TheLastHarbaugh

July 10th, 2010 at 9:25 PM ^

Although I don't agree with the manner in which LeBron left the Cavs, all of this outpouring of hatred is ridiculous.

Loyalty is a two way street in sports.

Most of the time the fans are far more fickle than the players, and far more deserving of criticism.

TheLastHarbaugh

July 10th, 2010 at 9:49 PM ^

A few of the best examples I can think of from the Detroit fanbase in recent years...

A few months ago a number of Detroit fans were "done" with a certain potential triple crown winning first baseman. They wanted him shipped out of town on the first available flight and now are calling him the best hitter in baseball a few months later.

Also, there is the outfielder who was also clearly done, and the Tigers would be stupid to play him down the stretch and keep him on the pay roll for next year.

Then there was this guy who was the best defensive lineman in the NFL for the first half of a season and by the end of the year he was fat, lazy, sucked, and later, was booted unceremoniously out of town.

Also, there was this young pitcher last year who was the second coming of Justin Verlander, and now he needs to be traded because he sucks.

Then there is this GM who was in charge while a certain team made 6 straight conference finals appearances, and two finals appearances, including winning a championship. Now, after two subpar seasons, and not making the playoffs this past year for the first time in nearly a decade, he sucks and needs to be fired ASAP.

Rescue_Dawn

July 10th, 2010 at 9:34 PM ^

I think its more then just Lebron leaving that fans are so outraged about...

its the "sign of the times" which is more disappointing.  Could you imagine in the golden era of the NBA Magic Johnson and Isaiah Thomas being BFF's and joining teams so they could beat the Celtics and Larry Bird!?!?

These guys hated each other back then and it showed on the court with passionate play....now you have opponents hi-5'ing after plays with each other.....its all just to "buddy, buddy" for my liking. 

It sucks and I cant stand the NBA today these guys cant even play defense anymore w/o whistles being blown every other second.

TheLastHarbaugh

July 11th, 2010 at 2:31 AM ^

Yeah, it's definitely true. I played for a fairly high level AAU basketball team, so I have some experience with what goes on. 

All of the different teams and players stay at the same hotels, party together, go out and explore the cities together on off days, and become really good friends by the time a tournament is over.

Seeing as all of the good teams typically play the same big tourneys, you get to see and hang out with the same friends from different teams almost every week. 

I made a lot of really good friends playing AAU basketball and a lot of the guys I became good friends with didn't play on my team, and joined up with my team the next year.

In high school I wanted to crush the other teams because we hated them, but in AAU I just wanted to show up my friends so I could jaw with them about it after the game.

I would imagine that playground type of feeling now permeates the NBA scene. 

Michiganian for Life

July 10th, 2010 at 9:44 PM ^

I certainly agree that defense and refereeing are major issues with the namby-pamby NBA...And I'm all for REAL rivalries and player animosity, but to suggest that Lebron, Wade, and Bosh were simply opponents is just silly.  

These guys played on the Olympic team together and are friends off the court.  To be perfectly honest, the real problem is the number of teams in the NBA right now.  In Bird's day there were 14 teams.  That meant an immense amount of talent on each team, something we don't see today.  These 'superstars' playing together might actually help start us down a road of consolidation (unlikely).  One where we see fewer teams, and better teams.  Then talk about REAL rivalries.

Rescue_Dawn

July 10th, 2010 at 9:58 PM ^

I wasn't ..."but to suggest that Lebron, Wade, and Bosh were simply opponents is just silly."

That was my point they were BFF's off the court...this was the plan all along.....for them all to get on the same team.  I dont like to think that players are manipulating things in this manner.....it just begs to question things like "did this affect there play at any point", "what were they willing to do to make sure they would all get on the same team".....you start messing with the integrity of the sport (if their is such a thing anymore). 

What if Yzerman left the Red Wings in the 80's when they were the Dead Wings so he could join Mario Lemeiux in Pittsburgh?  Yzerman stuck it out and he is a legend in this town.....something Lebron will never be....and as far as I am concerned he'll never be mentioned in the same breath as Jordan or Kobe, Magic, etc.  Why?  Because he is on D.Wades team its not his team.

befuggled

July 11th, 2010 at 10:08 AM ^

By my pre-coffee count there were 22 teams in the league when he started. The Mavericks entered the league in his second year, and the Timberwolves, the Heat, the Magic and the Hornets in the late eighties towards the end of his career. Only the Raptors, the Grizzlies and the Bobcats came into the league after he retired.

