Cavs Owner Dan Gilbert Rips LeBron James After 'The Decision'

Open Letter to Fans from Cavaliers Majority Owner Dan Gilbert

Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;

As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.

This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.

Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.

The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.

There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.

You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.

You have given so much and deserve so much more.

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:

"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE"

You can take it to the bank.

If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our "motivation" to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.

Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.

Sorry, but that's simply not how it works.

This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow-up to become.

But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called "curse" on Cleveland, Ohio.

The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south. And until he does "right" by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.

Just watch.

Sleep well, Cleveland.

Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day....

I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:

DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue....

Dan Gilbert
Majority Owner
Cleveland Cavaliers

Wow.....crazy stuff for the owner of a team to put in writing. At least Cleveland has an owner that is showing some passion. I wonder if he could have done more to build a team to keep Lebron in Cleveland, though.

Maybe he should have taken a day or so to cool off before putting this out there, though.

i will personally guarantee the cavs dont win a championship before miami does... hey dan, wanna bet on that ?

Cleveland Cavs owner Dan Gilbert calls Lebron James move 'cowardly'

Sour Grapes at its finest

Where can i get action on Cavs winning before Lebron?

I'm tired of all the Lebron haters. In the end they wanted him on his team. That's where all the hate stems from. Even Dan Gilbert is now saying that he doesn't play full effort when he doesn't feel like it and that they've been covering up for him for a long time.

Gilbert = SORE LOSER

TEARS OF A CLOWN

Choke on it, Gilbert!

:lolBIG)

Bad move by Gilbert here. How many future free agents will scratch Cleveland off the list because of this non sense. He's a owner who above all others should know it's a business. How many loyal players did he cut or trade? Seriously dude this is the wrong move for the public to see.

As stated above he should have cooled off for a few days and then made a statement that could have basically said the exact same thing, but in a more professional sense.

I like him, he's going out guns blazing. He's also confirming what us gamblers thought about for months about lebron tanking those playoff games.

Gilbert, who posted a letter to Cavs fans on the team's website shortly after James announced his plans to sign with the Heat, told The Associated Press late Thursday night that it's "accountability time" for James.

"He has gotten a free pass," Gilbert said in a phone interview with The AP. "People have covered up for (James) for way too long. Tonight we saw who he really is."

Gilbert feels James quit on the Cavs during their second-round series against the Boston Celtics, who rallied from a 2-1 deficit to eliminate Cleveland.

"He quit," Gilbert said. "Not just in Game 5, but in Games 2, 4 and 6. Watch the tape. The Boston series was unlike anything in the history of sports for a superstar."

The Cavaliers were beaten by 32 points in Game 5. During the game, James appeared distracted and uninterested, often glaring at Cleveland's coaches as the Cavs tried to foul to get back into the game in the second half. James also made some puzzling postgame comments, saying he had "spoiled" people with his play over seven seasons.

If Bron quit on the Cavs several times during the playoffs for the last couple of years, why would he even want him to stay for a max. money contract? :think2:

HILARIOUS Miami Blogger returning the letter to Dan Gilbert:

Open Letter to Dan Gilbert: Fuck You.

He is just referring to this year's Boston series. The owner must've known lebron was on his way out after showing that effort, and that explain's Ferry's early departure.

2PLAYSMAX said:

Bad move by Gilbert here. How many future free agents will scratch Cleveland off the list because of this non sense. He's a owner who above all others should know it's a business. How many loyal players did he cut or trade? Seriously dude this is the wrong move for the public to see.

As stated above he should have cooled off for a few days and then made a statement that could have basically said the exact same thing, but in a more professional sense.

Click to expand...

This post is spot on. No big time free agent in his right mind will go to Cleveland now. As if it's not already a horrid place to live but now the owner won't have your back if something doesn't go the way he thinks it should. The only way Cleveland signs any good players now is to overpay for them. Hey Dan, if you want to see how the situation should be handled look at how Arthur Blank handled the Vick situation. The guy was a FREE AGENT. What doesn't Dan get about that. LeBron had the right to go wherever he wanted. That's what free agent means. If you didn't want him to leave maybe you should've sacked up years ago and and spent above and beyond the NBA's soft cap and got some good players in there insted of a guy that looks like sideshow bob from the simpsons, a way over the hill Shaq and a tattoo'd thug that bangs LeBrons mom.

Personally I like the fact that an athlete finally didn't do it for the money. I don't know if Miami will win or not but two things are for sure. 1. Lebron is taking less money to go there, which almost never happens. and 2. he put his ego to the side and said I don't need to be the attraction, I'll go someplace with two other stars and try to win championships.

timshady said:

HILARIOUS Miami Blogger returning the letter to Dan Gilbert:

Open Letter to Dan Gilbert: Fuck You.

Click to expand...

:lolBIG:


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Ya, he is pissed. Really surprised me when ESPN ran this story.

