Fuck LeBron and Fuck

[the ob]

You do know that LeBron actually used Kobe's phrase "I'm taking my talents to..."? I hope that was an intentional dig.

You know who the real villain in this piece is? Chris Bosh. If reports are to be believed, James recruited him to Cleveland, and both Cleveland and Toronto were on board. But the fucker preferred Miami to Ohio.

I was thinking the same thing. If bosh had gone to cleveland, I am sure james would have stayed there. of course, its cleveland...

 

[Natebishop3]

You do know that LeBron actually used Kobe's phrase "I'm taking my talents to..."? I hope that was an intentional dig.

You know who the real villain in this piece is? Chris Bosh. If reports are to be believed, James recruited him to Cleveland, and both Cleveland and Toronto were on board. But the fucker preferred Miami to Ohio.

Can you blame him?

 

[Masbee]

Maybe I'm the only one, but I'm really not that worked up about all this. .

I am not bothered.

I watched his interview, and I didn't think "Fuck LeBron. Fuck the NBA."

I don't really understand all the venon and anger - outside of Cleveland fans.

Seems a little mysterious to me.

And so many of the comments seem contradictory.

If you are going to go on a LeBron bitchfest, have the decency to be logically consistent. Please.

 

[BGrantFan]

As a fan of the game of basketball, IMO, the NBA's product just improved. I can't wait until I get the chance to watch three great players in their primes play together.

 

[Masbee]

I'm not sure that Miami is the "sure thing" that so many people make them out to be. Sure, on paper they sound amazing, but "on paper" doesn't always work out. Ask Dallas, or Bob Whitsitt. We've seen some pretty amazing teams with stacked rosters from 1 to 12. It doesn't always work out like it's planned. I think there's a chance that one of the big three will be traded in the next three or four years. I'm not saying it's a good chance, but I think there's a chance that one of those three players will not be happy with how things are going, especially if they don't start dominating almost immediately.

This, I disagree with.

When healthy, there have been few if any 3 players - in their prime - as good and LeBron, Wade and Bosh. That top 3 consists of the reigning two-time MVP, and a Top 5 player, and a Top 10 player.

The problem is lack of quality proven vets at the critical PG and C spots and lack of depth.

We won't know how well they address these problems until next summer to see who they get with their MLE, and what collection of min sal ring-chasing vets they attract.

Even without getting good "free" players, this team - with a healthy big 3 - will win a ton of games and advance deep into the playoffs. Those 3 are just too good for the team to stumble badly.

 

[BGrantFan]

"It's not about him leaving," Gilbert said. "It's the disrespect. It's time for people to hold these athletes accountable for their actions. Is this the way you raise your children? I've been holding this all in for a long time."

So, is Dan Gilbert saying that his children have epic meltdowns when they don't get their way and call people names? Interesting parenting, Dan.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I am not bothered.

I watched his interview, and I didn't think "Fuck LeBron. Fuck the NBA."

I don't really understand all the venon and anger - outside of Cleveland fans.

Seems a little mysterious to me.

And so many of the comments seem contradictory.

If you are going to go on a LeBron bitchfest, have the decency to be logically consistent. Please.

I'm copying my post from another thread to clear it up for you:

Why would Gilbert be mad? Lebron just sang a little song, called "Cleveland Doesn't Know":
[video=youtube;0Vyj1C8ogtE]

 

[Masbee]

You know fuck Lebron James....to leave CLE is one thing...to protract this out...and then to top it off by having a self serving 1hr special on ESPN to basically stab every fan in CLE in the fuckin heart is the move of a complete and utter douchebag......

Congratulations Lebron, you just became the biggest villian in the entire NBA....I hope that son of a bitch gets boo'd in every fucking arena, I know I will......

I find it ironic that Lebron actually thinks he is helping his legacy when he basically fucking torched it tonight......

A memo to you Lebron...."franchise" players? They take thier city\orginizations to the pinnacle of NBA greatness, they don't leave them in smoking ruins....

His legacy is forever tarnished...as a human being 1st and foremost...and 2nd by the simple fact that he just showed tonight that he isn't good enough to take a franchise to an NBA title by himself....no matter what he accomplishes from now on he will always have that asterisk...and it will be well deserved.....

I hope for nothing but misery on James and that whole piece of shit MIA team.....

Did Shaq "RUIN his legacy" when he forced his way to Los Angeles?

