The LeBron James Thread

**Starlin4Prez** · 07-13-2010, 10:29 AM

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

Originally posted by Dalsanto0026

So you're having a go at my team now? Classy.

What does it have to do with me being classy. I didn't know it was some ancient secret that the Miami fan base blows.

**Brankles** · 07-13-2010, 10:47 AM

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

Originally posted by Starlin4Prez

What does it have to do with me being classy. I didn't know it was some ancient secret that the Miami fan base blows.

They really do blow. Miami has some of the most fairweather fans in all of sports... Dolphins, Heat, Hurricans, etc.

Not saying that all Miami fans are fairweather, because I know a lot of great fans from each team, but generally speaking they're very bad.

**Pared** · 07-13-2010, 11:00 AM

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

Originally posted by Starlin4Prez

What does it have to do with me being classy. I didn't know it was some ancient secret that the Miami fan base blows.

Ahh, perhaps it is because you are so eloquent?

Generally speaking, the city of Miami hardly support their sport teams. What do the Marlins draw on average? 15k?

With that said, Miami was middle of the pack last year with a little over 17k. Considering they have one of the most hyped teams that city has ever seen, I think it's ridiculous to not expect it to become "the" ticket to have or "the" place to be.

**OSUFan_88** · 07-13-2010, 11:01 AM

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

Originally posted by TribeWarpath

This is going to be my last post on the topic as I am ready to focus on the current Cavaliers and not former Cavaliers.

LeBron didn't do the GMing, but he was asked if he approved of moves before Ferry made them. Basically I think Ferry was doing his due dilligence to make sure there wouldn't be any problems.

Giving approval and actually recruiting guys to come to Cleveland is entirely different. Last week with Bosh was the first time in his entire stay in Cleveland where any story came out that LeBron was actively recruiting somebody (which I still don't believe since there was entirely too much erroneous reporting that week).

It's really been no secret that LeBron never recruited anyone to come to Cleveland. That went as far back as 2005 when they were trying to get Michael Redd and LeBron didn't meet him at the airport.

**Cebby** · 07-13-2010, 11:03 AM

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

Originally posted by Brankles

They really do blow. Miami has some of the most fairweather fans in all of sports... Dolphins, Heat, Hurricans, etc.

Not saying that all Miami fans are fairweather, because I know a lot of great fans from each team, but generally speaking they're very bad.

Every fanbase for every single team in every single professional sport is primarily made up of "fairweather fans."

The only team that shows up to games even when the team isn't good is the Knicks, but then you're dealing with a population density and tourists that no other city even comes close to matching.

The Heat draw exactly where they should based on finishes.

From 2005-2007, the seasons before, during, and after the championship they finished fourth in attendance with 100% capacity. In 2008 they finished eighth and the last two years they've finished 15th with middling playoff teams. Now that they'll be the most hyped team I've seen, they'll go back to top 5, 100% capacity attendance.

**Starlin4Prez** · 07-13-2010, 11:16 AM

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

Originally posted by Pared

Ahh, perhaps it is because you are so eloquent?

I like to get to the point....plus it is the truth.

Originally posted by Cebby

Every fanbase for every single team in every single professional sport is primarily made up of "fairweather fans."

The only team that shows up to games even when the team isn't good is the Knicks, but then you're dealing with a population density and tourists that no other city even comes close to matching.

The Heat draw exactly where they should based on finishes.

From 2005-2007, the seasons before, during, and after the championship they finished fourth in attendance with 100% capacity. In 2008 they finished eighth and the last two years they've finished 15th with middling playoff teams. Now that they'll be the most hyped team I've seen, they'll go back to top 5, 100% capacity attendance.

What about Chicago? The Cubs blow and the sell out every game. The United Center is generally ALWAYS packed. (Number 1 in Attendance last season) Bears are generally always Sold Out.

**King_B_Mack** · 07-13-2010, 11:29 AM

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

Originally posted by Starlin4Prez

What about Chicago? The Cubs blow and the sell out every game. The United Center is generally ALWAYS packed. (Number 1 in Attendance last season) Bears are generally always Sold Out.

When in doubt, say that's what everyone else does. Yes, every team has fairweather fans, but teams buildings usually don't get as empty as the Heat's does unless the team has had a prolonged period of suckness and management seems completely inept in what they're doing. The Heat won a title in 2006, by 2008 the building was a ghost town. The Bulls broke up their dynasty and pissed off fans, they had pretty good attendence the following year, the building looked terrible from 2000-2004. They got Hinrich, Gordon and Deng and have barely been a playoff team since that point and have been selling out the building since then with a string of first round playoff exits. The Heat as the number 5 seed in the East probably don't even have half the building filled. Let's not act like people are making up things about the Heat fanbase.

**Pared** · 07-13-2010, 11:29 AM

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

Originally posted by Starlin4Prez

What about Chicago? The Cubs blow and the sell out every game. The United Center is generally ALWAYS packed. (Number 1 in Attendance last season) Bears are generally always Sold Out.

