Dan Gilbert's letter to Cavs fans

[Frank M 181]

While I don't agree that the Cavs will win a championship before Lebron, at least it's nice to see that Dan Gilbert understands the sense of betrayal the fans feel with Lebron leaving. This was posted on cleveland.com:

 

 

Late Thursday night, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert issued the following statement on LeBron James' departure from the franchise.

 

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 homegrown "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

 

 

link

 

All I have to say is d@mn, he sounds pissed.

 

[Headslap75 0]

One way or another this cries for a "knock on the door face punching in full view of wife and kids"......I'm a Lebron Hater.....but Gilbert sounds like a crybaby....unless of course he pimped his wife off to the King with the promise that James would remain a Cav?? then I understand his feelings of betrayal??

[Busted by the Feds 9]

I don't mind that he had to react, but man this letter is embarrassing. This sounds like what a crazy fan in a call-in sports talk show would say, not the owner of the team. And the championship guarantee ? Uh-uh, not unless he can entice Kobe, Durant, etc. to Cleveland.

[Frank M 181]

I don't mind that he had to react, but man this letter is embarrassing. This sounds like what a crazy fan in a call-in sports talk show would say, not the owner of the team. And the championship guarantee ? Uh-uh, not unless he can entice Kobe, Durant, etc. to Cleveland.

 

He may regret it in the morning, but this is exactly what Cavs fans wanted to hear from him tonight.

[itsbigmoni 1]

What does he owe cleveland? He has every right to make the choice he wants. He wants to win a ring and chose a situation where he feels he has the best chance. Are you saying he was obligated to play for a team with lower (in his view) chances to win a ring?

[Frank M 181]

What does he owe cleveland? He has every right to make the choice he wants. He wants to win a ring and chose a situation where he feels he has the best chance. Are you saying he was obligated to play for a team with lower (in his view) chances to win a ring?

 

 

I'm not saying anything of the sort. But you have certain expectations as a fan when a player of Lebron's ability says that the most important things to him are family, loyalty, and winning , and that he looks forward to bringing multiple championships to Cleveland, and when he bolts for another team without a second thought after the owner and management mortgage the future to win him a ring right now, you feel betrayed. Seems like loyalty and family don't mean anything and winning is everything. That's fine, I get that attitude, but don't talk about how loyal you are while leaving for "greener pastures".

 

I'll tell you the one thing he owed. He owed Dan Gilbert at least a heads up as to the direction he was leaning so that the Cavs could have been more proactive. No, actually, not even so they could be proactive. Just because it's the right thing to do after seven years of building a franchise around him. Instead, he left them handcuffed and waiting just like everybody else. He didn't even say anything to Gilbert, Gibert found out from the TV like everybody else. That's pretty sh1tty, no?

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,433]

I don't mind that he had to react, but man this letter is embarrassing. This sounds like what a crazy fan in a call-in sports talk show would say, not the owner of the team. And the championship guarantee ? Uh-uh, not unless he can entice Kobe, Durant, etc. to Cleveland.

 

I agree. It sounds pretty whiny.

 

Lebron is narcissistic and he probably broke some promises along the way, but he is a free agent and can go wherever he wants. If Cleveland wanted guarantees, they should have got them a long time ago.

[NewbieJr 541]

Yes, Lebron is cowardly. Yes he is selfish. And yes he is disloyal.

 

But this all came down to one thing- he was tireed of hearing the screams that he can't hold Kobe's jock because he didn't have a ring. Lebron decided to go where a ring would be ten times easier. Instead of persuading good players to join his mission in Cleveland and work at getting over the hump, he decided to take the Karl Malone-route.

 

He lost a fan in me.

[Gepetto 1,454]

Yes, Lebron is cowardly. Yes he is selfish. And yes he is disloyal.