You know, maybe Lebron is just plain tired of Cleve! He has a right to go to a warmer climate if he wants to. If you've gone through those midwest winters, you get tired of cleaning the snow off your windshield and scraping off the ice.

"2. he put his ego to the side and said I don't need to be the attraction, I'll go someplace with two other stars and try to win championships."

Really? You think LBJ put his ego to the side. I don't think so.

If you want to see a superstar put his ego to the side take a look at Kevin Durant.

KAPPER said:

If you want to see a superstar put his ego to the side take a look at Kevin Durant.

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Does Durant even have an ego? :lol: I love players like him, who seem to make no big deal out of themselves...

@eoghater: Gilbert also accused him of quitting the year before vs the Orlando Magic...it's just hilarious how this guy is reacting. Always kissing LeBrons ass and offering him the max and now that he left to Miami James is a quitter and overrated. @)

i just hope now we can put all the James talk on the back burner and get on with bases and the upcoming football season.I just hope this thing is not going to be the top topic each day until the nba season starts.As of now James has not won a damn thing , let talk again when he buy himself a ring......ck

carolinakid said:

i just hope now we can put all the James talk on the back burner and get on with bases and the upcoming football season.I just hope this thing is not going to be the top topic each day until the nba season starts.As of now James has not won a damn thing , let talk again when he buy himself a ring......ck

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hno: We all know you only follow sports to bet on them. Many of us also bet on sports, but also have a favorite home team we enjoy to follow.

This is the biggest FA signing in Miami Heat history. Being from Miami, I'm ecstatic. After last night, I made the decision to get DirecTV's NBA League Pass. I plan on watching my Miami Heat every night if possible. SHOWTIME in Miami! :thumbsup:

timshady said:

HILARIOUS Miami Blogger returning the letter to Dan Gilbert:

Open Letter to Dan Gilbert: Fuck You.

Click to expand...

:lolBIG::lolBIG::lolBIG:

When I first heard about the Open Letter to Cleveland by the Cavaliers majority owner, Dan Gilbert, I tended to think it was fake. Why would a man who just made millions, if not billions, by winning the NBA lottery, and selecting the “chosen one,” LeBron James, think that LeBron owed the city of Cleveland anything more than he already did? After all, LeBron spent the first part of his career there, never caused an off-court issue, brought Cleveland basketball to a high level, and attracted other stars, such as Shaquille O’Neal, and essentially resurrected the basketball culture in Ohio.

Sure, they did not win an NBA title. But guess what, only the Spurs, Pistons, Heat, Lakers, and Celtics won titles in the last decade. That’s five teams in 10 years, and two virtual dynasties when you look at the span of winning teams the Lakers and Spurs put together in that time frame. It’s not like LeBron wasn’t trying, the guy carried that team on his back for many years, and hit countless clutch shots as the team attempted to beat powerhouses like Orlando, Boston, and Detroit over the last several years. Just in the last two years did ownership in Cleveland really pay attention and try to make a splash in free agency, mind you.

Dan Gilbert, you are a whiny, toothless, spineless, selfish prick. You are obviously very disheartened by LeBron moving on, which he has earned the right to do. He served his time in your boring State, Dan. He served time as a youth, and as an adult. Let the guy explore and live life the way his money allows him to live it. He entertained the fans, who of course, served him well and supported him throughout. But, at no point in life is a player at the mercy of his team, no matter where his roots come from, and at no point did LeBron “sell out” Cleveland. Instead, you sold out LeBron, and attempted to diss a player who had every right to enjoy the recruitment he never got to experience earlier in his career, a player who was free to choose any city he wished. It’s not like he pulled a Nick Saban, and said he was coming back, he never did that to you, Dan. He stayed out of your coaching search, minded his own business, and never made any promises, ala Nick Saban in Miami.

LeBron James simply wanted to experience something new, and take a new career path. While it’s obvious your fans will be upset, the true fans will understand LeBron is doing what he wants to do, WIN. Your team will never win in Cleveland, at least under your direction. I can guarantee your proclamation made in your open letter….

“I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE”

….will come back to bite you in the ass and make you the biggest laughing stock in league ownership history. Seriously, I can’t wait to laugh in your face when Cleveland misses the playoffs next year. I feel bad for the Cleveland fans that they have such a terrible, gutless owner. They deserve better, the city deserves class individuals if they want to turn around their bad run in sports. They deserve Mike Brown, who was a classy guy, but wait, you fired him and then blamed LeBron for the playoff failure. Way to think it through, Danny boy.

I can guarantee that if and when you run into LeBron James, he will be nothing but classy, as he normally is. Sans his non-existent post-handshake one year in the playoffs, I don’t think LeBron has every publicly humiliated the team like you just did in your open letter.

Your insult-laden rant to the city of Cleveland, which just got dumber by reading your tirade, is an embarassment to professional sports owners.