Uncaring LeBron turned back on Cavaliers

Last Updated: 2:12 PM, July 12, 2010

Posted: 4:11 AM, July 11, 2010

Comments: 7

Peter Vecsey

HOOP DU JOUR

It's downright lamentable, though outright predictable, not a single soul belonging to LeBron James' wagon-circled, anarchy-free business unit was wise enough to persuade the Drama King to handle his final hours of free agency differently.

What a shame there's not one member in James' trusted troop man enough to tell him something he doesn't want to hear . . . knowing the person has his best interests at heart.

From the looks of things, James either got bad, no advice or turned a deaf ear to that possible, I suppose, dissenting voice in the wilderness.

Wireimage.com

ALL ABOUT ME: While LeBron James opted to take his talents to Miami and uncaringly turn his back on the Cavaliers, he made the correct and rational decision, according to Peter Vecsey.

How else can you explain his inconsideration not to inform the Cavaliers he'd chosen Miami to spare them the shock of learning it like everyone else, exempting the Heat, while watching TV?

If nothing else, after seven successful seasons together, you'd think James would've developed sufficient affection for a franchise (he was still recruiting Chris Bosh to play for until the moment he committed to Miami) to give Dan Gilbert a regretful (manufactured or not), thanks-for-everything heads-up.

Why was James so uncaring? His thoroughly compliant team owner had catered to his every caprice and, at the same time, delivered numerous other perks without being asked, yet he couldn't even grant him a mere courtesy call.

Obviously, James did more for the Cavaliers and made more money for Gilbert than the NBA's salary scale allows him to pocket.

Nevertheless, from years of being spoiled rotten, James showed zero compassion and no manners by not touching home base with Gilbert before trotting around the bases on ESPN . . . kinda like what happens when a team trades a star before notifying him.

Of course, had James confided in Gilbert he would've had to be convinced his secret was safe. The Heat had nothing to gain by blabbing James' decision before the Drama King did. Gilbert had nothing to lose if he leaked it; judging by his vindictiveness in his message to Cavs fans, he presumably would've called an immediate press conference or issued a release to announce the news.

So, once James opted to cap off his free agent exploitation of six organizations groveling to procure his services on ESPN, he was shamelessly trapped into making a spectacle of himself. Whoops, my bad; that's the point these days, to make as big as spectacle out of yourself as possible.

It was an awful idea from the git-go and only got more discomforting as the hour and Jim Gray's repetitive, scripted, no-follow-up line of questioning (Chris Farley is appalled) dragged on. He talked about team and sat there alone, without Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

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measy

07/12/2010 1:56 AM

love the lebron apologists. there's a way everyone else handles their free agency and then there's Lebron's way of doing. the look at me I'm more important than basketball, the Sun, and Jesus Christ put together way of doing things. He will be booed mercilessly everywhere and hated by some everywhere. he'll be hated by everyone in Cleveland. When Lebron retires, he should work as in public relations since he's so great at handling his own.
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picklepants7

07/11/2010 6:13 PM

first off, vecsey you're a dunce. lebron doesn't owe cleveland anything. if anything, cleveland owes lebron for playing there for seven years. come on let's face it, cleveland is the armpit of america. it's a running gag. i thought that with all the attention lebron was attracting, it was a billiant stroke of marketing to make a show out his "decision". it had never been done before, but i believe it will be done again. plus it gave money to the boys and girls club. what have you ever done for charity puttz. if cleveland is sooo great, why don't you move there? just what i thought, idiot.
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RedRobin

07/11/2010 2:30 PM

MJ, Kobe, and Russell didn't do it alone but, they were "THE MAN" of their respective teams. LeCON James went to Miami to become D. Wade's wing man.
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Proletariat in Seattle

07/11/2010 12:17 PM

This whole LeBron thing is ridiculous. It's naive to think this has anything to do with team, fans, loyalty or anything else like that. He's a paid entertainer, and Cleveland could not match the package that Miami could provide... including the weather.

How long do you imagine the Cleveland fan's loyalty would have lasted if LeBron had a couple of bad seasons? Not for long, I would guess.

He did what he had to do, just as Cleveland Cav owners would have done if LeBron ceased to produce.

End of story...
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newyorkerphil

07/11/2010 11:34 AM

Is this a free country or not? Tell this reporter that. He owes nothing to the cavs - A LOSING TEAM.
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Benzone91

07/11/2010 10:48 AM

The day before the big announcement, I tried my best to give the benefit of the doubt to this spoiled egomaniac. Considering the location (Greenwich,CT.?) and at the Boys and Girls Club, I really thought perhaps he'd not only use the hour to donate the proceeds from advertising, but to use 20-30 minutes to promote the organization. Letting us know it ALL wasnt just about him. Well... the time came and went..We all know pretty much the same about the Boys and Girls Club of America as we did at the start of the program.
This guy damaged not only his image, but also lost the respect of the casual fan/bystander. Statistically from a historical standpoint, he hurt himself as well.
He's suited to be a 25 year old of this generation, as taking the easy way out, is exactly what this "pawn" James did.
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dave1011

07/11/2010 7:51 AM

I think everyone needs to get a life and stop worrying about what LBJ decided to o with his life. The guy decided to go play basketball for alot of money with his friends in Miami. He didnt lie abot transparency , he didnt pass a ridiculous health care bill, he is not the one standing by and doing nothing while the Gulf dies. We have a real idiot thats doing that. LBJ is just doing what many of us would of done as well. In fact he is smarter than many NYers as he decided to keep more of his money and not give it to the raise tax and spend politicians that run NY state. He will save millions ove the course of his career.