Do people actually believe that Lebron will return to the Cavs?

[theoneneo]

:biggums:

But why?

Tha damage is already done, he's already won two rings, why would he go back? And better question, why would the Cavs want him back, have they no dignity? It'll be like taking your hot ex girl back after she's cheated on you... don't be that guy.

[MavsSuperFan]

:biggums:

But why?

Tha damage is already done, he's already won two rings, why would he go back? And better question, why would the Cavs want him back, have they no dignity? It'll be like taking your hot ex girl back after she's cheated on you... don't be that guy.

I dont think it will happen, but Lebron is the kind of guy that likes to be loved. he would value the chance to repair bridges.

[PJR]

Just some media generated narrative that some naive people are eating up. It's pretty stupid when you think about it. :oldlol:

[kNicKz]

Not enough all stars

[RedBlackAttack]

:biggums:

But why?

Tha damage is already done, he's already won two rings, why would he go back? And better question, why would the Cavs want him back, have they no dignity? It'll be like taking your hot ex girl back after she's cheated on you... don't be that guy.
All very good questions I've been pondering for years. He's not returning to Cleveland nor should he. Time to actually settle down in a place and build a legacy. There's no reason for him to leave. Miami is a well run organization and he has done well, for the most part, in his three years there.

I'd find it pathetic all the way around if he came back to Cleveland... Both on his end and for the Cavs' organization/fans. It's just time for everyone to move on. It's over.

Cavs' front office and fans need to start looking at how to assemble a roster to beat Miami, not taking part in this ridiculous sales pitch about why he should come back.

[WadeBronDonJuan]

Not enough all stars

I realize you're trying to be funny (it didn't work.)

But you do realize that Cleveland could potentially have 3 or more all stars within the next 2-3 years...

- Irving
- Bynum (if he gets healthy)
- Bennett

[theoneneo]

All very good questions I've been pondering for years. He's not returning to Cleveland nor should he. Time to actually settle down in a place and build a legacy. There's no reason for him to leave. Miami is a well run organization and he has done well, for the most part, in his three years there.

I'd find it pathetic all the way around if he came back to Cleveland... Both on his end and for the Cavs' organization/fans. It's just time for everyone to move on. It's over.

Cavs' front office and fans need to start looking at how to assemble a roster to beat Miami, not taking part in this ridiculous sales pitch about why he should come back.

Exactly, he has a Legacy in Miami, why would he **** that up to go back to a loosing team. Lol :roll: He ain't leaving Miami period, this Lebron Free agent talk is quite absurd.

[crisoner]

Be a smart move by him and would right some wrongs.
I would have much respect if he went back.

They got Irving...Bynum now.

Might be a great move for him I think he should do it. He got Miami 2 titles they can't hate on him.

[coin24]

Well wade/bosh/super stacked heat team can't carry him for much longer, so he'll jump ship to another stacked squad to pad his resume..

[RedBlackAttack]

Be a smart move by him and would right some wrongs.
I would have much respect if he went back.

They got Irving...Bynum now.

Might be a great move for him I think he should do it. He got Miami 2 titles they can't hate on him.
It would do nothing in that regard.

No one disputes his place as a great player... best in the league by a fair margin right now. That changes absolutely nothing when it comes to the way I look at him. In my mind, he's been the best player in the league for 5-6 years now.

Still don't want him and I really wish he would just go ahead and sign longterm in Miami so this stuff would finally go away. It's annoying. Cavs make a quality move or get a draft pick right... First thing anyone wants to talk about is James.

He plays for Miami now. Move on.

[iamgine]

:biggums:

But why?

Tha damage is already done, he's already won two rings, why would he go back? And better question, why would the Cavs want him back, have they no dignity? It'll be like taking your hot ex girl back after she's cheated on you... don't be that guy.
Because Lebron will not rest until he brings a championship to Cleveland.

[salwan]

IF he leaves Miami, it's going to be Cleveland.

It's Miami or Cleveland in my book. And I give Miami the better % to retain him

[DirkNowitzki41]

IF he leaves Miami, it's going to be Cleveland.

It's Miami or Cleveland in my book. And I give Miami the better % to retain him

This.

I highly doubt he goes to LA, as some people have said.

I would love to see Bron back in the Cavs again. Hopefully winning a ring there this time around.

[Kiddlovesnets]

He will retire a Heat, book it.

[inclinerator]

because he promised them a ring

[sixer6ad]

What's it matter? We pose this question as if its end of the earth stuff. It's drama...it's entertainment...it's a game.

I do believe he has the desire to mend fences, and I do believe he would relish the chance to play here again, but this guy IS NOT the person we think or want him to be. We would all love him to be this amazing person and leader, but the person he is does not match the player he is. I haven't just heard too much, I know too much.

Some franchises talk about being/getting good, and others do it. He will go to the place that can win titles - period. He has always thrived on stacked teams in HS, AAU, and in Miami. He wants no emotional return home just to get a standing ovation, he would need to know that Cleveland can win a title.

[SilkkTheShocker]

Not enough all stars

Yea, he will never find another 2/3 option that can average 15ppg and 12ppg like Wade/Bosh last year.

[Bandito]

He will retire a Heat, book it.
Yes because your word means anything around this board.

[Bandito]

Yea, he will never find another 2/3 option that can average 15ppg and 12ppg like Wade/Bosh last year.
Wade averaged 20 5 and 5 in the regular season. Pathetic...

[DukeDelonte13]

Lebron's only blemish on his NBA legacy is the decision; leaving his hometown to join two other superstars to win rings and making an ass of himself in the process.

