ESPN's klieg lights that the savior's job was too big for him to do alone–and decided to make himself happy by moving to Florida–the entire region felt its stomach sink to its toes. That's not only an unfair indictment of LeBron, it's a sign that folks in Cleveland need a firmer grip on their reality.

Sam Fulwood III is a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress

If you've ever participated in a little league game, coached a little league game, or even watched a little league game then I'm sure you've seen the over exuberant parents that take the game a little too seriously.  

Every team has them and no matter the rules or regulations that are set in place to try and deter the constant pressure these parents put on their kids, the fact of the matter is that it's part of the little league game and it isn't going to change anytime soon.

Most of the parents that act in this immature manner are viewed as living vicariously through their kids.  Each swing of the bat, each throw of the football, or each soccer kick that comes off of their child's foot is in essence actually coming off the parent's foot in their own mind.  

If the kid fails, then the parents fail, and usually that's a recipe for emotional distress amongst both parties.

There are a whole lot of other parents that have the same emotion and the same desire for their kids to excel except these adults actually act like adults. They may also feel like every single play that their child is a part of that they are also there, but they respect the game and don't let their emotions go awry.  

These are the types of parents that go to every game and enjoy every single moment, while still feeling disappointed when things don't go as they wished.  They just understand it's part of the game and they know how to handle it.

Cleveland Cavalier fans are these type of parents and LeBron James is their child they are vicariously living through.

Cav fans wear their emotions on their sleeve when it comes to LeBron James.  When he has a great game their spirits are up and they feel the same invigorated feeling that LeBron does during these times.  When he plays poorly and the team falters like they did in this year’s playoffs then the spirit of Cleveland is gone in an instant.

Many fans feel the same way about their city, but not too many cities feel this way about a single player.  It's really a special situation that could change if LeBron decides to leave.

We've seen the, “Please Stay LeBron” video, the automobiles with The Witness poster plastered across the body, the LeBron James day in Akron, the baseball team willing to rename the stadium to LeBron James field, and many other spectacles to try and convince Ohio's homegrown child to stay in the state he was born.  While others city neglect to provide their star players the same star treatment, Cleveland continues to keep trying as hard as they can in hopes that they can continue to live their lives through LeBron James.

You don't see people in Toronto going crazy trying to keep Chris Bosh above the border or Miami Heat fans doing much to try and convince Dwyane Wade to stay other then wearing t-shirts with his name on them.  Instead you see fans in every single city that has a viable chance to get LeBron James' services make pushes to capture LeBron.

I want to see Mavs fans have a Dallas Dirk Day or Suns fan make an accelerated effort to try and keep Amare around.  Unfortunately, we just don't see.  

Maybe it's because LeBron James is the king of the class of free agents, that he grew up in nearby Akron, or the fact that Cleveland has been without a championship in nearly half a decade, but these fans absolutely adore LeBron and not only want him to stay, but need him to stay.

The best part about Cavalier fans living vicariously through LeBron is that they understand the situation.  They know they aren't the big market that could attract hundreds of millions of dollars in marketing money or their not a team that has that second supporting perennial all star that may guarantee LeBron a trip to the finals year in and year out.  

This understanding by the fans is what makes this off season such a difficult situation to deal with.

Should LeBron stay?  I don't know.  Will LeBron stay?  I don't know that either.  

All I know is that these fans look at LeBron James as the son they always wanted and the player they always dreamed to be. These are fans that are the parents who show up to every game and yearn for greatness from their child, but don't go crazy and lash out at him or the refs when it doesn't.

If LeBron leaves it’s going to be a tough time for all, but just like understanding parents, the fans won't be mad, they're just going to be very disappointed.

Two nights after the Celtics eliminated the Cavs from the playoffs, I had a dream that I was playing two-on-two with LeBron James and Mo Williams on a rooftop playground (I might have been channeling my inner Above the Rim for the setting).

I don’t generally admit to dreaming about two men, but the LeBron pseudo-coronation at the start of the playoffs and the post-elimination fallout had the two men weighing on my subconscious.

Now, the ongoing free agent hoopla forced my hand to put it on a computer screen.

The dream began on the rooftop with everyone shooting around. Mo Williams casually asked me if I wanted to play two-on-two against him and LeBron. I mentioned that the teams might be slightly unfair considering my partner had on a gorilla mask (Why? I don’t know). Nevertheless, Mo got what he wanted: the best basketball player in the world, on a team with seemingly stacked odds in their favor.

Before we started playing, Williams kept running his mouth that they were going to demolish me and my gorilla-masked partner. As the game started, the Gorilla picked up Mo and every inch of my six foot frame stood in front of LeBron before each possession hoping for the best.

As the game progressed, the Gorilla and I surprisingly kept up with LBJ and Mo (Remember, it’s a dream). After we went up by a couple points the game turned serious, like a regular season NBA fourth quarter. The importance of the game/dream came on three consecutive plays.

1. At game point, LeBron drove past me and the Gorilla rotated over and fouled LBJ hard, pushing him in the back. LeBron went down and sat there looking to Williams to come over to help him up. To LeBron’s chagrin, Mo looked off LeBron, picked the ball up, went to the top of the key, tossed the Gorilla the ball, and said “check.” Meanwhile, LBJ gave Mo the typical Kobe Bryant, “I just got fouled and it didn’t get called” stare-down he usually gives referees.

2. LeBron, after the ball is checked, kicked the ball to Mo on two separate occasions for open looks that Williams passed up. The frustration is written all over LBJ's face and somehow I force him into a fadeaway, which he missed. The Gorilla snatched the ensuing rebound and threw an outlet pass to me that Williams stole. As he drove to the hoop for the win, I somehow block his shot.

Williams then called a weak foul in a ploy to get the ball back and save face. I call BS and he gets in my face. A heated argument turns physical as Mo pushed me, I hit him in the temple, and he gets knocked out.

3. LeBron played peacemaker after the fight which angered Williams after he groggily came to. Mo then thought that LeBron took my side. Mo started talking more smack and the Gorilla steps in. LeBron then unleashed a torrent of emotion at Mo, a culmination of his frustrations in Cleveland.

“I’m not taking his side but why should I even take yours. No one shows up in the playoffs but me. I have to carry a team with guys who won’t even pick me up off the court when I get knocked down. Even today against a skinny white guy and a gorilla you won’t take or make open shots that I create. How can I have faith in you guys in a big game? How can I trust you guys?”

Mo hung his head and walked out of the gym without a fight, just like in the last two playoffs. LeBron headed to a balcony that I follow him out to (not sure what the Gorilla does at this point but he is no longer in the dream). I asked him why he went off at Mo like that and if he is going to play in Cleveland again.

“How can I? I don’t know though, how can I leave? I fell stuck in the middle of…”

(Enter wake up ALARM sound, dream over)

So as the great Austin Powers said, “Whoopty doo Basil, what does it all mean?”

Well, my initial thought was that LeBron wants to stay in Cleveland but is going to Chicago. I let that marinate until today, the official start of free agency and the LeBron Sweepstakes. Everything that has happened since then: Delonte West and Mrs. James, the alleged “Free Agent Summit,” the rumors of LeBron in New York, the Cavs firing Mike Brown and Danny Ferry resigning, Tom Izzo staying at Michigan State, the constant ESPN filler stories, LeBron’s speech in Akron, and the Bulls trading Kirk Heinrich for cap space have all solidified what my dream told me.

LeBron is going to be a Bull.

Think about it.

