The Football Fan Spot

I promise this is the last time I talk about LeBron for a while. I’ve said a lot and I will repeat myself here some. People have been trying to compare LeBron to Michael Jordan his entire career. Today he showed that he’s not even half the player MJ was. MJ was a competitor. MJ wanted to be the guy on his team. MJ’s best trait was that he was selfish, at least when it mattered. MJ wanted the ball in the final two minutes because he knew he was the best man to make the shots. MJ knew he was the best player on the planet, loved that he was the best player on the planet, and he was a better player for that.

LeBron is the best player on the planet, but he doesn’t want the ball in the final 2 minutes. He doesn’t have that confidence. He doesn’t want to be blamed. He can’t handle the pressure. Whatever the reason, he doesn’t want to be the guy. Why else would he sign with the Heat? That’s Dwyane Wade’s team. Wade’s been there 7 years. Wade’s won a title there. If LeBron thinks he’s the man there, he’s stupid and then he’s got different problems. It may sound harsh, but Miami was a cop out.

Michael Jordan wouldn’t have chosen Miami in a million years. In LeBron’s situation, Jordan would have either gone to Chicago, a chance to win and be the guy, or more likely, back to Cleveland to finish what he started and you know what, he probably would have finished it. Hell, Kobe wouldn't have done it either. Say what you want about Kobe, but he's not going to cop out on anyone. He would have stayed in Cleveland or gone to Chicago. This is why Jordan has 6 rings, Kobe has 5, and LeBron has as many rings as D-Wade will carry him to.

I don’t even think they’re the favorite win this year. I can see major chemistry issues there, plus you need supporting guys to win in this league. Yeah, the four guys they have on their roster now (James, Wade, Bosh, Mario Chalmers), plus their 4 2nd round picks, plus 4 random fans out of the stands could probably win 60 games this year, but they’re not going to win a title without good supporting players stepping up. They need the x-factors. You can argue that the Celtics don’t win in 2008 without James Posey. The Heat won’t win in 2011 without their own version of James Posey. And who is going to play center? What if they run into Dwight Howard in the playoffs? Chris Bosh is about 230 pounds soaking wet. Dexter Pittman, I assume, is the starter for now, but he's a 2nd round pick rookie with so many durability issues that he probably can't stay on the court for more than 4 minutes at a time.

If there’s one other thing we’ve learned about LeBron this offseason other than he doesn’t like pressure, it’s that he loves to promote himself. I mean a one hour drawn out show on ESPN about where he was going to sign. I don’t blame ESPN for hosting it. It was a great money making opportunity, but how egotistical can you be. I was half expecting LeBron to sign a one year deal so that he could do this whole self promotion thing again next offseason. He could make it like a yearly reality show, like the Bachelor, narrowing down from 30 teams to 6 to 2 to 1, handing out roses along the way (that last part was partially stolen from Bill Simmons, but the man is a genius). Plus, he went on national television to tell the world, and his former city, a city he played in for 7 years and lived close to his entire life, that he wouldn’t be playing there anymore. He broke Cleveland’s heart on national television, without even telling management anything of his decision beforehand. They found out the same way we all did. By watching ESPN. That’s flat out just mean. That’s like breaking up with someone via facebook status. Very impersonal.

I'm not buying this that LeBron is going to Miami to be selfless. He doesn't strike me as a selfless guy. LeBron seems to have no problem being selfish off the court. He loves the attention. He loves the focus being on him. In fact, I’d say he loves that more than Brett Favre. However, unlike Favre, much unlike Jordan, he doesn’t seem to want the pressure on him when it counts on the court. When it counts on the court, he could fail and he doesn’t like that kind of pressure. It’s fairly obvious that LeBron cares more about this than winning, otherwise he would be doing as much as possible, as the best basketball player in the world, to make sure his team wins, and he can’t do that unless he’s competitive and he wants to be the #1 guy. He’s the wrong kind of selfish.

And if you’ve had enough of me bashing LeBron, here’s what his former owner Dan Gilbert had to say (keep in mind as you’re reading this, not one word is this is made up nor paraphrase nor misquoted.)

“Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight; 

As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier. 

This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment. 

Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us. 

The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you. 

There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you. 

You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal. 

You have given so much and deserve so much more. 

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight: 

"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE" 

You can take it to the bank. 

If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our "motivation" to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels. 

Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there. 

Sorry, but that's simply not how it works. 

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. 

Just watch. 

Sleep well, Cleveland. 

Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day.... 

I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only: 

DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue....  

Dan Gilbert
Majority Owner
Cleveland Cavaliers”

He does have some points about LeBron, but the issue with this is, the entire thing sounds like a drunk message a guy would leave on his ex-girlfriend’s answering machine at 3 am. Gilbert also said in a separate phone interview that LeBron “quit” on them during the playoffs. He added “Not just in Game 5, but in Games 2, 4 and 6. Watch the tape. The Boston series was unlike anything in the history of sports for a superstar.” If he really believed that, why would he want LeBron back in the first place. Who wants to pay max dollars to a superstar they believe quit on them.

Plus, come on, the Cavs winning a title before the Heat? The Heat don’t just have LeBron. They do have Wade and Bosh. Who do the Cavs have? Maurice Williams? Antawn Jamison? Those two are their two best players, but they did combine to shoot 54 for 130 in the playoff series against the Celtics last year. That’s 41.5 percent. That’s not good.

I actually appreciate the enthusiasm and the anger and the fieriness from Gilbert. It’s not classy, but sometimes classy is overrated. If I were a Cavs fan, I would feel good knowing our owner has our backs. I just hope that it wasn’t a drunk promise he made and that he actually turns that into action and improves this team (something the Cavs failed to do while LeBron was in town, at least to the extent that was necessary) because this team right now isn’t even going to make the playoffs.