LeBron James
For the record, I was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. I love LeBron James. I followed his high school career and was absolutely thrilled that he gave our hometown Cleveland Cavaliers seven great years (seven of their best years). I completely understand the outrage people in Northeastern Ohio have over his departure. But (and it’s a big but – not the kind Sir Mix-A-Lot sings about) I do not think he made a bad decision by “taking his talents to South Beach” as he announced he would do on Thursday evening. I think he made the right decision for all of the right reasons. It’s hard to say it’s “all about the money” when LeBron left more than $30 million on the table to go play in Miami — and don’t we all expect our greatest athletes to want to win championships?
Even after “The Fumble,” and “The Drive,” and – now – “The Decision,” burning players jerseys in the street is simply uncool. Cleveland has had a tough go of it with professional sports, and frustration and let-down have always been part of being a Cleveland fan. I know first-hand having grown up cheering desperately for the Browns (during the Brian Sipe and Bernie Kosar years) and the Cavs and the Indians. Although I still root for Cleveland in pro sports, I have to admit that the Tennessee Volunteers, now my hometown team, provide far less frustration and let-down in spite of their shortcomings (plus, Neyland Stadium is FAR warmer in October and November than Lakefront Stadium ever was in the 80s and early 90s).
If there was humor to be found in the fiasco surrounding LeBron’s departure, it was in Cleveland Cavalier’s owner Dan Gilbert’s open letter to the world on the Cav’s website posted the night of LeBron’s announcement. As he belittled LeBron, called him names, and tried (unsuccessfully in my opinion) to reassure Cleveland fans that the Cavaliers are so much more than a single now-former superstar, he did so in a font that is typically associated with letters from grandma and 50-word book reports by third-graders that usually end with “I really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really liked this book.”
Here is a screen capture from Gilbert’s letter, written in a nice dusty-blue, Comic Sans font. You decide if this screams, “I am mad as HELL and I am coming back to DESTROY all other teams in the NBA next year.”
It feels to me like it it could have used a little smiley face at the end … maybe one with its tongue sticking out.