He can have one legacy where he keeps that blemish, or he can go back to cleveland and try right the wrong.

Sir Charles said it best: "1 ring in Cleveland is worth 3 in Miami"

Do I actually believe he is coming back? I give it a 2% chance.


I will say this, and i don't care who believes me and who doesn't, but i know a guy that is a super high up for Gilbert's new cleveland casino. He has no affiliation with the cavs but he spends a lot of time with Gilbert. He says that Gilbert and Bron's agent have already had multiple meetings discussing a possible return, and Lebron is in fact seriously considering it.

[SilkkTheShocker]

Wade averaged 20 5 and 5 in the regular season. Pathetic...

What were his playoff stats? He was hurt the whole postseason. And Birdman had more impact than Bosh most of the postseason. You have a real hard-on for anything I post :oldlol:

[Bandito]

What were his playoff stats? He was hurt the whole postseason. And Birdman had more impact than Bosh most of the postseason. You have a real hard-on for anything I post :oldlol:
I am not the one that are cherry pick the stats that works in my favor.:roll:

Also the main reason Bosh has not been effective is because he was playing Center all year when he is not. He was averaging 16 and 8 from the PF in 2011 and in 2012 he averaged 12 and 6. Coincidence?

Also am I not allowed to answer you idiotic trollish posts anymore and I am automatically have a hard on for your posts? You post everywhere my brother!! And they are retarded posts too. You remind me of RRRFgt when he said the same thing. He said I was after him, when he used to whine in every topic and then he said I was after him. And I be like, "Fgt you are whining in every thread, what I am supposed to do, put you in my ignore list?"

[jzek]

Bigger chance of him joining the Lakers than the Cavs.

[2010splash]

The Cavs should want him back because the ultimate goal of the game is to win championships. There is no greater accomplishment. And of course, they will not only never sniff a championship any time soon without LeBron, but as a team that has averaged around 20 wins since LeBron left, I would think most rational fans would want to see a better product out on the floor.

Will he return to Cleveland? Absolutely not. Say what you want about Wade and Bosh declining (I don't buy it personally), but I know that if you took LeBron off the Heat, they'd win far more than a pathetic 19, 21, and 24 wins each season. He's building a dynasty in Miami.

[OhNoTimNoSho]

Lebron is like the boyfriend that treats his girlfriend (cavs) poorly, and beats her and puts her down, but she'll always take him back because she can never do better.

[ZHAKIDD532]

It's an option to people because he would fit the roster really well.

I don't think he's leaving Miami though. He's found an ownership and front office that are able to support him and build a team around him. Even if Wade breaks down, they'll get another star to play next to him.

[Magic 32]

Lebron is like the boyfriend that treats his girlfriend (cavs) poorly, and beats her and puts her down, but she'll always take him back because she can never do better.

This

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh6HufbIfNc&t=0m48s

[pudman13]

Well wade/bosh/super stacked heat team can't carry him for much longer, so he'll jump ship to another stacked squad to pad his resume..


Exactly. He's going to figure out how long he can ride this team, then leave before it's too late.

[JohnnySic]

He will stay with the Heat or go to the Lakers.

[Duderonomy]

He will have to if he wants to beat the Nets. Wade is done and Bosh is looking for another pay day.

[nightprowler10]

I don't see why he would leave the Heat, even if they don't 3peat.

[salwan]

This.

I highly doubt he goes to LA, as some people have said.

I would love to see Bron back in the Cavs again. Hopefully winning a ring there this time around.

I dont like Lebron and I'm rooting against him...but him going back to cleveland in a nice humble way would certainly make it hard to hate on him :applause:

[SilkkTheShocker]

My biggest thing against Cavs fans is that they literally expected LeBron to do everything for those Cleveland teams. Average close to a triple double, beg for free agents to sign (even though they had no cap space, and sign long-term to play with Mo Williams.

[guy]

Honestly, I actually believe he will. Not only because he feels the need to right his wrongs, but for him to win championships, it makes a ton of sense.

I don't think the Heat are winning this year. If not this year, then next year, Wade will be even more a shell of himself. Bosh might be on the decline, and even if he's not, he was never that great in the first place especially in this diminished of a role. Wade is DEFINITELY not opting out. Bosh may or may not opt out. If he doesn't opt out, Heat can't really make any big moves. If he does opt out, its not like there's a better star in FA they can get anyway. The older FAs like Kobe or Dirk definitely aren't coming to Miami. So the only other better FA out there would be Melo, and even if he wanted to come to Miami, which I highly doubt, is Lebron/Melo/Wade better then Lebron/Bosh/Wade? Probably not. And they couldn't trade Wade or Bosh to net another star.

Then there's Cleveland. They have a young up and coming superstar in Kyrie Irving, three young up and coming potential at least borderline all-stars in Tristan Thompson, Dion Waiters, and Anthony Bennett, and two possible all-stars if they can stay healthy in Varejao and Bynum (BIG IFS). And on top of that, if for whatever reason some of those players don't work out, they could probably trade them for something good, or preserve cap space, by turning down those team options, to get other talent around Lebron. For example, maybe Minnesota would revisit that Kevin Love trade.

The fact is Lebron has shown he's willing to leave for the best situation possible to win championships regardless of the backlash he might receive. I don't see why this would be different. Its one thing if the Heat 3peat next year, but I don't see that happening (and even if they did, I don't see Lebron opting out and signing another long-term deal instead probably just opting in). Not only are they on the decline cause of Wade and their competition is going to be better, but teams making 4 straight Finals never happens anymore.

