Dan Gilbert: LeBron James Quit On Cavaliers
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Jul 9, 2010 12:14 AM CDT
in Cleveland Cavaliers in the News
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PrintYou've seen the open letter that Dan Gilbert wrote to Cavaliers fans regarding LeBron James' defection to the Miami Heat. Gilbert went on to speak to the AP in a phone interview and said much, much more. Gilbert used the 'Q' word to describe LeBron's playoff performances, and I don't mean Quicken Loans, Gilbert's company.
"He quit," Gilbert said. "Not just in Game 5, but in Games 2, 4 and 6. Watch the tape. The Boston series was unlike anything in the history of sports for a superstar."
Gilbert continued, saying LeBron quit against Orlando in 2009 as well.
"Go back and look at the tape," he said. "How many shots did he take?"
Gilbert didn't stop there. Gilbert discussed his displeasure with LeBron's behavior since the season ended, saying James did not return a phone call or text message from Gilbert, nor did he inform the Cavaliers of his decision until he was already on the air tonight.
Gilbert explained that is was Rich Paul, one of LeBron's inner circle that called with the news.
"LeBron James needs to go to another team with two superstars already so he can win a championship," Gilbert said. "We will win a championship before (the Heat) do."
It appears that Gilbert and James didn't have the cozy relationship that many thought during the 5 years that Gilbert has owned the Cavaliers with James on the roster.
"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."
While LeBron has yet to respond to Gilbert's comments, Dwyane Wade was a bit surprised by Gilbert's attack.
"I think I'm happy that I have the owner that I have here in Miami," Wade told The Associated Press late Thursday night. "I'm happy Micky Arison is my owner. I couldn't believe it. I'm speechless. It's very unfortunate and I think it makes LeBron that much better about his decision.
"We knew 'Bron would take some backlash," Wade added in his interview with AP. "I told him he's a strong man for it."
Get ready, Cavs fans. This is just the beginning.
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Gilbert: “It’s not about him leaving. 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.”
We are all witnesses... to a traitor.
by emily522 on Jul 9, 2010 12:19 AM CDT reply actions 2 recs
Gilbert said James never returned a single phone message or text since the end of the season and that the Cavs were not informed of James’ decision until he went on the air.
What a douchebag.
We are all witnesses... to a traitor.
by emily522 on Jul 9, 2010 12:22 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
With a douchebag like that for an owner I wouldn’t have either.
by giantAppleCore on Jul 9, 2010 1:38 AM CDT up reply actions
Right. Cavs fans are praising Gilbert for showing some "balls"...
And already a player has come out and spoken out against the Cavs owner. You don’t think in the days and weeks to come that other players and owners won’t use this as a rallying point as to why their teams are a better destination that Cleveland?
Quite the way to burn your bridges and make yourself look bad in the process.
"Remember kids......... petty and cheap shot-ish doesn't make you a true fan, it just makes you petty and cheap shot-ish."
by Themanthemyththelegend on Jul 9, 2010 12:24 AM CDT reply actions
Amen brother. I mean, when you think Cleveland, two things come to mind:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysmLA5TqbIY
and
I’ve honestly never met a Gator fan that wasn’t a douche.
Art Modell gives me a hard one
by gahnki on Jul 9, 2010 12:34 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I’ve honestly never met a Gator fan that wasn’t a douche.
Speaking of ‘douche,’ I love the guido chinbeard and matching duckface.
by johnnyphoenix on Jul 9, 2010 1:11 AM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
I think that other players are not blind to the way LeBron made a spectacle of himself.
I think that agents are telling other superstars, “When you leave your hometown fans, this is NOT the way you are going to do it.”
I think, essentially, that this will be viewed as a unique situation, involving a unique player, and evoking a unique response from an owner.
