Dan Gilbert's Letter to Cavs Fans... Wow!

[MMacOH]

After waking up today and mulling this over, I really think Dan Gilbert is a complete idiot who just screwed himself.  What FA is going to want to play for an owner who just called the best player in the NBA a "quitter?" 

I think the underlying problem is this: LeBron and Gilbert are the same person.  They are both arrogant, and one thing I know about rich/arrogant people: they do NOT like to be stood up. 

His bravado in stating the Cavs will win a title is quite humorous, and way off base. 

And lost in all this: kudos to Brian Shaw for being smart and walking away from that job offer.  Reports were stating that Shaw was asking about scenarios withOUT LeBron on the team and Gilbert wouldn't go there.  Shaw pushed for an answer and they wouldn't even consider that scenario.  Well, they had to because it was a 50/50 reality.

I think this is all funny, and the Cavs just went back into mediocrity, joining the other Cleveland teams as a joke.

He called him a quitter because he quit.  Gilbert has said that more of the story will come out over the next couple of weeks.  Why don't we wait for the whole story before we pass judgments on Gilbert? 

[nba is the worst]

Per Roy Hobbs' quote (can't believe 32K posts - wow):

"Paul didn't bail because the team brought in two legitimate stars to play with him.  However, he very openly talked about forcing a trade, and from his own words, he would have but for the moves made by Danny.

I just don't see the two guys as that different.  They were both sick of losing, and wanted to do what was in their own best interests.  The Celtics had the flexibility to accommodate Paul, and the Cavs couldn't."

I NEVER saw Paul quit on his team like LeBron in games 4 and 5 vs the Celtics. The Cavs were the best team in the league all season, and LeBron's tanking was the absolute opposite of his declaration about the importance of winning.

[Andy Jick]

After waking up today and mulling this over, I really think Dan Gilbert is a complete idiot who just screwed himself.  What FA is going to want to play for an owner who just called the best player in the NBA a "quitter?" 

I think the underlying problem is this: LeBron and Gilbert are the same person.  They are both arrogant, and one thing I know about rich/arrogant people: they do NOT like to be stood up. 

His bravado in stating the Cavs will win a title is quite humorous, and way off base. 

And lost in all this: kudos to Brian Shaw for being smart and walking away from that job offer.  Reports were stating that Shaw was asking about scenarios withOUT LeBron on the team and Gilbert wouldn't go there.  Shaw pushed for an answer and they wouldn't even consider that scenario.  Well, they had to because it was a 50/50 reality.

I think this is all funny, and the Cavs just went back into mediocrity, joining the other Cleveland teams as a joke.

He called him a quitter because he quit.  Gilbert has said that more of the story will come out over the next couple of weeks.  Why don't we wait for the whole story before we pass judgments on Gilbert? 

That may be true...  But a friend of mine once told me something valuable: "You can be so right you're wrong."

Dan Gilbert may one day look back at this letter as being the destruction of his franchise, not LeBron's decision.  If I knew an owner had just thrown LeBron under the bus, the guy who literally saved the Cavs from extinction, why would a great player choose to come there?

Maybe there is more, but I bet LeBron received things from that ownership that he never asked for because it was DAN GILBERT who coddled him.  Gilbert is guilty in this too: he helped create the beast we witnessed on ESPN last night...

[FallGuy]

I felt like he was channeling the incredible hulk:

“Dear Cleveland:

DAN GILBERT SMASH DISLOYAL LEBRON!
LEBRON MAKE DAN GILBERT ANGRY!
YOU NOT LIKE DAN GILBERT WHEN HIM ANGRY!
DAN GILBERT WANT TITLE!
DAN GILBERT SMASH LEBRON’S TITLE HOPES!

P.S. – Don’t forget to renew your season tickets. Good seats have suddenly become available!”

I'm so ready for a normal offseason from here on out.

[JHTruth]

I personally approve the letter. Sure it was a little whiny but LeBron just publicly humiliated your city and franchise. How would the Patriot owners and fans react if Tom Brady held an hour long spacial on ESPN to announce he was going to play for the Dolphins? And not even tell anyone and not even thank Boston for their support? It would be apocalyptic. LeBron should have just held a quiet press conference to announce his decision and then if Gilbert reacted this way Dan would have looked like a complete baby.

We pamper athletes so much. These guys do whatever the freak they want and we forgive and forget and root our hearts out for known scumbags as long as they deliver. If an owner wants to be real for once and not deliver some canned speech, I think it's a good thing.