[STATUTORY]

It would do nothing in that regard.

No one disputes his place as a great player... best in the league by a fair margin right now. That changes absolutely nothing when it comes to the way I look at him. In my mind, he's been the best player in the league for 5-6 years now.

Still don't want him and I really wish he would just go ahead and sign longterm in Miami so this stuff would finally go away. It's annoying. Cavs make a quality move or get a draft pick right... First thing anyone wants to talk about is James.

He plays for Miami now. Move on.

you talking tough now but you would be all over that d if he went back to Cleveland. As would most Cleveland fans

[SilkkTheShocker]

In my opinion, he goes back to Cleveland towards the end of his playing career. I think it was Windhorst a month ago or so that said Riley already has a long term plan in place to keep LeBron in Miami for the rest of his prime. Is anyone really betting against Riley at this point? I highly doubt the 2013 Heat and the 2014 Heat are all that similar. I think the Big 3, or at least LeBron/Wade take pay cuts and add another piece. IF Bosh wants to stay so be it, but he is pretty overrated and wouldn't care if they got someone else.

[guy]

In my opinion, he goes back to Cleveland towards the end of his playing career. I think it was Windhorst a month ago or so that said Riley already has a long term plan in place to keep LeBron in Miami for the rest of his prime. Is anyone really betting against Riley at this point? I highly doubt the 2013 Heat and the 2014 Heat are all that similar. I think the Big 3, or at least LeBron/Wade take pay cuts and add another piece. IF Bosh wants to stay so be it, but he is pretty overrated and wouldn't care if they got someone else.

Lebron/Wade aren't taking that big of a paycut. I just don't see what moves they can make. Of course, I'm not Riley though.

[DukeDelonte13]

In my opinion, he goes back to Cleveland towards the end of his playing career. I think it was Windhorst a month ago or so that said Riley already has a long term plan in place to keep LeBron in Miami for the rest of his prime. Is anyone really betting against Riley at this point? I highly doubt the 2013 Heat and the 2014 Heat are all that similar. I think the Big 3, or at least LeBron/Wade take pay cuts and add another piece. IF Bosh wants to stay so be it, but he is pretty overrated and wouldn't care if they got someone else.


isn't riley supposedly retiring in 2014?

[PJR]

isn't riley supposedly retiring in 2014?

You heard wrong.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/riley-basking-heat-glory-days-article-1.1379508

[guy]

And I can't believe people are STILL doubting Pat Riley da gawd. Ya'll some fools, man.

The big 3 if they don't opt out are each making 20-21M in 2014-15 and the Heat have $76M committed in salaries. Even if the big 3 all opted out and took paycuts, realistically the biggest paycut they would take would be down to like 15M each year, so that would put them at like $60M, which is about the salary cap. So what other big moves would they make? And like I said, out of all the big FAs that might realistically leave (meaning not Kobe, Dirk), Lebron, Melo, Bosh, and Wade are the best ones. Lebron's already been playing with two of those. Obviously you can't count Riley out, but it looks like the best most realistic moves they can make are upgrading the role players surrounding the big 3.

[Goldrush25]

:biggums:

But why?

Tha damage is already done, he's already won two rings, why would he go back? And better question, why would the Cavs want him back, have they no dignity? It'll be like taking your hot ex girl back after she's cheated on you... don't be that guy.

Just like most guys would take that hot ex back, the Cavs would take him back with open arms.

[PJR]

The big 3 if they don't opt out are each making 20-21M in 2014-15 and the Heat have $76M committed in salaries. Even if the big 3 all opted out and took paycuts, realistically the biggest paycut they would take would be down to like 15M each year, so that would put them at like $60M, which is about the salary cap. So what other big moves would they make? And like I said, out of all the big FAs that might realistically leave (meaning not Kobe, Dirk), Lebron, Melo, Bosh, and Wade are the best ones. Lebron's already been playing with two of those. Obviously you can't count Riley out, but it looks like the best most realistic moves they can make are upgrading the role players surrounding the big 3.

Miami just needs to get to the point where they are not operating above the luxury tax threshold, so they can 1) retain a Full Mid Level exception, and 2.)avoid the punitive repeater tax rules(being above the tax threshold 3 out of 4 years).

And that can be done, even with LeBron re-signing to a max deal, and Wade and Bosh making lucrative long-term money as well.

[secund2nun]

Miami just needs to get to the point where they are not operating above the luxury tax threshold, so they can 1) retain a Full Mid Level exception, and 2.)avoid the punitive repeater tax rules(being above the tax threshold 3 out of 4 years).

And that can be done, even with LeBron re-signing to a max deal, and Wade and Bosh making lucrative long-term money as well.

Agreed.

The big 3 plus the mle to shore up the center weakness would be enough. Lebron will obviously either opt in, or opt out for a paycut. Wade will opt out for a paycut and Bosh will be told either opt out for a paycut or be traded.

I think Riley has something up his sleeve though.

[2010splash]

The Cavs aren't even a good team. When you average 21 wins over the last 3 seasons, you're not a serious contender for LeBron's services.

And there's no way he goes to the Lakers. Kobe is a high usage, shoot-first team cancer whose style of play is not conducive to winning titles anymore. LeBron will not want to play with a ball hog who eats up half of the team's salary cap and has never shown the willingness to sacrifice (either money or shots) for the good of the team.

Kobe could never lead this Heat team to a title. He had a stacked Nash/Pau/Dwight team and led them to a 1st round spanking. And he's had P-Jax coaching plus Odom/Pau/Bynum the two years before that and got owned in the 2nd round both times.

