Lebron Watch...

dParis

Hall of Fame
Did you guys see the angry open letter that Cavs' owner Dan Gilbert put out? Wow. Most entertaining bit from the whole parade of absurdity.

http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/gilbert_letter_100708.html
I wonder if, when Dan Gilbert woke up this morning, he palmed his forehead and said to himself, "Oh boy, did I really say all that last night? Did I really release an open letter? Oh God..."

I have no skin in this game at all, but I'm almost embarrassed for him when I read that.
 

Kevin T

Hall of Fame
Complete lack of class from Lebron and Gilbert. Maybe these two just hated each other all along. Apparently, Lebron stopped responding to calls/texts/emails from Gilbert over two weeks ago. As others have said, Lebron just punked Cleveland. He gave up in the playoffs and he gave up on the team. If he wanted to move on to another team, that's fine. No problem with that. But the way this was orchestrated was the worst PR move in my sports memory. That's what you get when Pookie and the rest of your high school crew is running the show vs. experienced agents/PR teams. Not that Cleveland would be first choice by any free agent but Lebron basically strung them along until all the majors were signed, then takes a steaming dump on the Cavs, assuring them of no good signings this year. And way to go Gilbert...you just made yourself the least attractive owner/NBA city to any future free agent with that junior high rant.

Did Jordan quit the Bulls when the Pistons gave him years of beat downs? IMHO, Lebron officially takes the mantle of 'Most hated NBA player' from Kobe. Actually, he didn't just take it, he ripped it away in a first round knockout. And here's Miami's roster at the moment:

Bosh
Lebron
DWade
Chalmers
3 second round picks

And props to Stephen A. Smith who reported this about 2 weeks ago.
 
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World Beater

Hall of Fame
funny.

everyone keeps talking about how much of a prima donna move the one hour special was....yet pretty much everyone tuned in to watch it.

Hilarious, imo. Lebron just fed all of your appetites.

Btw. Lebron can do what he wants, and if he wants to use a one hour special to do it...so be it. Its the media and all their viewers fault for entertaining such a circus.

Lebron just increased nba ratings for the next season or so exponentially. Well done Bron. David Stern should personally gift wrap a championship to you for the great stunts you just pulled.
 

tacoben

Semi-Pro
All Cleveland needed was a new coach!

I argree with a lot of people who did not like the hype or buildup to his announcement. Classless!

Insteresting comments/perspective from some of the ESPN analyst...about how Michael Jordon was on a bad team when he first arrived in Chicago, but he rode it out and they eventually became champions. Cleveland in my opinion only needed a new coach and maybe one or two quality picks/free agents for "it" to happen. To bad for Lebron, Byron Scott just came on board, a quality young coach. I think he'll live to regret his decision.
 

ollinger

G.O.A.T.
This Dan Gilbert thing is hilarious. The man who founded Quicken Loans, now being sued by its own employees for violations of the Fair Labor Act, lecturing Lebron about values and loyalty to the organization.
 

goober

Legend
Insteresting comments/perspective from some of the ESPN analyst...about how Michael Jordon was on a bad team when he first arrived in Chicago, but he rode it out and they eventually became champions. Cleveland in my opinion only needed a new coach and maybe one or two quality picks/free agents for "it" to happen. To bad for Lebron, Byron Scott just came on board, a quality young coach. I think he'll live to regret his decision.

Its hard to really compare Jordan and Lebron. Back in the mid to late 80s, free agency wasn't as big as it is now. People didn't get these huge max contracts and there was more team loyalty back then. Things are different now.

The Bulls drafted Horace Grant and Scottie Pippen in 1987 so Jordan got big help in year 3. Lebron finished 7 years and still really doesn't have anyone comparable. Some might say 7 years is a reasonable amount of time to give to a city. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar spent 6 years in milwaukee, yet nobody ever faults him for wanting to leave.
 
LOL. That guy's full of ****, no wonder Lebron left Cleveland. No way in hell the Cavs are winning anything without him. He's gonna have a couple trophies with Miami before Cleveland ever sees one. I wish I could tell that ****** bag just how stupid he sounds spitting out all of that nonsense. The "Cleveland Curse" is the product of a young team that when it came to crunch time couldnt handle the pressure and wilted like a flower, it has absolutely nothing to do with Lebron, he was the only thing that gave them any hope of success at all.

