Taking The Low Road

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.

That ladies and gentlemen was a letter not written by some petulant fan, disappointed because LeBron left.

No, THAT ladies and gentlemen is a letter to season ticket owners sent out by the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, you know the team he took to the NBA finals a few years back?

To put it bluntly, this was a BITCH move.

What's a BITCH move you ask?

Its like when you see a guy follow a woman around the club all night, buying her drinks and trying to impress her with stories about his job and his personal life. Then when the lights turn on and its time to leave she chooses another guy to give her number to and all of a sudden in the eyes of her former pursuer she becomes all kinds of "ugly bitches" and "sorry hos".

Most of us have seen this happen in real life, and on every single occasion those of us with sense have lost all respect for that Buster. And Dan Gilbert's situation should be no different.

Lets unpack this letter for a moment.

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.

"Deserted" huh? Drama queen much Mr Gilbert? When he cuts players or ships them out of town does Gilbert consider himself "deserting" them? When a player from the Cleveland area comes out in the draft and the Cavs decline to draft him in the first round does Gilbert consider that "deserting" them?

How does a guy who hasn't even been owner (5 years) as long as LeBron has played for the team (7 years) have the balls to call him a deserter?

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.

So correct me if I'm wrong but if LeBron was such a bad guy couldn't the Cavs just declined to pursue him? I mean seriously, nobody HAD to be subjected to this process. So why oh why Dan Gilbert were you glued to the TV last night hoping for a miracle?

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

A coward sends out press releases and writes letters to the fans. Real men would say this kind of shit to the other guy's face. Think Dan Gilbert will be trying to find LeBron to confront him in person the way he tears him down in this letter?

HELL NO!

So guess who the real coward is...

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.

Lets back up for a minute at this point. Cleveland had the good fortune to win the NBA lottery the year LeBron came out. But for that he wouldn't have played a second for that franchise to this point. And while he hasn't brought the team a championship its worth remembering that to even be in the lottery the Cavs had to suck monkey balls. Since he's been there he has been an MVP, taken them to a finals, led them to the best record in the NBA last year and all while being a pretty good role model.

The crazy thing is that I'm not a LeBron James fan. Yes, you read that right. I respect his game and I respect him for working on the worst parts of his game, namely his defense and outside shooting, and getting better in his first 7 years. But I have never been a "witness" and truthfully never bought he was the best player in the game...yet.

But this letter is a bunch of BULLSHIT! He ain't perfect but I can't recall any legal trouble LeBron has gotten himself in nor has he done anything to embarrass himself or his team off the court. He's a multimillionaire and he gives of his time and money to the youth in Ohio. He isn't the most humble guy but you can bet your ass Dan Gilbert isn't either. Most rich men with power aren't. But if I had to choose someone for my son to emulate I would be pointing at LeBron before I would Dan Gilbert.

The whole tone of the letter suggests that Dan Gilbert takes his title as "owner" to mean something that hasn't been legal in this country since before Lincoln was President. And wait, it gets worse!

After firing off that punk ass email, Dan Gilbert then gave an interview where he said:

"He has gotten a free pass," Gilbert said in a phone interview with The AP. "People have covered up for (James) for way too long. Tonight we saw who he really is."

Gilbert feels James quit on the Cavs during their second-round series against the Boston Celtics, who rallied from a 2-1 deficit to eliminate Cleveland.

"He quit," Gilbert said. "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."

The Cavaliers were beaten by 32 points in Game 5. During the game, James appeared distracted and uninterested, often glaring at Cleveland's coaches as the Cavs tried to foul to get back into the game in the second half. James also made some puzzling postgame comments, saying he had "spoiled" people with his play over seven seasons.

Gilbert also said he believes James quit on the Cavs in Game 6 of their series in 2009 against Orlando.

"Go back and look at the tape," he said. "How many shots did he take?"

Are you fucking kidding me??? Are you FUCKING KIDDING ME?!?!

Listen, I myself had some issues with LeBron after the Celtics series. My critique was more about his mindset than anything else but yes it looked like not only he, but the rest of his teammates quit at the end of game 5.

But guess what, I'm just a sports fan with a blog. Dan Gilbert is the owner of a franchise. And without googling him I'm going to bet Ive played more basketball in my life than he has, which is to say not much. But now you're Red Auerbach doing critiques of game film? And for a guy who did all these things for your city and your team for 7 years of his life this is how you come out your mouth after he leaves?

Well Sir, I have to say, you have to be one of the worst fucking owners on the planet.

Why?

Because according to you it was evident by watching tape that your super star player gave up on his teammates and his coach in the middle of the playoffs and you still decided to stick your tongue up his ass as far as it could possibly go in an effort to get him to wear your jersey for 6 more years.

I could see how that would leave a bad taste in your mouth, but you would have been better off grabbing the Listerine, gargling for a few days and keeping your mouth shut.

Now you look JUST like that aforementioned guy in the club, struggling mightily to save face after you were just embarrassed in front of everyone. But unfortunately for you Sir, its not just a bunch of fellow club hoppers watching, its every fan, every pundit and every potential free agent paying attention as well. I guess its good in some ways that the mask slipped for just a moment last night so everyone can see how you really see your employees, but I doubt its going to be good for business going forward.

While Gilbert may have thought these ill advised comments would make him look "tough" in the aftermath of James leaving, they really just make look ridiculously small. What's most personally distressing for me is that you actually made me feel sympathy for a guy I felt really had over sold himself in the last week or so. Hell I didn't even watch "The Decision", instead choosing to read the reactions of others watching on Twitter. I thought that a one hour special to announce where LeBron was going was the most absurd thing I had ever heard of.

That is, until I read Gilbert's comments.

But I do have one question left, although its rhetorical.

What would you have said had he stayed?