The only sensible choice for LeBron is Miami. Proven winners as teammates is what Miami offers LeBron. LA offers the glitz and glamor of Hollywood but no chance at winning titles, and Cleveland offers the "feel good" sentimental narrative but ultimately has a 20-win team to offer him.

[lilgodfather1]

If the Heat don't win this year LeBron's gone. It may not be to CLE, but they do have a good shot. How about this little fact for y'all. If a star comes available at PF or SG this year CLE can offer a package that will be far better than most teams. Let's be honest a package of Waiters and Thompson is better than most teams can dream of, and that doesn't even include picks like the Sac one, MEM pick ('15), MIA picks, and of course their own picks.

CLE is in great shape, and LeBron, or no LeBron, are set up nicely to have a good long run at titles.

[wakencdukest]

There is no reason to ever leave Miami. He has a dynasty going right now and he's got boatloads of money. He might have to go through some lean years at some point, but he has to deal with it until management gets the team back on track, that's what a franchise player does. He would lose so much more respect if he bailed on Miami as soon as times got tough.

[guy]

Miami just needs to get to the point where they are not operating above the luxury tax threshold, so they can 1) retain a Full Mid Level exception, and 2.)avoid the punitive repeater tax rules(being above the tax threshold 3 out of 4 years).

And that can be done, even with LeBron re-signing to a max deal, and Wade and Bosh making lucrative long-term money as well..

I thought teams with cap space don't get an MLE, which would be the case if even one of the big 3 opts out? And even if thats not the case, are you saying some role player on the MLE is going to make the difference between him leaving or staying?

Lebron came to Miami to play with stars, and I have a hard time believing he won't be the only "star" by the time 2014-15 rolls around.

[LBJMVP]

The Cavs aren't even a good team. When you average 21 wins over the last 3 seasons, you're not a serious contender for LeBron's services.

And there's no way he goes to the Lakers. Kobe is a high usage, shoot-first team cancer whose style of play is not conducive to winning titles anymore. LeBron will not want to play with a ball hog who eats up half of the team's salary cap and has never shown the willingness to sacrifice (either money or shots) for the good of the team.

Kobe could never lead this Heat team to a title. He had a stacked Nash/Pau/Dwight team and led them to a 1st round spanking. And he's had P-Jax coaching plus Odom/Pau/Bynum the two years before that and got owned in the 2nd round both times.

The only sensible choice for LeBron is Miami. Proven winners as teammates is what Miami offers LeBron. LA offers the glitz and glamor of Hollywood but no chance at winning titles, and Cleveland offers the "feel good" sentimental narrative but ultimately has a 20-win team to offer him.
I've already said I don't want Lebron back but if Lebron came back and our whole team was healthy would be the best in the league no doubt. Either way, I'd rather beat Lebron while he is in Miami. Operation upset Miami 2014 is in full progress.

[beastee]

If the Heat lost THIS year...I could see him looking to move on. But winning two with the same team puts you on a top 15 list...3 or more with the way he dominates the league...that is top 10 for sure and potentially top 5. Why would he walk away from that? I am not a fan since the decision, but he aint got no worries...:facepalm

[Electric Slide]

They just want him too.

It is pathetic that some fans believe that Lebron should listen to them opposed to himself.

[PJR]

I thought teams with cap space don't get an MLE, which would be the case if even one of the big 3 opts out?.

Cap holds.

Even when they opt out, there are cap holds in place due to Miami holding all of their bird rights.

[RedBlackAttack]

you talking tough now but you would be all over that d if he went back to Cleveland. As would most Cleveland fans
You don't know me very well. I'll say it again... I want him to sign longterm in Miami ASAP. I have no interest in him or the circus he brings with him.

Winning isn't everything. It's important to me that I actually like the team. That's just me.

[TheFan]

That bridge is burnt... Its as probable as Kobe signing with the Hornets/Pelicans for a last run.

[guy]

Cap holds.

Even when they opt out, there are cap holds in place due to Miami holding all of their bird rights.

Okay. Either way, I don't see having the full MLE being enough to make the difference for Lebron.

[Kurosawa0]

It makes sense for him to want to play with young talent as he gets older. Still, Pat Riley and the Heat have proven to be a far better organization than what Cleveland showed LeBron while he was there. Going to be hard to walk away from Riley.

[Shade8780]

bump lol

[Stringer Bell]

:biggums:

But why?

Tha damage is already done, he's already won two rings, why would he go back? And better question, why would the Cavs want him back, have they no dignity? It'll be like taking your hot ex girl back after she's cheated on you... don't be that guy.

Basketball is a business, and a game.

Lebron is a commodity to the Cavs, a tool to make money. It's not a romantic relationship with a signficant other. :oldlol:

[~primetime~]

oh RBA :oldlol:

what a great bump lol

[Hoopz2332]

:lol

[I<3NBA]

I realize you're trying to be funny (it didn't work.)

But you do realize that Cleveland could potentially have 3 or more all stars within the next 2-3 years...

- Irving
- Bynum (if he gets healthy)
- Bennett
got it right about the potential all stars.

just picked wrong who. :lol :lol

[DonDadda59]

Not enough all stars

http://www.lelbron.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/LelBron-Wrestling.gif

[RedBlackAttack]

oh RBA :oldlol:

what a great bump lol
Stand by everything I said in this thread. I legitimately didn't want him to come back, even though I always sort of assumed he would at some point. I absolutely did not think it would be this soon. I thought he'd return as an over-the-hill, washed up shell of himself for the feel good promotional value.