So LeBron tanking Game 5 vs Boston meant nothing?
 

Sidd Finch

Rookie
So LeBron tanking Game 5 vs Boston meant nothing?

I watched every minute of that series. LeBron tanked on more than one occassion, especially at crunch time. If I were a Cavs fan I would have been pretty po'd. The guy hasn't earned anything yet (unless you count the many millions of dollars I guess...:(..). It's almost as if he quit on his team as an "I told you I can't win here!" message in preparation for his leaving Cleveland. I've lost mucho respect for they guy.
 

r2473

G.O.A.T.
And props to Stephen A. Smith who reported this about 2 weeks ago.

Kris Kristofferson had the scoop years before:

Jesus Was A Capricorn

Jesus was a Capricorn
He ate organic food
He believed in love and peace
And never wore no shoes
Long hair, beard and sandles
And a funky bunch of friends
Reckon we'd just nail him up
If he came down again

Chorus:
'Cause everybody's gotta have somebody to look down on
Who they can feel better than at any time they please
Someone doin' somethin' dirty decent folks can frown on
If you can't find nobody else, then help yourself to me

Eggheads cussing rednecks cussing
Hippies for their hair
Others laugh at straights who laugh at
Freaks who laugh at squares
Some folks hate the Whites
Who hate the Blacks who hate the Klan
Most of us hate anything that
We don't understand

Chorus
 
funny.

everyone keeps talking about how much of a prima donna move the one hour special was....yet pretty much everyone tuned in to watch it.
Um, nope. Was flipping between the Yankee-Mariner pre-game and Anthony Boudain's "No Reservations" last night.

I (and others) were so sick and tired and turned off by ESPN's ad nauseum 24/7 Labiaron/NBA free agent shilling that for the last week I'd flipped the dial to "World Cup" updates --anything but this Labron overkill...ugh. :neutral:
 
They couldnt have won the game without him, of course it meant something, it meant they didnt have a snow ball's chance in hell to win if Lebron wasnt on top of his game.

Well that's the case for almost any team when their best player is off (save the Lakers in Game 7 when Kobe was off, but Artest/Gasol stepped up). But INTENTIONALLY (in my eyes) not trying your hardest, in order to stick it to the team/organization, and make leaving the team justified, is just classless. Lost all kinds of respect for LeBron after that game,and this FA charade just made me lose any I had left for him.
 

Sidd Finch

Rookie
Um, nope. Was flipping between the Yankee-Mariner pre-game and Anthony Boudain's "No Reservations" last night.

I (and others) were so sick and tired and turned off by ESPN's ad nauseum 24/7 Labiaron/NBA free agent shilling that I started actively looking for "World Cup" updates and panel show discussion elsewhere on the dial--anything but this Labron overkill...ugh. :neutral:

Rented Cool Hand Luke last night. Missed the entire Lebronathon on The Shill Network and couldn't be happier.

Dragline (George Kennedy): "Why you got to go and say fifty eggs for? Why not thirty-five or thirty-nine?"

Luke: "I thought it was a nice round number."
 

Moose Malloy

G.O.A.T.
But INTENTIONALLY (in my eyes) not trying your hardest, in order to stick it to the team/organization,

That was the day the news leaked out that Delonte West was banging Lebron's mom. Apparently everyone on the team knew about it, except Lebron, so I can see why he was a bit upset at his teammates. I'm not kidding. This was probably a bigger factor in his leaving Cleveland than we'll ever know.
 

dParis

Hall of Fame
Kris Kristofferson had the scoop years before:

Jesus Was A Capricorn...
Apparently, this little ditty can put all of the world's issues in perspective. Are you trying to turn this site into Jesus Was A Capricorn.Com? This is at least the fourth thread where you have referenced this song. Don't stop here. There are several other threads that can use this sobering clarity:

Music Game
Girl Problem...
How do I sew pockets into shorts?
Issues with friends
Conan
What song are you listening to right now?
Using the cheese grater
Should Federer retire?
The J011yRoger Bet Reloaded.
** #1 Redondo Talks Thread ****

...and many, many others...
 
