Queen James

[BillyKen]

As a Knick fan I am very disappointed this evening. Sure it was a super long shot, but a shot nonetheless. We spent 2 year ridding ourselves of selfish players such as Starbury, Randolph, Crawford, Al Harrington, terrible contracts, and Isiah Thomas. Now it is the unselfishness of Queen James that kills us.

If QJ truly wanted to "be a championship" (as was stated in his articulate speech) than why not at least go to Chicago? THAT would have made sense. But no, he goes to South Beach.

The New York Knickerbokers are left with Amare Stoudemire's MAX contract, who is playing on a microfractured knee and is one poke in the eye away from a career ending injury.

Well, at least I can say that I don't need to watch the NBA and can focus on my Billikens. They are my only hope for experiencing a fan's version of basketball immortality.

[BillyKen]

Food for thought:

After completing my initial post I sat in front of my computer screen for several minutes and was quite frustrated. As a New York Yankees fan, I do not understand the feeling of not getting the coveted free agent. I have never experienced such anguish as a sportsfan. I hate it.

Anyways, I was also thinking about the players that Miami will need to fill its roster with. OBVIOUSLY, I know that this will NEVER HAPPEN, but give it some thought....

The Heat have the new "Big Three." They drafted big men and a small forward. They need guys that can play D. Sure another big will help, but they need a guard who can D up and who will work his ass off on defense. This guard will be able to keep Queen James off the ball on D so he can make the SportsCenter blocks that we are so accustomed to seeing. The Heat also need a guy who can shoot the three and hit free throws. Someone who can do all the little things. Hmmm, a guard who is a hard nose defender, can hit threes (especially if open, as will be the case in South Beach), and someone who is motivated, determined to win championships, and can learn in the process how to be an NBA point guard. Oh, and the Heat can essentially only offer league minimum contracts.

If the Heat expand their horizons, and believe me I am a KNICKS fan so I AM NOT thrilled that I might be forced to cheer for the Heat, but they can find the perfect fit....

HMMM.... you guessed it....

KEVIN LISCH!!!!!!!!!!!

I would actually be happy if Queen James going to Miami would ultimately bring Kevin to the Heat. Of course it's a super long-shot at like maybe 1,000 to 1. BUT WHY NOT OFFER HIM A 10 DAY CONTRACT AND SEE WHAT THE BOY CAN DO????????

You heard it here first....Kevin Lisch to the Miami Heat.

[slu72]

Food for thought:

I would actually be happy if Queen James going to Miami would ultimately bring Kevin to the Heat. Of course it's a super long-shot at like maybe 1,000 to 1. BUT WHY NOT OFFER HIM A 10 DAY CONTRACT AND SEE WHAT THE BOY CAN DO????????

You heard it here first....Kevin Lisch to the Miami Heat.

First, you have to feel for Cleveland fans. Modell moves the browns and now James goes tropical. The Heat might have nine roster spots open if the draft picks don't work out. But before KL, I'd look for the legend to get a shot at playing with LJ once again and resurrecting his career if he's willing to renegotiate whatever contract he has (if any). Good chance he could pick up a ring if he does, so why not? Riley's placed all his eggs in three baskets and if one or two goes down to an injury, the Heat will be in a world of hurt.

[Taj79]

Who cares?

I lived through the days of George McGinnis, Julius Erving, Daryl Dawkins, Bobby Jones, Caldwell Jones, World B. Free, Andrew Toney and Lionel Hollins all on the 76ers roster (when I actually still cared about the NBA). I think the fact then still remains today: there is only ONE ball. Sure, these guys might supress their individual egos for a collective one for maybe a year --- or at least until they win one title, but it will then implode. Who's the biggest fish in this Miami pond?

A buddy in Cleveland told me that LeBron has now displaced Art Moddell as public enemy #1 there. I see where the Cavs owner is now saying LeBron quit in games 2,4 and 5 against the Celtics this year. Now ther's some class! And Dan La Batard in Miami is saying that the South Beach fans are front runners and band wagon chasers ---- sure, they'll set a World Series attendance record in a football stadium for a Game 7 but they won't show for the rest of the series. I saw Cleveland fans burning their LeBron jerseys. Idiots jumping around a South Beach bar. And so on. What the F**K for? They don't have a supporting roster! The Heat traded Michael Beasley to the Timberwolves late last night. With the big three, their roster now has FOUR guys on it adding Mario Chalmers. Three second rounds picks get no guaranteed momney. Broy, 72 and me are viable roster moives for the Heat now. Will work for minimum NBA wage! When the MLB ownerds all got together to hold salaries down, it was collusion. Three NBA stars form their own free agent team and that's not?