Now that he's here, what should I do? Stop being a Cavs fan? It happened, and I have to deal with it. And, yes, the circus that he has brought with him has already started to push me away from this board. His fans/detractors are borderline unbearable.

I can't imagine how awful it will be once the season starts.

[NumberSix]

Stand by everything I said in this thread. I legitimately didn't want him to come back, even though I always sort of assumed he would at some point. I absolutely did not think it would be this soon. I thought he'd return as an over-the-hill, washed up shell of himself for the feel good promotional value.

Now that he's here, what should I do? Stop being a Cavs fan? It happened, and I have to deal with it. And, yes, the circus that he has brought with him has already started to push me away from this board. His fans/detractors are borderline unbearable.

I can't imagine how awful it will be once the season starts.
Keep it real guy. You were only playing the "I don't want him to come back" game because you thought it wouldn't happen. Let's not act like you're sitting there wishing he stayed in miami.

You're like a broke dude saying "I wouldn't even wanna be rich. I'd rather just have a normal life" but then when he hits the lotto is like "Fυck YEAH!!! I'm fυcking rich!!!!"

[MastaKilla]

I've already said I don't want Lebron back but if Lebron came back and our whole team was healthy would be the best in the league no doubt.


You obviously underestimated how much help Lebron needs around him to feel comfortable.

[RedBlackAttack]

Keep it real guy. You were only playing the "I don't want him to come back" game because you thought it wouldn't happen. Let's not act like you're sitting there wishing he stayed in miami.

You're like a broke dude saying "I wouldn't even wanna be rich. I'd rather just have a normal life" but then when he hits the lotto is like "Fυck YEAH!!! I'm fυcking rich!!!!"
I'm keeping "it" as real as I possibly can. I legitimately wanted LeBron to re-sign in Miami. Of course, announcing his decision with a personal letter to the people of NE Ohio didn't hurt and that obviously wasn't reflected in my thoughts prior to his return. The fact that he publicly owned/acknowledged the mistake in the way he left and stated how important this area is to him was something that I sort of needed to see... and trust me, I'm not alone in that.

But, at the end of the day, I was completely content with our situation prior to all this madness. I've accepted the situation, but I stand by everything I said prior to it happening.

The situation was never static. Sports aren't like that.

[poido123]

Keep it real guy. You were only playing the "I don't want him to come back" game because you thought it wouldn't happen. Let's not act like you're sitting there wishing he stayed in miami.

You're like a broke dude saying "I wouldn't even wanna be rich. I'd rather just have a normal life" but then when he hits the lotto is like "Fυck YEAH!!! I'm fυcking rich!!!!"


Nah, you got it wrong.

[NumberSix]

I'm keeping "it" as real as I possibly can. I legitimately wanted LeBron to re-sign in Miami. Of course, announcing his decision with a personal letter to the people of NE Ohio didn't hurt and that obviously wasn't reflected in my thoughts prior to his return. The fact that he publicly owned/acknowledged the mistake in the way he left and stated how important this area is to him was something that I sort of needed to see... and trust me, I'm not alone in that.

But, at the end of the day, I was completely content with our situation prior to all this madness. I've accepted the situation, but I stand by everything I said prior to it happening.

The situation was never static. Sports aren't like that.
Who the fυck do you think you are?

Hes a basketball player. That's it. Not your deadbeat dad who abandoned you. Grow the fυck up.

[RedBlackAttack]

Who the fυck do you think you are?

Hes a basketball player. That's it. Not your deadbeat dad who abandoned you. Grow the fυck up.
I'm a fan of a team who needs to be able to root for the players who make up the roster. It's difficult to root for a guy you can't stand. It's really that simple. This isn't exactly splitting the atom. Doesn't need to be all that complicated. The sheer need to, at the very least, not sincerely dislike a player on your favorite NBA team.

Also, I wasn't looking forward to the circus I knew that would follow him. And, that has sucked just about as badly as I thought it would... at least so far.

[NumberSix]

I'm a fan of a team who needs to be able to root for the players who make up the roster. It's difficult to root for a guy you can't stand.
So don't root for him. Don't root for Love either while you're at it. He's another one of those evil team-leavers.

[poido123]

Who the fυck do you think you are?

Hes a basketball player. That's it. Not your deadbeat dad who abandoned you. Grow the fυck up.


Some people care about team/player ethics and loyalty, the storyline and the journey to the championship including the hardships.

Hard concept for you to grasp, I know.

[poido123]

So don't root for him. Don't root for Love either while you're at it. He's another one of those evil team-leavers.


Plenty of players leave their respective teams the right way.

Some may even of done a collection of things for a fan to dislike them, like Lebron for example.

Again, hard concept for you to grasp, I know.

[RedBlackAttack]

So don't root for him. Don't root for Love either while you're at it. He's another one of those evil team-leavers.
Not going to re-hash it for the umpteenth time, but his leaving was not the reason I couldn't stand him. It's all pretty well documented at this point.

And, I will gladly cheer for Love. As far as I can tell, he simply requested a trade and the Timberwolves received a historic haul for him. I hope LeBron does well too, obviously. I never questioned his ability on the court. I've always been pretty complimentary of his all-time standing and the extremely high level of his play on a basketball court. It was a series of off the court decisions which had me hoping for him to fail in Miami.