Lebron will regret his handling of free agency for a long time...his name, brand, image and stock just took a massive hit. Right now he not only looks spectacularly callous and immature...but scared and naive. How could his advisors have been so dumb...amazing...
 

r2473

G.O.A.T.
Are you trying to turn this site into Jesus Was A Capricorn.Com?

Don't be silly. I've been saving this one for just the right occasion:

"For All My *****z & *****es"
(feat. Kurupt, Daz, Rage)

[Verse One: Kurupt]

Well it's that slow flow, D-O-double-G, *****
See these other fools but you can't see me, *****
Who am I? (It's Kurupt mother****er)
Do or die (We gives a **** mother****er)
So slow your roll, I'm In Control like Janet
The loc-est twenty-one year old ***** that's on this planet
Take it for granted, if ya wanna, cuz I'm gonna
grab my strap then clear the corner, beeotch!!

[Chorus: repeat 2X]

So all my *****es and my *****z and my *****z and my *****es
Wave your mother****in hands in the air
And if you don't give a ****
Like we don't give a ****
Wave your mother****in fingers in the air

[Verse Two: Daz, Kurupt]

Now on a one, two, three who could it be
Comin with a group of gangsta **** for ninety-three
So ninety-four's arrived *****, back on up
And let me and my Dogg Kurupt **** **** up
Now can't nobody see me here or there
wherever I bails, I put it down on the ground
Cuz ain't **** for sale in the Coupe
with the beat flossin off gold D's
And my cousin Snoop packs well, you know what I mean
And it don't take much, for the Dogg Pound to bust a cap
in your ass, for gettin us all ****ed up
Now check it, it's a callin for *****z like Doggs
who supposed to be the ****, but steadily *****in like hogs
(Yes y'all) Walk the Doggs (yes y'all) Yiggy y'all
Stay full of that gin and juice and have a ball

I packs a strap, like that, I kicks it like this
Now how many *****es must get dick?
Before they say, that Daz is that ***** from back in the day
Ya never ever thought I'd see him bustin with Dr. Dre
Cuz I grips mics, I rips mics in half
Hoes be comin to my flat so I can tap that ass

[Chorus]

[Verse Three: Kurupt]

You're headed my way, ***** you best to hit a U-turn quick
So what's happenin? I'm cappin **** up like a Western flick
The kinpin of the clique, top notch
17 shot Glock cocked, so all ***** drop
The run of the mill fool get broke off for tryin to serve
the best Kurupt's era, peep the terror, cuz it's a murder fest
I smoke chronic everyday, so what have we
Another mother****er, gettin served like some cavy
Now who, drops (ruff rhymes) I got full Juice like 2Pac
(plus I'm) rollin with two Glocks
Fly mother****ers can't see Kurupt
Hellraisin like Pinhead, beware I'm tearin **** the **** up
Slow your roll, like your legs was broken
Who's jokin? Rakim never joked, so why should I loc?
Now that's my idol, check the vital rhyme flow doe
Runnin em like Flo Jo, stranded on Death Row
Mediocre mother****ers die cuz I'm servin it
They can't **** with or see me I'm mass murderin
[Smokin indo, look out my window I suppose] Yeah
[*****z don't understand how we kicks diffrent flows]
(I'm raw like new footage) I'm rugged like a BF Goodrich
(Bring your whole set and get your hood lynched)
[Drop to your knees like a dog in heat]
Peep the murderous styles and the poetical techiques

[Chorus]

[Verse Four: Rage]

Check it out, it's Rage, ready for the breakdown
Take down, when it comes to the mic I'm puttin my weight down
And that's 175 pounds of beed
beatin yo' ass down to the concrete
Fool, act like ya know
I'm stranded on Death Row with no where to go, so
What's a girl to do
Take out a crew, or two, a few, what you wanna do?