 

But this all came down to one thing- he was tireed of hearing the screams that he can't hold Kobe's jock because he didn't have a ring. Lebron decided to go where a ring would be ten times easier. Instead of persuading good players to join his mission in Cleveland and work at getting over the hump, he decided to take the Karl Malone-route.

 

He lost a fan in me.

 

Karl Malone did nothing wrong. Malone was at the end of his career.

[NewbieJr 541]

Karl Malone did nothing wrong. Malone was at the end of his career.

He still tried to go where a ring was instead of earning one himself.

 

Lebron's looking for multiple rings, so he did it earlier.

[Gepetto 1,454]

He still tried to go where a ring was instead of earning one himself.

 

Lebron's looking for multiple rings, so he did it earlier.

 

Malone tried pretty hard in Utah for over a decade. And nothing wrong with Lebron wanting to win multiple championships.

[LOD01 199]

Translation of Gilbert's letter: It's all that SOB James' fault that I can't line my pockets with cash now.

 

That POS owner was only thinking about how much money he is going to lose now because his team sucks. Hey ######, should have got Lebron some help, you jew bastard.

 

Look at ya now.

[Riddlen 1]

Translation of Gilbert's letter: It's all that SOB James' fault that I can't line my pockets with cash now.

 

That POS owner was only thinking about how much money he is going to lose now because his team sucks. Hey ######, should have got Lebron some help, you jew bastard.

 

Look at ya now.

this statement is so dumb it hurts my brain. say that gilbert failed in getting help for lebron through poor choices but to suggest that it was cheapness shows a complete lack of awareness of reality.

 

also, that letter waw bitter and immature and I loved it

[DanXIII 8]

Methinks it was more than just the flammable water that caused Lebron to leave Cleveland.

 

[MDC 7,887]

The letter was immature but I give Gilbert credit for saying exactly what every Cavs fan is feeling today. LeBron has every right in the world to sign with whatever team he wants, but he owed it to the Cavs and their fans to at least be honest about it and tell the owner what he plays to do, instead of making a freaking spectacle of himself on ESPN.

[Sho Nuff 720]

Sounds like a pissed off chick scarfing down Haagen Daaz after her boyfriend broke up with her.

[Reality 3,121]

What an embarrassment. This guy runs a NBA franchise? I really wasn't sure Lebron made the right decision but, after reading that letter he didn't get out soon enough.

[heavy-set 39]

I wonder what team people will use in Nba 2k11

 

on a side note, iam gonna trade over lebron and bosh and then play with the cavs and win a title

[Gepetto 1,454]

What an embarrassment. This guy runs a NBA franchise? I really wasn't sure Lebron made the right decision but, after reading that letter he didn't get out soon enough.

[surferskin 31]

What an embarrassment. This guy runs a NBA franchise? I really wasn't sure Lebron made the right decision but, after reading that letter he didn't get out soon enough.

 

And LOL at Gilbert. So this ass clown calls James a coward, quitter and a traitor but he was willing to give him 130 million right up until his "decision"?

[Cruzer 1,996]

Did this dude really say, during a superly, over-hyped, self loving press conference, that he was taking his talent and going to Miami - I mean he actually said it like that? Wow.

 

Well, move over Tiger - you now have company on the Sorry-Ass-Athlete Bus.

[cbfalcon 827]

I agree it was a classless latter to write.

 

But...

 

It was also possibly the most awesome thing I've seen an owner do. He summed up every fan's feelings and at least clued us in that Lebron is a phony. May as well scorch the earth because the Cavs are looking at 25 years of suck regardless.

 

The classless way LBJ tore the heart out of an entire city deserves the maximum sports wrath possible. Also, I read the name Lebitch James today and it made me laugh.

[Frank M 181]

Did this dude really say, during a superly, over-hyped, self loving press conference, that he was taking his talent and going to Miami - I mean he actually said it like that? Wow.

 

Well, move over Tiger - you now have company on the Sorry-Ass-Athlete Bus.

 

Then he talked about the great amount of loyalty he has.