Even with a new GM and coach in Cleveland, they still don’t have the money to build a championship team around LeBron. With the last two years as an example, if LeBron doesn’t play well the Cavs can’t win (if he went 6-for-24 in a Game Seven a la Kobe, there is a zero percent chance the Cavs win that game).

If you believe that he wants to win championships, which at my core, I do, that rules out the Knicks (Gretzky to the Kings situation), Nets (too risky with the USSR backing the team), and Clippers (no explanation necessary).

The Bulls already have that nucleus in Derrick Rose (top five point guard at worst) and Joakim Noah (solid big man). Keep in mind that Chris Bosh has all but said, “I’m going where LeBron goes,“ and that is a pretty damn good top four.

He won’t go to Miami because he understands his legacy and understands that he has to win a championship where he is the top guy. Having D-Wade on his team, while potentially causing who is the best player/who is taking over the game in the fourth quarter problems, creates the “LeBron only won because he had Wade on his team legacy” (see: Kobe pre-2009 legacy).

He also doesn’t care that he “is playing in Jordan’s shadow.” Last time I checked, everyone is playing in Jordan’s shadow. LBJ is the same guy that displayed such reverence to Jordan that he petitioned the league to retire the number 23 earlier this year, which he is personally doing next year regardless of what team is on.

Besides, who wouldn’t relish the opportunity to directly carry the torch from a legend? Kobe did it with Magic, Pierce to minor extent did it with Larry Legend, so it can be done. Don’t you think he would drive into the arena everyday determined to get his own statue just like MJ did? I do.

Here’s where the last part of my dream comes in. The “I feel stuck in the middle of…” part.

To me that means he is stuck in between feeling like he will abandon his hometown of Akron and his desire to have a legitimate shot at winning multiple titles. Remember, his loyalty is to Akron, not Cleveland. That makes a difference. Whereas people in Cleveland will see him as a turncoat with the hated Bulls, the people from Akron will understand the context of his decision for the most part, even if they don’t like the end result.

Everything in the dream really boils down to LeBron’s sense of loyalty. He doesn’t sense it from his team or organization, he fears losing it from his hometown, he doesn’t want the perception that he doesn’t have any for Akron, and he wants to be loyal to his goal of winning championships.

To thine own self be true LeBron and get the Gorilla off your back. Wake me up when he signs with Chi-town.

If you've ever participated in a little league game, coached a little league game, or even watched a little league game then I'm sure you've seen the over exuberant parents that take the game a little too seriously.  

Every team has them and no matter the rules or regulations that are set in place to try and deter the constant pressure these parents put on their kids, the fact of the matter is that it's part of the little league game and it isn't going to change anytime soon.

Most of the parents that act in this immature manner are viewed as living vicariously through their kids.  Each swing of the bat, each throw of the football, or each soccer kick that comes off of their child's foot is in essence actually coming off the parent's foot in their own mind.  

If the kid fails, then the parents fail, and usually that's a recipe for emotional distress amongst both parties.

There are a whole lot of other parents that have the same emotion and the same desire for their kids to excel except these adults actually act like adults. They may also feel like every single play that their child is a part of that they are also there, but they respect the game and don't let their emotions go awry.  

These are the types of parents that go to every game and enjoy every single moment, while still feeling disappointed when things don't go as they wished.  They just understand it's part of the game and they know how to handle it.

Cleveland Cavalier fans are these type of parents and LeBron James is their child they are vicariously living through.

Cav fans wear their emotions on their sleeve when it comes to LeBron James.  When he has a great game their spirits are up and they feel the same invigorated feeling that LeBron does during these times.  When he plays poorly and the team falters like they did in this year’s playoffs then the spirit of Cleveland is gone in an instant.

Many fans feel the same way about their city, but not too many cities feel this way about a single player.  It's really a special situation that could change if LeBron decides to leave.

We've seen the, “Please Stay LeBron” video, the automobiles with The Witness poster plastered across the body, the LeBron James day in Akron, the baseball team willing to rename the stadium to LeBron James field, and many other spectacles to try and convince Ohio's homegrown child to stay in the state he was born.  While others city neglect to provide their star players the same star treatment, Cleveland continues to keep trying as hard as they can in hopes that they can continue to live their lives through LeBron James.

You don't see people in Toronto going crazy trying to keep Chris Bosh above the border or Miami Heat fans doing much to try and convince Dwyane Wade to stay other then wearing t-shirts with his name on them.  Instead you see fans in every single city that has a viable chance to get LeBron James' services make pushes to capture LeBron.

I want to see Mavs fans have a Dallas Dirk Day or Suns fan make an accelerated effort to try and keep Amare around.  Unfortunately, we just don't see.  

Maybe it's because LeBron James is the king of the class of free agents, that he grew up in nearby Akron, or the fact that Cleveland has been without a championship in nearly half a decade, but these fans absolutely adore LeBron and not only want him to stay, but need him to stay.

The best part about Cavalier fans living vicariously through LeBron is that they understand the situation.  They know they aren't the big market that could attract hundreds of millions of dollars in marketing money or their not a team that has that second supporting perennial all star that may guarantee LeBron a trip to the finals year in and year out.  

This understanding by the fans is what makes this off season such a difficult situation to deal with.

Should LeBron stay?  I don't know.  Will LeBron stay?  I don't know that either.  

All I know is that these fans look at LeBron James as the son they always wanted and the player they always dreamed to be. These are fans that are the parents who show up to every game and yearn for greatness from their child, but don't go crazy and lash out at him or the refs when it doesn't.

If LeBron leaves it’s going to be a tough time for all, but just like understanding parents, the fans won't be mad, they're just going to be very disappointed.

http://priceslapper.com/blog-host/theliljournal/

LeBron has decided but questions remain.

by Adam Sweeney

The inmates have officially taken over the asylum and we handed them the keys.

Thursday night, LeBron James, a player whose talent level and hype seems to know no limits, took the term heartbreaker to a new level by making the announcement that he was leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to head to South Beach with the Miami Heat in a television special. With that decision comes hyperbole to no end, as ESPN has already stated the trio of James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh is one of the great trios of all time before they even played as a team in an NBA game together. But if James has become an addict of celebrity, and it certainly appears that way, then we are the ultimate enablers. This isn’t a LeBron James hate article. If anything, we put the needle in his hand.

Anyone who needs proof that America can’t get enough of the summer LeBron-athon needs to look at the SLAMonline website. The top four features all involved LeBron James. No, the irony of this article in itself is not lost on me. I feed the beast just as much as the next fan. It’s a matter of supply and demand when it comes to sports coverage. We recognize what you want to see and then slam it down your throat until you pick another flavor. Now swallow your poison.

There is nothing wrong with LeBron James choosing to go for a ring. It’s common knowledge that you can’t win a title without two to three exceptional players. Jordan had Pippen. Kareem had Magic. Kobe had Shaq and Gasol. Now LeBron has his co-pilots. The black eye to James comes in how he conducted the entire process, right up to the ultimate “Decision.”

If LeBron wants to add another sponsor in his quest for world domination, maybe Gold Bond Medicated Powder would be happy to throw themselves at his feet. It is really the only practical choice, seeing as the poor guy must be chafing from how many teams and fans rode his jock so hard, as if James needs more money. The “selflessness” of James when it comes to taking less money is laughable. He still stands to make over $80-100 million in this contract if he wants. The big money comes from endorsements. Don’t forget that James, Bosh and Wade are all Nike guys. The real winners in this choice may be Phil Knight, CEO of Nike, and the Swoosh symbol. Let’s also not forget about the Don, Pat Riley, who pulled a great sell job to make this happen.

