Dan Gilbert's Rant

His problem is strictly business, he failed to properly support his business venture and let a competitor come in and woo away his most valuable asset, now there's nothing he can do in the short term to revive his business so he needs to focus on a long term plan to regain some of the GUARANTEED lost revenue
If Dan Gilbert were a responsible owner, he certainly would have stood up Lebron early on, and not give him control of the organization. Danny Ferry told him so. Mike Brown told him so. Yet he knew better than them, afterall, his years of basketball experience should be respected(RIGHT!!!). Gilbert would have welcomed Lebron back with open arms and continued you give in to his every whim, effectively undermining any token coaches/mgmt etc. Dan Gilbert will be the death of that organization, rather than the rallier of a championship run. What he forgets is championships are won by players and coaches, not ranting owners and that lesson will be learned from the dearth of allstar caliber players willing to play for such a classless fool who cant help but get in the way of any opportunity for future success. The irony of this all would be if one day Lebron is forgiven and returns to Cleveland a hero and champion that will buy the depressed organization and return it to glory. Basketball people play basketball, owners run businesses, somewhere along the way, Dan Gilbert got his role confused

Lebron James Playground Purist Decision

Lebron's Playground Purist Decision

When considering what many are calling a collosal error in judgement its important to step back and get some perspective on how this happened. Let us not forget Lebron gave Cleveland 7 hard fought years which took this franchise to places never before seen. He single handedly led them to the organizations ONLY finals appearance. He's been the league MVP for the last 2 seasons. Cleveland, especially Dan Gilbert, owe Lebron much more gratitude than they have displayed. Yet Lebron's world is nothing like those we compare him to.
When Lebron was in junior high school he already had media hype and attention comparable to that which his predecessors did not see until draft day. While the great MJ was getting cut from his high school team, Lebron played to sellout crowds and every recruiter known to man. Anointed King as a underclassman, the question wasn't where he'd go to college but which NBA team could tank their season and have the lottery ball fall to them. That his hometown team would earn that right further enhanced his "Chosen One" image as stars seemed to line up for him. Immediately the talk was not if, but when the championships would come. How all the great records of the past would come down. How Mr "NEXT" had arrived. Lebron knew no disappointment, and certainly if there was professional basketball being played, he would be in the game, he would be relevant. The disappointments and challenges that fueled the Russells and Ervings, the Magics and Birds, the Jordans and Olajuwons just dont exist for him. He never had to play for a racist town that cheered him on the court yet refused him service on the street. He was never labeled the face of a rival league the NBA called a joke whose players could never win in OUR league. He didnt growup in the mean streets of Detroit being told his flamboyant style of play would never win championships. He didnt come from backwater Frenchlick Indiana where slow whiteboys make good coaches but not NBA champions. He hasnt had to play 2nd fiddle in his own school, state recruit, summercamp, college team, Olympic team, and NBA draft pick. He didnt learn the game later in life as a foreigner to this country with an athletic history in soccer. Lebron James was born for this, ordained "THE KING", "THE CHOSEN ONE", let us all "BE WITNESSES"
You see, Lebron is a product of a New World Order. A world where success happens NOW, a world where sacrifice is for suckers. A world in which the media will not wait, you must stay in the game, relevant, or we move on to "Mr. Next" When Lebron made his early playoff exits the last 2 seasons he felt the emptiness of being out of the game, out of the limelight. This year it disturbed him so he needed an "Allstar summit" to steal limelight from the finals. He played the whole process of free agency to maximize media exposure. Lebron needs that which he's had all his life, to be relevant, to be Next.
The Next mentality explains the decision. A playground purist surely understands. In playground basketball, you call "NEXT" and assemble your squad. As you look around your focus is finding those individuals that give you the best chance to win, and own the court. When you lose, your out, your not relevant, and you have to rebuild and try again. Lebron needs to be in the game and he's aligned himself with players he feels he can help him own the court. He can no longer patiently develop a team that is hardened by sacrifice, disappointment, and challenge. To be Next, Lebron has learned he must win now