[WhiteWonder 2,927]

i like it. well it could have been worded differently at parts. no need to say they will win a championship fisrt, but im glad he said what he felt and what im sure all cleveland fans felt.

[posty 2,809]

LeBron has every right in the world to sign with whatever team he wants, but he owed it to the Cavs and their fans to at least be honest about it and tell the owner what he plays to do, instead of making a freaking spectacle of himself on ESPN.

 

Exactly... There was no need for the primetime special to announce where he was going...

[cbfalcon 827]

I like that he called out Lebron for quitting against Boston.

 

I don't know (and doubt) if it was a conscious decision for Lebron to quit, but I saw those games and despite some decent stat lines, his heart wasn't into it. It was pathetic.

 

Cleveland fans should not only feel like he abandoned the city, but they should also feel he threw the Boston series and personally robbed them of a title because he was already planning to leave. Why? Cuz sports hate is fun.

[cbfalcon 827]

Exactly... There was no need for the primetime special to announce where he was going...

 

Not to mention Wade and Bosh should be pissed off that Lebitch thinks he is so much better than them. A true teammate would have announced his decision with them at the same time and in the same manner.

[Frank M 181]

More from Dan Gilbert:

 

 

CLEVELAND -- Angered and betrayed by LeBron James' decision to leave for Miami, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert accused the NBA's MVP of quitting during the playoffs.

 

Gilbert, who posted a letter to Cavs fans on the team's website shortly after James announced his plans to sign with the Heat, told The Associated Press late Thursday night that it's "accountability time" for James.

 

"He has gotten a free pass," Gilbert said in a phone interview with The AP. "People have covered up for [James] for way too long. Tonight we saw who he really is."

 

 

 

Gilbert said James quit on the Cavs during their second-round series against the Boston Celtics, who rallied from a 2-1 deficit to eliminate Cleveland.

 

"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."

 

The Cavaliers were beaten by 32 points in Game 5. During the game, James appeared distracted and uninterested, often glaring at Cleveland's coaches as the Cavs tried to foul to get back into the game in the second half. James also made some puzzling postgame comments, saying he had "spoiled" people with his play over seven seasons.

 

Gilbert also said he believes James quit on the Cavs in Game 6 of their series in 2009 against Orlando.

 

"Go back and look at the tape," he said. "How many shots did he take?"

 

Gilbert, who has owned the Cavs for five years, said he was most disappointed by James' behavior in the months leading up to the superstar's announcement that he is going to Miami to play with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. 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.

 

Gilbert said Rich Paul, one of James' business partners, called the Cavs moments before the announcement.

 

"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."

 

 

Gilbert said he now wishes he had done some things differently with James, who spent seven seasons with the Cavs.

 

"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."

 

 

from ESPN

 

 

[jocstrap 8]

what did James owe Cleveland? He gave them the best regular season record 2 years in a row (I think). Yet, not one other player on that team could score when it came down to crunch time in the playoffs. Good for Lebron, I hope he gets his ring in Miami.

[Recliner Pilot 61]

James' image took a hit last night because of the TV spectacle, not for who he signed with. He owes nothing to Cleveland, it's a fukking business.

 

Gilbert is a clown.

[Bishop82 61]

I agree it was a classless latter to write.

 

But...

 

It was also possibly the most awesome thing I've seen an owner due. He summed up every fan's feelings and at least clued us in that Lebron is a phony. May as well scorch the earth because the Cavs are looking at 25 years of suck regardless.

 

The classless way LBJ tore the heart out of an entire city deserves the maximum sports wrath possible. Also, I read the name Lebitch James today and it made me laugh.

[KSB2424 3,173]

 

And LOL at Gilbert. So this ass clown calls James a coward, quitter and a traitor but he was willing to give him 130 million right up until his "decision"?

