Inside 'The Decision': Miami's coup was a 'surprise' built on long-coveted goal of James, Wade and Bosh

[Lkr]

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- During a rally for Miami Heat fans Friday night, Chris Bosh said he had been talking with new teammates LeBron James and Dwyane Wade about the moment for months.

 

 

It was a slip, which some, including Bosh himself, caught. The premise that the trio had been talking about teaming up for months hinted there was a plan in place. That potentially would be against rules, and could raise concerns from the league since Bosh and James were playing for teams battling for the playoffs in Toronto and Cleveland.

 

Bosh quickly revised the statement and said they had been talking about it for "days." But it appears James, Bosh and Wade had been discussing this for years.

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2010/07/inside_the_decision_miamis_cou.html

[SRV]

They were talking about it for years. They said it started in the Olympics, and they talked everyday. Nothing Stern can do about it. You can't keep people from talking to each other.

[Lkr]

They were talking about it for years. They said it started in the Olympics, and they talked everyday. Nothing Stern can do about it. You can't keep people from talking to each other.

Riley had a meeting with James and Jordan last year, which is textbook tampering. The Cavs didn't do anything about it because they were too oblivious.

 

Two paragraphs that caught my eye:

 

That was why he was so amped up before his presentation to James in Cleveland a week ago. He packed up his seven championship rings, had his salary cap specialists create displays to show how Florida taxes could save James money and brought along Alonzo Mourning to make an emotional pitch about how the team backed him up as he recovered from a kidney transplant.

Riley is a freaking genius

 

It was also made known to James that the Heat would take care of his friends much in the same way as the Cavs. There would be special treatment at the arena, changing practice and travel schedules to allow for moneymaking late-night parties in various cities and perhaps even hiring a James associate for a high-paying position in the organization.

This makes me give a TON of respect to the Bulls organization for not putting up with LBJ's bull[expletive].

[Lkr]

Getting all three together was only really possible in Miami. Wade pushed the topic. Despite being discouraged by Commissioner David Stern and perhaps breaking tampering rules again, Wade flew with Bosh to Akron to meet at James' house in the last week of June. Still under contract with the Heat, Wade got the other two to the brink of a deal to join up.

[SRV]

Even if it was tampering, it was all a genius plan, and executed perfectly. Nothing people can do about it now.

[Lkr]

Even if it was tampering, it was all a genius plan, and executed perfectly. Nothing people can do about it now.

Well obviously nothing will happen, the tampering rule is only in place to harm Mark Cuban. It doesn't apply to anyone else.

 

Stern would also never do anything about it, because he seems to be pretty corrupt as it is. He probably had a huge party after the announcement because of all the ratings and revenue this team will bring in.

Edited July 11, 2010 by Lkr