Best part about the Daily Journal is I don’t always have to write about movies because today I want to say something about LeBron James‘ decision to take his talents back to Cleveland, a decision I 100% do not understand.
Let me first say I fully respected his decision to go to Miami and actually wish more professional basketball players would make the decision based on wanting to win and play with friends over money. He was made the villain largely due to television ratings, he had to sit back as his former owner roasted him publicly and the people of Cleveland treated him no better. Now… he decides to go back?
I understand…
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…some people are saying this is him being the bigger person, going back to family, etc. but I’m sorry, if a city and, most importantly, an owner treats me like that I am not going back to make them a shit ton of money. Let’s take a moment to remember Dan Gilbert’s open letter, which opened as such:
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.
Now the “narcissistic” deserter is coming back home and as wrote at SI.com, “My relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball… I didn’t realize that four years ago. I do now.”
I would never presume to tell LeBron what he should or shouldn’t do, I’m obviously not in charge of his life and he doesn’t even know who I am, but I will say I’m surprised he would go play for Gilbert again. I understand, emotions can run high when it comes to Cavalier fans and it’s easy to get upset when your hometown superstar goes and wins two championships for another team and there can even be some measure of “burying the hatchet” once he returns, but it’s the playing for Gilbert I can’t understand.
In that letter Gilbert says James is “narcissistic”, says he “deserted” Cleveland, calls his actions “cowardly”, “heartless”, “callous” and “shameful”, a “display of selfishness” an act of “disloyalty” all while saying, “Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.”
Yeah, that’s not a guy I would want to play for.
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