The LeBron James Thread

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

So are Wade, Lebron, Bosh, and JJ the only living members of Cosa Nostra?

Seriously? Organizing a ******* meeting to state where you'll be going? Seriously now?

[SPTO]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

So are Wade, Lebron, Bosh, and JJ the only living members of Cosa Nostra?

Seriously? Organizing a ******* meeting to state where you'll be going? Seriously now?

The whole "meeting" is stupid on so many levels. You know the PA would scream collusion if a group of owners did that. What's the difference between these guys mapping out a strategy of where to go and owners making deals to not go after player X or Y?

It's just STUPID and if i'm an owner i'd be PO'ed.

[Cebby]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

The whole "meeting" is stupid on so many levels. You know the PA would scream collusion if a group of owners did that. What's the difference between these guys mapping out a strategy of where to go and owners making deals to not go after player X or Y?

It's just STUPID and if i'm an owner i'd be PO'ed.

What's the difference between them having a meeting or talking on the phone?

Free agents always talk to current players; the only difference this year is that there are so many good free agents.

What, do you expect players to show up and be like "oh snap, you're here too!?!?"

The owners shouldn't be pissed since only five teams are legitimate threats to add any of the three free agents (NY, NJ, Chicago, Miami, and LA; obviously Cleveland can resign Lebron). Lebron, Wade, and Bosh are the only three who can 100% pick their location. Joe Johnson, Amare, and Boozer will go to whoever offers them money.

Besides, you guys are missing the best part of this; the ESPN coverage!

Think about it:

"We're coming live from Dwayne Wade's mansion in Miami; rumor has it that Jazz forward Carlos Boozer has just arrived. As we understand Lebron James and Joe Johnson are playing a game of Madden 2010."

"Any details?"

"We have been told by sources close to the situation that Lebron has chosen the Philadelphia Eagles, substituted in Michael Vick and ran the Hail Mary on 27 straight plays."

"Could this mean that Lebron wants to go to Philadelphia to play with Allen Iverson?"

"That certainly appears to be the early choice"

[wwharton]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

I disagree, guys have always wanted to win rings with or without their friends, but if magic had a legit shot to play with Jordan he wouldn't have turned that down. Also look at the talent that was on the Celtics and Lakers in the 80's they were each stocked with HOF'ers.
The need to have a conversation wasn't necessary due in large part of not having any sort of salary cap or salary restriction.

Your example is of the guy with multiple rings. What about Barkley, Ewing, Malone, Payton, Stockton, etc. etc? I'm sure those guys would've been happy to play with each other... I just don't see them going through so much effort to make it happen. Maybe it's an ego thing, but one that I agree with.

[Altimus]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

Wade is just trying to get free agents to Miami. Can't blame him but he should keep his mouth shut as he has never played for the Chicago organization.

[Altimus]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

Your example is of the guy with multiple rings. What about Barkley, Ewing, Malone, Payton, Stockton, etc. etc? I'm sure those guys would've been happy to play with each other... I just don't see them going through so much effort to make it happen. Maybe it's an ego thing, but one that I agree with.

Well Malone and Payton signed with LA just to win those rings. Mitch Richmond did the same although he got his.

[wwharton]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

Well Malone and Payton signed with LA just to win those rings. Mitch Richmond did the same although he got his.

Yeah but all of that was at the end of their careers. I personally think those moves are what gave these guys this idea. I think it's BS though. I thought it was BS when those guys did it, but didn't mind so much since they put their work in and were obviously coming on to be role players. These guys are trying to create an all star team.

I'm not a Yankees fan either so I wouldn't be surprised if people don't agree... I just don't like it.

[TracerBullet]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

While I highly doubt that he going there, I really wish LeBron would go to the Clippers just so I can see there fanbase instantly become humongous. All of my friends who are Cavs "fans" would start talking about how great the Clippers are and I'd just laugh the whole time while hearing it.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5232795
.

CLEVELAND -- Fresh from a postseason vacation, LeBron James was back among Cleveland fans for the first time since the Cavaliers' playoff flop.
The reunion was somewhat awkward.

James, whose impending free agency could change the course of several NBA franchises, was a guest judge at an amateur dunk contest that drew a large crowd because of the two-time MVP's appearance, his first public outing since the Cavs lost in the second round to the Boston Celtics.

