How Cleveland Fans Feel

[Cleveland's Finest]

I feel something needs to be said on how most if not all fans of Cleveland sports feel right now. I have to say LeBron's name in this thread although I'll try not to use it in the future.

 

First of all, let me address the whole situation. Some fans had their doubts on LeBron following this post season. Mostly because he was back to back MVP's, and he had some questionable comments following some of the games. Following the most disturbing moment in Cavs history that some may never forget, which was Game 5, LeBron seemed disengaged from the game and had some interesting comments during the press conference. He said that he spoiled the fans with his play, only has had a few bad games in his career, and feels bad for himself when he played like that. No reaction to losing a home playoff game. Rather, he decided to comment on his state of being. Following what could've been one of the most uninspiring triple doubles in Game 6, LeBron seemed dejected from the fact that they just got eliminated from the playoffs. The most petrifying image was when he was so quick to tear off his Cavs jersey once he reached backstage. It seemed like he was so eager to do this.

 

Following another disappointing season, Cavs fans were going crazy. All they heard leading up to July 1st were all the possible scenarios pertaining to where their "hometown hero" could land. Leading up to that feared day, LeBron appeared on CNN's "Larry King Live", where he said that the Cavs have an edge. The interview seemed very weird, because LeBron came off as though he had no feelings after being eliminated from the playoffs and wanted to delve into the free agency period and discuss it before it even happened. Once free agency started, fans were very nervous. To that point, LeBron still had no contact with Dan Gilbert whatsoever in terms of any moves he would've liked to have been done for the betterment of this franchise.

 

LeBron continued to draw out his "decision" and hold Cleveland fans hostage. No hometown hero would do this. When it was announced that LeBron would announce his decision on ESPN through an hour long special "The Decision", Cleveland fans thought that it was a guarantee he was staying. ESPN runs through the Cleveland moments in terms of terrible sports moments, and "The Decision" would perfectly add along to those moments. The fans were confident because they believed that there was no way LeBron James would do us like that on national television. Why would he? Why would he hold us hostage for weeks long and proceed to announce his departure in the worst way possible on live TV to humiliate us?

 

The day came. His posse personally hired Jim Gray to ask the questions. Therefore, LeBron could pick the questions and know how to answer them. In effect, he controlled every aspect of this show. He hid behind the Boys and Girls Club donation. As the show began, he showed very little emotion. If he was leaving Cleveland, he would at least cry or show a hint of emotion, right? Nope, not one bit. When he announced he was "taking his talents" to the South Beach, the dagger slowly entered into the hearts of Cleveland fans. He did do us like that. And the funny thing is, he showed no emotion. After seven years you did us like that. Then to top it off, refers to Cleveland as "that city". He permanently removed himself from this city by referring to it as "that city". Then ESPN asks him about what it would be like to play with Barack Obama? Yeah, that's the question on everyone's mind alright. Michael Wilbon congratulates him on making the decision? That's like congratulating me when I come to work one day. It happened. ESPN now could go over Cleveland sports moments once more, and conveniently the show was called "The Decision". The following show continues to show footage of Cleveland fans soaking in their own tears. He really just did that. On live TV, knowing the history of Cleveland sports, he did us like that. More so, owner Dan Gilbert, after trying to reach LeBron for the weeks leading up to this, didn't even get the right to find out about the decision until 9:01 P.M. on that day. An owner who personally catered to LeBron James and his group for 5 years, doing whatever it took to satisfy him, is told by LeBron's agent Rich Paul less than a half hour before the decision, that he's leaving.

 

Now onto Dan Gilbert's comments. He did go out of line with the title guarantee. However, Cleveland fans just got humiliated on live TV by someone who they believed was their hero. They needed a voice. The only person who has the notoriety to give them that voice was Dan Gilbert. Dan Gilbert expressed the sentiments of ALL Cavs fans that night. We were betrayed. Did LeBron have a right to leave? Yes. But after 5 years, you give your decision through your agent only minutes before your decision. In effect, he held the Cavs hostage for weeks.

 

It's been only a few hours, and the Cleveland Plain Dealer's newspaper cover comes out:

 

http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/497065/lebron-gonejpg-d7728841873976bb_medium.jpg

 

What an empty feeling? Life goes on, but how much bitterness goes through the mind of a Cleveland fan to see that. Trying to cope, somehow only one day later LeBron is in a Miami heat uniform, being lifted by a forklift with his other two buddies, dancing, guaranteeing titles, getting the key to the city, and smiling. A little more than a day ago, he was at Cleveland State University playing hoops. And now he's doing this? He says he wishes he brought a championship to "that city". How did all of this fanfare happen? In the spur of the moment? There's no way all of this could be set up less than a day after the announcement. This is where the dagger goes a little deeper into Cavs fans.

 

We are upset that he left, but we are pissed at how he did it, and that will echo how we feel about him for the rest of our lives.

