LeBron James: Trading up in owners
The most underrated aspect of major league sports is ownership. Who’s signing the checks?
If you don’t believe it, check out the LeBron James saga, which even after it was over wasn’t over. Did you read the letter from Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, which was posted on the Cav website after LeBron announced he would sign with Miami?
In this May 14, 2010, file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert talks to the media during a news conference in Independence, Ohio. Gilbert released a statement tonight admonishing LeBron James' descion to leave Cleveland for the Miami Heat. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)
Gilbert trashed LeBron. Called him a “former hero” and called his decision “a betrayal” and “cowardly behavior.” Gilbert wrote that LeBron’s hour-plus ESPN special to announce his destination was a “shameful display of selfishness and betrayal” and that the Cavaliers would be even more motivated to win now, spurred on by this “shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown ‘chosen one.’ Gilbert called LeBron’s decision “heartless” and “callous” and vowed that the Cavs would win the NBA title before James wins one. Gilbert said LeBron quit during playoff defeats the last two years.
Maybe this was the result of writing before you think. Maybe this was the action of an anguished man who knows his franchise has been mightily harmed. But this was a very clever PR stunt to rally all the fans of Cleveland and keep them from jumping into Lake Erie.
But it was foolish. Foolish and nonsensical and unbelievably damaging to the Cleveland franchise. Maybe not as damaging as losing LeBron, but damaging.
Hey, NBA players. Anyone want to come play for this guy? Forget the jokes about Cleveland. Forget the suddenly shaky Cav roster, which has a Grand Canyon crater right in the middle. The No. 1 reason to stay clear of the Cavs is Dan Gilbert, the guy calling the shots.
You can’t run a franchise this way. You can’t run any business this way and be successful. You can’t treat people this way.
What did LeBron do to deserve that kind of trashing? He wasn’t publicly disrespectful to Cleveland or the Cavs. He said all the right things. Who knows how he really feels, but you can’t indict LeBron for anything he did on ESPN.
And if there were private problems between LeBron and the Cavs, wouldn’t it be better to keep them private? After Gilbert’s vengeful letter, doesn’t it seem likely that LeBron has some stories to tell, too?
I feel a lot better about LeBron’s decision now than I did last night. Who wouldn’t want to leave an owner like this? The Miami Heat’s Micky Arison long has been a solid owner. Like Dwyane Wade said Thursday night when he heard about Gilbert’s letter, “I think I’m happy that I have the owner that I have here in Miami. I’m happy Micky Arison is my owner. I couldn’t believe it. I’m speechless. It’s very unfortunate and I think it makes LeBron that much better about his decision.”
NBA basketball free agent LeBron James waits to make his announcement that he is leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat, at the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich on Thursday, July 8, 2010, in Greenwich, Conn. (AP Photo/Greenwich Time, Bob Luckey)
No doubt about it.
Ownership is a very underrated aspect of free-agent appeal. Quality owners hire good people, stay out of the way and supply the resources to win. That’s why some franchises are perennial losers. The Clippers’ Donald Sterling is a total joke. The Knickerbockers’ James Dolan doesn’t have a clue.
Meanwhile, the Lakers’ Jerry Buss — Bill Walton called him the greatest owner in sports history — hits all three requirements. Some owners are great in some ways and not so great in others; Jerry Jones and George Steinbrenner have been a little too involved but are committed to winning.
Mark Cuban is a little too front and center for comfort, but I think his players love him.
Wonder if Dan Gilbert’s remaining Cavaliers love him today?
Stable, prudent ownership like we’ve seen in San Antonio and Utah is what the Thunder is after and what chairman Clay Bennett has displayed in two years in Oklahoma City. Bennett stays out of the spotlight and rarely speaks. General manager Sam Presti is the voice of the franchise. That makes for some boring quotes but smooth waters.
Not so in Cleveland. The criticism of LeBron is unjust. Going to Miami wasn’t cowardly behavior. It wasn’t a betrayal.
Sure, it would have been a wonderful story had LeBron stayed in Cleveland. It would have been a loyal act to a city that hasn’t had a major-league champion in 46 years and to a region that is struggling with the recession.
But this is America. Freedom’s not just a word we throw around. We practice it in a thousand ways, including a market economy. Free agency came to the NBA and the league has thrived since its arrival. Sometimes that means LeBron James changes teams.
He had the right to go. And after seeing some true colors of his former owner, who can blame LeBron for leaving?
-------------Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter @BerryTramel. Visit Berry's website here.
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Comments
Are you kidding me? What Lebron did to the city of Cleveland was both callous and cold. He proved he still has the maturity of a 16 year old kid by creating the national spectacle in which he punched Cleveland in the stomach. His speech was rancid with “me me me”. Sure, what Dan Gilbert said may have been crude and insulting, but his words ring true with every Cavs fan IN OHIO. I hope Lebron is comfortable in knowing he can never come home.
Would you be this upset if Mark Cuban had said it? I doubt it. I don’t think it deters superstars from coming to Cleveland (LeBron leaving is enough to keep starts away). Gilbert wouldn’t write something like this about any other Cleveland player. Why? They aren’t from Cleveland. They aren’t homegrown boys. LeBron is. That is why it is different. Had LeBron made his announcement like DWade, Bosh or any other free agent, no big deal. Sure Cleveland would be disappointed, but not disrespected and humiliated. LeBron has a right to play for whoever he so chooses. Gilbert has a right to fight for his organization.
Gilbert’s letter was out of line and I’m sure “Bron-bron” and his home boys will put a whipping on the Cavs every chance they get, but LeBron’s orchestration of the announcement of his exit from Cleveland was the height of narcissism. And his use of the YMCA children as a prop was shameless. We now know who the real LeBron is….
Oh my, Berry, sticking up for that ‘brat’ he calls himself “King”!! I could care less who plays for whom in the NBA, but the KING? could have just went to free agency and let the highest bidder win and no fanfare, but instead he had to insult the entire league and the Cleveland franchise. Who could blame (except you) the owner for getting mad?
I wasn’t thrilled with the bit of him going on ESPN, but Gilbert’s act went above and beyond anything Stenbrenner or Cuban ever did. Gilbert needs to be fined for his actions.
James’ leaving is a matter of wanting to play for a championship team. Gilbert wasn’t dedicated to building such a team. He wanted a one-man team, and James knows that isn’t possible.
Regarding the fact he hadn’t told his teammates: Truthfully, it wasn’t their business. It’s James’ life, not theirs. When the people who’ve posted above switch jobs, do they tell each and every of their co-workers they’re leaving?
LeBron will never compete with Kevin Durant for the NBA scoring title again. The Cav’s owner is right about one thing. King James tanked in two consecutive playoff runs and showed he can’t carry any team by himself.
Few player’s can carry a team by themselves, especially in the NBA playoffs. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaquill O’Neal, Magic Johnson and Larry Byrd come to mind. James will have to hide behind Dwayne Wade if he wants to win a title.
He wasn’t publicly disrespectful to Cleveland or the Cavs? Are you kidding? To make an announcement like that on national TV, to create this huge spectacle and ultimately leave Cleveland, was a huge slap in the face to the city and the fans. Even his teammates on the Cavs had to find out with the rest of the world instead of being treated with respect. But LeBron had to feed his ego.