Bitter Cavs owner spouts off!

[KaptKaos]

Cavaliers: Open Letter to Fans from Cavaliers Majority Owner Dan Gilbert

Open Letter to Fans from Cavaliers Majority Owner Dan Gilbert

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

[nostatic]

Not sure about winning a title before Miami (hope he has some deep pockets) but "King James" just admitted that he isn't as good as Kobe or Michael or Larry or Magic or ...

[tchanson]

"King". Right.

This excerpt from SI.com hit the nail on the head.




GREENWICH, Conn., July 8, 1990 -- Michael Jordan announced on national television leaving Chicago to join the Detroit Pistons. Jordan said it was tough to bolt Chicago, where he was the most popular athlete in many years, because he thinks he has a better chance to win a championship if he plays with Pistons star Isiah Thomas. Jordan said by playing together, he and Thomas "won't have the pressure of going out and scoring 30 every night."

That would have sounded absurd, right? Well, it is no more absurd than what LeBron James is doing. Jordan was 27 years old in 1990, slightly older than James is now. He had never been to the NBA Finals. He had been beaten up by the Celtics and Pistons for years. He doubted his supporting cast was good enough.

But he never doubted himself.

And it became very clear Thursday night that LeBron James does doubt himself.

LeBron James just jumped into an elevator and wants us to think he can fly. Sorry, but we know better. We know that he did something Michael, Magic, Bird and Bill Russell never would have done. We know he ditched Cleveland for an All-Star team.

But you know what? In Miami, anything short of a title will be a failure. Nobody outside of Miami will root for this team, and nobody in Miami roots for anybody. They're too busy enjoying the weather.

I thought he would stay in Cleveland, because I thought all he cared about was adoration. I was wrong about Cleveland, but he is wrong about adoration. He thinks he'll get it by winning a title. He has insulated himself from the world, surrounded himself with yes men. He has no idea how much backlash he is about to get.

That's one of the great ironies of this -- James is trying to flee pressure, but he will just face more of it. He is trying to maximize his "brand," but he just damaged it.

The first time I watched LeBron James live, I thought he could be the greatest player ever. The sad truth for us, for him, and for the NBA is that he never really believed it himself.






At least this hideous media cycle is over.





Tim

[m21sniper]

How the HELL did Miami afford to add 3 of the top players in the game in a single offseason?

They're poised to win about 5 straight NBA titles....

[ChkbookMechanic]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

How the HELL did Miami afford to add 3 of the top players in the game in a single offseason?

They're poised to win about 5 straight NBA titles....

They were able to afford three of the top players in the game because they only have one player under contract.

I don't know if they'll win any titles; having three great players doesn't equal one great team nor does it guarantee a championship (see the '04 Lakers of Kobe, Shaq, Payton, and Malone who didn't win it all).

[UconnTim97]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

How the HELL did Miami afford to add 3 of the top players in the game in a single offseason?

I think they can only pay the rest of the team at or close to the league minimum.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

One injury and Miami is mortal. They're going to have three awesome players and a bunch of second-rate chumps. Easy to defeat - just grind down their stars and/or get them into foul trouble.

Champion teams are built around good overall depth, not megastars plus chumps.

[VincentVega]

The formula seems to have worked in Boston, why not in Miami?

I bet a few guys will take the minimum for a year to see if they can win.

[lukeh]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Not sure about winning a title before Miami (hope he has some deep pockets) but "King James" just admitted that he isn't as good as Kobe or Michael or Larry or Magic or ...

Why? Because he couldn't win a title playing with the likes of Mo Williams and old/fat Shaq? Name me any star that won a title playing on a team that had a 2nd best player as good as Mo Williams.

MJ needed Pippen and Grant then Rodman...Bird needed McHale and Parish...Magic needed Jabbar and Worthy...Kobe needed Shaq then Gasol and Odom and Artest and Bynum.

I'm no James fan but in 7 years they gave him crap to play with. Whether is was now or later he had no choice but to pull a KG and go to a team that had another star (or two) so he had a better chance at a title.

[Leland Pate]

Panem et circenses.

[lukeh]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

One injury and Miami is mortal. They're going to have three awesome players and a bunch of second-rate chumps. Easy to defeat - just grind down their stars and/or get them into foul trouble.

Champion teams are built around good overall depth, not megastars plus chumps.

