Before I get into the issue of Cavs owner Stan Gilbert’s unspeakable rage and rant against LeBron James as if he were Gilbert’s property who escaped the plantation …
LeBron James did not do us wrong when he decided to end his professional relationship with Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. He did not deceive you nor misuse you when he uprooted his family from Akron. He made a pure business decision and he had every right to do it. LeBron James owes you nothing.
I’m coming to you as a person who was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. Northeast Ohio, which includes Cleveland, courses through my veins. I defend the city of Cleveland as if I have stock in it. Ohio is in my DNA and I am addicted to the Ohio State Buckeyes.
But I did not crumble up when LBJ chose South Beach over the beaches of Lake Erie. I watched with detached bemusement as so many of you Cavs fans behaved like you found out you were sentenced to five years in the state penitentiary. Grab a tissue, wipe your tears, and pull yourself together. If LBJ was on the downside of his career, the Cleveland Cavs would have done what was in the best interest of the franchise. They would have made a business decision to trade or cut LeBron. So LeBron reserves the right to make a decision that’s in his best interest as well.
So please, Akron and Cleveland residents, grow up and stop whining and sobbing and burning the jerseys you bought when he was toiling in Cleveland for your entertainment value. Besides, LeBron’s already gotten the money for the sold jerseys, so who’s the fool for burning them?
Yes, LeBron was a complete and utter jackass and egomaniac for turning a simple process into a grotesque one-hour ESPN special. Yes, LeBron could have shown more humility and love to Akron and Cleveland on national TV. Still, LeBron was right to follow his heart and make a basketball decision. He gave you seven years. That’s enough. He put Akron on the map and revitalized Cleveland.
You Cleveland and Akron residents didn’t cry too much when another homegrown superstar, Ron Harper, who was born and raised an hour from Cleveland and went to college in Ohio, was traded from Cleveland. Remember Harper? He was the closest thing to Jordan in his early years, going at him point-for-point and in one spectacular play after spectacular play. He was so good and the Cavs of the early 1990s were so deep that even Magic Johnson said that the Cavs would be the team of the 90s.
But what happened? Cavs management despised Harper’s menacing posse and they wanted to acquire Duke sensation Danny Ferry. So guess what, Cavs fans? I know you remember. The Cavs made a business decision and traded Harper to the LA Clippers.
LeBron deserves the same right, whether you like it or not. –terry shropshire
