The Rev. Jesse Jackson is going to take a lot of heat for his comments as he has stepped in on the Dan-Gilbert-LeBron James issue heating up the summer of 2010.
Unless you've been living in a cave in Afghanistan, you are likely aware that LeBron made a tough decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers, and his home state of Ohio, to join the Miami Heat along with fellow superstar free agents Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Gilbert, owner of the Cavaliers, has had some angry and borderline hateful words toward James as he has seemingly sought to tap into the anger of the Cleveland community and the state of Ohio.
First, lets establish the foundation for Rev. Jackson's comments and that starts largely with Gilbert's letter to fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers:
Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.
This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.
Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.
The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.
There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.
You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.
You have given so much and deserve so much more.
In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:
"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER 'KING' WINS ONE"
You can take it to the bank.
If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our "motivation" to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.
Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.
Sorry, but that's simply not how it works.
This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow-up to become.
But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called "curse" on Cleveland, Ohio.
The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south. And until he does "right" by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.
Just watch.
Sleep well, Cleveland.
Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day....
I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:
DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue....
Dan Gilbert
Majority Owner
Cleveland Cavaliers
My first reaction was the same as that of a lot of people I know, "Who in the hell does Dan Gilbert think he is talking about another person like this?"
His comments are a good distraction from his ability to build a championship team. Cleveland fans have been fooled. James had no choice but to leave. The Cavs were not in a position to win a championship. Boston had gotten better, Chicago is better, Orlando is still good, Miami was going to be better. Cleveland was headed in reverse and James knew it.
I was going to leave this issue alone (limited to my comments with Twitter followers and Facebook friends.
Then, I read the following comments from Rev. Jackson:
"He speaks as an owner of LeBron and not the owner of the Cleveland CavBoy, will that make people uncomfortable.aliers," said Jackson in a press release from his Chicago-based civil rights group, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. "His feelings of betrayal personify a slave master mentality. He sees LeBron as a runaway slave. This is an owner employee relationship -- between business partners -- and LeBron honored his contract."
I know that Rev. Jackson is going to take heat from the far-right nuts and even from some people on the left who run like scared children from real issues that involve race. Now, this is not to say Gilbert is racist. I am not saying that at all. Just to be clear, I AM NOT SAYING DAN GILBERT IS RACIST!
BUT, Gilbert's attitude toward LeBron James after his departure is quite disturbing. Gilbert said none of these bad things when James was under contract or when he thought he had a chance to re-sign him.
I saw multiple people I know say the same thing: One said that Gilbert is acting as if he owns LeBron and the other said Gilbert is acting like his best slave ran away.
James owes the Cavaliers nothing. Organizations cut players and trade players all the time. When they do, it is simply tough luck for the players.
James has worked hard and earned his free agency and the right to play with whatever team he wants to take his game to at this stage of his career.
Looking at Dan Gilbert's comments, I bet LeBron James is happier than ever about the decision he made to leave Cleveland and head to Miami.
James could have handled the situation a bit better, but he had every right to leave and Gilbert's comments in the wake of his departure are troubling on a lot of levels.
It will be interesting to see if the NBA does anything to address his comments.
Gilbert would have had no problem taking Tom Izzo as his head coach and picking the pocket of his alma mater, Michigan State University.
He should have had no problem with LeBron James leaving. And, if he did have an issue with it, he should have handled it in a more civilized fashion.