YAWN ---- call me when its over and some Western Conference team is taking the trophy from Stern while some Eastern Conference team (and not the Heat) is walking off the court.

[Runnin'Billiken]

Food for thought:

After completing my initial post I sat in front of my computer screen for several minutes and was quite frustrated. As a New York Yankees fan, I do not understand the feeling of not getting the coveted free agent. I have never experienced such anguish as a sportsfan. I hate it.

Anyways, I was also thinking about the players that Miami will need to fill its roster with. OBVIOUSLY, I know that this will NEVER HAPPEN, but give it some thought....

The Heat have the new "Big Three." They drafted big men and a small forward. They need guys that can play D. Sure another big will help, but they need a guard who can D up and who will work his ass off on defense. This guard will be able to keep Queen James off the ball on D so he can make the SportsCenter blocks that we are so accustomed to seeing. The Heat also need a guy who can shoot the three and hit free throws. Someone who can do all the little things. Hmmm, a guard who is a hard nose defender, can hit threes (especially if open, as will be the case in South Beach), and someone who is motivated, determined to win championships, and can learn in the process how to be an NBA point guard. Oh, and the Heat can essentially only offer league minimum contracts.

If the Heat expand their horizons, and believe me I am a KNICKS fan so I AM NOT thrilled that I might be forced to cheer for the Heat, but they can find the perfect fit....

HMMM.... you guessed it....

KEVIN LISCH!!!!!!!!!!!

I would actually be happy if Queen James going to Miami would ultimately bring Kevin to the Heat. Of course it's a super long-shot at like maybe 1,000 to 1. BUT WHY NOT OFFER HIM A 10 DAY CONTRACT AND SEE WHAT THE BOY CAN DO????????

You heard it here first....Kevin Lisch to the Miami Heat.

Ding ding ding. They have play makers and shot creaters. Now they need role players who can catch and shoot, play D, and bow to their three highnesses. A two guard who can shoot threes very well. The exact player they need: JJ Reddick. Hmmm, who does those same things and also looks a lot like JJ? BillyKen already knows.

[DoctorB]

That was the lowest low point in NBA history. I had already lost almost all respect I ever had for the league; it is now officially and forever dead.

What a joke-- holding a press conference live to trounce on the hearts of Cleveland fans. Absolutely the most classless thing ever by a top tier athlete, as far as perfectly LEGAL activity. That guy got some very bad advice. of course he still had to take it.

this is the logical endgame of the entire free-agency movement, in all of sports. the cat was out of the bag in the late 60s- 1970s, and now the lunatics are running the asylum. How will Cards fans feel next year, if King Albert bolts for the AL? hopefully he will spare us the prime time ESPN special, ludicrously called "The Decision" (boo hoo hoo--hand me a kleenex -- all proceeds to the boys Club -- boo hoo .....)

And please spare me the comments about supply and demand, or about how these 3 are all "worth" it. The entire economy is officially whacked. if an economy is thoroughly corrupt, and based on addictive misbehavior, then concepts of "worth" are out the window. Emersonian selfishness, run amock!

What a sad, sad day for basketball. RIP

[MB73]

Outrageous hype, ridiculous prime time ESPN announcement special, etc, all sickening.

LeBron sold out Cleveland. Typical.

Only good to come of this is to root against the Heat all year.

Hope they fall on their asses.

[strozier]

The day the NBA left NBC was the day the NBA died in my opinion.

No more hearing the greatest sports intro theme of all-time:

Thank you, John Tesh.

Also, I though the "one more eye poke away from a career ending injury" sounded more like a statement from a press release from Vivid...

[billiken_roy]

i couldnt care less how much money labrainless or any of his cohorts got. same wih the baseball, football or any professional athletes. short careers, a knee injury away from being over prematurely and i dont see many pro sports owners filing bankruptcy and going out of business. of course the players flaunting of their richness indeed is sickening. the fans are the only ones suffering financially. but all of us still go out to the ball park/arena at some point. maybe they only go when they get freebies, but still my fannie in the seat justifies the system. no one to blame but ourselves.

that said, the whole last week of nba free agency was the worst. and of course topped off by labron sticking it to his fans that most have been following him from grade school forward was beyond sickening. it just shows how society in general is all about the now and all about themselves to the nth degree.

wouldnt it have been refreshing for james to have come on camera and tell the world he owed to the good people of cleveland to stay and win a championship? unfortunately, that man isnt out there in any professional sport.