I personally suspect the decline of rivalries in the NBA has more to do with the personality-driven nature of the league. The teams themselves are de-emphasized in favor of the player matchups.

But I should keep my mouth shut. I don't find the NBA very interesting these days.

Blue boy johnson

July 10th, 2010 at 10:01 PM ^

Magic and Isaiah used to kiss before games, no homo (I think). The Piston's traded Adrian Dantley for Mark Aguirre (Isaiah's BFF) and they went on to win 2 NBA titles.

My Pappy used to regale me with stories in the 70's and 80"s about how much more committed the players were in 30's 40's and 50's, than they are today. Nowadays I hear about how much more dedicated the players were in the 70's and 80's compared to now. As a very close follower of the NBA in the 70's and 80's, I will contend the theory isn't true.

On the whole I think dear old Dad was wrong and so are you.

MyUncle played-4-UM

July 11th, 2010 at 5:14 PM ^

it any better . We all grew up when rivalries meant something. I loved the Knicks disdain for Reggie Miller. can you expect that same disdain for say like a Stephen Curry(Dale's son) when he steps on the court , no because they will all be hugging at the end. I loved basketball growing up but since we have all grown up David Stern has turned the game into a modern day version of Hoops Reality/Fiction. When the refs get in on the take then you know its bad. I remember a few years ago we heard how the NBA was doing away with the team concept . They didnt like small market scrappy teams like Detroit and San Antonio. So they legislated against hand checking and such, so that Lebron and co could have a free lane to the basket.Defense ius no longer important,hence the dismanteling of the Pistons.This hurt small market teams like Detroit so they have to piece together a team and go from their. Detroit is one of the better small market teams and with that in mind,tell me what the marquee matchup with Miami will be? Not to sidetrack but rivalries are gone now. With free angency why try and beat down your future next teammate? We all like good basketball but at the end of the day the NBA has turned into  gimmick. I feel like you have to be a child to get caught up in the hoopla. Iam not mad at anyone it is just very obvious that Lebron was never the "King" if people had not put the label on him maybe he wouldnt have faultered under huge expectations.

briangoblue

July 10th, 2010 at 10:39 PM ^

Hatred and Ohio couch-errr-jersey burning is too much, but the backlash is warranted. Lebron took the coward's way out and crushed his adoring hometown in the most egomaniacal, hurtful way possible. I love the NBA and its history, and I'm furious with him for running away from the challenge of leading a team to a title. The questions about his killer instinct were answered in full Thursday night.

K2

July 10th, 2010 at 9:33 PM ^

are also a smart reason, he went to the team that gives him the best chance of winning and is likely being paid less than if he stayed in Cleavland. Normally I would applaud him for choosing wins over money, but he managed to make such an obnoxious and self centered exit from Cleavland that I would probably like him better if he chose the team that offered him the biggest check.

clarkiefromcanada

July 10th, 2010 at 10:42 PM ^

LeBron has an opportunity to win in Miami although the lifestyle factors, taxes and other ancillary attractions (South Beach) likely played into his decision. Realistically, however, he would likely have had about the same chance in Cleveland, Chicago or perhaps New Jersey (I only include them due to their reasonable cap situation and crazy monied owner). Big picture thinking tells you Kobe and the Lakers aren't going away any time soon and Orlando/Boston will remain difficult obstacles in the East. 

I am most interested in how things will play out in a year or two if the Heat don't win a championship. I suspect the level of fan hatred/disdain related schadenfreude would be incredible.

lunchboxthegoat

July 11th, 2010 at 12:43 AM ^

holy god... I never thought I'd see these types of comments on MgoBlog.