The Cleveland Cavaliers shouldn’t blame themselves. They did everything they could to help James get a championship. The sad truth is that you are who you are. Cleveland just isn’t a top-tier city or franchise. James was not selfless or naïve enough to think he could win a championship on his own. Had Chris Bosh wanted to play in C-Town there is no doubt James would have stayed. That wasn’t happening and so James was left with little choice but to leave. Cleveland lost their high school sweetheart and now gets to look at the love letters and highlight videos of the “LeBron years” in the aftermath. You can always break out the Mark Price and Shawn Kemp jerseys, Ohio. Cough. And please don’t feel bad for the New York Knicks or any team besides Cleveland that lost in the LeBron sweepstakes. They cut off their nose to spite their face. The results are to be expected. They are now a bloody and ugly mess.

Still, there is contradiction in The Chosen One’s pick. James stated that a team isn’t built around just three guys but his decision screams otherwise. Yes, Wade and Bosh are two of the 20 best players in the game but what else does Miami have? The best choice in terms of depth was Chicago, especially once they grabbed Carlos Boozer. Somebody strike while the iron is hot and print a picture of the aforementioned trio that says “Friends first” or “Miami Thrice.” (Props to my friend Nick for the latter nickname.) This is what James is saying with his pick. Going to Miami says that he thinks superstar egos can co-exist and winning matters but don’t say that he chose the best team scenario. It simply isn’t true.

It would be foolish to crown James a champion, though haven’t we all been doing that since he was a high school phenom? Expectations don’t always equate to reality. The Heat still have to fill their roster out around the new “Big Three.” Don’t forget about the Steve Kerrs, Michael Coopers and Robert Horrys of the world. Mike Miller, who now looks ready to come along, gives them a much needed shooter. Can Pat Riley lure other veterans in to the fray? The kneejerk answer is a definitive yes. But don’t underestimate the egos of NBA players. How many true impact players want to sit on the bench and play ten minutes at best a night? We will see.

What made James’ situation novel was the polarity involved. The most unique physical specimen in basketball came from the trenches of Ohio to carry the hopes and hearts of the most jaded sports city in America. We haven’t seen a hometown boy more hyped up since Anakin Skywalker rolled out of Tatooine in Star Wars. Now it’s James who has seemingly turned to the dark side.

The made-for-TV special could not have been any more audacious if they had carried James in to the room on a throne. Was it really necessary to title a press conference concerning an athlete’s deliberation over free agency “The Decision?” Harry S. Truman deliberating over dropping the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima is a decision. This circus show should have been called “Just tell us already!”

James had to be aware of what he was doing to Cleveland by making his decision in to a spectacle. Offering up the show’s profits to the Boys & Girls Club smelled both of desperation and self-preservation. I kept waiting for LeBron to kiss a baby and say, “Don’t forget that I’m a good person, Cleveland.” The bleachers filled with children served as a false backdrop to a stage where James has now changed from hero to villain In the eyes of many. The Miami Heat have now become the Empire, an odd juxtaposition to the superpowers of teams with tradition like the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. Any rebellious team who takes down King James and his roundball table will be respected.

The never-ending conversation of who is the greatest of all time also has turned itself on its head. James has shown that rings overcome loyalty, which shows that he is aware of his place in history. Kobe Bryant’s last two titles have seemed to erase the memories of hoop fans everywhere. Anyone who says Bryant wouldn’t have dragged this situation out forget his temper tantrums thrown on sports radio and his infamous statement about Andrew Bynum in a mall. It’s funny how winning changes history.

In King James’ quest to grasp the Holy Grail of public opinion, he has also lowered his respective ceiling in the G.O.A.T. conversation. James can’t win in this situation. Critics will say LeBron can’t win it by himself without superstars around him if he wins in Miami. “He had to acquiesce to Dwyane Wade to do it,” they will say. If he fails to get a title with the Heat, which is a real possibility, he will move ahead of players like Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley and Karl Malone in terms of great players who couldn’t earn a ring. Is it an unfair paradox? Maybe, but LeBron has made his own bed by dragging teams along on a two-year courtship.

The true greats of the NBA stayed at home. Michael Jordan stuck in Chicago during the prime of his career. Magic Johnson did it. Paul Pierce is now a Boston hero because he held down the fort in the wake of despair. The consensus philosophy also lies in the fact that to be the best you beat the best. You don’t join them. James could have been a legend by staying in Cleveland or winning a title in New York because he would have done it alone. What this says about James’ legacy remains to be seen. Titles seem probable to come but the Association’s greatest? That’s a title that seems to be getting away from James.

LeBron James made the most fitting choice for who he has become now. He has brought a hurricane of controversy, urban legend and expectations to South Beach. Get ready, Miami. Change is coming. We have to wait and see if it will end with championship parties on the beach or a hangover even Mike Tyson couldn’t knock out. You know that we will be watching every overexposed step of the way.

b.digs
said…

Don't call this "unselfish," Nate. LeBron had no idea he would be this hated for this decision. He certainly doesn't think he's leaving endorsement money on the table; he's been all about winning championships mostly because he thought it would help his image abroad. So much for that.

He has every right to leave for Miami. But unselfish because he'll make a hundred million fewer dollars? That depends on his intent. And it was certainly not his intent.

July 9, 2010 1:58 AM

LP
said…

I think that we can all agree that LeBron James' popularity in Cleveland is about as low as it can go.

If he had just left the team, I think that people would have understood more. But the hour-long special to announce it? That's kicking Cleveland, and all of Ohio, while they're down.

Classless way for LeBron to go.

July 9, 2010 1:59 AM

keetz4
said…

I am with you Nate. LeBron's move is a cop out.

July 9, 2010 2:09 AM

Nate Silver
said…

b.digs,

I won't argue the point; selfishness is a slippery concept.

Certainly the way he went about his decision conveyed immaturity, which is surely a correlate of selfishness.

July 9, 2010 2:10 AM

Gui Cavalcanti
said…

This is a bit of an overreaction no? Yes, Lebron did himself no favors to Ohioans and cast himself in a narcissistic light but these things change. People hardly remember Kobe's rape trial–the guy is gold now. After Lebron is back on the court and wins one this will be a distant memory for his bank account. He is one of the most charismatic people with a basketball in his hands. And like or dislike, no one can argue that this summer didn't bump up his already A-level fame another few notches.

July 9, 2010 2:16 AM

eddie m.
said…

Every single professional athlete is trying to bring a big W home for themselves, as well as the team. I find any and all accusations of selfishness to be entirely without merit, given that context.

July 9, 2010 2:22 AM

Nate Silver
said…

Gui,

Time will tell whether it's an overreaction. Certainly if/when LeBron wins a title, it should still help him significantly. And it might be a lot of fun to watch.

But my argument is that:

1) If LBJ wins a title in Miami, it won't do nearly as much for his brand as it would have in Cleveland (or New York, etc.)

2) If he fails to win a title, he'll have fewer excuses and will get less sympathy.

3) The increase in the number of titles that LBJ can expect to win in Miami as compared with CLE/NYK is small as compared with 1) and 2).

July 9, 2010 2:24 AM

Jordan Depot
said…

Wow that's amazing. Either way, LeBron might now get a contract and will be wearing retro Jordans next year.

July 9, 2010 2:26 AM

Brian
said…

As I @'d Nate on twitter, the SI and ESPN polls are surely overestimating the negative impact because of response bias.

At any rate, the other consideration here is how winning championships affects endorsement potential. If LeBron had stayed in Cleveland his Q rating might have stayed higher, but likely with fewer championships. In Miami he's nearly guaranteed at least one championship. Not only do players chase rings, but advertisers who hand out money to players want to be associated with winners, not with guys who couldn't get their team over the hump.

