Dan Gilbert's Message to Cavs Fans (knocks LeBron)

Please. Lebron's made him millions in the past seven years as well. He doesn't owe him anything more - this is professional sports we're talking about here.

 

Oh, I don't think Lebron's in the wrong; quite to the contrary, he made a marvelous decision. However, if I were the Cavs' owner I'd be pissed too, because I just saw my money get flushed down the toliet. Over time Gilbert will realize that he's just using Lebron to displace his anger and that this was a childish statement, but I can't really blame him because he's got to be fuming right now.

 

First of all, I disagree that a team owner can be so unprofessional.

But to me its not when a player decides to leave, Its the manner that it is done. Were you as a fan angry when Hakeem left? No. Cause we know its a business and that it would be the money that is the deciding factor. The thing was that the cavs did everything they could to keep LBJ, its not like they did not want to offer the money to him or not give him what he wanted. But then again it is the players decision, so I have no problem here. The real problem is the WAY the LBJ left. He did not demand a trade, he basically dangled the cavs organisation and the fans for this long when he could have decided earlier when other FAs were available for the team to sign. On top of this, he had an 1 HOUR special, I mean there are wars and death that had less coverage. Was this really neccissary? Imagine if Hakeem did the same to the Roxs. Would you be pissed? or would you just consider it 'business'. Business is him leaving for more money (got to look out for your self). But what he did is not merely business. I bet he knew he was going to the heat a long time ago. So this whole time, he was just giving the Cavs false hope. it hurts a lot less if there was no hope at the beginning. No body is blaming Amare for leaving. People are blaming Boozer for leaving before and hence the 'betrayer' image. What about LBJ? what is the difference. he gave the cavs false hope. You really think he did not know where he was heading 2 month ago? Anyway, I would be pissed as well. Feel sorry for the cavs fans.

again, IMO, its not WHAT he did, its HOW he did it.

 

karma is a b**** and up until now, lebron has been fortunate enough not to have suffered any major injuries.....i'm just sayin :grin:

 

lol you think he can decide on his own? ESPN is behind this. Lebron is just a man not God. It's the media that made him the icon that he is today. Don't be naive. I agree that not refusing it is inappropriate but ESPN would done it anyway.

 

Wow, talk about juvenile damage control.

He loses Lebron because of his own botched team managing then goes off on some impossible tirade to show "unity" with a cursed pro-sports city. Talk about trying to pass the buck on possibly the most bankable franchise player in the sport over his inability to create a true championship caliber contender. I hope that city sees past his letter and holds him responsible as the true reason as to why James left.

How James did it was classless, no doubt, but the biggest chunk of responsibilty has to lay at Gilberts feet. Poor Cleveland.

I knew i should've stopped reading when i saw his choice in font. Comic sans? Really? A tirade in comic sans? He may as well have tried to threaten James in a pink tutu. A fitting font for the way he managed the team.

On a side note, I bet Ferry's glad he skedaddled outa there before the nuke hit.

 

love it.

 

owner just screwed his team.

No good free agent will ever sign with that team again

 

Looks like Lebron made the right decision when the owner comes out swinging at him like that. So, was he going to kiss his ass had he stayed? He certainly wouldn't be crying "quitter" had Lebron stayed.

An owner should know more than anybody that the game is a business. Gilbert let his emotions get involved and took it personally to the point of lashing out. It's very unprofessional of him imo. The fact that he made a guarantee he can't really stand behind is completely laughable.

Who wants to play for the two-faced owner? You are a great person and player if you stay. You are a quitter and disrespecter if you leave.

I can understand being upset but this attempt at a public flogging of Lebron timed to coincide with his decision is a total joke. Where is the other statement that praises Lebron and kisses his ass if he chose to stay? I'm sure it is on his computer somewhere.

 

Complete lack of class on the owner's part but you can understand why he is in a panic mode.

This team is going to go from making a bed with James to completely blowing.

