Saint John wrote:For years and years those of us outside of Cleveland saw his ego growing instead of his talent. We saw the annual collapses, and we also saw a guy that was becoming more and more withdrawn at the end of games. The eyes always tell it best. He would look around in the crucial waning moments of games. Win or lose, go back and watch Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Kobe Bryant and especially Michael Jordan in those same scenarios. You could see fire, desire and leadership. Win or lose, you had to take the game from them. More importantly, you saw those guys getting better every year, making those around them better every year and getting closer to that ultimate goal every year. And, as a fan, you just knew it was a matter of time. They simply couldn't be stopped in their pursuit.
This guy quit on a 61 win team and did so in a way that will forever haunt him. He had 2 choices during his exit. He could have made this about the fans, the owner and the remaining team members ... thanking them all and even throwing in a sales pitch for the team and city. But he didn't. He made it about himself. He didn't show one scintilla of class, gratitude or foresight in his decision. Then, to make matters worse, he wasn't even a good salesman about it. Again ... the eyes. During that interview he was uncomfortable and indecisive. You could see right through the bullshit. Within 30 seconds of that garbage spectacle I would bet that virtually the entire city of Cleveland knew he was leaving. It was as though he knew he was selling out, cheapening, brand and not doing the right thing and definitely not doing it the right way. And he was right. It was just like crunch-time on the court ... ask him to get it right and do it alone, and he always fails. At least he's consistent.
Great post Dan. You have no idea the hapless battle I've been fighting against the sycophants here the last couple of years. No one around here would admit that he had choked and was clearly a narcissistic cocksucker. On the other hand, I would constantly blast the guy around anyone within earshot.
He is and always has been a pitiful sack of shit who would be shootin up people in Akron in drive-bys and robbing purses from old ladies if he hadn't been born with basketball ability. 0 character, class, or resolve. Look at his free throws - a guy with his talent that had character would have fixed that by now. Nope, too lazy. Just wants to get by on natural talent. Lazy.
The most unbelievable thing to me is how people around here think he suddenly turned into this dickhead as late as the Boston tank job. Nope, sorry folks. This guy was like that longgggg before that. Example: He steadfastly refused to give ANY interviews with our local media. Any at all. Several radio show hosts, TV anchors, and what not have been quietly bitching about it for years (well, in the case of our highest-rated talk show host, not so quietly). Then there were the tipping stories and other assorted bullshit. Somehow, through it all, people just ignored the signs.
Another example: Yesterday, our legendary Cavs radio guy, Joe Tait, just came out and said LeBron never once even so much as said hello to him in 7 years. Tait has been calling games since the Cavs have been around. A total legend. Was I surprised? Nope. Were most other fans? Yep.