One year ago today, LeBron James made the nationally-televised Decision to leave Cleveland for South Beach. As you may have heard by now, this did not go over well. Although it can be argued that James made the right choice in leaving the Cavaliers and their anemic supporting cast to play alongside two All-Stars for the next ten years, it’s universally agreed-upon that he went about announcing his choice terribly. When ESPN announced that it was making the decision into The Decision, many thought that there’s no way he’d tell the world that he was plunging a knife into the heart of an entire state on TV. He was Ohio, and if he left in primetime, on a stage with cameras pointing at him, that image would be seared into the minds of America for years. But that’s exactly what he did. And, man, were Ohioans pissed. Remember the jersey burnings? The front pages? The reception LeBron got when he came back to Quicken Loans Arena? We had never seen one place hate another human being like that, ever, because he chose another team over theirs. But this went beyond a free agent spurning the city he played for; this was a flat-out betrayal that brought back years of Cleveland sports insecurity. He chose them over us. On national TV. And he’s from here. Scott Raab is a very good writer for Esquire, and he’s also from Cleveland. In a year that was full of sportswriters publishing pretty angry things about LeBron, Raab published the best angriest things. One piece in particular, in which Raab called LeBron the “w**** of Akron,” was dripping with Raab’s signature LeBron hate, which SB Nation’s Andrew Sharp once described as “a glorious spectacle of bile, sneering, and deep, vigilant loathing.” Raab’s piece was so biting, in fact, that the Miami Heat barred him from their arena. He was not welcome there anymore, they told him. This made Raab angrier. Now he’s publishing a book, due out in November. Can you guess what it’s called?
link The Miami Heat Don't Want My Talents in South Beach According to team officials, Scott Raab is no longer welcome at American Airlines Arena and has been denied access to players, because he, well... it's not really clear why By Scott Raab Read more: http://www.esquire.com/the-side/lebron-james/miami-heat-press-111610#ixzz1Rnj19fEI
This will be a #1 seller in Cleveland and mainly irrelevant to the rest of the country. You missed your window, Raab- the rest of the country has started to tire of the hate, it's more of a quiet disdain now.
Cleveland diehards won't ever get over it, and that's very understandable. Ask Boston fans today how they feel about Clemens...and he wasn't homegrown. What's the closest thing we have to this? Pippen? McGrady? Nothing remotely on the same scale, and the seething will always be there.
Very true. Ask a Pittsburgher about the Barroid. After he left and proceeded to usher in 18 straight losing seasons the hatred a Pirates fan has for him is still no less. However, hopefully this is the year that dubious streak finally ends [knock on wood]!
What's wrong with putting yourself in the best situation to win? But how he did it might came out a little too egotistic.
Dont EVER get over it Cleveland. You must keep fighting the good fight against the biggest douchebag to ever live on this planet and his band of knee pad wearing man worshipers.
Exactly, I mean it's been like more than 10 years since the Pippen fiasco and I still see him getting brought up every single day. They have the right to be pissed off, Lebron's a grade A douche.
Well Pippen, if he gets violently hit by a bus and goes out slowly and painfully, I wouldn't mind. LerBon is just a child with a beard. I don't like him, at all. But I think my hate for him doesn't reach anywhere near Cleveland's. At least not yet, maybe.
I've never seen anything comparable, partially because the way and access of media is unprecedented today. Not to mention I have never seen a guy market his free agency day for 2 years while still in contract with another team. Yes media speculates about every guy, but this is lebron without being provoke marketing it. So he went through two playoffs and two contracts year with the same players all while talking on the side of "july 1, 2010" I remember back in 2008 he would say, I can't give specifics but everyone mark your calendars July 1,2010 it is going to be a big day, yada yada. While in contract with your team for another two years? that is ridiculous. Thats why many of the players have less respect for him since they consider him more of a celeb than basketball in terms of his priority list and that is also why I don't respect him as much as a player
I laugh at Cleveland. LeBron is partying it up in South Beach and Cleveland (it truly is a horrible city for anything...) is at home cussing out LeBron and wishing ill upon his health. LeBron wins. Sorry to break it to you Cleveland, but you all suck anyway. Sports is just not your thing.
Exactly. Many of Houston's sporting travesties have been management related. Trading Joe Morgan and Mike Cuellar, medical staff not properly diagnosing J.R., Bud Adams multiple screw-ups, management almost running Dream off, and Les' decision to do away with the championship jerseys to name a few in addition to the biggie of doing away with the Oilers. Then there are the just plain tragedies like J.R., Dickie Thon, Earl getting too beat up, and Yao. About the only player exclusive issue I have a real heartburn over is the selfish cocaine club that prevented Dream from winning more titles.