[MMacOH]

After waking up today and mulling this over, I really think Dan Gilbert is a complete idiot who just screwed himself.  What FA is going to want to play for an owner who just called the best player in the NBA a "quitter?" 

I think the underlying problem is this: LeBron and Gilbert are the same person.  They are both arrogant, and one thing I know about rich/arrogant people: they do NOT like to be stood up. 

His bravado in stating the Cavs will win a title is quite humorous, and way off base. 

And lost in all this: kudos to Brian Shaw for being smart and walking away from that job offer.  Reports were stating that Shaw was asking about scenarios withOUT LeBron on the team and Gilbert wouldn't go there.  Shaw pushed for an answer and they wouldn't even consider that scenario.  Well, they had to because it was a 50/50 reality.

I think this is all funny, and the Cavs just went back into mediocrity, joining the other Cleveland teams as a joke.

He called him a quitter because he quit.  Gilbert has said that more of the story will come out over the next couple of weeks.  Why don't we wait for the whole story before we pass judgments on Gilbert? 

That may be true...  But a friend of mine once told me something valuable: "You can be so right you're wrong."

Dan Gilbert may one day look back at this letter as being the destruction of his franchise, not LeBron's decision.  If I knew an owner had just thrown LeBron under the bus, the guy who literally saved the Cavs from extinction, why would a great player choose to come there?

Maybe there is more, but I bet LeBron received things from that ownership that he never asked for because it was DAN GILBERT who coddled him.  Gilbert is guilty in this too: he helped create the beast we witnessed on ESPN last night...

Lebron doesn't ask, he demands.  And I never would have thought he was that way.  I got played.  So did every other Cav fan

[MMacOH]

"After listening to Withers today on the radio, we find out that not only did LeBron not let the Cavaliers know ahead of time that he was leaving, but he wouldn’t return emails or text messages from Gilbert since the playoffs ended. In addition, Gilbert tried no fewer than 4 times yesterday to have a chance to speak to LeBron for just five minutes and was rejected."

Yeah, Gilbert probably should have just thanked Lebron for all his service in his letter.   

Source http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/?p=30785

[Brendan]

Gilert should gut the team of the Jamison, Mo, and Gibson however he needs to, get his payroll down. Take the luxury tax and revenue sharing for a year or two (to make up for the money he's lost) then dump the team in a more favorable environment (economy back and a better CBA) - he's never going to build a winner and ruined himself as an owner.

The new owner should move to a new city. CLE is a terrible place - go watch the Reason.com series on it. Move the team to SEA and demand to take over the Sonics name and history.

[Rondo_is_better]

Gilert should gut the team of the Jamison, Mo, and Gibson however he needs to, get his payroll down. Take the luxury tax and revenue sharing for a year or two (to make up for the money he's lost) then dump the team in a more favorable environment (economy back and a better CBA) - he's never going to build a winner and ruined himself as an owner.

The new owner should move to a new city. CLE is a terrible place - go watch the Reason.com series on it. Move the team to SEA and demand to take over the Sonics name and history.

That's actually not that bad an idea. What history is there in Cleveland? 40-60 years of not winning anything.

[Witch-King]

Gilert should gut the team of the Jamison, Mo, and Gibson however he needs to, get his payroll down. Take the luxury tax and revenue sharing for a year or two (to make up for the money he's lost) then dump the team in a more favorable environment (economy back and a better CBA) - he's never going to build a winner and ruined himself as an owner.

The new owner should move to a new city. CLE is a terrible place - go watch the Reason.com series on it. Move the team to SEA and demand to take over the Sonics name and history.

if they did that, then the Sonics would have to play in the eastern conference. That, or they could just move the Grizzlies to the East. The last time I checked, Memphis, Tenessee is in the Midwest...

[papa shuttlesworth]

I think this letter won't be the death of the franchise, just like LeBron leaving won't be.  Writing it showed fans that ownership was on their side. 

I don't think the PR ramifications of the letter will be long term at all.  People will forget it in a couple days, whereas we will be reminded of LeBron in a Heat uniform at least once a week during their nationally televised games.

I'm not a player, so I don't know how long it will last in player's minds, but Gilbert has shown that he can spend money and at the end of the day, players will come to the money, even if it is in...Cleveland.