Full disclosure: I'm from south Florida originally, and have been a huge Heat fan all my life.

July 9, 2010 2:42 AM

STEPHEN
said…

DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE VALUE OF THIS . . . Cleveland has a city income tax that layers on top of the Ohio state tax. In Florida there is no State income tax. . . . STEVE D . . . PS – I still think the move will (a) not be a sure winner interms of championships, and (b) leaves James looking like a douche bag.

July 9, 2010 3:00 AM

Snap Wilson
said…

The night was a gloriously entertaining train wreck. For someone we've heard was such a savvy businessman, Lebron certainly didn't come off that way. There were obvious methods of letting down Cavalier fans easily or even being more contrite in his departure. Instead, he bewilderingly went on about what he had done for them (true, but the last thing anyone in Cleveland wanted to hear).

As you say, Nate, it conveyed immaturity. The decision, the special, Lebron's demeanor, his defensiveness. For a self-styled "global icon" he came across like a kid who just wanted to play basketball with his friends.

(Can't let pass Dan Gilbert's hilariously rabid letter to the fans on the Cavs website. Wow. Cleveland hasn't had this much of a disaster since the Cuyahoga caught fire.)

July 9, 2010 3:06 AM

Zane
said…

I agree with Stephen that LeBron is not guaranteeing himself a ring. Fresh in my mind is still the move that Gary Payton and Karl Malone made to play with Shaq and Kobe in LA. If that team could lose in the finals even while relatively healthy, LeBron could be blanked in Miami. Maybe not particularly likely, but definitely possible.

Which actually makes me wonder what (if anything) Kobe and the Lakers might try to do to counter the LeBron move.

July 9, 2010 3:36 AM

Ted Frank
said…

I wouldn't call this unselfish, either. If LeBron really cares about championships, he doesn't have to take a max contract or a max+tiny-haircut contract. He could've signed for the mid-level exception somewhere.

I don't think Payton/Malone-to-LA is the relevant comparison: both were pretty close to through when they made the move, and played hurt in the playoffs. 2008 Celtics is the more relevant comparison, and the question is whether the 2010 Heat can stumble upon a Rondo+Perkins the way the Celtics did.

July 9, 2010 4:20 AM

RyanLeo
said…

Comparisons to Jordan and Kobe Bryant are no longer relevant. LeBron could not do it alone in Cleveland and if he wins a championship in Miami, then every basketball fan will bring up how he could not win one alone in Cleveland unlike Michael Jordan in Chicago and Kobe Bryant in LA.

Furthermore, if LeBron wins a championship it will always be attributed to the fact that he needed to go to Dwyane Wade's team along with Chris Bosh to do it. In this sense, LeBron has forever tainted legacy as one of the greats who could win one on his own and attract players to his team.

At this point, I don't know who epitomizes the loud mouthed, chest thumping punk front-runner more, Kevin Garnett or LeBron James?

July 9, 2010 4:21 AM

Ted Frank
said…

Also, Dan Gilbert? "Comic Sans" doesn't help your message.

July 9, 2010 4:21 AM

ronebofh
said…

How do you not call "selfish" a guy who got himself an insanely overpromoted hour of time on ESPN to talk about his new contract?

July 9, 2010 4:48 AM

shiloh
said…

but, but, but Miami has year round sunshine

ok as a somewhat Cavs fan who has a connection in that LeBron and my mom went to the same high school ~ a few years apart ~ the now further connection of LeBron and Bart lol as they both are as disingenuous/phony as the day is long. But LeBron has more money!

Didn't want Bart to feel neglected.

yea, if he was gonna leave, just leave already, don't make it a spectacle, eh. Don't wish him any ill will 'cause he could have left (4) years ago but didn't, but how shall I say ~ If he doesn't win any championships in Miami a lot of people will be extremely happy!

The Lakers must be thinkin' excuse me we just won back to back titles and their core group ain't going anywhere and Orlando/Boston/Chicago should be quite competitive also, thank you very much.

>

But my sleeper and personal fave now oddly enough is Oklahoma City where Kevin Durant just quietly extended his contract, no fanfare, what a concept and gave the Lakers all they could handle in the playoffs.

>

re: Cleveland's misfortune: Red Right 88 didn't bother me much 'cause I believe it happened in the first round of the NFL playoffs, the drive and the fumble happened in the AFC championship game and Jordan's shot happened in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

The only one that was bothersome lol was the '97 World Series when the Indians were (3) outs away from winning game seven but Jose frickin' Mesa couldn't get (3) bleepin' outs …

C'est la vie!

What really bothers die hard Cavs fans is how he quit in game (5) against the Celtics, his last home game.

btw, I'm old enough to remember the Browns winning the 1964 NFL championship, 27-0 over Baltimore. It was 0-0 at halftime.

carry on

July 9, 2010 5:18 AM

michael
said…

Oh for Christ's sake…

Cleveland was Lebron and 4 players who didn't even belong on the same court as him…now we will get to see the best three stars on a team since Jordan, Pippen and Rodman (yeah, right, Jordan did it all on his own, my ass, just like Kobe with Gasol , Artest, Bynum and Odom or Shaq Diesel, Magic "all on his own" with Kareem, Worthy, Scott and Cooper, or even sained Bird with those nobodies McHale, Parish, Johnson and Walton).

To get to see two of the best three players in the game plus a top 5 big man, what a pleasure…)

July 9, 2010 5:50 AM

lbm0914
said…

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July 9, 2010 6:19 AM

Chaboard
said…

A few random reactions:

1) The "how they got the title" argument is just silly. If/when he wins no one outside Cleveland will really care. No one even mentions the way Garnett left Minnesota. The bizarre circumstances around the Kobe-led Lakers who couldn't even make the playoffs picking up both Gasol and Fisher and becoming contenders? Completely down the memory hole.

2) The hit he dealt to his own reputation with the announcement is very real. But again – it's small potatos next to, say, Kobe's adultery/rape charge situation or Jordan's quitting the game for two years to avoid a gambling scandal. As Shaq showed, large class-less egos aren't really that much of a negative in the NBA.

Doing things the right way with class hasn't exactly made Tim Duncan the endorsement king of the universe. Any financial damage Lebron has done by hurting his reputation will be EXTREMELY short term and overwhelmed by the significantly increased chance of winning multiple titles and dominating the media for years to come.

3) Which brings us to…it's just nuts to think those odds didn't just skyrocket. To me it's less about Miami being automatic than about the Cleveland and NY front offices being so thoroughly incompetent that it would've been sheer chance that got him over the hump in either place. Cleveland had SEVEN YEARS to build and just flailed around making stupid moves and starting over every year or two.
I'd ballpark his chances of ever winning in Cleveland at about 30%. In Miami, I think the single title probability is more like 70-80% and the 30% is closer to the dynasty probability.

4) The idea that people will always see this as Wade's team is just wrong. Lebron is the best player in the universe and that will be obvious even playing alongside Dwayne Wade. Magic joined the greatest player in basketball history in an MVP season and still managed to eventually make us think of the Lakers as "his" franchise". Even now you can feel the revisionism going on and the lines blurring about the extent to which Kobe's first three titles were/were not as a sidekick. If the Heat pull off the multiple title scenario they WILL be seen as primarily Lebron's team. Period.