[Snoop]
Throw your guns in the mother****in air, we don't care
[Dogg Pound]
*****z don't give a **** *****
[Snoop]
About nuthin at all, just my Doggs and clockin the grip *****
[Dogg Pound]
*****z don't give a **** *****
[Snoop]
That's why I can kick it so tuff, cuz when times get ruff, my
[Dogg Pound]
*****z don't give a **** *****
[Snoop]
The clique i'm with, don't give a sheeit, ya know why?
[Dogg Pound]
Real *****z don't give a ****

[Chorus]
 

Kevin T

Hall of Fame
Lebron will regret his handling of free agency for a long time...his name, brand, image and stock just took a massive hit. Right now he not only looks spectacularly callous and immature...but scared and naive. How could his advisors have been so dumb...amazing...

Yep. It's like I mentioned, he fired the real professionals a few years ago and relies on his old homies to take care of business.
 

ollinger

G.O.A.T.
Have another Anchor Steam....he'll be fine. He handles himself very well in public, has no scandals associated with his name, demonstrates maturity and composure in things like interviews and hosting SNL....his name and image are in fine shape except for with a few bitter basketball zealots.
 
He drew out the media circus of his free agency too long...then went on prime-time national TV to slap Cleveland and basketball fans across the face. His brand and image have allready taken a massive hit, as obvious from the countless number of fans and media members who have ripped him for his immature and brutally backstabbing method to handling this situation.

He was going to take a hit no matter what for abondoning his team to join All-Stars (quickly taking him out of even potential Jordan, Bird, Russell territory)...but to have done it the way he did (celebratory it's all about me prime time TV fashion) will (AND ALREADY TANGIBLY HAS) hurt him. I haven't heard anyone say it wont (beyond you of course)...and yes...the weekends first anchorsteam is only 2 hours away...Cheers...GO CLIPPERS!!!!
 

FuriousYellow

Professional
Have another Anchor Steam....he'll be fine. He handles himself very well in public, has no scandals associated with his name, demonstrates maturity and composure in things like interviews and hosting SNL....his name and image are in fine shape except for with a few bitter basketball zealots.

Not to mention he has an entire sports network promoting him. This will blow over eventually and people will be taken in by his smile and boyish antics again, just like they did with Shaq before he got too old for it be to be cute anymore.
 

Tyrus

Professional
Have another Anchor Steam....he'll be fine. He handles himself very well in public, has no scandals associated with his name, demonstrates maturity and composure in things like interviews and hosting SNL....his name and image are in fine shape except for with a few bitter basketball zealots.

In the NBA, Lebron's selfishness is a minor smudge compared to what happens with other players, he'll be fine.

Cleveland has nothing to get mad about except the fact that its residents didn't move out quicker than he did. No offense, considering i was born and raised in Columbus, but even i got the hell outta Ohio eventually.

But the fact that he announced his move to Miami without even giving Cleveland a proper apology/gratitude shortly thereafter, I can see why many people are mad.
 

r2473

G.O.A.T.
Cleveland has nothing to get mad about except the fact that its residents didn't move out quicker than he did. No offense, considering i was born and raised in Columbus, but even i got the hell outta Ohio eventually.

That you Joakim?
 

dParis

Hall of Fame
Don't be silly. I've been saving this one for just the right occasion:

"For All My *****z & *****es"
(feat. Kurupt, Daz, Rage)

[Verse One: Kurupt]

Well it's that slow flow, D-O-double-G, *****
See these other fools but you can't see me, *****
Who am I? (It's Kurupt mother****er)
Do or die (We gives a **** mother****er)
So slow your roll, I'm In Control like Janet
The loc-est twenty-one year old ***** that's on this planet
Take it for granted, if ya wanna, cuz I'm gonna
grab my strap then clear the corner, beeotch!!

[Chorus: repeat 2X]

So all my *****es and my *****z and my *****z and my *****es
Wave your mother****in hands in the air
And if you don't give a ****
Like we don't give a ****
Wave your mother****in fingers in the air

[Verse Two: Daz, Kurupt]

Now on a one, two, three who could it be
Comin with a group of gangsta **** for ninety-three
So ninety-four's arrived *****, back on up
And let me and my Dogg Kurupt **** **** up
Now can't nobody see me here or there
wherever I bails, I put it down on the ground
Cuz ain't **** for sale in the Coupe
with the beat flossin off gold D's
And my cousin Snoop packs well, you know what I mean
And it don't take much, for the Dogg Pound to bust a cap
in your ass, for gettin us all ****ed up
Now check it, it's a callin for *****z like Doggs
who supposed to be the ****, but steadily *****in like hogs
(Yes y'all) Walk the Doggs (yes y'all) Yiggy y'all
Stay full of that gin and juice and have a ball