Please.

 

[BGrantFan]

From Brandon Jennings: "Never run away from your problems, man up. If it was easy we all would have a ring, Lebron did what he had to do I guess, should have been more low-key about it. He just affected alot of ppl in Cleveland, I don't think he know how much the ppl in Cleveland loved him, it more then basketball to them I think.... Remember the great ones always stuck it out through the hard times. "Kobe" "MJ".."

Kobe whined about getting better players and once literally quit playing while on the court against the Suns in the playoffs.

MJ quit on the Bulls to play baseball after a 3-peat.

Time heals all wounds, and if James wins, only the bittermen will hold this against him.

 

[Blaze01]

Did Shaq "RUIN his legacy" when he forced his way to Los Angeles?

Please.

I'm sorry I must of misssed Shaq's 1hr "decision" show?

 

[BGrantFan]

I'm sorry I must of misssed Shaq's 1hr "decision" show?

You have a problem with $5 million being raised for the Boys and Girls Club in this economy? Also, of course James is egotistical. Most superstars in any industry are driven in part by ego.

 

[Blaze01]

You have a problem with $5 million being raised for the Boys and Girls Club in this economy? Also, of course James is egotistical. Most superstars in any industry are driven in part by ego.

So that makes it all better....see what a good person I am? LOL...seriously? How warped or just plain stupid do you have to be to think that?

Here let me GUT an entire state and all those CLE fans who have followed me the last 7 years on national TV...but see, the proceeds of my 1hr self-promotional show are going to charity....

If you can't see the irony or indecency in that, then well maybe you need to look in the mirror....

I'm taking your wife, but you can keep her engagement ring....I wouldn't want you to think I wasn't sympathetic to your situation...

MJ lost 3 times to DET before he finally broke through....he didn't quit CHI at 25 to go play with them....Kobe played through the gap b\t Shaq and Gasol, discontent and all, he didn't leave them...

Yesterday, Lebron transistioned from a "franchise player" to a "Franchise killer" ....maybe he should pat himself on the back....actually, I am sure he did.

Oh and David Stern, do yourself a favor just fold up the CLE franchise, after this what players are EVER going to want to go and STAY there under the way the rules are written now...

and as much as Dan Gilbert said what a lot of people are feeling regarding Lebron, he unfortunately just shot himself in the head with his remarks in terms of luring other players there....This whole situation is sad and says a lot (none of it good) about the crumbling state of sports in general....

 

[Minstrel]

I'm sorry I must of misssed Shaq's 1hr "decision" show?

Ha, really? You think the 1 hour show will be remembered in 10 years? I think it'll be forgotten by next year. The idea that that show has destroyed his legacy forever is beyond funny. It's killed James' image with a certain number of fans today. And maybe a few of them will hold onto that disgust forever. But the vast majority of basketball fans (counting in casual fans who don't read sports forums) have probably already forgotten it.

 

[Blaze01]

I disagree Minstrel....

Has Kobe fully recovered with many fans for his discretions?
Has Tiger?

There are still many people out there who still dislike those two greatly....

I don'ty know how you could say that niether of those 2 players has damaged thier legacies...Kobe great player, multiple championships...but....still not as good as Jordan and never will be...funny how that works...

If Tiger breaks Nicklaus's records will he still be held in the same regard as Jack? Probably not....

and frankly niether of those guys did such a despicable thing to thier fanbases as Lebron did last night....

 

[Minstrel]

I disagree Minstrel....

Has Kobe fully recovered with many fans for his discretions?

Kobe was charged with rape. Are you really comparing that with a self-aggrandizing one-hour TV show? And, that example doesn't really illustrate your point, because Kobe really has recovered from it, as far as basketball legacy goes. Many people may consider him a creep, but every week there's a new article about how Kobe is still the best player in basketball and maybe the best ever.

Has Tiger?

Tiger Woods' issues (and again, they're a lot more serious that a silly TV show) are current. Of course, they're still hurting him. In 10 years, I don't think anyone will be thinking about Woods' sexual indiscretions.

Kobe great player, multiple championships...but....still not as good as Jordan and never will be...funny how that works...

Kobe never has been as good as Jordan and yet there are still many fans and writers who consider him a candidate for greatest ever. This example really is disproving your point...with a much worse "indiscretion," Kobe is actually overrated. A one-hour TV show is definitely not going to cause James to be underrated.