5) Lastly, I'm kind of curious about how the egos plays out. It wasn't just Cleveland that the show had to grate on – he also pretty badly upstaged Wade & Bosh. It wasn't exactly Garnett playing Three Amigos with Allen & Pierce. I could see the whole thing blowing up in childish fits of pique down the line.

July 9, 2010 7:05 AM

RyanLeo
said…

Michael,

I agree it is a pleasure, but LeBron has warranted this criticism just as much as Kobe warranted his criticism during the whole rape fiasco.

LeBron was Cleveland and he did not shy away from building himself up as the next Jim Brown to herald in years of glory for Cleveland. Now, we all know this was a complete fabrication to market LeBron, while the love was not as deep as LeBron's marketing machine conveyed it to be. This is why there is so many burnt 23 jerseys in Cleveland and so many jaded Cleveland fans who will never live this down and remind LeBron and their grandchildren of this Benedict Arnold of basketball until the day they die.

If LeBron would have been upfront about his desires of winning a championship and giving Cleveland his withdrawal time table 3 years ago instead of letting his marketing machine talk for him, Cleveland could have lived with this. Instead, LeBron indicated he was staying in Cleveland until the news story of Chris Bosh signing with Miami broke and the story was leaked.

July 9, 2010 7:09 AM

LowerAntelope
said…

Wait -

>>>
In the meantime, there are signs that public opinion on James has soured significantly. In an unscientific poll conducted by SI.com, 81 percent of respondents now claim to have a negative opinion of James, whereas 78 percent had a positive opinion prior to free agency.
<<<

You of all people are really citing website votes as empirical evidence of anything??? Your hunger for data got the better of you here.

July 9, 2010 7:40 AM

Mule Rider
said…

Most self-aggrandizing and narcissitic display in the history of sports. By far.

He had every right to leave Cleveland for Miami. But you do it quietly. With class.

Not like that.

July 9, 2010 9:19 AM

bliv
said…

I like Lebron MORE after this. I thought it was handled well. Wasn't his idea to have the special. And having it raised almost 6 million for charity.

The guy was in a lose-lose situation. Cleveland couldn't deliver. They couldn't have improved if Lebron stayed because they don't have the cap room. He'd be mired in disappointment for 6 more years. In Chicago, without 2 three-peats he'll never be out of the shadow of the statue of Jordan. NY is an awful team. Be honest.

And Gilbert is obviously a crappy dude to play for. Wow, what a jerk.

Miami? Playoff team when they only had Wade. Now they have Bosh. Those guys are friends and want to play together. Lebron now has people around him who know him, love him and understand him. And they won't just stand around and watch him score. This is a move based on maximizing what he thinks is important, and as much as people think it's all about money for these athletes, it's not. Lebron wants to win and he wants to have fun doing it. What's so wrong with that? Do all champions have to be a-holes like Jordan and Kobe with chips on their shoulder and bad attitudes? Why? Why can't a 25 year old say, "I don't want to be that way, I want to enjoy the next 5 years and win in the process"?

Go Lebron. I wasn't a big fan of yours, but I'll be cheering for you now against all the bitter haterade out there!

July 9, 2010 9:28 AM

Mule Rider
said…

I agree with Stephen that LeBron is not guaranteeing himself a ring.

Also agreed. Miami is very talented and certainly among the elite teams in the NBA right now, but I don't see where they're necessarily any better than Orlando, Boston, or Los Angeles (Lakers).

July 9, 2010 9:29 AM

Tim
said…

Mule,
For once I find myself in complete agreement with you.

I would add one interesting point that I heard somebody make yesterday – that is that it is very strange that one person (particularly a sports figure) can impact financially an entire city. This is going to be devastating for Cleveland in a financial sense – and that is really sad as they are struggling there already.

July 9, 2010 9:35 AM

Tim
said…

Bliv said .. Lebron wants to win and he wants to have fun doing it. What's so wrong with that?

Nothing, and I don't think that anybody has insinuated that there is anything wrong with that – it is how he announced his decision that is the problem. And while you make like him better – his status dropped amazingly among the public. That's not to say he won't get it back – but he didn't need to lose it in the first place.

July 9, 2010 9:46 AM

Midwestern Sensibilities
said…

I live in Cleveland right now — I'm here for work, and I can't stand the place. Can't wait to get out of here in the fall. Wish I could leave sooner. BUT:

There is a classy way to do things and then there was this. Nothing prevented Lebron, at the end of the season, from thanking his fans here, saying a few nice words about Ohio, and then explaining that he felt it was time for a new challenge in his life. He could have still had whatever time he wanted to choose between other teams (although, I don't think Bill Simmons is crazy to suspect this was staged)

@bliv – I'd urge you to reconsider your view here. First, it was his idea (well, his representatives' idea, but you accept responsibility for the people you select to represent you). Second, even if it hadn't been, it was the most insulting and self-aggrandizing approach he could have taken and he could have declined. Third, Lebron has any number of other ways he could have raised 6 million for charity with an hour of his time.

Look, I would have left Cleveland I were in Lebron's position and I can understand why he chose Miami (I don't think Miami was the best choice, but that is immaterial to this particular conversation in my mind), only that he should have conducted himself in a more classy manner.

July 9, 2010 9:46 AM

Midwestern Sensibilities
said…

@Nate – I think you missed the mark by saying he wasn't selfish, rather, I believe b.digs has the better argument here: I don't think Lebron realized there would be backlash and I think he believes that he'll enhance his "brand" the most in Miami.

I hope Lebron is wrong, but I suspect Gui is right when he says this will all be forgotten shortly. Personally, what I don't think should be forgotten from a sports perspective is that Lebron all but said he didn't want the pressure of leading a team. This is not about a Jordon needing a Pippen, it's about someone we thought might be a Jordan telling us he *is* a Pippen.

July 9, 2010 9:49 AM

Mule Rider
said…

For once I find myself in complete agreement with you.

You know…that's not always a bad thing

I would add one interesting point that I heard somebody make yesterday – that is that it is very strange that one person (particularly a sports figure) can impact financially an entire city.

Which, in a way, almost justifies the narcissism and overblown ego some of these guys get…well, maybe not "justify" but it certainly explains it. He was literally holding all of NE Ohio like an economic puppet on a string. Very strange indeed.

This is going to be devastating for Cleveland in a financial sense – and that is really sad as they are struggling there already.

Yeah, they are consistently ranked as one of the worst metro areas in the country to live, so it's insult on top of injury.

This is not about a Jordon needing a Pippen, it's about someone we thought might be a Jordan telling us he *is* a Pippen.

Best line I've seen anywhere that sums up the "easy way out" side of this decision. When he said he didn't want the pressure of scoring 30 a night or having to hit a high percentage of his shots, that sealed it…basically saying, "I don't really wanna work that hard to achieve fame and success."

You would never have heard any of the former (Russell, Chamberlain, Robertson), recent (Jordan, Bird, Magic), or current (Bryant, Duncan) greats say anything like that.

Weak. Very weak.

July 9, 2010 10:07 AM

bliv
said…

This post has been removed by the author.

July 9, 2010 10:22 AM

bliv
said…

Midwestern Sensibilities–

Nah, I'm not gonna reconsider. I feel pretty confident in how I feel about it. I don't think there was anything wrong with it. Actually, Jim Gray (the reporter guy) said that it was his idea to do this, and he thought it up around the end of the NBA finals and approached Lebron's guys about it. Just FYI.

The media created this hype about the Lebron situation years ago. They've been SALIVATING over this decision. I don't see anything wrong with Lebron (a) wanting to take back control of the situation on his terms and (b) deciding to do so in a way that uses his time in a charitable way. Sorry, there's nothing you can say that will make me feel differently.