And what makes you think they won't add depth to their stars just like the Spurs/Lakers/Celtics/Bulls all did? I don't think it will be a tough sell to get guys to play in Miami for a good shot at a title. The hard part is first getting the super-star (Magic/Bird/MJ/Duncan...). Once you have that taken care of I feel the rest is easy.

[juan ruiz]

There's a lot of talk down here about some other real good players been added to the team, Expect Pat Riley to jump into this wagon, multiple championships are inevitable.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

It all depends on who they're able to get to back up these guys and whether or not the "big three" mentor them and elevate them. That's why it worked in Boston - they were still able to get good (though not great) guys on the bench and the egos didn't get in the way - the stars brought up everyone else so they ended up with a bunch of good players and three really great ones. That wins championships.

Miami definitely has ONE of the key components right now - a solid nucleus to build around, but whether or not they can turn it into a championship depends on whether or not they actually build around it or not.

Like I said before, if all they can muster is three superstars and a bunch of chumps, they'll go nowhere fast.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

It all depends on who they're able to get to back up these guys and whether or not the "big three" mentor them and elevate them. That's why it worked in Boston - they were still able to get good (though not great) guys on the bench and the egos didn't get in the way - the stars brought up everyone else so they ended up with a bunch of good players and three really great ones. That wins championships.

Miami definitely has ONE of the key components right now - a solid nucleus to build around, but whether or not they can turn it into a championship depends on whether or not they actually build around it or not.

Like I said before, if all they can muster is three superstars and a bunch of chumps, they'll go nowhere fast.

I used to LOVE to play (though not very well ), and was a student of the game for decades. I think you're omitting DJ as the 4th great one POP. I haven't watched the NBA since MJ retired, but did tune back in when SA (Duncan, a class act and a favorite since Wake Forest) thumped Lebron, and again this year's finals. My take, "King James" doesn't have the "heart" of the aforementioned stars nor their "will to win" that seperates the truly great ones (even when surrounded by subpar talent)...but to be fair, he's still a youngin'...time will tell. Will he eventually get a ring (or two)? Probably, but I'd bet the egos self-destruct before a dynasty is built...just my .02 worth.

[enzo1]

Originally Posted by Leland Pate

Panem et circenses.

, bread and circuses , I'll remember that..... there(parf)

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

It all depends on who they're able to get to back up these guys and whether or not the "big three" mentor them and elevate them. That's why it worked in Boston - they were still able to get good (though not great) guys on the bench and the egos didn't get in the way - the stars brought up everyone else so they ended up with a bunch of good players and three really great ones. That wins championships.

Miami definitely has ONE of the key components right now - a solid nucleus to build around, but whether or not they can turn it into a championship depends on whether or not they actually build around it or not.

Like I said before, if all they can muster is three superstars and a bunch of chumps, they'll go nowhere fast.

I'd agree with most of that. Although this "Big 3" is a cut above Boston's "Big 3." Esp. when you take into account the age difference. This Miami core is much younger.

Yes, these three guys with 6 horrible players aren't going to win a championship. But these three guys with 6 even decent role players is going to be an instant contender, probably the favorite to win next year. Boston is getting too old, the Lakers are getting a little old, too.

I don't know the exact numbers, but my guess is these 3 guys collectively averaged around 85 points per game last year. I wonder if there has ever been a team with 3 guys who had that many total points the prior season? That's a heck of a lot of offensive firepower on one team, will be very difficult to defend 3 scorers with that kind of talent.

[KFC911]

There's only one ball to go around...and defense (not offense) wins championships imo. Having the "heart of a champion" and the "will to win" is crucial...at this point, I haven't seen that in Lebron, but time will tell...he certainly does have the physical skills .

[URY914]

Everyone in Ohio ends up in Florida sooner or later anyways....

[pwd72s]

LOL!

Anyway, one factor mentioned little, if at all...Florida is a no income tax state. I'm sure that has to equal at least an addition million per year for James..

[t951]

What a pathetic cry baby that owner is. This is business. They would have fired him if he didnt perform. The player chose to go elsewhere. Boohoo. Deal with it.
He's crying not because he feels betrayed, but because his franchise just went down the tubes.

NBA or not, be honest. If you could pick where you wanted to live, would YOU pick Cleveland? I sure as hell wouldn't.