I think, finally, that players want to play for an owner that wants to win and will cut them the biggest checks.
by Jay on Jul 9, 2010 7:31 AM CDT up reply actions
What I am curious about is what has been held back. No reason to hold back now, and it seems like more info is coming. And anyone who calls Gilbert (or anyone else) a hypocrite, needs to understand how much this guy stood to lose in franchise valuation.
by kennesawmountainwahoo on Jul 9, 2010 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions
Holy CRAP Dan Gilbert is my new personal hero!
I cannot BELIEVE how bad he has ripped LeBron
Even Cuban wouldn’t have the Balls to do this LoL
by ap3604 on Jul 9, 2010 12:26 AM CDT reply actions 2 recs
Gilbert said the truth. Nothing is wrong with that.
Im glad we don’t need to hear politically correct BS from Mr. Gilbert. He says it like it really is. That deserves respect, not backlash. If you don’t like it, than no one is forcing you to listen.
Don't be afraid to fight for your rights!
by IBHMC on Jul 9, 2010 12:29 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Agreed. I loved Gilbert's letter.
I am a King’s fan, just visiting. I personally thought Gilbert’s letter was refreshingly raw and expressed uncensored truth, written by a man who justifiably felt disrespected by LeBron. Although, I do not fault James for deciding to go to another team, I thought the manner in which he left was wrong. A simple phone call to Gilbert was in order, as a courtesy, for the time he played in Cleveland. That was all he needed to do. After he talked to his mother, then a speed dial call to Gilbert to communicate his appreciation.
If you want to be your best, you have to do your best, otherwise you are only second rate.
by Slam_Dunk on Jul 9, 2010 4:30 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
LeBron James’s decision defies all logical thought about trying to be great. He will be hated in his hometown, has turned his back on his fans, and will be on a team with 11 minimum contract players. He will be super-pippen on D-Wade’s team. No more Jordan talk. LeBron just ruined his career… what a shame.
Don't be afraid to fight for your rights!
“I think I’m happy that I have the owner that I have here in Miami,” Wade told The Associated Press late Thursday night. "I’m happy Micky Arison is my owner. I couldn’t believe it. I’m speechless. It’s very unfortunate and I think it makes LeBron that much better about his decision.
Stay the f*ck out of it Dwayne….
He's right though
If anyone outside of Cleveland was doubting Lebrons decision to leave before, they aren’t now. If you’re boss attacked you like that after you quit, what would your reaction be? Mine would be a f*ck you.
by giantAppleCore on Jul 9, 2010 1:41 AM CDT up reply actions
I'm an outsider to Cleveland and your owner.
Please see my new fan post (and I apologize for jumping in to your convos) and you’ll get an idea of how many fans outside of Cleveland are viewing this nonsense.
I had no love for your owner. Hell, I barely knew his name before last night. After reading his letter and seeing his comments to the AP I walked away with respect for Dan GIlbert. While LeBron exposed his true colors (it wasn’t even greed, just overwhelming pride) Dan Gilbert came across as a passionate fan of the game. His comments crossed the line of professionalism and political correctness, but sometimes you have to be a fan first. We love us some Michael Jorden here in North Carolina because we know he’s a lover of the game. Dan Gilbert just stepped up and proved himself to be the same thing – a fan first, a businessman second. You should be thrilled to have an owner that loves his team instead of merely owning it. Believe me, men like Gilbert and Jordan are NOT the majority in the NBA and that’s one of the reasons the sport is less than it could be.
Some can say Gilbert was too hot and should have been cooler. I think he hit it just right. Now he’ll go about the business of bringing your city a championship and there are a lot of fans in North Carolina that will be behind him all the way.
by Ourdaywillcome on Jul 9, 2010 7:45 AM CDT up reply actions
I wouldn’t f*ck my boss over like that on national TV after he built me my own practice facility near my mansion, let me do what I what whenever I want, and fire my manager b/c I wanted him too.
The only thing though, where i wouldn’t go if I were Gilbert, is the ‘quitting’ in the playoffs (even if he did) or the ‘behind closed doors’ stuff other than to make sure people know just everything the organization did for him.