And I don't feel sorry for Cleveland. They had every chance to put a team around Lebron and their management sucks. And Lebron hardly said f-off to those guys. He was respectful. But he knows that there's nothing he could say that will change the fact that they'll hate him forever–because they take things way too seriously about their sports.

Anyways, I think it's highly ironic to even intimate that he should have stayed because leaving will financially devastate a struggling community–all while trying to imply that Lebron's not worthy of this type of hype. Either he's responsible for a city's well-being or he's just another athlete…I think it's disingenuous to lay this at his feet.

These are just people making decisions about their work and life. And I think he made a hard decision–the easy decision was to stay in Cleveland and be their hero. Their unappreciated hero who will never ever win, regardless of how hard he tries because their management can't deliver. The hard decision was to play with another superstar. The hard decision was to have to put up with crap like I'm seeing on this comment thread. He could have remained "beloved" or he could have done what would make him happy and make him feel fulfilled.

Good for him for realizing that everyone around him is using him for something and that he needs to make a decision for himself. And good for him for setting his own terms to do that.

July 9, 2010 10:23 AM

mclever
said…

Speaking of overgrown children, this is what Gilbert, the owner of the Cavs, had to say:

Open Letter to Fans"

Paraphrased, it says, "LeBron's a quitter, and we're gonna win the ring before the Heat do. Wah!"

This from the man who FAILED to surround LeBron with a supporting cast capable of helping him win the championship(s) he so covets. Gilbert takes no personal accountability for his failure to deal for Bosh before Miami did. No personal accountability for his failure to hire a coach with answers other than "let LeBron fix it." Nope, no accountability for his own mismanagement of the situation at all.

He fires up his blamethrower, but never points it at himself.

Typical. And if this is what the owner thinks of him, then can you blame LeBron for leaving?

July 9, 2010 10:29 AM

bliv
said…

Mule Rider–

The greats you mention never had to "say" anything like that because they had competent management who could build a team around them.

Lebron didn't. And he's never been a Jordan (or a Kobe). Those two are selfish, chip-on-their-shoulder a-holes who play basketball not out of love of the game but out of pure, unadulterated competitiveness. And that's fine. Makes for some unbelievable performances (I'm an ESPN Classic Junkie, so I know). But Lebron was never that guy. He's a fun guy. Enjoys life and playing basketball. And it hasn't been fun for him lately in Cleveland.

So project all you want, but it's still your projection. Lebron never said he was the next Jordan–everyone else did. He's the first Lebron, and when he wins multiple titles no one will care about this (except the bitter Cleveland fans…but Cleveland fans are usually bitter about something, lol)

July 9, 2010 10:32 AM

mclever
said…

Addendum:

Here's the Cav's owner calling LeBron a quitter:

He quit!

July 9, 2010 10:33 AM

mclever
said…

I agree with bliv. Most of this hype was on the part of ESPN and not at LeBron's instigation.

LeBron didn't ask for the special, he just asked that if they do it could they put all the proceeds to a charity for kids.

LeBron didn't say he's the next Jordan, the press did.

And Jordan had Pippen and Paxon and others around him. LeBron in Cleveland has had…? Exactly.

There wasn't so much hate for KG and Allen when they joined Pierce in Boston for similar championship motivations.

July 9, 2010 10:39 AM

Erik
said…

Chalk me up as one more fellow who never, ever thought he'd agree with Mule Rider about anything, ever. But I have typed those exact* words myself in the last 12 hours.

Leave, fine. Totally your right. But what a depressingly childish, egotistical, thoughtless way to do so.

I've seen moronic internet commentators talking about "hurf hurf someone should tell Cleveland you can't own black people anymore", which is 100% missing the point. I can't speak for the people of Cleveland proper, but everyone I've spoken to is completely okay with the fact of Lebron's departure and completely not okay with the way it was done.

*not really

July 9, 2010 11:07 AM

Erik
said…

Also:

"This is not about a Jordon needing a Pippen, it's about someone we thought might be a Jordan telling us he *is* a Pippen."

I have shamelessly ripped this quote and will spread it as far and wide as I can. As has been said above, it's a pretty accurate and unbelievably concise summation of the depressingly uncompetitive and over-safe choice Lebron has made (over-safe even if it doesn't eventually work out in terms of rings).

July 9, 2010 11:12 AM

Mule Rider
said…

So project all you want, but it's still your projection.

Maybe so, but it's a projection shared by the vast majority of people who at least passively follow the NBA. As RyanLeo said above, he's forvever tainted his legacy. He has every right to be that aww-shucks, just funnin' around basketball player and not the "arrogant, chip-on-the-shoulder asshole" (your words, not mine) that Jordan/Bryant are/were (are you sore that they have 11 combined rings and LBJ sits at 0?), but for fans of the competitive spirit and drive and determination that makes the greats who they are (which I think is the overwhelming majority of all fans), but he will NEVER be held in that same regard. Ever.

Lebron never said he was the next Jordan–everyone else did. He's the first Lebron,

Now you're getting caught up in semantics…and stumbling over the hyperbolic lexicon that the fans and media use with each new rising star. The "next Jordan" thing may not sit well with you (and evidently you hate his guts), but regardless, he IS the gold standard of professional basketball, both for his individual (scoring, defense, etc.) and team (6 titles) accomplishments.

…and when he wins multiple titles…

[gales of laughter]

That's far from guaranteed, and while the Heat may look good on paper, they haven't done enough in my opinion to prove they're any better than the Magic, Celtics, and Lakers…and maybe two or three others. They just slightly elevated themself in the dogfight.

And LeBron is now on record as saying he doesn't have the drive to wanna score 30 or shoot for a high percentage every night. Who's to say he doesn't start resting on his laurels, get lazy, and this team becomes an annual 55-win sputtering semi-finalist. Maybe they luck their way into one title in a few years. Whoop-te-do.

I agree with bliv. Most of this hype was on the part of ESPN and not at LeBron's instigation.

Sorry. Bad line of reasoning. He could have refused. He didn't have to say "yes" to this.

LeBron didn't ask for the special, he just asked that if they do it could they put all the proceeds to a charity for kids.

Doesn't matter. There are better ways of raising money for kids than a self-aggrandizing circus on ESPN.

LeBron didn't say he's the next Jordan, the press did.

Covered that above. It's all semantics. Doesn't change how he's judged as a competitor. He is now painted as a pathetic sellout.

And Jordan had Pippen and Paxon and others around him.

Nobody questions that there has to be some decency among the supporting cast. And nobody is saying he didn't have the ultimate right to go to Miami if he wanted. But the WAY he did it will forever tarnish his legacy.

LeBron in Cleveland has had…? Exactly.

Nothing worse than what those other guys had to work with. You can bet on that.

There wasn't so much hate for KG and Allen when they joined Pierce in Boston for similar championship motivations.

For the record, I wasn't real big on that and thought they were taking the easy way out too, but then again, at the time they were much older than LeBron is now and likely more desperate. And, it's completely different because they didn't turn their move to the Celitics into some shameless hour-long self-promotion circus on ESPN. They went their quietly. With class. Something LeBron knows nothing about.

July 9, 2010 11:28 AM

Lehman
said…

A few points:

1. not his idea/what about the children- straight up BS. The man makes ~$40 million a year. If he cared about the kids so much, he could have written a check! ANd not his idea? No one exploits this guy with out his express permission.

2. Where this stands in the pantheon of Cleveland nard-stompings (sports division): Somewhere below the Drive/the fumble and Joey Table's massive collapse.