[Andy Jick]

After waking up today and mulling this over, I really think Dan Gilbert is a complete idiot who just screwed himself.  What FA is going to want to play for an owner who just called the best player in the NBA a "quitter?" 

I think the underlying problem is this: LeBron and Gilbert are the same person.  They are both arrogant, and one thing I know about rich/arrogant people: they do NOT like to be stood up. 

His bravado in stating the Cavs will win a title is quite humorous, and way off base. 

And lost in all this: kudos to Brian Shaw for being smart and walking away from that job offer.  Reports were stating that Shaw was asking about scenarios withOUT LeBron on the team and Gilbert wouldn't go there.  Shaw pushed for an answer and they wouldn't even consider that scenario.  Well, they had to because it was a 50/50 reality.

I think this is all funny, and the Cavs just went back into mediocrity, joining the other Cleveland teams as a joke.

He called him a quitter because he quit.  Gilbert has said that more of the story will come out over the next couple of weeks.  Why don't we wait for the whole story before we pass judgments on Gilbert? 

That may be true...  But a friend of mine once told me something valuable: "You can be so right you're wrong."

Dan Gilbert may one day look back at this letter as being the destruction of his franchise, not LeBron's decision.  If I knew an owner had just thrown LeBron under the bus, the guy who literally saved the Cavs from extinction, why would a great player choose to come there?

Maybe there is more, but I bet LeBron received things from that ownership that he never asked for because it was DAN GILBERT who coddled him.  Gilbert is guilty in this too: he helped create the beast we witnessed on ESPN last night...

Lebron doesn't ask, he demands.  And I never would have thought he was that way.  I got played.  So did every other Cav fan

I am stunned that any Cavs fan would be surprised by this news...  The handwriting was on the wall during the playoffs, and I emphatically stated then he was gone.  I only got the destination (NY) wrong.

I also knew that when it appeared the Cavs were making no noise this offseason regarding FA signings, that spelled the end as well.

But I do feel for you fans, as those jerseys are nothing more than souvenirs...

[wdleehi]

Per Roy Hobbs' quote (can't believe 32K posts - wow):

"Paul didn't bail because the team brought in two legitimate stars to play with him.  However, he very openly talked about forcing a trade, and from his own words, he would have but for the moves made by Danny.

I just don't see the two guys as that different.  They were both sick of losing, and wanted to do what was in their own best interests.  The Celtics had the flexibility to accommodate Paul, and the Cavs couldn't."

I NEVER saw Paul quit on his team like LeBron in games 4 and 5 vs the Celtics. The Cavs were the best team in the league all season, and LeBron's tanking was the absolute opposite of his declaration about the importance of winning.

I didn't see Lebron quit.


I saw great Celtic defense.


They did a similar thing to Kobe, but Kobe's teammates stepped up.

[Mike-Dub]

Per Roy Hobbs' quote (can't believe 32K posts - wow):

"Paul didn't bail because the team brought in two legitimate stars to play with him.  However, he very openly talked about forcing a trade, and from his own words, he would have but for the moves made by Danny.

I just don't see the two guys as that different.  They were both sick of losing, and wanted to do what was in their own best interests.  The Celtics had the flexibility to accommodate Paul, and the Cavs couldn't."

I NEVER saw Paul quit on his team like LeBron in games 4 and 5 vs the Celtics. The Cavs were the best team in the league all season, and LeBron's tanking was the absolute opposite of his declaration about the importance of winning.

I didn't see Lebron quit.


I saw great Celtic defense.


They did a similar thing to Kobe, but Kobe's teammates stepped up.

Even if LeBron did quit.  The Boston Celtics made him quit!

[RAcker]

Per Roy Hobbs' quote (can't believe 32K posts - wow):

"Paul didn't bail because the team brought in two legitimate stars to play with him.  However, he very openly talked about forcing a trade, and from his own words, he would have but for the moves made by Danny.

I just don't see the two guys as that different.  They were both sick of losing, and wanted to do what was in their own best interests.  The Celtics had the flexibility to accommodate Paul, and the Cavs couldn't."

I NEVER saw Paul quit on his team like LeBron in games 4 and 5 vs the Celtics. The Cavs were the best team in the league all season, and LeBron's tanking was the absolute opposite of his declaration about the importance of winning.

I didn't see Lebron quit.


I saw great Celtic defense.


They did a similar thing to Kobe, but Kobe's teammates stepped up.

Agreed.  I'll guess we'll just have to make him quit again next year...loser.