Not only that, but Gilbert was trying like hell to pry Tom Izzo AWAY from MSU. Who's been there forever. Gilbert didn't give a crap about loyalty then. He doesn't care about loyalty at all. He just didn't get what he wanted and is jumping up and down screaming like 2 year old.

[tikigods 76]

Yes, Lebron is cowardly. Yes he is selfish. And yes he is disloyal.

 

But this all came down to one thing- he was tireed of hearing the screams that he can't hold Kobe's jock because he didn't have a ring. Lebron decided to go where a ring would be ten times easier. Instead of persuading good players to join his mission in Cleveland and work at getting over the hump, he decided to take the Karl Malone-route.

 

He lost a fan in me.

 

This was one of the many reasons I quit watching the Boston Bruins. They traded away Ray Bourque to Colorado so he had a chance to win a championship. Fine. However, he shows up in Boston with the Cup...and the Bruins were almost acting as if they had won it. It was an embarrassment.

 

I applaud Miami for putting together a team that has a chance to win it all. They stole Danny Ainge's formula after the Ray Allen-Kevin Garnett deals. It works.

[mobb_deep 920]

James' image took a hit last night because of the TV spectacle, not for who he signed with. He owes nothing to Cleveland, it's a fukking business.

 

Gilbert is a clown.

 

I think I just need to avoid your political threads, because I completely agree with you here (and in most other non poli threads).

 

Lebron owes nothing to nobody. Think of it this way... when we all graduate college we get to look around and choose the job we want. Professional basketball players do not have that choice. Their reward for training their entire lives is being forced to play for whatever teams signs their rookie contract.

 

If anything Lebron did the Cav's a favor by signing the 3 year extension in 2006, giving them the chance to build a championship team around him. Fast forward another three years and now Lebron FINALLY has his own choice to go where ever he wants. If you were forced to work for McDonalds for 6 years and then had a chance to stay at McDonalds or take a job at Tavern On The Green... what would you do?

 

Not only that, but Gilbert was trying like hell to pry Tom Izzo AWAY from MSU. Who's been there forever. Gilbert didn't give a crap about loyalty then. He doesn't care about loyalty at all. He just didn't get what he wanted and is jumping up and down screaming like 2 year old.

 

EXACTLY!

 

Gilbert had no problem firing Mike Brown after two consecutive seasons of the best record in the NBA. Talk about loyalty... take a look in the focking mirror a-hole.

 

This is all so stupid (including the dumb TV spectacle that I of-course watched).

[RicemanX 20]

Cavs owner can say whatever he wants about Lebron because the Cavs were kicked in the balls on national TV.

[KSB2424 3,173]

If you are Carmelo Anthony, or any halfway decent player on another team and will be a free agent next year or the year after. After reading this letter, I wouldn't dare even think of going to play for this guy's organization. Dan Gilbert may have gotten it off his chest but he just sunk his frachise even further than it already was. Real stupid move. Amatuear hour.

[Bishop82 61]

Gilbert ONLY said these things because it was what the fans wanted to hear. Why else would he make it public? If that letter makes a few season ticket holders re-up then he did his job.

 

Sidenote: Adam West Batman = Greatest Batman Ever

[MDC 7,887]

EXACTLY!

 

Gilbert had no problem firing Mike Brown after two consecutive seasons of the best record in the NBA. Talk about loyalty... take a look in the focking mirror a-hole.

 

The reason he fired Mike Brown was to placate LeB1tch.

[WhiteWonder 2,927]

Lebron does not owe anything to Cleveland.

 

 

 

he still took the easy way out.

[LOD01 199]

this statement is so dumb it hurts my brain. say that gilbert failed in getting help for lebron through poor choices but to suggest that it was cheapness shows a complete lack of awareness of reality.

 

also, that letter waw bitter and immature and I loved it

 

Well, that's because you are stupid. Fact: He stood to make tons of cash with lebron in Cleveland. Fact: That is up in a puff of smoke and THAT is why he is pissed. Loyalty...BULLSHIT!!!