Dan Gilbert has issues. It's official, King James is no longer a Cavalier, He's officially the exclusive property of the Miami Heat playing alongside D. Wade and Chris Bosh. So LeBwosh will be tearing up the Eastern Conference next season and Cleveland fans are left holding their jaws in their laps...
For some reason, despite the fodder and pageantry they involved themselves in, they never believed their beloved "King" would leave them. And when he did? All shit hit the fan. So much so that fans took to burning Lebron James "23" jerseys in the streets.
Like little kids acting out after their favorite superhero turns out to be a super-villian, they felt betrayed and hurt and acted out. Their only voice? Violent acts against fabric *lol. What other outlet do they have? I'm surprised they didn't take to looting in the streets? Luckily they didn't have to. Cavaliers Majority Owner Dan Gilbert said it all for them in an open letter verbally assaulting Lebron's character, integrity and loyalty. He even went so far as to CURSE the man...SMH, see for yourself:
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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.
Sleep well, Cleveland.
Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day....
I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:
DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue....
Dan Gilbert
Majority Owner
Cleveland Cavaliers
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http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/gilbert_letter_100708.html
Can you say issues? I wonder if he will regret those words being made so public. For that matter I wonder if Lebron will regret not telling the owner of his decision before he made it? BUT as I stated the night of, atheltes are more like thoroughbred horses than people to NBA Brass. Once they've gone and got injured or became ineffective in the offense they would've been looking to unload him on another team anyway. Look how they did Iverson. It's no secret Loyalty and NBA Owners haven't been synonymous. So in that respect? Kudos Lebron for going where you can get a ring...maybe. And we can get into debates about whether he's still the heir apparent to "His Airness" now that he's not the leader of a team or if he's now just a souped up Scottie Pippen to D. Wade with Bosh as the Rodman...that's a blog for another day. Let's wait till the season starts before any speculation.
But with a 24 hour media frenzy and being courted by 5 teams to an announcement commandeering ESPN by a player with no championships to this?!?! They might have to change the NBA Tagline to "Where Drama Happens..."