3. Where this stands in the pantheon of f-you's to a particular city: Still below Art Modell's gut punch. However, that having been said- never before has there been an hour-long, nationally-televised kick in the crotch. Impressive feat, really.

4. Even if they win 3 in a row, his "legend" or "global icon-ness" is tainted, as he simply gave up trying to do it as the #1 guy, a feat that Magic, Jordan, and Bird (and Kobe) accomplished.

I say this as a Clevelander born and bred, who lives and dies with the (pathetic) Browns, follows the Indians, but really doesn't care about the NBA (at least since Mark Price and Larry Nance took of their Cavs jerseys). This was the least savvy move this guy could have made. I totally understand leaving for Florida (I did… thanks Navy), but to do it this was …. shockingly stupid.

July 9, 2010 11:38 AM

Hector
said…

I'm going to add this to my file "Problems Rich People Have", under the heading "Settling for Way More Money Than Anyone Needs Instead of Way WAY More Money Than Anyone Needs", then promptly forget about it.

July 9, 2010 11:39 AM

Tim
said…

Hector I'm going to add this to my file "Problems Rich People Have", under the heading "Settling for Way More Money Than Anyone Needs Instead of Way WAY More Money Than Anyone Needs", then promptly forget about it.

LOL … I would only add to that: "Settling for Way More Money Than Anyone Needs Instead of Way WAY More Money Than Anyone Needs while acting like an asshole in the process "

July 9, 2010 11:50 AM

Mule Rider
said…

…while acting like an asshole in the process

Yes, a very necessary addendum in this case.

July 9, 2010 12:03 PM

Duke
said…

This only matters to the incredibly shrinking northeast Ohio fan base. They're used to it. Remember Rocky Colavito? Both are gone from the city and the fans slowly moved on. It's the sports business. Grow up. Get over it.

July 9, 2010 12:03 PM

ideadude
said…

What bliv said. And then what bliv replied. He got it right.

July 9, 2010 12:08 PM

Midwestern Sensibilities
said…

Mule Rider – Well-put.

Everyone – I stand corrected on whose idea this was. I'm surprised so many outlets had it wrong. This being said, the essential point is the same.

fwiw, I didn't mean to imply that I thought Lebron was literally going to be Jordan, that's why I wrote "a Jordan," in the sense of "transcendent star" (a group I'd put Magic, Bird, Kobe, etc. in) as opposed to the literal Michael Jordan.

July 9, 2010 12:14 PM

jonathan
said…

Ryan – who are these "greats" you are referring to who could win one on their own? Jordan had Pippen and one of the greatest coaches in history, plus Rodman for half his titles. Magic had Kareem and Worthy. Bird had Parish and McHale. Kobe had the same coach as Jordan, plus Shaq for three and Gasol for the other two. Russell has Cousy/Havlicek and Heinsohn, not to mention Red. Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West are supposed to be two of the best ever, but they needed each other to win a title. And all those teams had a lot of great role players. So who are the greats you are referring to who did it on their own?

July 9, 2010 12:18 PM

jonathan
said…

Lehman – Magic, Jordan, and Kobe all had HOFers alongside them too. All Lebron has right now are 1 future HOF player and 1 all-star….and nothing else. And who told you that he won't be the #1 guy on the team?

West and Chamberlain were all-time greats….so who was the #1 guy when they won together? Magic and Kareem both get named as the #1 guy ever at their position by many people…so do their titles together mean less? Are you telling me that Lebron has a more stacked lineup in Miami than Magic had in LA?

July 9, 2010 12:25 PM

yoink
said…

I think the truth lies somewhere between the extremes that this debate has (unsurprisingly) fallen into. To say that LBJ has "permanently" sullied his reputation with this ridiculous stunt is to ignore the many, many instances of athletes (and film stars and what have you) coming back from far more serious blows to their reputation. The public loves a story of "redemption" and if LeBron leads Miami to a title, and does so with some gutsy, clutch performances (maybe playing through injury, or shouldering the burden when other key players are injured, or what have you), then this fiasco will become a distant memory.

But, on the other hand, what bliv et al. are too readily discounting is the way that this event has set up a narrative that fans and the media will be looking to apply to everything LeBron does for a while. If he allows them to reinforce that narrative then the effect becomes cumulative–and very significant in terms of earning potential. If LeBron has another off performance in the playoffs, for example, of if he gets into any kind of falling-out with teammates or management, or if he has problems with niggling injuries then people will be eager to label him a quitter, a prima donna, overrated, lazy, immature, entitled etc. etc. It wouldn't take too many more screw-ups for that narrative to become set in the public mind.

July 9, 2010 12:42 PM

Chachy
said…

At James' level of income, the marginal utility of $150 million is practically zilch. After your first, oh, hundred mil or so, more money just isn't going to imcrease your well-being.

Winning a championship, on the other hand… heck, even just living in a city with a better climate should be of greater concern, from the perspective of rational maximization.

July 9, 2010 12:54 PM

Eric
said…

There's a counterargument…

The combination of no state sales tax in the state he will likely live in (Florida) and the likely scenarion where he's the best player on the team winning the championships and he may stand to make more money there than anywhere else. The backlash will be short term for most Americans as we're a fickle bunch that likes to jump on the bandwagon of champions. Most will forgive and forget. As the MVP/World Chamion in his prime, his endorsements will grow and he won't have to pay state income tax on the $$$. In New York he could've been the biggest star ever, but he would've paid 13% extra in taxes and likely would not have won. As great as Lebron is, he doesn't have the killer instinct and ability of a Kobe or Michael. He also doesn't have the low post dominating presence on offense and defense that a Bill Russell, Kareem, Wilt, Hakeem had. Magic and Larry had great teams around them and it was a different era where they were clearly the best two players in the league. In other words, if Lebron doesn't join forces with a D. Wade, he may be stuck as the best player in the league that never wins championships. At some point the marketing $$$ would be limited. I think he'll make more money in Miami than he would've anywhere else, except perhaps Chicago.

July 9, 2010 12:57 PM

Anon1mat0
said…

There are some valid arguments on Nate's post but in general regarding the whole thing I smell some serious sour grapes on the subject.

Full disclosure: I live in South FL.

^__^

July 9, 2010 1:16 PM

Darren
said…

Doing a DCF on LeBron James? Now I've seen everything.

July 9, 2010 1:18 PM

Uncommon Senz
said…

A few random thoughts:

Most fans understand that players leave, and sometimes that sucks. However not having the courtesy to let Cleveland know it was out of the running before this hour long episode of the Bachelor, much less bother to express thanks to fans who supported him means he took a dump on his fan base by choosing to do it this way.

I hope this does not start a trend. "Hey, is my announcement ESPN special-worthy". Professional sports are way to narcissistic right now anyway, and dragging out what should be a simple press release into a prime-time special is only going to make it worse.

And anyone thinking he can guarantee himself a ring, on any team, does not understand professional sports. Yes, they will have an excellent chance. But injuries, lack of cohesion, other teams on fire… anything can happen. It takes a lot of talent, and at least a little luck, to pull one off. There are no sure things.

Bottom line, a unnecessarily tacky way to handle this- with lots of potential downside.

July 9, 2010 1:24 PM

Dwight
said…

"I've got this thing and it's fucking golden." – LeBron James

He'll do alright….and not even go to jail for it.

Further, I cannot see any way in which hooking up with Dwyane Wade is a bad thing. For any NBAer. You can take issue with how he handled it (and he wasn't going to move, or even not move without hurting the feelings of a lot of people). But at the core of this is a very sound decision on James' part.

