Why so bitter?

[basketball_fan]

This is not meant to start anything and I have no vested interest either way, I am just curious. I get it; most Cavalier fans feel like a scorned lover. Their praised son of Ohio left to join a super team in Florida. I somewhat understand the hostility towards James and anything to do with Miami basketball. However, why must you feel this way?

Was it the “decision” show on ESPN where he pretty much said “screw you Cleveland” or was it just his decision to leave in general? I mean, you do know he had every right as a free agent to leave. Because when I see these two teams play in Cleveland, it’s like you and James were in a relationship and you walked in on him with some other chick.

The way the crowd was cheering in the most recent game like the Cavaliers actually got into the postseason with their 15th win. I understand the hoopla, somewhat, I mean you have had very little to look forward to this season and you got to take wins when you can get it…its even sweeter when it’s against your ex.

But why so much hatred for a man that made your franchise relevant and competitive for 5 playoff runs? I understand in this abysmal season you need something to cheer for, but when does it just come down to an athlete leaving one team for another.

Its sports, it happens all the time.

 

[czvo]

This is not meant to start anything and I have no vested interest either way, I am just curious. I get it; most Cavalier fans feel like a scorned lover. Their praised son of Ohio left to join a super team in Florida. I somewhat understand the hostility towards James and anything to do with Miami basketball. However, why must you feel this way?

Was it the “decision” show on ESPN where he pretty much said “screw you Cleveland” or was it just his decision to leave in general? I mean, you do know he had every right as a free agent to leave. Because when I see these two teams play in Cleveland, it’s like you and James were in a relationship and you walked in on him with some other chick.

The way the crowd was cheering in the most recent game like the Cavaliers actually got into the postseason with their 15th win. I understand the hoopla, somewhat, I mean you have had very little to look forward to this season and you got to take wins when you can get it…its even sweeter when it’s against your ex.

But why so much hatred for a man that made your franchise relevant and competitive for 5 playoff runs? I understand in this abysmal season you need something to cheer for, but when does it just come down to an athlete leaving one team for another.

Its sports, it happens all the time.

Yes it is.

As for the crowd cheering, they've cheered like that all season. Unfortunately, Heat "fans" don't know what it means to actually care about a team through thick and thin.

 

[DFX]

Are you daft man?

I mean, I can't speak for everyone, but the general consensus is that we're pissed about how he left. Sure, the fact that he left hurts some, but it's what he did when he left that angered us so.

 

[ButterMPancakes]

Even I understand and I'm not a Cavs fan. . . how did this go over your head?

 

[Da_James_Gang]

Just stfu seriously...

 

[Backstage]

This is not meant to start anything and I have no vested interest either way, I am just curious. I get it; most Cavalier fans feel like a scorned lover. Their praised son of Ohio left to join a super team in Florida. I somewhat understand the hostility towards James and anything to do with Miami basketball. However, why must you feel this way?

Was it the “decision” show on ESPN where he pretty much said “screw you Cleveland” or was it just his decision to leave in general? I mean, you do know he had every right as a free agent to leave. Because when I see these two teams play in Cleveland, it’s like you and James were in a relationship and you walked in on him with some other chick.

The way the crowd was cheering in the most recent game like the Cavaliers actually got into the postseason with their 15th win. I understand the hoopla, somewhat, I mean you have had very little to look forward to this season and you got to take wins when you can get it…its even sweeter when it’s against your ex.

But why so much hatred for a man that made your franchise relevant and competitive for 5 playoff runs? I understand in this abysmal season you need something to cheer for, but when does it just come down to an athlete leaving one team for another.

Its sports, it happens all the time.

I don't know if you're trolling or are genuinely curious, but the bolded statement works both ways. Bitterness in sports also always happens all the time. People hold grudges against other teams for a recent loss, a hard foul some player committed against our team, chin music from an opposing pitcher, or former players who left on awful terms. We've had Cleveland players all across the board leave for more money, get traded when we didn't want them to, or just move on with no fanfare.

If you really wanted to know why we were bitter, you would've actually read the forum. That's why it's here. There are topics upon topics upon topics on this subject and a search function to look through everything and aid you in your curiosity.