Besides, people say this is going to deter future free agents…but it’s not like he’s Al Davis or anything, far, far from it….and this situation was totally, totally unique. No free agent in the history of sports behaved or did what Lebron did…fully deserving of everything Gilbert said. The real tragedy in all this would be for Cavs fans not to support the guy who’s going to bat for all of us and saying what needed to be said.
Cavs fans, you better sack up and support this owner in his comments…
by johnnyphoenix on Jul 9, 2010 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Read Mo Williams twitter account
As a fan of the Crimson Tide, I am a longtime fan and I hope that the love and devotion this man shows for Cleveland brings you all hope in the midst of this heartbreak.
“We got to step it up now that’s all. We will be good next year. And hearing our owner keeps me convinced.”
“Well, after I wake up in the morning its a new day and I can embark on the new journey in my life. Love all my fans. And that’s 100”
twitter.com/mogotti2
Cavs fans have been hoping to rid themselves of Mo for months.
World Cup officiating reminds me of Bob Slowik's coaching. It’s embarrassing when people in the spot light get promoted well beyond their level of competence.
Cavs fans have been hoping to rid themselves of Mo for months.
I have to agree…myself included…but his stock just rose considerably. For me there is something to be said for loyalty. And it’s bigger than sports just being a ‘business.’ If it were just a ‘business’ we wouldn’t be seeing what we’re seeing here.
by johnnyphoenix on Jul 9, 2010 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions
And hope this puts a smile on your faces
“Did LeBron James Just Cost Himself $150 Million?”
http://bit.ly/az9hfI
I guess my final thought on this before I go to bed for the night is that Lebron panicked a little bit today. He saw himself, in his mid-20s, with no rings, and thought “Oh crap, what if I end up like Charles Barkley?” At that point, visions of becoming Jordan or Bird left him, and he decided he’d rather play second fiddle to Dwyane Wade than risk ending up as the great who never won.
That moment of panic reflected a lack of confidence that, unfortunately, we’ve seen a couple of other times in recent years.
Oh, and just a general site comment — I like this site a lot, but it’s impossible to follow any sort of thread when there’s a new front-page post every half hour. Can you just update one or two?
LOL@si
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.”
"The Cavaliers were a contender to win the finals therefore they will always be a threat to contend for a title."~Wally Balls 407
That is an excellent piece. Rosenberg appears to have some integrity as a sports journalist, unlike anyone that took part in ESPN’s hour long leg humping session.
OMG - I couln't agree with you more. I have never seen so much ass-kissing in my life.
If you want to be your best, you have to do your best, otherwise you are only second rate.
Rosenberg, Wojnarowski.
Two of the best.
If Kobe doesn't make his teammates better, how on Earth does Adam Morrison have two rings!?
"LeBron James does not want the pressure of greatness, only the rewards" - shaqforthree
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure."
http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/ - Visit, and be loved. Troll, and die a painful death. =]]
Questions? Queries? Comments? Concerns? Expletive-filled inflammatory trolling? Contact me at saurav.a.das.1994@gmail.com
by Saurav A. Das on Jul 10, 2010 3:50 AM CDT up reply actions
now what i really want...
is for Gilbert and co. to get so mad that they leak that “family guy style cartoon” that was made for lebron, so we can add voices to it and have lebron say some different things.
While it was obviously motivated by anger, there is apparently nothing factually wrong with what Gilbert has said. Fink James did quit. If that elbow had been the problem, surgery would have been necessary. I can’t stand Kobe, but he would never have done the same thing.
The basic fact is that the entire Cavs organization has bent over backwards to give LeBron whatever he wanted for 7 years. Even if LeBron thought the current Cavs couldn’t will it all, it was his mess. Only a complete brat walks away from that and expects someone else to clean it up. I can only believe that this behavior, as well as rooting for teams like the Yankees, Cowboys, and Bulls (when you grew up 15 minutes from Richfield Colosseum) is a direct result of being spoiled rotten by mommy and grandma with no dad present in the house to teach him what it takes to WIN and LOSE with character. How could we have ever expected a fair weather fan, who has always had people blowing smoke up his ass about how great he is, to be loyal to anything but himself?