[moytoy12]

Man, there's a lot of Lebron hate out there. I get it and at the same time, I don't. On the one hand, yes, he is selfish and egotistical. Jordan was as bad, if not worse.

On the other, he is a 25 year old guy, making smart business decisions, getting to go play with his buddies for a lot of money and a good shot at a championship. I can't blame him. Heck, isn't he being the opportunistic business man that we applaud so many others for? I also don't get the classless comments. Sure, it was hard for Cleveland fans, but he didn't bash the fans or Cleveland. As far as pro athletes go, I have found Lebron to be more classy than many of his peers. Perhaps unrelated, but I have yet to hear Lebron's name associated with criminal activity.

And yes, while it would have been nice had he stayed in Cleveland, I don't think any athlete owes it to anyone. I see the owner is bitching like a school girl; I guess the owner forgot how much money Lebron made them. Finally, the Cavs owners didn't exactly surround Lebron with a great supporting cast.

[DoctorB]

the fans are the only ones suffering financially. but all of us still go out to the ball park/arena at some point. maybe they only go when they get freebies, but still my fannie in the seat justifies the system. no one to blame but ourselves.

Just to be clear: I am not bashing only Lebron; I think the whole system has become polluted. Lebron is symbolic of the throes of pro sports as we have known it --just a metaphor of what is killing the dog. Lebron is simply doing what he has been trained to do, why blame him any more than, say Michael??? (unless it is simply farther down the slide 15 years later ....)

Maybe corporate carpet baggers like ESPN are even more to blame -- meaning Disney .... hey Moy -- the smart business decisions line -- nice touch -- again, it hints at your own complicity with the system, man! right?? Lebron is just playing the casino, that somehow "justifies" it? DUH!?? or can't you at least agree that it is the whole system that is sicko?? crack dealers a mile from my house are also good at business, just in this case "illegal"

Dear Roy; thank you for proving my points, and illustrating it with an intimate confession of your own addictive behavior patterns. Yes, it is our fault. But you are WRONG in saying that your fanny in the seat somehow justifies the system -- what a complete crock. That is the addict talking there. Such an "argument" is useful for all kinds of foulness: illegal or not. Populism is a deadly brew, ask the Germans in the 1930s .... those were some good highways they built!

You really don't care how much these guys get paid? congrats; that one pulled my chain big time ... then you are trapped by the decadent economy; you have been hypnotized by the whole smoke and mirrors show. How can you--and so many reasonably intelligent consumers--be so thoroughly anaesthetized to these practices?? I DO care: this is it in a nutshell; they are way, way way overpaid. The economy of sports is deeply broken and thoroughly corrupt, and is now passed off as "supply and demand" what a joke, just like the Pentagon or British Petroleum or Halliburton.... it is simply unsustainable and one day will be compared to the Collisseum and the lions and warships....the Romans called it "bread and circuses." Aldous Huxley = "soma"

and this line: "the fans are the only ones suffering financially." As Vonnegut would say, I just don't know whether to laugh or cry over that howler! FYI: our whole culture is deeply affected by pro sports, which is now by far the largest single money maker entertainment-wise in America. who supports this fiasco? all of us, whether we go to the ballpark or not. One of the signs of addictive behavior is a deep state of denial and delusion--are I suggest that we are there?? I bet if you check the ratings last night, the Leboring special was viewed by millions!

By the way, I almost never go to a pro sporting events anymore, exactly for the reasons stated -- I absolutely detest supporting this corrupt and addictive system, to the extent that I can. Yes I watch stuff on TV, which we all pay for in various ways whether or not we want to pay. At least I am admitting to complicity in a problem; a deep and very serious problem. BEWARE OF THE MATRIX! MOLOCH AND LEBRON HAVE COLONIZED YOUR MINDS!!!

sorry for those offended by my morning screed -- I'm done now, and feel slightly better. talk to you in August ....or Sept.

[Runnin'Billiken]

Wow. I never thought I'd miss the threads where people just scream at Cassity to shoot more and Willie to gain some weight. Now I do. It's Lord of the Flies out here when we don't have actual Billiken Basketball to talk about.