 

Lebron IS an ego maniac...so is Wade, and Bosh, and Kobe, and Dirk and Ray Allen, and on and on and on and one. The LEAGUE has created an image of SUPERSTARS and not TEAMS. They're goal is part sport part show. Its flashy, its larger-than-life and Lebron is just a cog in that wheel. He's arguably the best player in the game and arguably the most marketed player in the game, he is playing the part they've scripted for him. He owed Cleveland NOTHING. He gave them SEVEN YEARS to put pieces around him and win a championship and they didn't. What's he supposed to do? Hang out forever and hope that one day they catch lightning in a bottle. Its clear the cavs/cleveland is not a destination for free agents and/or their GM is incapable of courting a team that will HELP Lebron enough to win a championship.

 

Get the fuck over your "boo hoo he did Cleveland wrong." If Lebron went all Grant Hill and had trouble staying healthy for the next six years the Cavs surely wouldn't keep him around. He'd be on the next bus out of town; c-u-t cut.

 

How does this say ANYTHING about his killer instinct? because he wasn't going to wallow in the NBA equivalent of the South Carolina Gamecocks for the rest of his career? It tells me he wants to win, sees the writing on the wall that Cleveland is incapable of putting together a good team, so he made the best BUSINESS decision for himself. Get over your butt hurt emotions about how it played out. The situation was exactly what the NBA wanted, to reduce it to the most ridiculous cliche in the history of American pop culture "don't hate the player hate the game."

BraveWolverine730

July 11th, 2010 at 1:07 AM ^

I understand what you're getting at, but I don't think leaving Cleveland is what caused the Nationwide backlash.  It's the fact that he had an hour long television special to announce his decision. It's the fact that he didn't have the stones or common courtesy to tell Cleveland before he made his decision.  It's the fact that he has been hyped up(unfairly I admit) as the next MJ, but appears to be more the next Wilt Chamberlain than anything.  Since my team(Pistons) is going to be irrelevant for the next decade I honestly was hoping to see him go to Chicago or New York so we could get a solid 5 years of a Lebron vs Dwade vs Dwight rivalry to develop.  

ToledoWolverine

July 11th, 2010 at 1:13 AM ^

They led the league in wins twice, went to the finals and the GM couldn't get the right players around him? Its apparent, to me anyways, that he needs D Wade and Bosh to get over the hump. So good luck to him and the rest of league. I frankly don't care anymore, the NBA sucks ass. I sincerely hope the whole league goes under. Its not even basketball anymore, too painful to watch. When does football season start?

mejunglechop

July 11th, 2010 at 3:30 AM ^

Yeah except LeBron took a 15 million dollar pay cut to sign with the Heat and he's still subject to other higher state taxes that make up for not having an income tax.

Clarence Beeks

July 11th, 2010 at 5:18 PM ^

and he's still subject to other higher state taxes

Ummm... like what?

 

Also, the other very real difference is that, if he makes Florida his personal residence, none of his endorsement deal money will be subject to state income tax.  When you take all of that into consideration, I'm pretty comfortable in guessing that it's still an overall net gain for him, even with the "pay cut" attributed to his salary.

JeepinBen

July 11th, 2010 at 9:21 AM ^

Miami gave in to his terms for his friends from back home. If you don't think that crew of high school buddies has influence go look at the "half a sandwich" thread. 

Broussard (who is annoying as all hell) said on ESPN that during their meeting with Lebron the Bulls took themselves out of the running by not offering Lebron's high school friends the same perks they had in cleveland. Lebron wanted his friends to always have seats behind the bench, be able to fly on the team plane, and at least one of them to get a job in the front office. The bulls said no, and all of a sudden, Lebron wasn't going to the bulls.

I lost a lot of respect for Lebron in HOW he made the decision. I dont think it was all bball either, there is the AAU - buddy angle, but also he wanted to be able to call a lot of shots that have nothing to do with basketball. 

I hope they all fail in miami

Don

July 11th, 2010 at 2:05 PM ^

Hmmm... can you say, "blood-sucking, parasitic posse?"

This group of clowns, hangers-on, and vultures will drain LBJ's wallet faster than would the taxes in Massachusetts, or Sweden for that matter.

ncampbell

July 11th, 2010 at 9:33 AM ^

i didnt get to read the article cause its now behind a paywall, but isnt this whole taxes thing way overrated?  as junglechop says, florida will presumably have a bunch of other taxes to make up for revenue (property, sales, etc) and my guess is their effective tax rate in Florida isnt too far from Akron's stated 7%.  Plus, dont professional athletes have to pay state income taxes in a bunch of states cause they earn income all over the country?  but what do i know, im no accountant and i didnt get to read the article.  kinda bugs me that in the same way that the entire MSM said with great authority that the BTN was distributing $22 million per school when it was no where close to that.