No one is questioning Chicago. You, however, questioned Miami.

Again, they were middle of the pack in the NBA last year. Is that so surprising given their playoff run with one real superstar?

They were only 3k back a night. Given their season sell outs, I think they can make that up.

....what does this have to do with Lebron James again?

**Pared** · 07-13-2010, 11:37 AM

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

I can't believe all you fellas that voted for Miami AFTER he announced it.

**King_B_Mack** · 07-13-2010, 11:38 AM

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

Originally posted by Pared

I can't believe all you fellas that voted for Miami AFTER he announced it.

I asked about that way back when the vote was at 50 something, it's like seriously, why are people showing up and voting after the decision? It was at like 28 when he announced and now it's at 80 something? What's the point?

**Jistic** · 07-13-2010, 11:44 AM

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

The Bulls sold out during the Eddie Curry years....that's saying something.

**Starlin4Prez** · 07-13-2010, 11:46 AM

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

Originally posted by Pared

No one is questioning Chicago. You, however, questioned Miami.

Again, they were middle of the pack in the NBA last year. Is that so surprising given their playoff run with one real superstar?

They were only 3k back a night. Given their season sell outs, I think they can make that up.

....what does this have to do with Lebron James again?

Yes I did quesiton Miami, and in not so many words he questioned every other fan base...

The only team that shows up to games even when the team isn't good is the Knicks, but then you're dealing with a population density and tourists that no other city even comes close to matching.

So I think my response was justified.

But not sure how we got on this topic. So back to LeBron.

**Brankles** · 07-13-2010, 11:50 AM

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

Originally posted by Cebby

Every fanbase for every single team in every single professional sport is primarily made up of "fairweather fans."

The only team that shows up to games even when the team isn't good is the Knicks, but then you're dealing with a population density and tourists that no other city even comes close to matching.

The Heat draw exactly where they should based on finishes.

From 2005-2007, the seasons before, during, and after the championship they finished fourth in attendance with 100% capacity. In 2008 they finished eighth and the last two years they've finished 15th with middling playoff teams. Now that they'll be the most hyped team I've seen, they'll go back to top 5, 100% capacity attendance.

Miami is a huge city, though. Their per-capita interest in major sports is probably the lowest out of all the major US cities.

The fact that they made the playoffs last season but still were middle of the pack reflects this

**Cebby** · 07-13-2010, 12:47 PM

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

Originally posted by Starlin4Prez

What about Chicago? The Cubs blow and the sell out every game. The United Center is generally ALWAYS packed. (Number 1 in Attendance last season) Bears are generally always Sold Out.

Chicago is I believe the second most concentrated city in the country and the third biggest in size.

Even then, much like everyone, they sell tickets when they do well. They have a huge city and a huge arena so the Bulls are going to sell tickets. However, they didn't start reaching capacity in the 2000s until 2005 and didn't start selling out until 2007. By that point they had one of the better young rosters in the league.

The Cubs are the same way. They have high attendance numbers, but the only time they come close to reaching capacity is when they're a playoff caliber team.

The Bears' attendance is actually really, really bad given the size of Chicago and the tiny stadium.

I'm not saying Chicago isn't a "good sports town", but that every team fluctuates based on the quality of the team. A city as large as Chicago is just able to cover it up easier. I see the same thing with the Redskins. They've been #1 in attendance every year prior to this past year where they finished #2, but the area is completely different when they're in the playoffs than when they are 5-11.

by 2008 the building was a ghost town

In 2008 the Heat had one of the worst years in NBA history and started arguably the worst team at the end of the year in NBA history.

They still finished 8th in the league in attendance per game.

Miami is a huge city, though

No it isn't.

Miami is exactly in the middle of NBA markets.

It's the 15th largest media market with a team (14 in the US plus Toronto) and LA has two teams so it's really 16th in terms of market size. The next four media markets all have a team as well. That also doesn't include the Nets' pending move to Brooklyn. Yes, I know you can include areas like West Palm Beach to make Miami larger, but if you do that for Miami you have to do that for every team and nobody really adds any serious rankings.

**Cebby** · 07-13-2010, 12:53 PM

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

One of the biggest things to keep in mind with attendance however is that this is basketball and not football.

In the NFL, for several years the Redskins were averaging 9,000-10,000 more people than any other NFL team and 20,000 more people than the mid level teams. In 2008 it was 9,535 more people than the #2 Giants and 21466 more than #15 San Diego. Now with Jerry World there are 2 teams averaging those type of numbers.

The Bulls last year averaged 163 more people per game than the #2 team. 7 teams were within 2,000 people and 14 including the Heat were within 3,000.

Since the Heat will likely reach capacity this year, they will average about 1,000 fewer people than the Bulls which is pretty negligible. It's not like the Heat are going to top out at 13,000 people.

The LeBron James Thread

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