 

[alex42083]

The Drive.
The Fumble.
The Shot.
The Move.

And now The Decision.

I don't think it'll ever be forgotten. Especially in Cleveland, and in every NBA city Miami pays a visit to throughout next season it'll be talked about.

 

[Masbee]

I'm sorry I must of misssed Shaq's 1hr "decision" show?

When Shaq made his move there was only 1 ESPN channel. Now they have god knows how many channels to fill with programming.

And trust me, there was TONS of ink spilled over the whole Shaq drama, with, predictably, lot of people moaning that Shaq was "wrong".

Nowadays, pretty much everything gets airtime. Bass fishing and Snooker for christsakes.

This is also the age of full exposure all the time. Facebook, Twitter, etc.

In a few years, all this furor over the LeBron public airing of a previously private process will seem dated and quaint.

 

[Shapecity]

As a fan of the game of basketball, IMO, the NBA's product just improved. I can't wait until I get the chance to watch three great players in their primes play together.

As a fan of the game of basketball, IMO, the NBA's product just improved. I can't wait until I get the chance to watch three great players in their primes play together.

I feel the same way this elevates the product on the court for teams vying for a title. This will alter the landscape of the league and hopefully more superstars go to situations where they can win instead of going for the highest bidder. I don't blame LeBron for leaving the Cavs to play with his buddies in Miami, but the way he handled it was disingenuous.

He should have just had a "White Party" announcement poolside (filled with 'The Decision' flavored Vitamin Water) with Wade, Bosh, Riley, P Diddy, Kanye, the 'Team' and the Miami cheer leaders celebrating while LMFAO's "I'm in Miami Bitch" is blaring in the background.

That would've been a 1 hour special worth watching.

 

[Shooter]

The Heat just became the most hated franchise in the NBA outside Miami and the bandwagoners.

It's because Bosh and James left teams that treated them very well, giving Miami an obscene amount of talent. I've been watching the NBA for almost 40 years, and I've never seen two players of the caliber of James and Bosh join another team already with its own superstar.

 

[Minstrel]

I've been watching the NBA for almost 40 years, and I've never seen two players of the caliber of James and Bosh join another team already with its own superstar.

For many of those 40 years, players didn't have the same kind of mobility in terms of opportunity to choose where they played. It's impossible to say what would have happened had there been unrestricted free agency from the start of the NBA.

 

[mobes23]

I thought it was kind of weird how much he talked about his mom (not that I'm not a HUGE fan of my mom). It was like she somehow made it all good by saying that he needed to do what would make him happy.

Apparently, his decision made him happy in the short term, but I don't think it will long term. Even if the Heat when 5 championships, it'll always be because of Bosh and Wade -- I'll be surprised if he ever really gets the credit for it. And, people expect a lot of championships -- anything less and they're underacheivers. Throw in the global dislike he picked up from the whole mess and it sounds a whole lot less fun than trying to push through with the Cavs.

Maybe he'll be able to overcome it, but I think he could well end up kind of like A-Rod. Not really loved by any fans (including his own team's fans.) It's speaks volumes that A-Rod is on the verge of 600 homeruns and no one is paying attention.

 

[Minstrel]

Maybe he'll be able to overcome it, but I think he could well end up kind of like A-Rod. Not really loved by any fans (including his own team's fans.) It's speaks volumes that A-Rod is on the verge of 600 homeruns and no one is paying attention.

A big part of that is the revelation that he did steroids.

Beyond that, the career mistake I think A-Rod made was going to a team with an entrenched shortstop who wasn't going to be moved. Moving off to third base has made his career less special and made him seem like more of a complementary player, because he moved to the less important position. Even though he was actually a better shortstop and hitter than Jeter.

The same likely won't be true for James. I assume the Heat will run their offense through James. However, if that isn't how it plays out and Wade, being the entrenched member of the Heat, ends up being the focal point of their offense...then James could absolutely be A-Rodded. And his decision will end up a mistake for him.

 

[Masbee]

The same likely won't be true for James. I assume the Heat will run their offense through James. However, if that isn't how it plays out and Wade, being the entrenched member of the Heat, ends up being the focal point of their offense...then James could absolutely be A-Rodded. And his decision will end up a mistake for him.

I agree with this, but find it to be an unlikely outcome.