[moytoy12]

Just to be clear: I am not bashing Lebron; I think the whole system has become polluted. Lebron is symbolic of the throes of pro sports as we have known it --just a metaphor of what is killing the dog. Lebron is simply doing what he has been trained to do, why blame him??? Maybe ESPN is even more to blame -- meaning Disney .... hey Moy -- the smart business decisions line -- again, it hints at your own complicity with the system, man! right?? or is it the whole system that is sicko??

Dear Roy; thank you for proving my points, and illustrating it with an intimate confession of your own addictive behavior patterns. Yes, it is our fault. But you are WRONG in saying that your fanny in the seat somehow justifies the system -- what a complete crock. That is the addict talking there. Such an "argument" is useful for all kinds of foulness: illegal or not. Populism is a deadly brew, ask the Germans in the 1930s .... those were some good highways they built!

You really don't care how much these guys get paid? congrats; that one pulled my chain big time ... then you are trapped by the decadent economy; you have been hypnotized by the whole smoke and mirrors show. How can you--and so many reasonably intelligent consumers--be so thoroughly anaesthetized to these practices?? I DO care: this is it in a nutshell; they are way, way way overpaid. The economy of sports is deeply broken and thoroughly corrupt, and is now passed off as "supply and demand" what a joke, just like the Pentagon or British Petroleum or Halliburton.... it is simply unsustainable and one day will be compared to the Collisseum and the lions and warships....

and this line: "the fans are the only ones suffering financially." As Vonnegut would say, I just don't know whether to laugh or cry over that howler! FYI: our whole culture is deeply affected by pro sports, which is now by far the largest single money maker entertainment-wise in America. who supports this fiasco? all of us, whether we go to the ballpark or not. One of the signs of addictive behavior is a deep state of denial and delusion--are I suggest that we are there?? I bet if you check the ratings last night, the Leboring special was viewed by millions!

By the way, I almost never go to a pro sporting events anymore, exactly for the reasons stated -- I absolutely detest supporting this corrupt and addictive system, to the extent that I can. Yes I watch stuff on TV, which we all pay for in various ways whether or not we want to pay. At least I am admitting to complicity in a problem; a deep and very serious problem. BEWARE OF THE MATRIX! MOLOCH AND LEBRON HAVE COLONIZED YOUR MINDS!!!

sorry for those offended by my morning screed -- I'm done now, and feel slightly better. talk to you in August ....or Sept.

Doc, I do not disagree with a lot of what you are saying. We're all complicit in this system. The system ain't perfect. I can't blame a fellow citizen for maximizing his opportunity in this system. At the end of the day, we're all selfish and do what is in our personal best interest. I'm not going to bash a person for doing that legally.

I'd be interested in hearing what your solutions/suggestions for improvement are for the many ills you highlight above. The easy part is highlighting the issues.

America is an empire that will lose its status/crumble at some point (they all do). I do not think we will correct the inertia of imperfect creatures, we may be able to partially mitigate it over time and perhaps that is why we argue these types of things.

Back to Lebron, I don't have nearly the issues with what he did as others apparently do.

[Taj79]

SHOW ME THE MONEY.

I agree with the Doc, however I am guilty of still watching the "occassional" pro match. I watch no NBA basketball, but if Carmelo is endorsing Coke and I buy Coke because, well I do, am I stuck in the morass of pro endorsements? I don't ever recall caring that Tiger or MJ endorsed Gatirade but i still bought it if and when I needed it.. I watch very littl epor baseball. Little to no pro hockey. Now, football -- well fantasy has hooked me in. But I don't set my calendar to it.

I hav eroom for improvement, yes.

[moytoy12]

SHOW ME THE MONEY.

I agree with the Doc, however I am guilty of still watching the "occassional" pro match. I watch no NBA basketball, but if Carmelo is endorsing Coke and I buy Coke because, well I do, am I stuck in the morass of pro endorsements? I don't ever recall caring that Tiger or MJ endorsed Gatirade but i still bought it if and when I needed it.. I watch very littl epor baseball. Little to no pro hockey. Now, football -- well fantasy has hooked me in. But I don't set my calendar to it.

I hav eroom for improvement, yes.

Let's be clear, Taj, there is absolutely nothing wrong with fantasy football. I check with the power that be, and fantasy football is an exception to the rule. You're good to go.