Clarence Beeks

July 11th, 2010 at 5:26 PM ^

 as junglechop says, florida will presumably have a bunch of other taxes to make up for revenue (property, sales, etc) and my guess is their effective tax rate in Florida isnt too far from Akron's stated 7%

The problem with that argument is the presumption.  It's wrong.  Yes, cost of living is higher in Florida, but the rest of the taxes for residents aren't much different from anywhere else in the country and they don't have an income tax.  Even with the higher cost of living it still cost us less to live in Florida than almost everywhere else we've lived when you factor in state and local income tax.  Something very important that most people who don't (or haven't) live in Florida is that most of the "high taxes" that people associate with Florida are designed so that they almost exclusively hit tourists rather than residents (e.g. rental car tax, hotel tax, higher sales tax in Orlando, etc.).  So, when you do the calculation, you have to realize that, for residents, each tax that they have in Florida is a tax that you have everywhere else, except for income tax.

Plus, dont professional athletes have to pay state income taxes in a bunch of states cause they earn income all over the country?

Yes, but that would be the analysis no matter where you play.  The difference is that he would play all 41 home games in an income tax free state, plus the other 6 games played against teams in states without income tax., which makes for 47 total state income tax free games.  If he chose New York, for example, the number of income tax free games would be 8.  So, while your point is true, you have to take into account the difference between 47 and 8 games as the real difference.

TJLT03

July 11th, 2010 at 10:10 AM ^

So many people have commented that LeBron crapped on Cleveland. I disagree. Isn't that the business of pro sports? When a player is all used up, the team is free to trade of his rights or not re-sign him. Sometimes the first a player hears of being traded is via that damn scrolling ticker at the bottom of ESPN broadcast. The same holds true for athletes. When a contract allows for a player to seek better options, the player should explore his options, IMHO.

And even if you believe LeBron crapped on Cleveland by leaving on national television, there was a very good reason, IMO. Most consider LeBron to be a pretty savvy business man, even if his savvy is relative to other pro athletes. So what would drive LeBron to announcing his decision on TV when he knew he was (1) leaving Cleveland for South Beach and (2) Cleveland (the people and businesses, not to mention his menopausal ex-owner) would be hurt?

The KIDS! What many have loss in this whole thing is that LeBron used his celebrity to give to the Boys and Girls Club. The University of Phoenix donated several scholarships and a half million dollars. LeBron noted that all of the proceeds from advertisement were given to the Boys and Girls Club. You may not agree that it was tactful, but you have to admit that his lack of tact (if you see as such) was for a very good cause.

Now as for the build-up and secrecy surrounding the decision…You have to imagine that ESPN demanded that LBJ keep his decision a secret to the very last minute. How else would they reap the benefits of all the LBJ coverage? The Nielsen ratings were through the roof because of - yes, you guessed it, the build up! He couldn't tell Cleveland and risk the team releasing a statement before "The Decision" aired.

I believe the whole thing was done for a very good cause. But I admit, LBJ and ESPN should have done a better job of gauging how fans would react to maintain LBJ’s brand.

And no, I’m not a LBJ fan.

jblaze

July 11th, 2010 at 11:42 AM ^

LeBron wants to win, which is honorable, Cleveland doesn't allow him to do so (the owner's rant is enough to show that he is crazy), so LeBron went elsewhere. I'd say that Gilbert crapped on Cleveland when he decided to buy the team.

ImSoBlue

July 11th, 2010 at 2:15 PM ^

from sport to entertainment.  The rules are not the same for everyone, so it is not a sport.  I really couldn't care less about LBJ.

WolverineEagle

July 11th, 2010 at 3:13 PM ^

Is not Gilbert a Sparty? Did he not try to lure Izzo away from his Alma Mater? Nice loyalty, Dan.

 

The entire affair was an douchebag orgy. Douchebags screwing other douchebags.

 

Fuck Ohio, Fuck Dan Gilbert, Fuck Lebron and anyone who opens their mouth and their motherfucking opinion.