Those who only understand "somewhat" about hostility towards LeBron is someone who clearly cheers for the Heat. Maybe you do, maybe you don't. But, except for those who jumped on that bandwagon or those who suckle at ESPN's teat, you can see why everyone (and it's clearly a majority of basketball fans across the country) has a beef with him. Some feel sympathy for us, some are more empathetic (jilted teams like NY or Chicago, perhaps), or there are those who hate him from playoff runs past (Wizard fans, Celtics for past and present). He's not beloved across the board. He admits it, too. They're hunted. He was "king" in a sense because he had this team and all of us eating out of his hand when he was here. He had the entourage, the adulation...whatever he wanted, we enabled.

Bitterness happens all the time. "The Decision" and actions like it do not.

 

[Chris]

No way this guy is serious or not a troll. Get out.

 

[billmac91]

This is not meant to start anything and I have no vested interest either way, I am just curious. I get it; most Cavalier fans feel like a scorned lover. Their praised son of Ohio left to join a super team in Florida. I somewhat understand the hostility towards James and anything to do with Miami basketball. However, why must you feel this way?

Was it the “decision” show on ESPN where he pretty much said “screw you Cleveland” or was it just his decision to leave in general? I mean, you do know he had every right as a free agent to leave. Because when I see these two teams play in Cleveland, it’s like you and James were in a relationship and you walked in on him with some other chick.

The way the crowd was cheering in the most recent game like the Cavaliers actually got into the postseason with their 15th win. I understand the hoopla, somewhat, I mean you have had very little to look forward to this season and you got to take wins when you can get it…its even sweeter when it’s against your ex.

But why so much hatred for a man that made your franchise relevant and competitive for 5 playoff runs? I understand in this abysmal season you need something to cheer for, but when does it just come down to an athlete leaving one team for another.

Its sports, it happens all the time.

Fans of Cleveland are bitter a local hero left his hometown in a shameful way...kicking the city in the nuts before he left.

Nationally, the decision is an easy target but most people are upset that one of the best players in the league, tried to take a shortcut to a championship. We don't like cheaters, and Wade, Bosh, and James essentially cheated the system and themselves.

Fans gets a watered down version of each player and collectively they're easy to hate because Americans don't like watching people get rewarded for taking the easy path. They sinned against sports...

 

[castor777]

"The way your crowd was cheering"

I guess you didn't see the games in which they beat the Lakers, Celtics (1st game of season), Knicks, or even the Clippers when they finally ended their losing streak or Grizzlies when Mo hit the game winner.

This. Is. Cleveland.

We cheer for our teams. If it's a big game to us, we'll cheer louder. This was a big game, we cheered our lungs out. That's what we do. We don't show up to games late or have a few drinks before going to our seats halfway through the 2nd quarter, we don't only start paying attention to our team when a "super team" is formed here and figure it's time to jump on the bandwagon, and we sure as shit don't have a stadium where half the fans are for the other team.

Our team might suck and be irrelevant now, I'd be the first to admit it. But who cares. Why would I turn my back on a team I've been a fan of since I first started watching sports? We're going to have a few crappy transition and rebuilding years ahead of us, why freak out and refuse to support them? This is my team.

If you can't see that and all you see is a bunch of bitter fans who only care to spit venom at a great player that left us, you aren't looking at our fan base. At least not the ones here in Ohio and up in Cleveland. You've seen maybe 2 of our games all year against the Heat and base everything on that. Or you were just looking for an excuse to try and rile some people up.

Why so trollish?

 

[I-77 NORTH]

Your on the outside looking in.

You wouldn't understand.

 

[Born 'N' Raised]

This guy is clearly a troll, but I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt for a minute.

Where to even begin? This decision was far more than an athlete leaving one team for another.

1) He said when he came to Cleveland that he was going to "light it up like Vegas" and wouldn't quit until he brought a championship to the Cavs. Well, he did quit. And not just by going to another team before winning a championship. (See point #4)

2) He was a selfish, egotistical, crybaby who dominated and held captive the team he was supposed to be playing for. He had way more sway in deals that were being made and personnel decisions than any player should and then played it off like it wasn't his fault when things went bad. Most of these issues were kept pretty well hidden until after he was gone.

3) He refused to recruit any free agents to come to Cleveland to help him win a championship. Year after year, we watched as free agents signed elsewhere and the reason we didn't get any of note? It's been pretty consistently reported that he refused to recruit or even hint to other players whether or not he may remain in Cleveland beyond his current contract. With no clue whether our superstar would be here, why would any other star sign on to come in?

