Ok, I think it is obvious that LeBron James can do or say anything and it will make national news. When he showed up at Jacobs Field(Oh, I know the name changed, but I prefer The Jake to The Prog) wearing a Yankees camp during last season's ALDS it got everyone in Cleveland bent out of shape. How could King James do this to Cleveland? "Blasphemy" they said.
via ballsiest.com
Soon after the season ended, all the uproar faded away as LeBron put together his best regular season of his career and once again led the Cavs on a playoff run. Winning, it seems, cures all ill-will. It didn't last too long, with LeBron once again throwing the hearts of Cleveland fans under the bus this past Sunday, showing up to Cleveland Browns stadium to pay homage to another of his childhood favorites - the Dallas Cowboys. Lebron was seen sharing hugs with the likes of Terrell Owens and Pac-Man Jones. Once again, Cleveland fans are up in arms over James' allegiances.
Perhaps Browns WR Braylon Edwards can clear up some of this for us --
"It didn't bother me," Edwards said. "As I've gotten to know LeBron, LeBron isn't a Cleveland guy. LeBron only plays for the Cavaliers, and who knows if he even likes the Cavaliers? He doesn't like the Indians. He doesn't like the Browns. He's a guy from Akron who likes everybody but his hometown.
"I don't know how that's possible, but it is what it is, and he is who he is. You know, it's LeBron."
Braylon is partially right. LeBron isn't a Cleveland guy. He's an Akron guy. I know Akron very well. There is a definite "little brother" feeling to the city, with alot of resentment from Akronites, (or is it Akronians?) towards the city in the great north. LeBron is incredibly loyal to the City of Akron. He holds several charity event in the city, and his clothing line will outfit the University of Akron basketball team. Like Edwards said, LeBron James isn't a Cleveland guy, he's a guy from Akron who LOVES his hometown.
via assets.espn.go.com
That leads us to the question. Should Cleveland fans be concerned, annoyed, pissed even, that LeBron doesn't root, root, root for the home team? Let's start with when LeBron grew up. A child of the late 90's, LeBron is a confirmed Yankess, Cowboys and Bulls fan. Is it surprising that those 3 teams won alot of games and Titles during the 90's? Three Super Bowls, 4 World Series and 6 NBA Titles. That's alot of winning. We all went to school with the kid who liked whoever was winning, you know, the Front-Runner. Is that what LeBron is?
Maybe, but not so fast. LeBron is a freak athletically. Much of that is physical, bit not all of it. There have been dozens of examples of great athletes that failed in athletics. The ones that excel are the ones that want to win so badly that it consumes them. They are addicted to it. Should we find it surprising that someone like LeBron, someone that is addicted to winning and success, would not be attracted to it in other sports? Not a surprise to me, that's for sure.
Let's not forget LeBron's age, either, or the fact that James loves to stir the pot and get attention. Why else would he say during the Olympics that he would entertain playing overseas. Easily a topic for it's own post, LeBron signing in Euorpe in 2 years is far-fetched to say the least. Financially, a team may offer LeBron some crazy contract. LeBron isn't stupid, however, and he is a basketball historian. He knows the only way to create the legacy as one of the best ever to play would be to play in the NBA for 15,16 years, not in Greece or Italy.
Now that we have some idea why, should Cleveland fans be bothered? Hell no! To me, LeBron can wear any hat he likes. What I want from LeBron James is to show up every night at "The Q" and give me everything he has every minute he's on the floor. That is what LeBron's obligation is to the City of Cleveland and it's fans. Oh, and it would be nice if he hit a free throw every now and then, too, but one thing at a time. If LeBron is going to average 30/7/7, he can wear any hat he wants. Does that make me a bad Clevelander? If you are saying yes I think that's ridiculous, but I respect the opinion. I just think people care too much about wanting their athletes to be perfect, to be something that, in reality, is impossible. Perfect.
Just enjoy what LeBron does when he is wearing the one uniform that matters, the Wine and Gold. Anything else is well enough left alone.