I packs a strap, like that, I kicks it like this
Now how many *****es must get dick?
Before they say, that Daz is that ***** from back in the day
Ya never ever thought I'd see him bustin with Dr. Dre
Cuz I grips mics, I rips mics in half
Hoes be comin to my flat so I can tap that ass

[Chorus]

[Verse Three: Kurupt]

You're headed my way, ***** you best to hit a U-turn quick
So what's happenin? I'm cappin **** up like a Western flick
The kinpin of the clique, top notch
17 shot Glock cocked, so all ***** drop
The run of the mill fool get broke off for tryin to serve
the best Kurupt's era, peep the terror, cuz it's a murder fest
I smoke chronic everyday, so what have we
Another mother****er, gettin served like some cavy
Now who, drops (ruff rhymes) I got full Juice like 2Pac
(plus I'm) rollin with two Glocks
Fly mother****ers can't see Kurupt
Hellraisin like Pinhead, beware I'm tearin **** the **** up
Slow your roll, like your legs was broken
Who's jokin? Rakim never joked, so why should I loc?
Now that's my idol, check the vital rhyme flow doe
Runnin em like Flo Jo, stranded on Death Row
Mediocre mother****ers die cuz I'm servin it
They can't **** with or see me I'm mass murderin
[Smokin indo, look out my window I suppose] Yeah
[*****z don't understand how we kicks diffrent flows]
(I'm raw like new footage) I'm rugged like a BF Goodrich
(Bring your whole set and get your hood lynched)
[Drop to your knees like a dog in heat]
Peep the murderous styles and the poetical techiques

[Chorus]

[Verse Four: Rage]

Check it out, it's Rage, ready for the breakdown
Take down, when it comes to the mic I'm puttin my weight down
And that's 175 pounds of beed
beatin yo' ass down to the concrete
Fool, act like ya know
I'm stranded on Death Row with no where to go, so
What's a girl to do
Take out a crew, or two, a few, what you wanna do?

[Snoop]
Throw your guns in the mother****in air, we don't care
[Dogg Pound]
*****z don't give a **** *****
[Snoop]
About nuthin at all, just my Doggs and clockin the grip *****
[Dogg Pound]
*****z don't give a **** *****
[Snoop]
That's why I can kick it so tuff, cuz when times get ruff, my
[Dogg Pound]
*****z don't give a **** *****
[Snoop]
The clique i'm with, don't give a sheeit, ya know why?
[Dogg Pound]
Real *****z don't give a ****

[Chorus]
What a beautiful song, it speaks to me on many different levels - but I'm afraid your head is going to spin when you get the bill from the Tennis Warehouse censors. After reading this rap, your signature is especially poignant.
 

Kevin T

Hall of Fame
Have another Anchor Steam....he'll be fine. He handles himself very well in public, has no scandals associated with his name, demonstrates maturity and composure in things like interviews and hosting SNL....his name and image are in fine shape except for with a few bitter basketball zealots.

If you look at the tv ratings, apparently the only people that care about the NBA are the basketball zealots.
 

Kevin T

Hall of Fame
Lakers-Celtics Game 7 was the highest rated since Jordan's last game (w/ the Bulls). Basketball seems to be on the upswing, and this thing just adds to it.

http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/06/nba-finals-game-7-ratings.html

But that's a game seven, which always gets a high/higher rating in any sport. And it's the greatest bball rivalry of all-time. TV numbers are up...but they couldn't have gotten much lower in recent years and don't approach the 80's and 90's. Even the Cavs/Spurs series a few years ago, featuring King James himself, pulled terrible ratings (actually, the worst in 35 years). The NBA is like MLB these days. If big market teams are in the finals, the numbers will be okay and if not, they stink. The NBA needs NYC and Philly back in the mix-until this year's finals, the 2001 Philly/Lakers series got the highest ratings since Jordan left town. And ticket sales are down in the NBA. You know it's getting ridiculous when you make good money and still don't think going to an NBA game is worth the $$.

