My Plea to Cleveland Sports Fans

[Randolphkeys]

I'm glad that some facts found their way into the thread. If you are going to go on a Cavs website and claim the demise of the team as a contender was a good thing, just back it up and I can live with it.

That said, The Heat becoming America's Favorite Team to Hate is all predicated on a league wide conspiracy actually happening. It depends on Stern getting in there and greasing the wheels of The Heat Big Three, when we heard him say leading up to The Decision that he didn't like it and he would have preferred LeBron stay in Cleveland. I don't think it went down like Hulk Hogan leaving the WWF to be a bad guy in the rival NWO. I think the NBA was in a panic when LeBron left Cleveland and acted like a total douchebag with two other formerly popular players.

The ratings for this finals were formed out of hatred. Nobody thought that was how the NBA would break Neilson records... especially LeBron himself.

 

[Triple-S]

As said earlier.

I don't get how the media suddenly decided that Cleveland, Gilbert and everyone remotely criticizing LeBron is the bad guy, and should be kind of piled on about it.

Cleveland hasn't done anything wrong here. They idolized the guy, treated him great while he was here, even covering his faults and defending him when even the most remote criticism was applied.

If it's to be asked. I don't care that the guy won a title, one way or the other. It doesn't effect the Cavs, it doesn't make them any closer or farther away from an O'Brien trophy (other than possibly impacting how the NBA may look in 5 years, but that's a different topic). It doesn't impact how I view LeBron as a human being, nor will it ever make me like him more. He's still going to be a punk in my view, except this time with a ring.

My issue is not with that. My issue is mainly with people in the media trying to prop him up and throw lob shots against my team, and my city, and the idiots who defend LeBron as much as they can.

The most pathetic person I had ever heard was some women calling into 92.3 the fan the day after, and kept rambling on about how badly we're treating him, and how he's the biggest bullying victim ever. The amount of sheer stupidity by that one phrase is just mind-boggling. Ask the parents of gay teens that have committed suicide if they feel No. 6 is a victim of bullying.

The person than added on about how "He gave 7 good years here". Uh, okay? He's a professional athlete that was enjoyable to watch, yes. But whatever good will that was built up between him and the city was pretty much smashed to bits on that fateful june evening in 2010.

And you know what? Why defend a guy like him. He's a pro-athlete, he's made millions, and he wouldn't know you from adam, nor would he care. He's a selfish dude from all reports, this isn't like someone from the IndyCar Series (most fan-friendly series ever btw), this is a guy who's repeatedly acted like a punk to other human beings that are not within his inner circle. He doesn't care that you're defending him, nor should he.

Also, about getting over it? Sure. I'd be more than happy to. I think once one of the three teams finally gets that elusive championship, and parade down euclid, no one will care anymore. I think that's the one element people are forgetting. It's easy for say, Chicago to get over one of it's athletes bailing. They've won titles within the past 15 years. Cleveland has seen 3 generations go without titles. You expect us to be all happiness and sunshines over what has transpired? Hell, look at Boston for crying out loud. Bill Simmons and gang STILL harp on the Len Bias death, the '86 World Series, and 07 Super Bowl.

As for the city of Akron and the few people I witnessed within the past couple of days? Have some pride. I've never been more ashamed to be from this city than to see people walking around with "Akron Heat" jerseys, and wearing number 6 jerseys. Between the recent influx of Steeler fans and every other thing that could possibly be wrong, It's a disgrace. I'm from this area, it's my hometown, and to see it crumble down to this is sickening. We were the city of BF Goodrich, Goodyear and Firestone. We were the county that had Richfield, and the first Browns Backer group in the country. For the love of God, have some pride. Because it's looking like more and more Chrissie Hynde was dead on.

Miami? You're a joke. In my perfect world, you'd have 1 sports team left, and that'd be pretty much by default (the Miami Dolphins). Tampa is way more awesome as both a sports town and a vacation destination. I'll gladly give my dollars to those guys, and likely ensure I never give a dollar to your Dade County.

Bandwagon Heat fan? You're scum. I don't like the fact that there's people like you whom exist in the world of sports fandom. To paraphrase a quote Teddy Roosevelt (one of our county's GREATEST leaders), " Better it be to have lost, than to be those timid souls that no neither victory, nor defeat". Guess what? You don't know those two feelings. You have no character, nor are you a real fan. Whereas most of us live and time with our respective teams, you guys will just board whatever is fashionable.

And for ESPN. Have some journalistic integrity for once in your sorry existence. Get. with. the. program. No one likes watching this "First Take" garbage. No one wants to hear what Stephen A. Smith has to say about the NBA Finals, and about how Dwayne Wade has the sniffles. Give me some real analysis, and some people who love the game. Not people trying to spin every single thing related to sports into a giant soap opera.

 

[brownindian]

You have to understand that this is a sports-opera and it is getting massive ratings. That is how it is going to be ... And ESPN is the biggest benefactor with all the ratings; so why should they stop it? Unless people actually stop watching SportsCenter and make ESPN rethink how it wants to present its shows it is going to be like this.