I didn’t want to believe it before, but now I hope Delonte keeps tagging Bron Bron’s Mom’s ass up, down and sideways. Maybe she can give him conjugal visits after he winds up in the clink. Maybe they can get matching little heart tattoos with each others names in them. Then LeBron would have to look over the Thanksgiving Dinner table and see that staring back at him.
I wish I shared Gilbert’s optimism that Cleveland will win a championship before Fink James does, but it just doesn’t seem likely. I am stuck on the sad fact that the best player in the history of the Cavaliers is a no account, quitter. We as Cleveland fans wanted that championship so bad, that we overlooked the obvious for a long time.
Every pessimist thinks himself a realist. In the case of Cleveland sports fans, they are probably right.
I wish I shared Gilbert’s optimism that Cleveland will win a championship before Fink James does, but it just doesn’t seem likely.
Maybe so…but the important thing here is that we’re seeing an owner unprecedented in cleveland sports history…one who’s willing to do whatever it takes to win, and cares just as much as we do.
I am stuck on the sad fact that the best player in the history of the Cavaliers is a no account, quitter.
Yep.
We as Cleveland fans wanted that championship so bad, that we overlooked the obvious for a long time.
Lots of us did…even though the writing was on the wall a long time before this.
by johnnyphoenix on Jul 9, 2010 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions
Like most, I’m stunned by Gilbert, though not in a bad way. I don’t know if this was his intention, but he’s just managed both to install himself as the greatest folk hero in the history of Cleveland professional sports and entrench the Cavs’ plight into the region and city’s psyche in a way that it never has been before. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if the Cavs come to share the city’s affection with the Browns from here on out. Talk about making lemonade out of lemons…
Don't completely agree with Gilbert
Regarding Gilbert open letter of bitter frustration surfacing itself around the web….
Dan Gibert has childlike anger and frustrated for himself, Cleveland fans and loss revenue and NE Ohio which is understandable. Much is to be loss by Lebron leaving. Yet, Gilbert is not making a honest assessment. IMHO, it took two to three years for Gilbert to react and replace Danny Ferry and Mike Brown. Clearly Ferry with acquiring talent to surround LBJ and Mike Brown poor coaching and leadership is to be blamed.
Sure, it would be better for Lebron to have finally delivered a championship to Cleveland, but the window of opportunity for small market Cleveland was not going to stay open forever. Bearing that in mind, wasting time and even looking at the present Cavs team is a joke and not primed for championship even if Lebron would have stayed. Gilbert and the Cavs leadership should have watched their own games (instead of being in all with LBJ), clearly they would have seem the terrible non-coaching non-correct slow boring offensive strategy Coach Brown was using having the talent of a Lebron James who by nature loves to run. Regarding, Ferry, acquiring Moe Williams was really a waste. Williams is really average decent, but never will be #2 caliber player on a championship team. No clear distinctive difference from what Bobie Gibson could or was providing to Cavs. Coupled with all aged Ben Wallace, Shaq, larry hughes, etc. Ferry just made some poor choices. Gilbert thinks he didn’t make any mistakes???
Cleveland needs to hold it’s head up with dignity and move forward, hoping for a miracle to happen in the future, but starting by cursing James is not the answer.
"JustThrewUp."
"TheBullsAreSoSmallTime"
I disagree with much of what you’ve written, but most of that is moot because the real point of Gilbert’s outburst (I’m pretty sure) is to rally the city and the region around the Cavs. He is trying to mobilize the emotion over LBJ to make sure that the fanbase that developed with LBJ’s appearance doesn’t leave with his departure. From this perspective it doesn’t really matter whether GIlbert is gilding the lilly, being unfair to LBJ, etc.
jdudas, that's fair .. but I think the statements "written" made by Gilbert were a bit over the top
Therefore, his comments probably have a worst effect in the ears of free agents and future players considering the Cavs organization.