0 recs | 32 comments
Ideally, I’d love for LeBron to be a Tribe/Browns fan as well. But let’s set something straight: LeBron likes attention. That is what all of this boils down to. If LeBron shows up to one of these games, wearing a different hat, sits in a luxury box and cheers, nobody cares/notices. But LeBron sits in the stands and is down on the field in these hats to get attention. Its that simple. It annoys me slightly, but when it comes down to it, I simply don’t care that much.
Fundamentals - September 10, 2008
Totally agree...
LeBron likes to stir the pot and get a reaction. I think he really does like the Cowboys and Yankees, but he also knows, and loves, what happens when he shows up at The Prog or Cleveland Browns Stadium wearing their colors….
John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) - September 10, 2008
where’s chuck
Gradyforpresident - September 10, 2008
I will not sit still for this Akron slander. Screw that.
I grew up in and around Akron, and as far as I know, the entirety of Summit County is Browns/Indians/Cavs territory through and through. Hell, the Cavs played in Summit County for years.
Yes, Akron is a “little brother” city to Cleveland, but I don’t remember anyone expressing any resentment about that — as in, never, not once in the whole first 20 years of my life while I was living there.
Jay - September 10, 2008
You’re a Cavs fan Jay? Or are you just participating in the thread?
mrich - September 10, 2008
I’m a Cavs fan from way back, but not like I used to be. That season where we had all the rookies, 86-87 was it? I must have gone to 25 games.
Jay - September 10, 2008
I understand...
But my feelings while I lived and worked in Akron was different. And remember, LeBron is fiercely loyal to Akron. I wasn’t implying that Akron isn’t Browns/Indians/Cavs country, what I was implying is that LeBron doesn’t consider himself a Clevelander, just because he grew up in Akron, and the fact that he doesn’t like Cleveland teams should not be considered traitor-like the way some in the national main-stream media are making it out to be.
John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) - September 11, 2008
Not buying it.
First, I never for a moment considered myself a Clevelander, but rooting for anyone but the Browns, anyone but the Cavs or anyone but the Indians was totally out of the question nonetheless. I don’t know what your Akron background was, but I grew up there in the 70’s and 80’s, and the team loyalties were simply unquestioned. From a sports fan standpoint, you basically were in Cleveland for all intents and purposes.
Anyway, this is kind of missing the point. Criticism about Lebron’s rooting loyalties only has a little bit to do with the fact that he’s from the area, and a lot to do with just basic disrespect for your team’s fans, and the other top athletes playing in the same town as you. In his living room, he can root for whomever he wants, but he doesn’t have to flaunt it in public.
Jay - September 11, 2008
I’m with Jay on the not flaunting it.
In fact, I would argue that his flaunting it feeds into the inferiority complex that people have in the area. When I was growing up in the Portage Lakes area (late 60s-early 70s), Cleveland was the butt of national jokes. The river and the mayor both caught on fire. The lake was polluted. The city was bankrupt. The rubber mills in Akron were beginning the process of transferring rubber production elsewhere, as were the steel mills in Cleveland and Youngstown. The only people I knew who didn’t root for the Browns were Larry Csonka’s niece and nephew.
The rest of the world was making fun of us, but we still took pride in our teams. Those of us who came of age in a time when Cleveland was the laughingstock of the nation take it very personally when one of our own isn’t proud enough of the place that he grew up, and still lives, to publicly root for our teams. I know I watch Cavs games and see Browns players and Indians players in the stands rooting for the Cavs. When I see LeBron in the stands at an Indians playoff game wearing a Yankees hat, it stings a little, like he’s not proud enough of the place he grew up to support the team supported by his friends and neighbors and the people who buy tickets to watch him play.
It’s tone deaf. And it’s rubbing it in our faces that he thinks himself too big to support his homeboys.
woodsmeister - September 11, 2008
Yeah, i’m with Jay on both points. Akron has a huge cleveland sports following; I went to school at UAkron for two years and saw many games at bars/restaurants. I would just appreciate Lebron keeping his azz in a luxury box and rooting from there instead of rooting for the other team in public.
Remember, during the playoff run a bunch of Indians players went over to the Q and cheered on the cavs. Most of them weren’t even from the same state.