4) It's been thoroughly discussed and analyzed around here (as well as in the media) how he quit in the playoffs on several occasions. If he didn't completely tank games/series, he did his damndest to not influence the outcome in a positive way. Sure, he got his stats and made it look good. But how many times was a critical game on the line, and he fumbled the ball away?

5) "The Decision"... Do I really need to say any more? Is it really necessary to go on national television and trash/destroy the franchise that has done absolutely everything you asked (read: demanded) for the last 7 years? Was it necessary to wait until so late in free agency that the team whose soul you're stomping on has no opportunity to chase any of the other quality free agents? Was it necessary to turn Cleveland into a Free Agent leper colony? After that, what free agent would bother even looking twice our way. If it was a matter of "an athlete leaving one team for another", couldn't he have done it the same way every other free agent in the history of free agents has done it? Meet with possible teams. Consider all options. Accept a contract. If you really have class, call your owner/GM and let them know what your decision is so they don't have to find out the same time the average fan does on national television.

I truly believe if he had tried his best in the amount of time he was here... If he had recruited other players and been open with them about his plans, he could have brought us 2 championships in those 7 years and left with no real ill will. He didn't. Therefore, the hate that you can't seem to comprehend exists in full force.

Minute's over. Now get out troll.

 

[Surge]

I don't know "Basketball Fan," I don't know.

I also don't get why people aren't fond of Hitler, Madoff, and Gaddafi. I just don't get it.

 

[Jon]

When it comes to emotional attachments, people don't tend to act rationally.

 

[Believeland-OH]

This is not meant to start anything and I have no vested interest either way, I am just curious. I get it; most Cavalier fans feel like a scorned lover. Their praised son of Ohio left to join a super team in Florida. I somewhat understand the hostility towards James and anything to do with Miami basketball. However, why must you feel this way?

Was it the “decision” show on ESPN where he pretty much said “screw you Cleveland” or was it just his decision to leave in general? I mean, you do know he had every right as a free agent to leave. Because when I see these two teams play in Cleveland, it’s like you and James were in a relationship and you walked in on him with some other chick.

The way the crowd was cheering in the most recent game like the Cavaliers actually got into the postseason with their 15th win. I understand the hoopla, somewhat, I mean you have had very little to look forward to this season and you got to take wins when you can get it…its even sweeter when it’s against your ex.

But why so much hatred for a man that made your franchise relevant and competitive for 5 playoff runs? I understand in this abysmal season you need something to cheer for, but when does it just come down to an athlete leaving one team for another.

Its sports, it happens all the time.

It seems like you know the answer to your own question.

The continued bitterness has a lot to with what he has done such The Decision as well. He has yet to issue a real apology for how he left to the organization or the fans, and has yet to give a heartfelt thank you to all the fans that supported him over the 7 years. Plus he still takes settle jabs at the organization such as the karma tweet which just irritate an already open wound.

Also the speculation over the Boston series and the elbow still weigh heavy on a lot of people's minds and will likely for a very long time if not forever. We will probably never know what happened in that series, but no way #6 was giving 100%.

 

[blank964]

I'm not mad that he left. Actually I partially don't blame him and if I was in the same situation I might have done the same thing. Sure I don't like the way he went about it with the whole Decision bullshit but that's not even what I'm the most upset about. I'm mad that the last home game he played in a Cavs jersey, he quit.

You say whatever you want about the whole phantom elbow injury but how do you explain him playing a ridiculous game in Game 3? How do you explain him just bowing down to arguably the team's biggest rivalry at that time? This was the same team that Lebron was in their huddle yelling at during a game on Easter Sunday. We never have gotten a real explanation about what happened then and we probably never will. To make matters worse he says after the game that he spoils us. Then he couldn't get the Cavs jersey off soon enough and immediately starts talking about free agency after losing the series.

He probably caved under the pressure and decided that Miami was the best option because there was little pressure from their local media (in comparison to Chicago, New York or LA).

There is an extremely small fiber in my body that feels bad for him because he truly was naive about the situation in terms of how people were going to react not just in Ohio but nationwide. Still this was all his decision and he has to live with the consequences.

Cleveland has never gotten over Modell and we have no reason to never forgive Lebron either.