They did... twice. And now he's back in Cleveland. And I've dealt with it. Really, who gives a sh!t what I think? :confusedshrug:

[Meticode]

Not going to re-hash it for the umpteenth time
Oh come on, you know you want to. You've done it so many times before already. :lol

[NumberSix]

Not going to re-hash it for the umpteenth time, but his leaving was not the reason I couldn't stand him. It's all pretty well documented at this point.

And, I will gladly cheer for Love. As far as I can tell, he simply requested a trade and the Timberwolves received a historic haul for him. I hope LeBron does well too, obviously. I never questioned his ability on the court. I've always been pretty complimentary of his all-time standing and the extremely high level of his play on a basketball court. It was a series of off the court decisions which had me hoping for him to fail in Miami.

They did... twice. And now he's back in Cleveland. And I've dealt with it. Really, who gives a sh!t what I think? :confusedshrug:
Maybe I'm weird, but I just don't care about anything that happens behind the scenes. Watching games is entertainment. Having actual emotions about what a player does off the court is like the same territory as creepy wrestling fans who get emotional about a good guy switching to the bad side.

[poido123]

Maybe I'm weird, but I just don't care about anything that happens behind the scenes. Watching games is entertainment. Having actual emotions about what a player does off the court is like the same territory as creepy wrestling fans who get emotional about a good guy switching to the bad side.


You're weird. Get a heartbeat.

[Meticode]

Maybe I'm weird, but I just don't care about anything that happens behind the scenes. Watching games is entertainment. Having actual emotions about what a player does off the court is like the same territory as creepy wrestling fans who get emotional about a good guy switching to the bad side.
Except wrestling is written up and laid out. Basketball players switching teams, changing futures of teams and the cities economy much like LeBron did in Cleveland means millions of dollars, in fact $500 million dollars. Those are actual decisions being made, not horrible acting scenarios played out in a square.

[Meticode]

Maybe I'm weird, but I just don't care about anything that happens behind the scenes. Watching games is entertainment. Having actual emotions about what a player does off the court is like the same territory as creepy wrestling fans who get emotional about a good guy switching to the bad side.
Also, I have nothing against your point of view as far as entertainment. Because in the end, when it's all said and done, that's why it makes money. It entertains people. That's what it's there for.

But putting down people for supporting a team and being emotional involved in that team is just ignorant.

[BrownEye007]

Who the fυck do you think you are?

Hes a basketball player. That's it. Not your deadbeat dad who abandoned you. Grow the fυck up.
Who the **** do you think you are? Telling people how they should or shouldn't feel about a situation. One that you also clearly don't understand if you still think rba and other cavs fans are were upset because he left instead of how he did it.

[RedBlackAttack]

Oh come on, you know you want to. You've done it so many times before already. :lol
I've actually carefully steered around going through the whole "Decision" thing for the past couple years. I know what it leads to and I've been down that road too many times in the last four years. Enough is enough with that stale back-and-forth.

I will, however, expound on any number of other topics, LeBron related or otherwise. You know this. I've never been accused of being short-winded. :pimp:


Maybe I'm weird, but I just don't care about anything that happens behind the scenes. Watching games is entertainment. Having actual emotions about what a player does off the court is like the same territory as creepy wrestling fans who get emotional about a good guy switching to the bad side.

It's not as if there's some kind of running off-court narrative for every player on the team. LeBron had to go WAY out of his way for me to finally throw my hands up and say, "f#ck this guy." It was an unprecedented situation in sports, really.

I'll toss out a (somewhat) neutral voice since anything I say is going to be questioned because I'm from NE Ohio and, like I said, I really don't want to re-hash it myself again. Here's what Bill Simmons had to say the day after The Decision...

July 9, 2010:

One of my first ESPN.com columns was titled, "Is Clemens the Antichrist?" It covered how my relationship changed with Roger Clemens as a Red Sox fan -- in five years, he went from my favorite baseball player to my least favorite athlete in any sport -- and how the turning point happened in 1996, when Clemens signed with Toronto and showed no remorse at the ensuing news conference.

I still remember seeing that Blue Jays cap squeezed on his fat stupid face for 45 solid minutes, waiting for him to throw Red Sox fans a bone, waiting for him to say anything that would make me think, "Regardless of how this turned out, the past 12 years meant something to me," or "Just know that this happened because of Boston's front office, not their great fans." He only threw us a couple of canned comments, the same way someone would throw table scraps to a dog. I remember how angry it made me. I remember wanting to whip my remote control through the television, then realizing that I couldn't afford a new one. I remember taking down my autographed photo of Clemens' 20th strikeout against Seattle and sticking it in a closet. I remember thinking that I would never like sports quite as much ever again.

So when Clemens went to Toronto, got in shape, won two straight Cy Youngs and forced a trade to the Yankees, really, a column called "Is Clemens the Antichrist?" became inevitable as soon as I found a bigger forum to write it. I hated that guy as much as you could hate a professional athlete without things getting creepy.

And you know what? What LeBron did to Cleveland last night was worse. Much worse.

It's one thing to leave. I get it. You're 25. You don't know any better. You're tired of carrying mediocre teams. You want help. You want the luxury of not having to play a remarkable game every single night for eight straight months. You want to live in South Beach. You want to play with your buddies. I get it. I get it. But turning that decision into a one-hour special, pretending that it hadn't been decided weeks ago, using a charity as your cover-up and ramming a pitchfork in Cleveland's back like you were at the end of a Friday the 13th movie and Cleveland was Jason ... there just had to be a better way.