Wearing a blue "Witness" T-shirt and designer sunglasses, James had little interaction with fans after arriving in a four-car motorcade and being escorted by police and security personnel through the crowd to a basketball court set up on the banks of the Cuyahoga River.

Some in the crowd seemed uncertain how to act around James, perhaps fearing the wrong comment could drive him away for good.

James ducked under a tent and slid into a folding chair next to former NBA player Darryl Dawkins to judge the final round of dunks as fans and several star-stuck competitors snapped photos with their cell phones of one of the world's best players and Cleveland's most revered pro athlete in generations.

As he sat at a table and held up scores, some Cleveland fans pleaded with him to re-sign with the Cavs.

"Don't leave, LeBron!" one yelled.

"Please, please don't go!" offered another.

James, who is eligible for free agency on July 1, smiled nervously as one of the dunkers missed several attempts and he politely applauded when the runner-up finally got a two-handed reverse down. After the event sponsored by Sprite, one of James' corporate business partners, he posed for a group photo with all the dunkers and signed a giant check for the winner.

James did not speak with reporters as he exited and offered no hints about his future, adding more suspense to a story already spinning off rumors and guesses about his plans.

Maverick Carter, James' manager and business partner, said "there's nothing to say right now" when asked for details about James' next move.

Before James arrived -- about 45 minutes after promised -- fans waited patiently on a grassy hill overlooking the hoop court. One of them, Audrey Staton, was convinced it would be one of her last chances to see James, who will be courted by the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls and other teams.

"He's going," Staton said, keeping one eye on her 7-year-old son, Aaron, playing nearby. "We can't keep him in Cleveland because we're a dying city. There isn't enough hoopla for him here right now. He's young and he wants the excitement."
Dawkins, who jumped from high school to the NBA decades before James did it, believes Cleveland's All-Star should follow his heart.

"He should go where he thinks he'll be happy," said one of the most powerful dunkers in league history. "Make the right decision for your family and get as much money as you can. If he leaves Cleveland, basketball as we know it here is going to go down. They have to do what they can to keep here. I would like to see him stay in Cleveland, but he has to do what is right for him."

As James and his entourage made their way back to their vehicles, he offered one handshake and yelled "Hey, homey!" at a young fan screaming his name. James and his girlfriend, Savannah Brinson, then climbed into a Range Rover.

But before they left, one fan got the superstar's attention.

Walking up the hill alongside James' SUV, Greg Poulin of Sagamore Hills delivered a message on the minds of Cavaliers fans everywhere.

"Stay in Cleveland, my man," Poulin told James, who nodded his head in acknowledgment.

Later as he and his wife, Katie, tried to soothe their crying son, Max, before their trip home, Poulin said it was important for him to reach out to James.

"I just wanted to say what I had to say to him, which was, 'Stay in Cleveland, don't leave'," said Poulin, wearing a wine-colored Cavs shirt. "I don't think he knows what he's going to do yet, but I think he's going to stay. The King can't leave his people."

Little kid's crying? People afraid to say anything because they think they might piss him off or drive him away? C'mon son...

[NYJets]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1sR88JzGNV0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1sR88JzGNV0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

[SPTO]

Re: The Official &quot;Where is LeBron going?&quot; Thread

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5232795
.
Little kid's crying? People afraid to say anything because they think they might piss him off or drive him away? C'mon son...

I think there's a segment of the fanbase that is acting like that. I'd say around 30% with the rest of the fans either willing to accept the inevitable or in denial.

[55]

Re: The Official &quot;Where is LeBron going?&quot; Thread

What a pathetic charade...

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: The Official &quot;Where is LeBron going?&quot; Thread

<EMBED height=385 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=480 src=http://www.youtube.com/v/1sR88JzGNV0&hl=en_US&fs=1& allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></EMBED>

LOL @ what the mascot is.

[Altimus]

Re: The Official &quot;Where is LeBron going?&quot; Thread

Yeah, that mascot would make me want to leave.

[Boltman]

Re: The Official &quot;Where is LeBron going?&quot; Thread

Yeah, that mascot would make me want to leave.

^
this.