 

Asked if he called the Cavs personally on Thursday, James said, ”I didn’t talk to anyone personally because … I got to a point the last day, I heard so much throughout the whole process. The last day I wanted to be about me.

 

http://cavs.ohio.com/2010/07/lebron-responds-to-gilberts-scathing-letter/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

And now, Cleveland as a sports town is off the map. People wonder if this was contrived all the way back in 2006 when LeBron and the other two singed three year contracts. People wonder if it was contrived when LeBron changed his number to 6 while in Miami, finding out that 23 was retired there. LeBron had the key voice in every move the Cavs made. From getting Jamison to Shaq to Mo, he put us in this position. There's even a conspiracy that LeBron switched from Amare to Jamison last minute because he thought if Amare came then the Cavs would win a title. If the Cavs won a title, there's no way he could've left. He made it easy for him to leave. From the disturbing exit from the playoffs to the elbow situation.

 

As Skip Bayless correctly says, it always came across as though LeBron always thought he was "doing Cleveland a favor" by being on the Cavs. He always made it clear he was not a fan of Cleveland. From never wearing Browns or Indians apparel when he went to games, rather wearing the opposing teams gear, to never promoting the Cavs at all, it always seemed as though he had no loyalty at all.

 

The way everything transpired was such treachery. This was betrayal, not a decision. There is so much being covered up, and Cavalier basketball is left on the bottom of the spectrum. LeBron handled this matter the worst way it could've been handled, and there are clues and speculation that this was a scandal all along. Cleveland fans are left to deal with it, and the only video describing our feelings that will be shown on ESPN frequently will be the video of LeBron's jersey being burned because it puts the negative light on our fans and the positive light on LeBron.

 

It's a new day. We can move on. But when you consider moving on and forgetting vs. going off on LeBron, you have to realize that this town was so loyal that you have to talk about it and go off on LeBron.

 

Thanks for reading and at least trying to see how this city and all of Northeast Ohio feels.

Edited July 12, 2010 by The New Beginning

[Nitro]

I understand the bitterness, although I do think him having so much say in the moves should be a knock against the Cavalier franchise for allowing that.

 

I do think that as much as it sucks to see him go, you guys had a tremendous 4-5 year stretch. Getting to watch your team have great success and have a back-to-back MVP is something many franchises have never seen. He didn't win a title there, but 5 franchises have taken 29 of the last 31 championships. I know there was such hype and expectation, but in reality the years he was with the Cavs were extremely successful. Hopefully with time the dissapointment will subside a bit and appreciation for what he did the Cavs will surface.

[SRT Spidey]

i agree with your entire post. he [expletive]ed u guys HARD and is pretty much the biggest prick in the entire NBA

[TheHutch]

Amen Adam. Thank you for posting this, this is EXACTLY how we feel. I never thought I would ever say I like Kobe more than Le[expletive].

Edited July 12, 2010 by TheHutch

[Jenneral]

I feel for you guys.

[Real Deal]

Sad.

 

[kingfish]

He does have a right to leave does he not? Its a business.

[Erick Blasco]

He does have a right to leave does he not? Its a business.

 

It's not the fact that he left, but the fact that he tortured Cleveland's fanbase just to reject them that has people so upset.

[SRT Spidey]

lakers fans are the only ones that dont give a [expletive] they have kobe so theyre just lik ehahaha, maybe if kobe did this to them theyd understand...SMH

[TheHutch]

He does have a right to leave does he not? Its a business.

Obviously you didn't read what he wrote. Either that or you're just ignorant.

[Legacy]

Now I know why you never had LeBron in you favorite players slot. Really feel bad for Cleveland.

[The Artesticle]

sad face

[GamerGuy]

I do feel for you guys, LeBron led you on and then did you dirty on live TV. It's sad.

[YugoRocketsFan]

Horrible, i'd understand as a Rockets fan if it happened to me.

[kingfish]

It's not the fact that he left, but the fact that he tortured Cleveland's fanbase just to reject them that has people so upset.

Yeah that tv show was just ridiculous.

 

I always thought LBJ was like that, but know its magnified.

[Jammin]

That picture on the Plain Dealer makes me laugh. It's not like LeBron didn't try to get a ring in those 7 years. He MADE the Cavs the team they are. I guarantee that if they didn't get LeBron in the draft, they would constantly be in talks to relocate. LeBron left everyone in the dark, Chicago, NYC, Cleveland, LA, Newark. He didn't tell anyone but the Heat until the day he announced it. You think the Knicks fans are happy? They spent their last couple years demolishing their team, making the Knicks look like a league-wide joke so they could sign LeBron. They did everything they could to get him, and he chooses another team who barely was in talks to get him before the season ended.

 

Yeah I feel bad, but it's not like he would have stayed with the Cavs his whole career if they kept on failing in the playoffs year after year. Only so much one man can do to save a franchise. The rest is up to the FO, coaching staff and teammates.

 

And 99% of the people who are pissed about LeBron leaving weren't even Cavs fans before he got there. Their arena was always empty before he was drafted.