 

[Jon]

The ratings for this finals were formed out of hatred. Nobody thought that was how the NBA would break Neilson records... especially LeBron himself.

Partially. The NBA had been slogging through a lot of mediocrity. James said he wanted to see a return to the '80's style ball when the league was smaller and the top teams had 3 or more stars. The Celtics had thrown down the gauntlet in that respect when they formed their big 3 ... and James saw it as the goal of other teams & other stars to rise to the challenge.

The hate fueled a lot of viewers, but so did the talent level. After they trounced the West, I certainly wanted to see what OKC would bring to the finals. James was not the only story going on.

Ironically, outside of the Heat and the Thunder ... the league isn't looking so hot. Dallas will try to ressurect themselves this summer, but it's not going well. Orlando has floundered and is on the brink of collapse. Boston may be breaking up. The Knicks keep failing. The Nets are a joke. The Spurs were great but still came up short, and continue to age. The Lakers took a step backwards last year when they failed to sign Paul and then lost Odom. We'll have to see if they can recover. The Clippers were a team on the rise, but how high can they truly go? Have they hit their ceiling? Same question for Indiana and Philly. How can teams like that take the next step?

 

[Jon]

The most pathetic person I had ever heard was some women calling into 92.3 the fan the day after, and kept rambling on about how badly we're treating him, and how he's the biggest bullying victim ever. The amount of sheer stupidity by that one phrase is just mind-boggling. Ask the parents of gay teens that have committed suicide if they feel No. 6 is a victim of bullying.

How many parents of gay teens had their child headlining a Deadspin article calling them out as a cocksucker?

I realize that's not supposed to be the same it's not meant the same way and he's a celebrity (blah blah) but try telling that LeBron's kids.

I wish people would respect some bounds and had the sort of self-control they'd show if the person they intended to flame was in the same room with them.

 

[Triple-S]

Partially. The NBA had been slogging through a lot of mediocrity. James said he wanted to see a return to the '80's style ball when the league was smaller and the top teams had 3 or more stars.

It'd have been cooler, if that had mean't contracting the Orlando Magic, Charlotte Bobcats, Miami Heat, New Orleans Hornets, LA Clippers, and bringing back the Seattle SuperSonics.

That version of the NBA would own. And, yes, the Cavs keep their team.

BTW, Imagine THAT Dispersal draft? I'd drool over that.

How many parents of gay teens had their child headlining a Deadspin article calling them out as a cocksucker?

I realize that's not supposed to be the same it's not meant the same way and he's a celebrity (blah blah) but try telling that LeBron's kids.

I wish people would respect some bounds and had the sort of self-control they'd show if the person they intended to flame was in the same room with them.

I wish LeBron wouldn't have gone out of his way to humiliate my hometown on National Television. I wish LeBron James wouldn't have lied to us repeatedly with quotes like "I'm staying in Cleveland to win a title", and "I"m not going anywhere". I wish LeBron didn't obsessively try to defend his actions by claiming that there's a fictional regional divide between Akron and Cleveland (and sadly, I think he's partly responsible for it now).

The gay teenager didn't warrant, nor earn any sort of cruel words from anyone. He's gay, they didn't likely do anything to harm that bully in anyway, or say rude comments towards them. They're bullied because they're different.

LeBron, to a certain extent, did earn this. It was his actions that caused him to be called various names, and to have comments attached to him.

Turning the other cheek is a lot more different in this situation.

I have very little respect for the man. Save for him being a good father to his kids (I'll never question that, unless proven otherwise), there's really nothing nice to say about him.

Now, if he matures more, and the wounds heal. I'd be more willing to forgive and forget, but as it stands, there is going to be bitterness on my end towards the guy.

 

[Jon]

Turning the other cheek is a lot more different in this situation.

Different to you, but not different to everyone.

I'd say the typical reaction when people are faced with dealing with something they don't like is to ignore it, shut it out, stay away from it ... but on the internet or even in the stands at a game ... there are little or no repercussions. We can say anything we want - and at worst we get kicked out.

So does that mean we should?

Is that really how it should be?

Turning the cheek as a principle doesn't have exceptions. People make those ...

There was an article in the Washington Post today about Robin Ficker ... an infamous heckler in these parts who's recently been making a return and having his say at National's games. This guy yells, he screams, he drives players and managers to distraction all the time. But he has two guidelines: he never curses, and he never drinks. Imagine that.

Rabid fans are a part of sports. Players love them Teams love them. The deep attachment formed is all part and parcel with the experience that keeps fans coming, buying tickets, supporting the team, buying merchandise, etc, etc. It's encouraged.

What I'm talking about here are limits ...

 

[jay_em]

I'm calling it now. He and ESPN will throw a private parade down Euclid so his buddies like jay_em can worship his arse.

 

[Chris]

This thread has officially jumped the shark.