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/11838893/18850386

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Basketball_Association_Nielsen_ratings
 

Slazenger07

Banned
Well that's the case for almost any team when their best player is off (save the Lakers in Game 7 when Kobe was off, but Artest/Gasol stepped up). But INTENTIONALLY (in my eyes) not trying your hardest, in order to stick it to the team/organization, and make leaving the team justified, is just classless. Lost all kinds of respect for LeBron after that game,and this FA charade just made me lose any I had left for him.

Im curious why everyone believes Lebron purposefully tanked the series? Maybe he was just off, or feeling the pressure of having to deliver since he knew if he didnt, they couldnt possibly win. That is just as likely the case as him deciding not to care anymore.
 
Im curious why everyone believes Lebron purposefully tanked the series? Maybe he was just off, or feeling the pressure of having to deliver since he knew if he didnt, they couldnt possibly win. That is just as likely the case as him deciding not to care anymore.

If you watched Game 5, there's no question he wasn't being as aggressive as he usually is, and even after the game Charles Barkley basically ripped him for not trying. Barkley had called LeBron "the best player in the world' a few months ago, so it's not even like he's some hater.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQugyCHnZ-I
 

slewisoh

Semi-Pro
You have to take this with a grain of salt, because I am from Cleveland, and this whole thing feels a bit more personal here.

I do think it matters that DWade, Lebron, and Bosh carefully planned this opportunity for themselves. It's not that I don't want them to achieve accolades, but the value of their achievement is greatly diminished in my eyes. Lebron is the damn MVP...he shouldn't be playing the role of sidekick, or worse yet, acting as one of The Three Musketeers.

I would rather watch a team of 5 talented, hard-working players achieve something great than watch 3 superstars slaughter their opponents. It's just not that interesting to me...I'm sure the Miami fans will disagree.

As a fan of sports in general, I miss the days when players stayed with teams long term. Buying a player's jersey meant something then...as a kid you bought it 3 times bigger because you wanted to be able to proudly wear it years later. These days, not so much.
 
But MJ Magic and Bird were never best friends.

From what I recall Magic and Bird were good friends off the court, but fierce competitors on it. MJ was the same way with guys like Barkley, Ewing, and the other Dream Team guys. If you saw MJ's induction speech last year, you know that the guy wanted to rip out the heart of anyone he went against. I truly believe him when he says he wouldn't go join Bird or Magic, or Ewing and Barkley, to win a title, at least not at age 25 the way LeBron is right now.

Oh and the vid is classic. GOAT worthy. :lol:
 

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
I dont think MJ would have done it either. But he was in a different situation than LBJ and Wade. I dont include Bosh because he is and always will be 2nd bannana at best.

but I dont LBJ has the MJ destruction mindset. David Robinson didnt have it either. If Robinson had MJ mentality he would have been unstopable. But David is great human and MJ is an A-Hole so there are trade offs.
 

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
Forgot David Robinson, guy scored 71 pts back in the day. Maybe 83 if he was as hell bent, escuse the term, as Kobe. Wonder what Kobe thinks of this trio while he cherry-picks players to add to the Lakers?
 
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hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
I think David Robinson was the most physically gifted player in the history of basketball. He was built to play the game. But like I said he didnt have that total destruction mindset.

Lebron also doesnt have that total destruction mindset. Bosh has not proven to me he has it either, and I dont think he ever will.

The most intersting part of this Miami team is to see whether Lebron takes on more of a creation role and develops plays for those other guys. Rumors are that he talked with Wade and Bosh and made his goal to average a triple double for the season.

I could see Lebron going something like 22-12-11 stats wise. Which regardless of the team is amazing.

Its also why I think he didnt go to CHI, he wanted to be the facilitator and create the offense. He couldnt do that in CLE because everyone sucked and missed the shot or dropped the pass.
 
Wade = Jeter Lebron = ARod. No matter how many titles they win, how many MVP's Bron gets, Miami will always be Wade's city, and the Heat are Wade's team.

Apparently Michael Wilbon says Jordan was a lot more P.Oed about this than that statement let on, says he was steaming mad that these guys would make this decision. This is not what the league was built on, Bird and Magic teaming up? Michael and Isiah teaming up? Nope.
 
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