thefinishline 07/14/10
Lebron James Joins Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in South Beach
By Shawn Brown
It’s been about a week since Lebron James announced on ESPN’s “The Decision” that he was going to the Miami Heat. I must admit, I thought he would choose to go to the Nets. But when Chris Bosh signed with Miami, I couldn't see him passing up playing with his close friends Bosh and Wade. After listening to his press conference on ESPN, I realized that a championship and happiness means more to him than money. I can respect that. But apparently, many others can’t. I understand Cleveland fans being upset over the fact that their franchise player has chosen to play for another team. But what I don’t understand is the burning of his jersey, the throwing away of his life size stand up, the public letter from the Cavs Owner Dan Gilbert, which clearly suggests that he’s extremely bitter as oppose to just being disappointed. For those who didn’t know about the letter here is a clip:
” This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown ‘chosen one’ sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And ‘who’ we would want them to grow-up to become.
But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called ‘curse’ on Cleveland, Ohio.
The self-declared former ‘King’ will be taking the ‘curse’ with him down south. And until he does ‘right’ by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.”
Really? Instead of commenting further on Mr. Gilbert’s clip, I’ll just give you Lebron’s response:
"To hear my former owner's comments, I absolutely know I made the right decision. I don't really have a reaction to what Dan said. When things hit the fan, you see a guy's true colors. I have no reaction because at the end of the day, Dan's comments won't stop me and my family from sleeping at night. It just won't do it. It's just going to make us powerful, more powerful.''
He goes on to wish the city of Cleveland well. In my opinion that’s what the owner should have done. The thing we can’t allow ourselves to forget is that Lebron and all pro athletes are employees with benefits just like every working individual in the country. If he wants to chose a different employer that can take him to the next level of his career, that’s his prerogative. I’ve even heard that because Lebron is leaving there may be a loss of jobs in Cleveland…really? I didn’t know it was his responsibility. Again, thought he was just an employee of the Cleveland Cavaliers that happens to be paid very well to do a job. Well, he did his job for seven years. And now he has chosen to work for another employer…the Miami Heat. It’s one thing if he was simply chasing money, but he stated it’s about happiness now. Lebron stated that his mother told him that he needed to do what was best for him and what was going to make him happy. Well, happiness was in Miami. I heard it said that Chicago may have been a better fit if he wanted a championship right away, but in the end it came down to happiness. The move to South Beach means he’ll get paid less than he would have if he had stayed in Cleveland, he won't have as many points on the board (neither of them will), but most teams that have multiple championships had to spread the ball around a bit. I respect Lebron’s decision and am actually proud of how he handled himself in response to Dan Gilbert and continues to handle himself against all of the nay-sayers. MY question now is: How long will take for James, Bosh and Wade to lead the Heat to a championship?
It’s been about a week since Lebron James announced on ESPN’s “The Decision” that he was going to the Miami Heat. I must admit, I thought he would choose to go to the Nets. But when Chris Bosh signed with Miami, I couldn't see him passing up playing with his close friends Bosh and Wade. After listening to his press conference on ESPN, I realized that a championship and happiness means more to him than money. I can respect that. But apparently, many others can’t. I understand Cleveland fans being upset over the fact that their franchise player has chosen to play for another team. But what I don’t understand is the burning of his jersey, the throwing away of his life size stand up, the public letter from the Cavs Owner Dan Gilbert, which clearly suggests that he’s extremely bitter as oppose to just being disappointed. For those who didn’t know about the letter here is a clip:
” This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown ‘chosen one’ sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And ‘who’ we would want them to grow-up to become.
But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called ‘curse’ on Cleveland, Ohio.
The self-declared former ‘King’ will be taking the ‘curse’ with him down south. And until he does ‘right’ by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.”
Really? Instead of commenting further on Mr. Gilbert’s clip, I’ll just give you Lebron’s response:
"To hear my former owner's comments, I absolutely know I made the right decision. I don't really have a reaction to what Dan said. When things hit the fan, you see a guy's true colors. I have no reaction because at the end of the day, Dan's comments won't stop me and my family from sleeping at night. It just won't do it. It's just going to make us powerful, more powerful.''
He goes on to wish the city of Cleveland well. In my opinion that’s what the owner should have done. The thing we can’t allow ourselves to forget is that Lebron and all pro athletes are employees with benefits just like every working individual in the country. If he wants to chose a different employer that can take him to the next level of his career, that’s his prerogative. I’ve even heard that because Lebron is leaving there may be a loss of jobs in Cleveland…really? I didn’t know it was his responsibility. Again, thought he was just an employee of the Cleveland Cavaliers that happens to be paid very well to do a job. Well, he did his job for seven years. And now he has chosen to work for another employer…the Miami Heat. It’s one thing if he was simply chasing money, but he stated it’s about happiness now. Lebron stated that his mother told him that he needed to do what was best for him and what was going to make him happy. Well, happiness was in Miami. I heard it said that Chicago may have been a better fit if he wanted a championship right away, but in the end it came down to happiness. The move to South Beach means he’ll get paid less than he would have if he had stayed in Cleveland, he won't have as many points on the board (neither of them will), but most teams that have multiple championships had to spread the ball around a bit. I respect Lebron’s decision and am actually proud of how he handled himself in response to Dan Gilbert and continues to handle himself against all of the nay-sayers. MY question now is: How long will take for James, Bosh and Wade to lead the Heat to a championship?