If it's the Lakers Vs Heat in the NBA Finals...

[pdxKingsFan]

Other than handling his leaving poorly, which he's said himself he'd do differently now, what has he done to deserves any karmic payback? Wanting to be on a better team? Exercising his free agency? Just what did he do that was so evil?

He's been a complete jerk to Cleveland and continues to be. And its his home region. I guess he owes them nothing but I don't see things like that. We all have our own reasons for liking and disliking certain athletes, I immensely dislike James. Why do I even have to explain it? I just do.

I don't like his face. Is that better?

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

He's been a complete jerk to Cleveland and continues to be. And its his home region. I guess he owes them nothing but I don't see things like that. We all have our own reasons for liking and disliking certain athletes, I immensely dislike James. Why do I even have to explain it? I just do.

I don't like his face. Is that better?

Well in his defense, they did burn his jerseys, make commercials flaming him, his former owner roasted him and basically wished him bad luck, etc. I can't say I'd treat them very well if I were him either after all that. Yes he handled leaving poorly. But, he also said on more than one occasion that he wished Cleveland luck and had enjoyed playing there. I understand Cleveland fans were devastated but to hate the guy and make him a permanent villain because of it is a bit much.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Have you followed the history of Cleveland sports much? Talk about a town that has been beaten to the ground. Chicago Cubs fans, Red Sox fans before 2004 got nothing on Cleveland. Perhaps it was wrong of them to assume that a local boy would understand that and not do them the way they had been done before but I don't blame them for burning his jersey.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

Have you followed the history of Cleveland sports much? Talk about a town that has been beaten to the ground. Chicago Cubs fans, Red Sox fans before 2004 got nothing on Cleveland. Perhaps it was wrong of them to assume that a local boy would understand that and not do them the way they had been done before but I don't blame them for burning his jersey.

So, honest question. If instead of an hour-long ESPN special, LeBron had simply had a small press conference and announced: "I have decided to sign a free agent contract in Miami. I cherish the time I spent in Cleveland and I wish the team and its fans the best of success", would the Cleveland fans still have publicly burned his jersey? In other words, is the ill will coming out of the Cleveland fans a sheer result of The Special, or would they have done that no matter how he left?

 

[pdxKingsFan]

So, honest question. If instead of an hour-long ESPN special, LeBron had simply had a small press conference and announced: "I have decided to sign a free agent contract in Miami. I cherish the time I spent in Cleveland and I wish the team and its fans the best of success", would the Cleveland fans still have publicly burned his jersey? In other words, is the ill will coming out of the Cleveland fans a sheer result of The Special, or would they have done that no matter how he left?

The Special certainly set it up for media attention - it got a large group of fans ready to react one way or another in a single location in front of cameras. Had the news broke on just a random afternoon then people would have had more time to process without cameras standing by.

 

[Lockehead]

Lol if wade lebron and bosh chose sac, all these haters would love what they "stand for"

To me, it has to do with respect for the game of the basketball

A bunch of superstars coming to Sac would be fun to watch, but if we won a couple championships, a big part of that would still be because we had 2 of top 3 players in the league.

edit: May be of interst: around April of last year, 2 months before the playoffs began, Lebron said "I got a goal, and it's a huge goal, and that's to bring an NBA championship here to Cleveland. And I won't stop until I get it."

 

[Variant]

Not sure what point you're trying to make by saying we'd "love" LeBron if he'd pulled the same stunt to come here. Firstly, never woulda happened and secondly (and I can only speak for myself obviously), I'd still think the dude was a douche for doing it the way he did, but yes, I'd root for my team. I'd feel a little cheap though.

As to LeBron acting like a child? Taking a cheap shot at your former team and fans who are down in the dumps right now, then trying to say it was someone else's tweet... if that doesn't make you think of a little kid caught doing something and trying to lay the blame on someone else than I don't know what will.

I'm not saying the guy won't win multiple championships with the rest of the super-friends, and after a week my Laker hate is back and I'd probably root for him vs LA -- dude is still an immature douche though.