Gradysmanldy - September 11, 2008
grady was all up in that
Gradyforpresident - September 12, 2008
I’ve lived in Stark County my entire life, and everyone (except for a vocal minority of Steelers fans/frontrunners) considers themselves Cleveland sports fans. I would imagine Akron would be that even moreso.
If LeBron wants to root for the Yankees or Cowboys, that’s his call. But from a professional standpoint, you don’t want to alienate a portion of your fanbase by wearing a Yankee hat In Jacobs Field or hanging out with the Cowboys in Cleveland Browns Stadium. Most people in this area are Cleveland fans, not just a Cavs fan or an Indians fan.
Ryan - September 11, 2008
Growing up in Akron I had similar experiences with the vocal Steelers fans. I hated them at the time, but I don’t consider them frontrunners now. Fact is, Pittsburgh is another regional team. In Akron, there were lots of transplants from West Virginia who’s fathers came to work in factories and were legitimate Steelers fans. Youngstown, for instance, is more of a Steelers town than a Browns town. So, I don’t think being a Pittsburgh fan is akin to being a Yankees fan or a Bulls fan. For myself, I must admit to being a huge Lakers fan throughout my childhood and teen years. I still have my championship watch.
randallhank - September 12, 2008
Yikes, man … Akron is not Youngstown. Any Akron native rooting for the Steelers is still a repugnant individual. I can’t speak for Canton.
Jay - September 14, 2008
Remember, this is isn’t like being a Reds fan, the Steelers were a direct rival.
Jay - September 14, 2008
I have an alternate theory. LeBron is keeping things suspenseful for now, but deep down he really loves Cleveland sports. All this Yankee/Cowboy nonsense is just a practical joke meant to distract us. This way it will delight us that much more when he re-signs with the Cavs. That has to be it, right?
cleveland teamer - September 11, 2008
There is something deeply offensive to me about seeing LBJ on the Cowboys’ sidelines, joking with TO and wearing a Yankees hat IN CLEVELAND.
He can root for whomever he wants to, as long as he is aware that when he disses his city’s teams so publicly that many NE Ohioans find that it somewhat lessens his appeal in his hometown.
I’m not going to root against the Cavs because of it – I’ve been on board since the Miracle of Richfield – but it does make me think that it may be the only thing he’s been tone deaf about in marketing himself since he started.
woodsmeister - September 11, 2008
I hate to admit it but LeBron is bigger than the Browns and Indians combined. Of course his favorite teams are the Yanks and Cowboys. That fits his personality. As long as he doesn’t diss Ohio State, haha.
jerseywahoo - September 11, 2008
I’ve always heard that he’s a big OSU fan. He always said that he would have gone there to play basketball had he gone to college (which, I guess, is kind of like me saying that I would fly to Mars if I was going to be an astronaut — that wasn’t going to happen anyways).
It does bother me when LeBron shows up at an Indians game wearing a Yankees hat, but he’s just doing it for attention. As long as he’s devoted to the Cavaliers I’m fine with that. I know that everyone thinks he’s going to New York when his contract expirese, but he’ll get more money staying in Cleveland and I think he’ll stay as long as they’re competative. If we have a team capable of making the Finals, why would he leave? He doesn’t need the attention of playing in New York, and he won’t make more money there.
Buckeye Brad - September 11, 2008
Well, maybe he won’t make more money from the Knicks, but he certainly would make much more in endorsements in New York.
Ryan - September 11, 2008
I’m not entirely sure that I believe this anymore. At one point, he would have made an insane amount more in New York. But, with a star of his magnitude, we’re not talking about the differences that he’ll make in a local car dealership ad, we’re talking a national stage. With the ad campaigns that Nike and the NBA have put out that have centered on him, how much more does his Q score go by moving to New York? The internet and satellite television have made it so marketing campaigns are largely nationwide anyhow. He already has an enormous shoe contract, he already has an enormous contract with Powerade, and Upper Deck, and Bubblicious. I think there is a chance that some of those deals may increase in a New York, but I’m not sure how much.