I blame the people around him. I blame the lack of a father figure in his life. I blame us for feeding his narcissism to the point that he referred to himself in the third person five times in 45 minutes. I blame local and national writers (including myself) for apparently not doing a good enough job explaining to athletes like LeBron what sports mean to us, and how it IS a marriage, for better and worse, and that we're much more attached to these players and teams than they realize. I blame David Stern for not throwing his body in front of that show. I blame everyone.

We are already fools for caring about athletes considerably more than they care about us. We know this and we do it anyway. We just like sports. We keep watching for moments like Donovan's goal against Algeria, and we keep caring through thick and thin for moments like Dave Roberts' steal and Tracy Porter's interception. We put up with all the sobering stuff because that's the price you pay -- for every Gordon Hayward half-court shot, or USA-Canada gold-medal game, there are 20 Michael Vicks and Ben Roethlisbergers. Last night didn't make me like sports any less -- my guard has been up since 1996 -- it just reinforced all the things I already didn't like.

For LeBron not to understand what he was doing -- or even worse, not to care -- made me quickly turn off the television, find my kids, give them their nightly bath and try to forget the sports atrocity that I had just witnessed. He just couldn't have handled it worse. Never in my life can I remember someone swinging from likable to unlikable that quickly. I will forgive him some day because I like watching him play basketball, and whether you're rooting for or against him, his alliance with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami created one the greatest "Holy s---, how is this going to play out?????" scenarios in recent sports history. Sports are supposed to be fun, and eventually, this will become fun -- for everyone but people in Cleveland -- because we finally have a Yankees of basketball.

But I will never, ever, not in a million years, understand why it had to play out that way. If LeBron James is the future of sports, then I shudder for the future.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/100709


...and that was coming from arguably his biggest fan in the national media. Acting as though this is just some contrived nonsense that should have nothing to do with sports is disingenuous. This actually had everything to do with sports and what it is to be a fan. Most of the time, I couldn't care less what a guy chooses to do off the court.

This particular instance was a completely different animal, though.




But, it's four years in the past. He's gone a long way to "making it right" in the past few months, so whatever... it is what it is. Just don't think that I was secretly hoping James was going to come back and rescue us for the past four years. I meant every word that I said in this thread when I said it.

[poido123]

I've actually carefully steered around going through the whole "Decision" thing for the past couple years. I know what it leads to and I've been down that road too many times in the last four years. Enough is enough with that stale back-and-forth.

I will, however, expound on any number of other topics, LeBron related or otherwise. You know this. I've never been accused of being short-winded. :pimp:



It's not as if there's some kind of running off-court narrative for every player on the team. LeBron had to go WAY out of his way for me to finally throw my hands up and say, "f#ck this guy." It was an unprecedented situation in sports, really.

I'll toss out a (somewhat) neutral voice since anything I say is going to be questioned because I'm from NE Ohio and, like I said, I really don't want to re-hash it myself again. Here's what Bill Simmons had to say the day after The Decision...

July 9, 2010:


http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/100709


...and that was coming from arguably his biggest fan in the national media. Acting as though this is just some contrived nonsense that should have nothing to do with sports is disingenuous. This actually had everything to do with sports and what it is to be a fan. Most of the time, I couldn't care less what a guy chooses to do off the court.

This particular instance was a completely different animal, though.




But, it's four years in the past. He's gone a long way to "making it right" in the past few months, so whatever... it is what it is. Just don't think that I was secretly hoping James was going to come back and rescue us for the past four years. I meant every word that I said in this thread when I said it.


That Bill Simmons take on it is an amazing read. Whether you like the guy, he make writing so effortless.

Exactly how I felt about the situation back then. I knew at that point the NBA landscape had changed for better or worse. The NBA product is more diluted now, its missing some of the best things I used to love watching it for.

[RedBlackAttack]

That Bill Simmons take on it is an amazing read. Whether you like the guy, he make writing so effortless.

Exactly how I felt about the situation back then. I knew at that point the NBA landscape had changed for better or worse. The NBA product is more diluted now, its missing some of the best things I used to love watching it for.
Yep. For situations like that one, Simmons can still be very good... even though he annoys me much of the time these days.


It has been long enough now that it's easy to forget just how shocking The Decision was at the time. Not the fact that he chose to go to Miami, but the manner in which he did it.

Here's another article from the following day which I thought was well written. It's by NYMag.com, a New York City publication, so again this is as neutral a source as you are going to get. It pretty well summed up my feelings immediately following that whole debacle and it also highlights the fallacy of those who try to act -- now -- as if we're all "nuts" and "creepy" for even caring how he went about it.


LeBron React: Never Has Being a Sports Fan Felt So Stupid

By Will Leitch

The worst moment of a night full of bad moments tonight came at the end, after most disgusted fans had turned ESPN off, bile still sloshing in their gums, when LeBron James, 45 minutes after announcing he would play for the Miami Heat, returned to the camera with Jim Gray and the head of the Apollo Group, which owns and runs the University of Phoenix, one of the primary sponsors of the evening's festivities. At this point, we had seen the pain of the Cleveland Cavaliers fans, who had been so cruelly toyed with for weeks now, and we had seen Gray and Michael Wilbon, shockingly, so inept and seemingly disinterested in anything resembling a follow-up question. Fans of teams in the LeBron Derby were disappointed — though no one as much as Cavs fans — but mostly they were flabbergasted by the tone deafness of the whole enterprise. LeBron James was a man breaking hearts across the country, and there he was, with an old bald white man peddling for-profit online education, and a short smug onetime sportscaster now just happy to be on TV. There they all were, trying to sell us something. After that. It was hawking souvenirs before the wake was over. And no one onscreen seemed to find this wrong.