The only time Cavaliers will score consistently now is when Gloria James visits Cleveland about twice a year.

 

You know, what comes to mind this morning is Apollo Creed. LeBron and Bosh, in particular are Apollo Creeds, but probably without the nads to stay upright in the 10th round.



What we have on the Rockets is largely a bunch of Rocky Balboa's. Scola, AB, Chuck Hayes, and on and on. They made the streak, they stay hungry, they handle themselves like adults and professionals.

Every Apollo Creed eventually meets up against a Rocky Balboa, and then as they fade, they meet up with their Drago.

I still like Wade (he's handled himself fine -- why wouldn't you want those guys on your team?) but Bosh and LeBron can go to hell, along with their parents. Just pathetic way to conduct yourselves.

 

Lets be honest here, letter or no letter, no good FA would ever go to Cleveland, it's just the truth.

 

What an idiot. Everyone's already said pretty much what I was thinking when I read the quote on espn today.

I'm convinced Gilbert was drunk when he wrote that, lol.

 

What a disgrace.

Pathetic and humiliating.

A littany of top tier players across all sports, all over the world have changed teams mid career. Never have I seen such a disgusting response from any individual officialy associated with the former team of any such player.

Referencing religion and Lebron being a poor role model?

I'm sure your frantic, classless ramblings (as a reflection of you as a leader in crisis) have instilled much confidence in dissapointed cavs fans everywhere.

Having said all of that I have to give Gilbert props for appropriate use of caps. Until that point I wasn't quite sure what he was getting at but after the guarantee in big letters I knew he meant bidnit.

 

Yeah you can knock Dan Gilbert for coming out and saying that, but how much of what he said was wrong? Lebron did quite in games 5 & 6, I don't think that he quite in the others that he says, but you could clearly see that he did in games 5 & 6. He did it mostly to show up Mike Brown and the rest of the coaching staff, which I can guess you can say he did, because Mike Brown is no longer the coach. If Lebron truely didn't return any of Gilbert's text's and calls, then you can understand him being upset at that as well, and Lebron saying in his interview on that ridiculious hour special (which I did not watch or listen to) that he made the decision yesterday morning is also bull$#!+, you know that during all of the dinners and meetings he had with Wade and Bosh, that they had this planned out. Bosh said that he was waiting to see what Lebron did, but I think that Lebron was waiting to see what Bosh did, because he probably had 2 teams in mind and Lebron wanted him to go to Miami. Lebron was coveted and more reconized than the Govenor, will Cleveland win a championship before Miami, depends on who Miami picks up with their lack of funds. But this isn't NBA Live people, just because they are 3 superstars (though I'm not sure Bosh is a superstar) doesn't mean they will automatically win a championship, what video games don't have is real emotion. They may all be friends, but when it comes down to it, the Heat is Wade's team, that means Lebron has to be the #2 Option, will he be able to handle that, I think it works for about a month or two, then they start to implode...we shall see what happens.

 

Whats he supposed to say "We want to thank LeBron for his 7 years and Cleveland and what hes done for us and wish him all the best in Miami" ?????

Ya like that is going to cheer up anybody in cleveland

 

That's exactly what his suppose to say. It's called class. And then when everyone in the organisation works to the knuckle with the single goal of 'showing him', just nod and smile.

Maybe people in Cleveland should come to terms with the realitys of professional sport.

The alternative would be lebron sacraficing his career ambitions for? People who behave like Gilbert after 7 years of class service; After bringing some relevance to the cavs, if only for 7 years?

 

WOW... just wow!

 

Let me get that out the way before i start, but thats how i feel about it. Its like your best slave left the plantation and now you're mad. Its like the blind ownership of a human being. For him to say those things and people burning his jersey because he was their player, is similar to what is said in the willie lynch papers. If lebron did quit and you have been covering up for him, why did you offer him the max? Yeah, i think the old slave owners mentatilty is on display by the cavs owner and the fans.

 

http://s7.directupload.net/images/100709/adggbqby.swf