[willie]

Doc, what a pile of pompus BS. Pro sports to Halliburton and BP. Have a drink and calm down.

[billiken_roy]

Just to be clear: I am not bashing only Lebron; I think the whole system has become polluted. Lebron is symbolic of the throes of pro sports as we have known it --just a metaphor of what is killing the dog. Lebron is simply doing what he has been trained to do, why blame him any more than, say Michael??? (unless it is simply farther down the slide 15 years later ....)

Maybe corporate carpet baggers like ESPN are even more to blame -- meaning Disney .... hey Moy -- the smart business decisions line -- nice touch -- again, it hints at your own complicity with the system, man! right?? Lebron is just playing the casino, that somehow "justifies" it? DUH!?? or can't you at least agree that it is the whole system that is sicko?? crack dealers a mile from my house are also good at business, just in this case "illegal"

Dear Roy; thank you for proving my points, and illustrating it with an intimate confession of your own addictive behavior patterns. Yes, it is our fault. But you are WRONG in saying that your fanny in the seat somehow justifies the system -- what a complete crock. That is the addict talking there. Such an "argument" is useful for all kinds of foulness: illegal or not. Populism is a deadly brew, ask the Germans in the 1930s .... those were some good highways they built!

You really don't care how much these guys get paid? congrats; that one pulled my chain big time ... then you are trapped by the decadent economy; you have been hypnotized by the whole smoke and mirrors show. How can you--and so many reasonably intelligent consumers--be so thoroughly anaesthetized to these practices?? I DO care: this is it in a nutshell; they are way, way way overpaid. The economy of sports is deeply broken and thoroughly corrupt, and is now passed off as "supply and demand" what a joke, just like the Pentagon or British Petroleum or Halliburton.... it is simply unsustainable and one day will be compared to the Collisseum and the lions and warships....the Romans called it "bread and circuses." Aldous Huxley = "soma"

and this line: "the fans are the only ones suffering financially." As Vonnegut would say, I just don't know whether to laugh or cry over that howler! FYI: our whole culture is deeply affected by pro sports, which is now by far the largest single money maker entertainment-wise in America. who supports this fiasco? all of us, whether we go to the ballpark or not. One of the signs of addictive behavior is a deep state of denial and delusion--are I suggest that we are there?? I bet if you check the ratings last night, the Leboring special was viewed by millions!

By the way, I almost never go to a pro sporting events anymore, exactly for the reasons stated -- I absolutely detest supporting this corrupt and addictive system, to the extent that I can. Yes I watch stuff on TV, which we all pay for in various ways whether or not we want to pay. At least I am admitting to complicity in a problem; a deep and very serious problem. BEWARE OF THE MATRIX! MOLOCH AND LEBRON HAVE COLONIZED YOUR MINDS!!!

sorry for those offended by my morning screed -- I'm done now, and feel slightly better. talk to you in August ....or Sept.

in order:

1. when i said it justifies the system. i meant from the owners standpoint. why lower the costs if the fans keep coming.

2. i dont care how much they make. my point is do you think for one second that if all the athletes took a 50% pay cut the owners would immediately lower all ticket prices and concessions 50%? no way. they are filling the stands at current rates, in their minds they would be fools to lower the prices. so take your choice, either the players get their fair share or the owners. but imo, one thing is for sure, the fans dont win financially.

3. almost never? i can say the same. until we can truly say, N E V E R and back it up, you are no better than me or the rest of the "addicts" as you described sports fans.

[moytoy12]

Doc, what a pile of pompus BS. Pro sports to Halliburton and BP. Have a drink and calm down.

[kevinfootes]

i couldnt care less how much money labrainless or any of his cohorts got. same wih the baseball, football or any professional athletes. short careers, a knee injury away from being over prematurely and i dont see many pro sports owners filing bankruptcy and going out of business. of course the players flaunting of their richness indeed is sickening. the fans are the only ones suffering financially. but all of us still go out to the ball park/arena at some point. maybe they only go when they get freebies, but still my fannie in the seat justifies the system. no one to blame but ourselves.

that said, the whole last week of nba free agency was the worst. and of course topped off by labron sticking it to his fans that most have been following him from grade school forward was beyond sickening. it just shows how society in general is all about the now and all about themselves to the nth degree.

wouldnt it have been refreshing for james to have come on camera and tell the world he owed to the good people of cleveland to stay and win a championship? unfortunately, that man isnt out there in any professional sport.