"JustThrewUp."
"TheBullsAreSoSmallTime"
Sure, mistakes were made, it happens in every franchise. But that doesn’t change the fact that Gilbert has invested everything in this franchise, and has embraced the city and the fans. It is a completely hinest assessment…and one that is exactly what cavs fans needed to hear.
Bearing that in mind, wasting time and even looking at the present Cavs team is a joke and not primed for championship even if Lebron would have stayed
Not true at all. This team would have been a serious contender, and if Lebron had stayed and made that clear a long time ago there most likely would have been other big names playing with him…maybe not Bosh, but someone.
by johnnyphoenix on Jul 9, 2010 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions
I understand
why Gilbert and any Cleveland fan would feel hurt, betrayed, dismayed, angry, bitter, or pretty much any emotion you can name, after what was a pretty vapid display last night.
However…
1) I would be willing to bet that most of the madness of the last few months leading up to and including the free agent period was orchestrated by LBJ’s PR people and the networks, who milked every note of every story or non-story, and went out of their way to shower attention on LeBron and sensationalize everything related to his decision.
2)Calling him a quitter for leaving Cleveland is one thing, but I think criticizing his play is just kind of silly…especially saying he quit in the Orlando series. That has to be pure bitterness talking on the part of Gilbert, because if he actually believes that he must have watched a different set of games. This is the guy that averaged 35-9-7 on 51% shooting and shot 200 free throws in 14 games during the ‘08-’09 playoffs. You find me a better 14 game playoff stretch. By anybody. Hate the person if that helps you sleep at night, but let’s not revise history, here.
3)Perhaps the way he went about making the decision wasn’t ideal, but when sufficient time has passed I think, objectively, one can certainly respect what the decision was. There have been plenty of “super free agent teamup” scenarios brought up before, for these guys to actually follow through on it is unprecedented, and, frankly, ballsy. If James went for the most money or the biggest spotlight or the most glamorous lifestyle, he wouldn’t have ended up in Miami. Right or wrong, he chose the team he thought gave him the best chance at winning, knowing he would likely be hated for it, knowing he wouldn’t be the most popular player on the team(I doubt he can supplant Wade there), knowing his shots would decrease and his statline would likely suffer. That’s kind of amazing, though obviously difficult for Cavs fans to digest, I’m sure.
A few things: first, you can’t divorce the decision from the way the decision was made. You just can’t. He’s been stringing this team along for three years, keeping them from putting the pieces in place for long-term success. He could have let the Cavs know he wasn’t coming back a long time ago, so they could have participated in the free agent market, but he didn’t. Why? Because he enjoyed the spectacle of fans begging him to stay. Then he went on TV just to kick us in the balls one last time.
Second, he may not have quit in the Orlando series, but he sure as hell did in the Boston series. From his fake injury to his disappearance in Game 5 to his post-game pouting that we don’t deserve him.
Finally, he didn’t go the place he had the best chance to win. That would have been Chicago. He went to go play on the beach with his little buddies, in a scheme they hatched when they signed their last batch of contracts to prove that the players are bigger than the game.
by FredOx on Jul 9, 2010 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
He’s been stringing this team along for three years, keeping them from putting the pieces in place for long-term success. He could have let the Cavs know he wasn’t coming back a long time ago, so they could have participated in the free agent market, but he didn’t. Why? Because he enjoyed the spectacle of fans begging him to stay.
I think those are a lot of unfair assumptions. For one thing, the reason he’s in Miami is because Wade and Bosh are there, and that didn’t become a reality until three days ago. He had no control over that at any point; certainly not “years” ago.
Almost every free agent, no matter how loyal, will drag out the proceedings, be vague about their intentions to increase bargaining leverage, and make their decision on their own timetable. The only difference here is that the media latched on to the idea of LeBron coming to New York, and allowed his management team to hijack the entire offseason by giving his decision constant, nonstop coverage. Seems like a bit of a double-standard to tolerate it everywhere else.
