Monday, July 12, 2010

Thursday, July 8, 2010

A [REAL] Letter 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

Los Galacticos En Vivo?

Words from Alan Hahn at Newsday and exclamations from Stephen A. Smith at whichever media outlet he is writing for this week indicate that LeBron James is going to sign with the Miami Heat and team up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to form some sort of Super Friends Squad (although Bosh's super-ness credentials probably need another once-over before we certify him).

Has Pat Riley been seen hanging out with Florentino Perez? Maybe he should inquire how this story ends?

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Look Out, Cleveland

Look Out, Cleveland,
the storm is comin' through,
And it's runnin' right up on you.
Look out, Houston,
There'll be thunder on the hill;
Bye-bye, baby, don't cha lie so still.

Was Wed'sday evenin' when first we heard the word,
It did not come by train nor bird.
T'was when Ben Pike stepped down to say,
"This old town's gonna blow away."


When news was confirmed on Wednesday that the highly coveted free agent power forward Chris Bosh had agreed to sign a contract with the Miami Heat there were a few things that became clear.

1. Dwyane Wade was going to stay in Miami
2. Dreams of the NBA's version of "The Galacticos" were still very much alive.
3. No top-flight player wants to sign a free-agent deal in Cleveland.

Since signing LeBron James to a rookie contract on July 4, 2003, the Cavaliers have not been able to bring another All-Star player to town via free agency. This team was built into an almost-but-not-quite championship contender via trades and the draft. Although a few key regulars were re-signed after arriving via one of those two one-way avenues the shores of the Cuyahoga have not been a popular destination among the dunking set.

And, now, Bosh ain't coming. Which makes it seem like Ray LeBron ain't coming home.

After scouring the transaction records over at ESPN.com, it looks like the only free agents that were actually convinced to sign with Cleveland during the LeBron era are Kevin Ollie, Ira Newble , Jelani McCoy, Lucious Harris, Scott Williams, Jake Tsakalidis, Robert Traylor, Luke Jackson, Mateen Cleaves, Lee Nailon, Alan Henderson, Damon Jones, James Thomas, Jerome Moiso, Drew Gooden (re-signed), David Wesley, Scot Pollard, Zendon Hamilton, Stephen Graham, Sasha Pavlovic, Demetris Nichols, Devin Brown, Lorenzen Wright, Tarence Kinsey, Daniel Gibson (signed extension after being drafted by CLE), Billy Thomas, Lance Allred, Kaniel Dickens, Danny Green, Leon Powe, Cedric Jackson and Jamario Moon.

And some of these guys were first brought aboard via the draft or trade (I think). Either way, not too many guys that were cracking the starting lineup of the Redeem Team at the last Olympics. Or the 2008-2009 Knicks squad for that matter. Regardless of how much LeBron had hoped to win a title in Cleveland, I don't see how he stays after every major free agent opted to play elsewhere. Perhaps he'd thought that the force of his personality and his game would transcend his zip code. False.

Bosh went to Miami. Amare went to New York. Boozer, who already has fled Cleveland once at top speeds, went to Chicago. This has to hammer home that no star player who considers himself a difference maker wants to take their show to Quicken Loans Arena. Which means, look out, Cleveland. This native son is gonna blow away.