July 9, 2010 1:41 PM

Mule Rider
said…

Bottom line, a unnecessarily tacky way to handle this- with lots of potential downside.

Very well and succinctly put.

But at the core of this is a very sound decision on James' part.

Only a true looney toon would feel this way. For a man so captivated by adoration, he will be universally reviled by the entire world outside of Miami.

I really don't have much more than a passing interest in the NBA and have been to only one Grizzlies game since I've been here, but you can bet your sweet ass I'm going to do what I can to go to that game this upcoming year and boo his ass until my throat is soar.

July 9, 2010 1:51 PM

Uncommon Senz
said…

"and he wasn't going to move, or even not move without hurting the feelings of a lot of people"

Yes, some people will be angry no matter what. But he upset a whole bunch he did not have to.

The money those fans shelled out for tickets or merchandise, the money for the ads directed at those fans, that is what supports his lifestyle. It shows disrespect by making those fans suffer through a hour plus media event just to find out he's leaving.

He could have spared Cleveland fans the indignity of having to sit through that crap just to find out they were out of luck. They deserved better. It's like breaking up with someone via text message. Yeah, you can do that, but it is totally classless.

People aren't giving him flak for leaving, they are giving him flak for the self obsessed way he did it.

July 9, 2010 2:10 PM

Chaboard
said…

"This is not about a Jordon needing a Pippen, it's about someone we thought might be a Jordan telling us he *is* a Pippen."

Complete nonsense. Lebron in 2007 did more in the way of single handedly carrying a team than Jordan EVER did in his entire career. He's been there, done that….there's no reward for it.

July 9, 2010 2:23 PM

shiloh
said…

So let's recap, shall we:

Speaking of odds, percentages whatever if not for those silly lottery balls going Cleveland's way, LeBron would have never been a Cav.

btw, the NBA draft lottery is just another way for the NBA to make money, eh.

Soooo, Cleveland got (7) years of LeBron and after he quit in game 5 against the Celtics most fans knew realistically it was time for him to leave. LeBron's legend diminished quite a bit after his last home game and many in this area are happy to see him go!

ie diminishing returns.

Game 7 of the '97 World Series was hard for Cleveland to recover from, but they did ~ LeBron leaving, not so much.

If NYC could recover after 9/11, this LeBron minutia is a fly on the wall ~ perspective people!

carry on

July 9, 2010 2:24 PM

walt526
said…

I tend to agree with Nate that there are people outside of Ohio who have a far less favorable opinion of James now than they did a week ago. The whole ESPN show and the build up to it was wholly unnecessary and just made him look like a narcissistic jerk (even if the proceeds did go to charity).

But I'm not convinced that the damage to his marketability is permanent. And I don't think that he'll be regarded as a "Pippen" on the team–even alongside Wade and Bosh, he is clearly the front man and will be widely regarded as such. If he delivers a championship, then he probably won't see any dip in his endorsements.

The danger to his marketability comes from what happens if the Heat are unable to put it all together. There have been quite a few instances where a flurry of free agent signings fail to coalesce into a coherent team.

Also, watching this entire James situation reminds me of Grant Hill's arrival to the Magic about 10 years ago: 6'8" superstar small forward with all sorts of endorsements and hype goes from a Midwest team to a Florida. In fact, James is one of the few players that had better numbers than Hill in their first half dozen seasons in the NBA. Anyway, adding Hill and McGrady were supposed to make the Magic a powerhouse for the next decade, but an ankle injury derailed those plans.

Now obviously James isn't arriving with a lingering injury (Hill suffered it in the last playoff series he played for the Pistons–whereas James was dogging it against the Celtics). So perhaps James' (perceived) selfishness to avoid injury before hitting the free agent market will pay off. But injuries can and do happen. Also, basketball is a true team sport wherein at the NBA level it's not enough to have most talented individuals on the court. How well James-Bosh-Wade and the rest are able to coalesce won't be known until well into the 2010-11 season. Good buddies don't always make for good teammates (and vice-a-versa) and there is a lot of egos in that mix. It could be the case that the Heat won't be as good as the sum of the constituent parts. In that event, James' reputation and marketability are going to take a brunt of that disappointment.

July 9, 2010 2:29 PM

walt526
said…

This post has been removed by the author.

July 9, 2010 2:29 PM

shiloh
said…

btw, I'm seeing a lot of (((ifs))) in this thread. Mentioned previously, LeBron leaving doesn't guarantee him anything.

This is great news … for JOHN MCCAIN!

July 9, 2010 2:34 PM

Chaboard
said…

"4. Even if they win 3 in a row, his "legend" or "global icon-ness" is tainted, as he simply gave up trying to do it as the #1 guy, a feat that Magic, Jordan, and Bird (and Kobe) accomplished."

Are any of you even thinking before you post this kind of crap? Does anyone REALLY think Lebron won't be "the #1 guy" in Miami? Wade is good but nowhere near that good.

And you seem to be forgetting that Magic played alongside a teammate won an MVP, a Finals MVP and four first-team All-NBA selections with Magic. If being "the #1 guy" was all that important Magic would've left the Lakers early to strike out on his own.

Magic was fortunate to play with Kareem, Kobe was insanely lucky to play with Shaq, Jordan never led a team to anything (not even an ACC title) without a Pippen, Bird played with a couple of Hall Of Famers. None of them seemed very eager or content to be "the #1 guy" wasting away a career on a team of mediocrities.

July 9, 2010 2:36 PM

Mule Rider
said…

Complete nonsense. Lebron in 2007 did more in the way of single handedly carrying a team than Jordan EVER did in his entire career.

Most ignorant statement of the thread. You obviously paid zero attention to the NBA from 1985-1998…or you have a very selective memory.

July 9, 2010 2:37 PM

Chaboard
said…

"People aren't giving him flak for leaving, they are giving him flak for the self obsessed way he did it."

Actually the premise of the post we're all posting comments to is, and I quote Nate:

"Rather, I'm talking about the hit that James may have taken to his reputation for what looks to be an extremely unpopular decision."

Nate is expressly taking issue with the DECISION itself in this post.

July 9, 2010 2:43 PM

Uncommon Senz
said…

Nate said: "But James may also have sullied his reputation among more neutral observers for the self-important and humorless way that he came to his decision, including a one-hour special on ESPN that was part newscast and part infomercial. Brett Favre saw his Q rating dip by 41 percent — from 44 to 26 — following his drawn out "retirement" process in 2008-09, which might be the most salient recent comparison."

Sounds exactly like what I wrote.

July 9, 2010 2:50 PM

Eric
said…

As Kobe ages and Jackson retires, the Heat will have the best closer in the NBA (Wade), the best player in the NBA (Lebron), and perhaps the best coach in the NBA Riley. The only threat to any of that is Kevin Durant. If Lebron goes anywhere else he's stuck being the man. Closing time, he can't do it when it counts. But, with Wade, you may be looking at 3+ rings. Good decision. Handled extremely poorly, but probably the right decision.

Oh by the way, 2011, newest Knickerbocker = Melo

Any thoughts on potential pieces to add to the Heat?

Battier?
Perkins?
B. Miller?
M. Miller?
R. Bell?
K. Brown?
M. Redd? (midlevel exception next year, would be ridiculous!)

July 9, 2010 2:51 PM

Uncommon Senz
said…

Eric, keep dreaming on Melo. He's staying here in Denver. Yeah, he'll probably never get a ring because of that, but he's already said he wants to stay here and ownership has said they'll do what they have to.

July 9, 2010 2:58 PM

shiloh
said…

Uncommon Senz said…