Wade and James are much better offensive players than Bosh. Bosh will be the no. 3 option to those two. I think that James will be the offensive initiator most of the time.

For a couple of reasons; Wade is older and beat to shit. I think he is ready to take a step back in responsibility. James is the bigger matchup problem for most opposing teams, and it will just be easier for the Heat if James has the ball in his hands, draws the double and then creates for Wade and Bosh, even if all they do is get the defense off balance, and Wade and Bosh get to make a play one-on-one. I think James is the better passer as well.

Of course, they will mix it up, but I think when on the floor together, James runs plays most often. With James and Wade they also will be able to have James or Wade on the floor for the full 48 minutes. The opposition is screwed in that regard. No letup.

No, I think James will be the dominant offensive force for the Heat. The real interesting situation to me will be who has the ball in the last two minutes. Who takes the last shot. Who is their "closer".

 

[BGrantFan]

A big part of that is the revelation that he did steroids.

Beyond that, the career mistake I think A-Rod made was going to a team with an entrenched shortstop who wasn't going to be moved. Moving off to third base has made his career less special and made him seem like more of a complementary player, because he moved to the less important position. Even though he was actually a better shortstop and hitter than Jeter.

The same likely won't be true for James. I assume the Heat will run their offense through James. However, if that isn't how it plays out and Wade, being the entrenched member of the Heat, ends up being the focal point of their offense...then James could absolutely be A-Rodded. And his decision will end up a mistake for him.

IMO, the bigger mistake by A-Rod was going to a terrible team (Texas) solely for money. LeBron basically did the opposite, didn't he? Less money/better shot at winning.

Also, since Kobe hasn't won a title without Shaq and without Gasol, and his teams sucked without those guys, doesn't that tarnish Kobe's image as well?

 

[BGrantFan]

Also, I think we'll get to see LeBron play the role he's best at; a more athletic Magic Johnson, as opposed to a less-skilled Michael Jordan.

I wouldn't be surprised if LeBron leads the NBA in assists within the next few years.

 

[MrSelfDestruct]

Also, I think we'll get to see LeBron play the role he's best at; a more athletic Magic Johnson, as opposed to a less-skilled Michael Jordan.

I wouldn't be surprised if LeBron leads the NBA in assists within the next few years.

I was about to propose the same thing. I think it's safe to say his points will drop, but rebounds and assists will probably go up.

He will likely average a triple double in (at least) one of the next few seasons, IMO.

 

[Denny Crane]

Fuck LeBron and Fuck the Lakers (and Steve Blake, too).

HCP's wife is thinking... "hrmmmm..."

 

[Idog1976]

Did Shaq "RUIN his legacy" when he forced his way to Los Angeles?

Please.

You can't compare the two in almost any meaningful way. Shaq wasn't a Florida native pushing the hometown hero meme and the airing a nationally televised dick fest fuck you to said hometown fans. Shaq moved to LA to be in Movies and sing (rap) LeBron wanted straight cash. Even though Shaq going to LA wasn't some kind of selfless heroism it's light years better the everything about the way LBJ handled this.

 

[MrSelfDestruct]

You can't compare the two in almost any meaningful way. Shaq wasn't a Florida native pushing the hometown hero meme and the airing a nationally televised dick fest fuck you to said hometown fans. Shaq moved to LA to be in Movies and sing (rap) LeBron wanted straight cash. Even though Shaq going to LA wasn't some kind of selfless heroism it's light years better the everything about the way LBJ handled this.

He left money on the table by leaving Cleveland. If he wanted straight cash, he would have stayed.

 

[Idog1976]

A big part of that is the revelation that he did steroids.

Beyond that, the career mistake I think A-Rod made was going to a team with an entrenched shortstop who wasn't going to be moved. Moving off to third base has made his career less special and made him seem like more of a complementary player, because he moved to the less important position. Even though he was actually a better shortstop and hitter than Jeter.

The same likely won't be true for James. I assume the Heat will run their offense through James. However, if that isn't how it plays out and Wade, being the entrenched member of the Heat, ends up being the focal point of their offense...then James could absolutely be A-Rodded. And his decision will end up a mistake for him.

Lmao. Right because LeBrons body is natural. I can't believe anyone is naive enough to think there isn't MASSIVE steroid and HGH among other PEDs in use league wide. The NBA's Canseco is just a matter of time.