Plus, I do believe the story of staying with the hometown team would also gain him a large amount of national attention. He’d be the guy that could spend his entire career in one uniform, like the guys that he looked up to in Jordan (the Wizards days never occurred in my mind), Magic and Bird. Changing teams brings you to a new fanbase, but staying with one team makes it easier for fans of other teams to root for you, IMO.
Fundamentals - September 11, 2008
Eh, I don’t know. LeBron is already popular across the country. I highly doubt any person who is even remotely a sports fan hasn’t heard of him. Going to New York isn’t going to raise his profile any more than playing in Cleveland.
Buckeye Brad - September 11, 2008
Have to agree on this — is there some major endorsement deal he doesn’t already have? Does Tiger Woods have to play in New York, too?
Jay - September 14, 2008
While this may or may not be true, let’s just assume that it is.
If he can make more $$ in endorsements, at what cost would that be to his family? He has already built one of the bigger houses in Ohio in Akron. If he leaves to New York, would he pack up the family (gf and 2 kids, not to mention his Mom) and live in New York for 8-9 months of the year? Would he want to expose his family to the grind and temptations that come with big city living? Or will he prefer to let his kids grow up in his hometown, where the temptations are vastly different?
It will be definitely interesting to see how it all pans out.
talonk - September 11, 2008
Logically...
this means that Lebron shouldn’t necessarily be bummed out about not making the playoffs. Maybe for instance, the Cavs not making the playoffs allows one of his “boyhood favorites” (teams) to make the playoffs instead. Saying Philly is on the verge, and Lebron likes the look of their logo, why not take a dive and let Philly in? Or maybe Lebron adopts a new favorite team like the Pistons or Bobcats, what is poor Lebron going to do while the evil Cavaliers have him under unholy contract? How do we know that Lebron really tried his hardest to beat the Celtics in that tight series or the Spurs in the Finals? Maybe those teams are his new favorites and he just hasn’t declared so publicly. Did Lebron WANT to get that jump ball that Pierce stole from in front of him? This whole thing is like a mayor giving unfair benefits to another city at the expense of his own. My question is, why keep electing him?
0004248939 - September 11, 2008
You are taking this way, way, way too far. There’s a HUGE difference between rooting for non-Cleveland teams in other sports and throwing your own team’s games, which you’re implying. Nobody commenting here thinks LeBron doesn’t want the Cavs to win; that would be moronic.
Also, to answer your analogy; if my mayor is definately one of the two or three best mayors in the whole country, and he may go down as one of the greatest every when he’s done with his service, then I damn well want him mayor of my town.
Buckeye Brad - September 11, 2008
Mr. Madison
What you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
(and I’m a Wizards fan that can’t stand LeBron).
Mike Prada - September 11, 2008
Do you care if anyone of the Browns are fans of another NBA or MLB team? Do you think Grady Sizemore is more of a Browns or Seahawks fan? On another note, LeBron has already made it clear that all he cares about is winning. Which gets back to the original point, why do you think he’s such a fan of the Cowboys and Yankees?
jerseywahoo - September 11, 2008
You seem to be purposely missing the point – LeBron grew up here before he played here. If he grew up in Dallas, I don’t think anyone would care that he was on the sidelines yukking it up with TO in a Yankees here.
He is one of our own. He’s turned his back on our teams. He’s turned his backs on things we hold to be dear and precious so he could become a frontrunner. That’s what we find offensive.
I don’t care which football team Grady Sizemore roots for. He’s not from here. If he wants to show up in the offseason on the Seahawks’ sideline, that’s fine with me.
woodsmeister - September 12, 2008
He’s also missing the point that even if he is a Cowboys or Yankees fan, you don’t flaunt it in front of the hometown fans in the national spotlight. When you’re as big a superstar as Lebron, you’re just as much a politician as you are athletic superstar. And what’s the most important thing for politicians to remain successful? Don’t go against your base.
rolub - September 12, 2008
But it gets attention. And superstars like attention.
Buckeye Brad - September 12, 2008
Supposition, and stretching.
Jay - September 14, 2008
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