I don’t know the guy personally, obviously, but I’ve never got the impression that he’s as disingenuous as you make him out to be. I think, in all likelihood, he did want to come back to Cleveland, though it made sense for him to keep his options open, as is his prerogative. However, certainly a lot changed in the last two months, as his team had its second straight big playoff letdown, his many free agent suitors intensified their attempts at wooing him, creating more doubt, and ugly tabloid rumors encircled him, putting an even darker cloud over the way the Boston series ended. All that, combined with the newly created opportunity to form a super trio in Miami, would be enough to change a lot of players’ minds.
Second, he may not have quit in the Orlando series, but he sure as hell did in the Boston series. From his fake injury to his disappearance in Game 5 to his post-game pouting that we don’t deserve him.
I don’t know about that…I don’t think his injury was all that fake. He went up against a defense at the top of their game, the team a quarter away from the title, his teammates completely deserted him(Mo and Jamison both being particularly bad), and James still averaged 27-9-7-2 in the series, shot 70 free throws in 6 games, and had the 27-19-10 triple double in the elimination game.
He was bad in game five. I don’t know for sure, and we may never know, but if the rumors about his mom and about him finding out right before game four are true, that would certainly make sense, given how deflated the team looked and how their heralded chemistry and electricity seemed to dissipate. On the whole, though, I don’t know if I could say he “quit”. If that’s quitting, what does it look like when he’s trying?
Finally, he didn’t go the place he had the best chance to win. That would have been Chicago.
Well, if you think that, OK. Depending on how they round out the roster, I’m not sure I’ll agree with you, but what you or I think is irrelevant: he thinks that’s his best shot, and it’s hard to blame him for thinking that. The Heat won’t be handed the title or anything, but they’ll enter next season as one of the two or three favorites to win it all, and with good reason.
Gibert loss with Lebron's departure
Gibert purchase the team in 2005 for $375 million (July 8, 2010 value est. B4 Lebrons departure $476 million)
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2005/32/324902.html
Losing Lebron devalues the organization by $250 million
$476 – $250 = $226 severe hair cut from (original investment of $375).
I guess its ok to let Daniel Gilbert have his venting period after losing $125 million in one day..
"JustThrewUp."
"TheBullsAreSoSmallTime"
Thing is…and the reason I love the guy…is the money part of it is most likely one of the least important reasons to him. If it wasn’t, he wouldn’t have said what he said.
by johnnyphoenix on Jul 9, 2010 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions
Good points you make ...
Gilbert definitely has “passion” so that’s enough for him gain additional fans, and probably determination to take the Cavs to championship level…
It may seem bad now, but being an underdog is better than being stagnant…
"JustThrewUp."
"TheBullsAreSoSmallTime"
Hey John
since we’re both Broncos fans, from the Cavs’ perspective, doesn’t this sound like how Jay Cutler screwed us over? Thankfully in Denver, we’re going to win more than that hack Cutler will in Chi Town.
Brad James
by the new Bradfather on Jul 9, 2010 11:21 AM CDT reply actions
Lol.. Cutler ... again Lol .. well he does do one think very well: throw interceptions!
"JustThrewUp."
"TheBullsAreSoSmallTime"
Enough
of this nonsense, Browns fans. I didn’t come here to engage in warfare. Since the Broncos have caused the Browns considerable misery, there will be no gloating at your expense. It’s jut that LeBron’s and Cutler’s unceremonious exits from Denver and C-Town respectively are quite comparable, the common thread being not returning owner’s calls. Still, Clevelanders let’s be friends, it’s up to you.
Brad James
by the new Bradfather on Jul 9, 2010 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions
Put Gilbert's comments to a tight beat..
and it’ll be the best diss record since Hit ’Em Up
"I’m tired of hearing about money, money, money, money, money. I just want to play the game, drink Pepsi, wear Reebok." ~Shaq
by Max_in_Missouri on Jul 9, 2010 11:49 AM CDT reply actions
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