Loving sports, by definition, requires a certain suspension of disbelief and logic. We are all pouring our hearts and souls into cheering for men (and women) who do not care about us, who are not like us, who are not the type of people we would ever associate with (or even meet) in real life. We deify them because it is hard to find people to deify in the real world: Sports spans every age group, ethnic group, political persuasion, and all else that serves to divide us, separate us. We cheer for athletes because sports does not matter, not really. We cheer because sports is, ultimately, harmless.

And we trust that they will at least pretend. We trust that they will recognize the ultimate ludicrousness of this whole enterprise, that these are grown men wearing tank tops, throwing a ball up and around, running on wood, that this all exists because we allow it to exist, that the illusion must be maintained. We trust that they understand how good they have it, how much we give them, against our own self-interest. We trust that they are not laughing at us.

That trust felt broken tonight. Not because LeBron James went to the Heat, even though he referred to his destination as "South Beach," not "the Miami Heat and their fans." Not because LeBron James didn't go to the Knicks, even though of all the cities he mentioned enjoying during this free agent "courtship," New York was the one he omitted. Not even because LeBron was so, so cruel to Cleveland, not once thanking the fans who made him into what he was, the fans who have to wonder if their absurd investment in their sports franchises will ever be rewarded. No, tonight, it felt like everyone involved — LeBron, ESPN, Bing, the University of Phoenix, Stuart Scott, the man who once chastised fans for having the audacity to boo, Jim freaking Gray — treated the millions of people watching like stupid, mindless consumers, empty lemmings ready to follow Sport into the abyss. Here, here are the Boys & Girls Club props. Here, here is your search engine. Here, here is your online college, Here, here is your Athletic Hero. Eat. Eat. Consume. You like it. You love it. You'll always come back for more.

They're surely right, of course. But never has it been laid more bare, and never did it feel so empty. It felt like a break, the moment when the tide crested, when we looked at the games, and their players, and ourselves, and wondered: Why in the world are we watching these awful people? It was a question impossible to answer.

LeBron James, thanks to this debacle, will never be the same. (That he appears unable to understand why is the precise reason why.) ESPN, it feels, will never quite be the same: There were surely thousands of employees there who rubbed their eyes, aghast at what they were watching, guilty to be a part of it. The NBA, the hunger laid bare and the wound gaping for all to see, may never be the same.

And the fear is that we won't be the same. The fear is that we've truly seen the ugly, dark heart of sports, and we won't be able to come back. It feels extremely stupid to be a sports fan. It feels pointless. None of this felt harmless tonight. And we allowed this to happen. Perhaps this is what we deserve. Perhaps this will be good for us, all of us.

Let us all just hope everybody feels better in the morning. Some morning, someday.


http://nymag.com/daily/sports/2010/07/lebron_react_never_has_being_a.html



Everyone was pretty much outraged at the time, outside of Miami. It is just that it was easier for people outside of Cleveland to forget all about it. For us, his return brought with it a lot of mixed feelings, because we were the primary target of his awful handling four years ago. And, I think we had all the reason in the world to want certain things (like an apology for how it went down) before we could welcome him back.

It's not because of a contrived off-court drama or simply because he chose Miami. It's because he went way out of his way to embarrass the city and the franchise in the most public way possible.


Time to move on, though. He's made things right and we have one hell of a team. I'm not immune to second chances. We all make mistakes in our lives. God knows when I was in my early-20s, I made more than a few. Thankfully, there weren't any cameras around. I'm just glad he realizes and publicly owned how poorly it was handled.

[Real14]

Who the **** do you think you are? Telling people how they should or shouldn't feel about a situation. One that you also clearly don't understand if you still think rba and other cavs fans are were upset because he left instead of how he did it.
think about it man. You are a dealing with a guy who has a George w. bush avatar.

[poido123]

Yep. For situations like that one, Simmons can still be very good... even though he annoys me much of the time these days.


It has been long enough now that it's easy to forget just how shocking The Decision was at the time. Not the fact that he chose to go to Miami, but the manner in which he did it.

Here's another article from the following day which I thought was well written. It's by NYMag.com, a New York City publication, so again this is as neutral a source as you are going to get. It pretty well summed up my feelings immediately following that whole debacle and it also highlights the fallacy of those who try to act -- now -- as if we're all "nuts" and "creepy" for even caring how he went about it.



http://nymag.com/daily/sports/2010/07/lebron_react_never_has_being_a.html



Everyone was pretty much outraged at the time, outside of Miami. It is just that it was easier for people outside of Cleveland to forget all about it. For us, his return brought with it a lot of mixed feelings, because we were the primary target of his awful handling four years ago. And, I think we had all the reason in the world to want certain things (like an apology for how it went down) before we could welcome him back.

It's not because of a contrived off-court drama or simply because he chose Miami. It's because he went way out of his way to embarrass the city and the franchise in the most public way possible.


Time to move on, though. He's made things right and we have one hell of a team. I'm not immune to second chances. We all make mistakes in our lives. God knows when I was in my early-20s, I made more than a few. Thankfully, there weren't any cameras around. I'm just glad he realizes and publicly owned how poorly it was handled.


Forget what some of the heartless, brain dead posters say on here. Many of them are desensitized in every day life, lebron only reflects those same issues in our current society.

The "me" generation and the instant gratification cancer has spread into our sports now. Money and getting things easy is par for course these days for NBA athletes.

How many guys coming out of college do you see with good fundamentals? Times are changing, people want different things now. Nobody wants to work on all facets of their game if they can get the big pay day on talent and/or athleticism alone.