It might have been nice if Lebron would have stayed, but he really has no obligation. Have you ever changed jobs?

[Pistol]

I'm enjoying this thread a lot. I don't think anyone is overreacting (love the rant, Doc) because of the nature of this event. The fact that this press conference even took place made me very disappointed in LeBron and the state of pro sports as a whole. It's a monstrous ego and out-of-control money-grabbing machine that allows this sort of display to happen. A primetime ESPN slot given for this garbage, and 2 commercial breaks before he even let fly the "I will be taking my talents to South Beach" announcement. Ugh.

I have to think a lot of basketball fans are with me when I say that I will never root for James again. Part of this is my bias toward struggling cities such as Cleveland and lack of faith in fans in southern cities that support their teams only when they're winning- fair weather cities have fair weather fans, period.

But I also have to think that this tarnishes James' legacy no matter what happens. If he wins championship after championship now, it will be because he surrounded himself with 2 of the NBA's biggest stars (Jordan did it with much, much less; look at Pippen without him). If he doesn't win a championship every season, those non-championship seasons will be considered failures. If he had won in Cleveland, it would always have been considered an achievement.

I'll finish with a question- how is this even possible? The NBA salary cap was just announced at $58 million, right? Are these three, who could command annual salaries that would probably total just over $58 million, taking big enough pay cuts to make this possible? Will the Heat only have guys making the league minimum rounding out the other 9 roster spots?

[Pistol]

It might have been nice if Lebron would have stayed, but he really has no obligation. Have you ever changed jobs?

Yes, but I've never strung several potential employers along after failing to succeed for my existing employer, broadcasted my decision live, and felt the need to join forces with 2 of the other best at my job to reach my goals, all while abandoning my hometown, friends, family, and supporters.

[kevinfootes]

I'm enjoying this thread a lot. I don't think anyone is overreacting (love the rant, Doc) because of the nature of this event. The fact that this press conference even took place made me very disappointed in LeBron and the state of pro sports as a whole. It's a monstrous ego and out-of-control money-grabbing machine that allows this sort of display to happen. A primetime ESPN slot given for this garbage, and 2 commercial breaks before he even let fly the "I will be taking my talents to South Beach" announcement. Ugh.

I have to think a lot of basketball fans are with me when I say that I will never root for James again. Part of this is my bias toward struggling cities such as Cleveland and lack of faith in fans in southern cities that support their teams only when they're winning- fair weather cities have fair weather fans, period.

But I also have to think that this tarnishes James' legacy no matter what happens. If he wins championship after championship now, it will be because he surrounded himself with 2 of the NBA's biggest stars (Jordan did it with much, much less; look at Pippen without him). If he doesn't win a championship every season, those non-championship seasons will be considered failures. If he had won in Cleveland, it would always have been considered an achievement.

I'll finish with a question- how is this even possible? The NBA salary cap was just announced at $58 million, right? Are these three, who could command annual salaries that would probably total just over $58 million, taking big enough pay cuts to make this possible? Will the Heat only have guys making the league minimum rounding out the other 9 roster spots?

Doesn't the NBA have a soft cap that allows more money to be spent on signing your own players? That would allow extra funds to sign Wade and bring them over the $58 million. I think most NBA teams are over the cap mark at least some of the time.

[moytoy12]

Doesn't the NBA have a soft cap that allows more money to be spent on signing your own players? That would allow extra funds to sign Wade and bring them over the $58 million. I think most NBA teams are over the cap mark at least some of the time.

I think you're right. They have the luxury tax if you go over. That's about all I know as I'm not that familiar with the NBA cap.

[kevinfootes]

Yes, but I've never strung several potential employers along after failing to succeed for my existing employer, broadcasted my decision live, and felt the need to join forces with 2 of the other best at my job to reach my goals, all while abandoning my hometown, friends, family, and supporters.

I'm not saying that the way he went about it was correct. He might have owed the people of Cleveland more discretion than an ESPN special, but he doesn't owe them a lifetime commitment.

BTW, saying that James "failed to succeed" is a bit of a stretch. Are you implying that Shannon Brown is more successful? Did Ernie Banks fail to succeed? Ted Williams, Ryne Sandberg...

[strozier]

Adam Morrison's jewelry collection: