LeBron picked the Heat as I predicted (its nice being right), but the fallout from Cleveland is despicable. Tears, burnings and an owner losing his mind is not the way to act when a star leaves. Cleveland fans and citizens should show a little more class about LeBron leaving. He didn't leave for more money, (although by going to Miami he does not have a state income tax and therefore he actually doesn't leave that much on the table) he went to a place where he could win a title. LeBron realized that it takes talent around him to get him to the promise land. Gilbert and the Cavs failed to put comparable players around him that would satisfy Lebron. Do I agree with the special on ESPN, no. I think it was a little over the top but I'm not hating on LeBron like most people. He has grown up in the spotlight and used that to his advantage. ESPN has been covering him since he was 15. All LeBron did was capitalize on the market's fascination with him and where he would go. Don't hate the player, hate the game.
Other Thoughts:
Dan Gilbert is going to have a hard time getting free agents to come Cleveland. His words about LeBron betraying him and the city f Cleveland were completely uncalled for. Don't sound like a bitter, scorned old man because you did not get the big prize. Gilbert and the Cavs should have pitched LeBron professionally instead of their informal approach that they thought would work. Better yet, you should have got him the players he wanted. If the Cavs trade for Amar'e Stoudemire they possibly could have kept both LeBron and Amar'e, but that trade never happened and that ticked LeBron off. From the start of his impending free agency, LeBron wanted to be recruited, not given cartoons with inside jokes on it. The Cavs figured that had him in the bag because of the money, but that isn't what drove James. It is winning championships and he knew Cleveland was not a place where he could win. Dan Gilbert might have endeared himself to the city with his scathing message about LeBron, but he may have alienated that franchise for years to come with his words. Players talk and all of them will remember the words of Gilbert about LeBron and that may cost him the chance of signing any of them in the future.
It wouldn't surprise me if LeBron had an opt in 3 to 5 years so that if they aren't winning, he can go to New Jersey to be with John Wall and Jay-Z.
Charles Barkley said that if he were LeBron he would have tried to win it on his own. If I remember correctly, Charles took the Suns to the Finals with help from Kevin Johnson and Dan Majerle and lost to the Bulls. Then a few years later Charles joined the Rockets with Hakeem and Clyde and nearly got back to Finals if not for a buzzer beater by John Stockton. People are getting onto these guys for partnering up and it doesn't make sense to me. Everyone needs help to win, that's why it is a team game. Stars have partnered together in the past and present to win a ring and that is what it is all about. The King wants a ring, and South Beach is the best place for him right now.
Don't think for a moment that ESPN and LeBron did not have that special planned at least a month or so in advance. The network has given the impression that they threw together "The Decision" in a few days. New commercials are not made in a few days and all the commercials were new. So James and ESPN put together a solid plan and got great ratings.
Carmelo Anthony will be either a Bull or Knick after next summer if he does not sgn that extension. Melo is in the same situation as LeBron was in,the Nuggets haven't really brought in the right type of player besides Chauncey Billups to help them dethrone the Lakers and win a championship. Nugget fans, you might want to brace yourself for heartbreak too.
I'm taking a break from blogging for the rest of the summer. I appreciate all the comments and support.
