LeBron James headed back to the Cavaliers

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LeBron James headed back to the Cavaliers

Postby Haxz0rz1337 on Sat Jul 12, 2014 2:38 am

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LeBron James for Sports Illustrated wrote:Before anyone ever cared where I would play basketball, I was a kid from Northeast Ohio. It’s where I walked. It’s where I ran. It’s where I cried. It’s where I bled. It holds a special place in my heart. People there have seen me grow up. I sometimes feel like I’m their son. Their passion can be overwhelming. But it drives me. I want to give them hope when I can. I want to inspire them when I can. My relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball. I didn’t realize that four years ago. I do now.

Remember when I was sitting up there at the Boys & Girls Club in 2010? I was thinking, This is really tough. I could feel it. I was leaving something I had spent a long time creating. If I had to do it all over again, I’d obviously do things differently, but I’d still have left. Miami, for me, has been almost like college for other kids. These past four years helped raise me into who I am. I became a better player and a better man. I learned from a franchise that had been where I wanted to go. I will always think of Miami as my second home. Without the experiences I had there, I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing today.

I went to Miami because of D-Wade and CB. We made sacrifices to keep UD. I loved becoming a big bro to Rio. I believed we could do something magical if we came together. And that’s exactly what we did! The hardest thing to leave is what I built with those guys. I’ve talked to some of them and will talk to others. Nothing will ever change what we accomplished. We are brothers for life. I also want to thank Micky Arison and Pat Riley for giving me an amazing four years.

I’m doing this essay because I want an opportunity to explain myself uninterrupted. I don’t want anyone thinking: He and Erik Spoelstra didn’t get along. … He and Riles didn’t get along. … The Heat couldn’t put the right team together. That’s absolutely not true.

I’m not having a press conference or a party. After this, it’s time to get to work.

When I left Cleveland, I was on a mission. I was seeking championships, and we won two. But Miami already knew that feeling. Our city hasn’t had that feeling in a long, long, long time. My goal is still to win as many titles as possible, no question. But what’s most important for me is bringing one trophy back to Northeast Ohio.

I always believed that I’d return to Cleveland and finish my career there. I just didn’t know when. After the season, free agency wasn’t even a thought. But I have two boys and my wife, Savannah, is pregnant with a girl. I started thinking about what it would be like to raise my family in my hometown. I looked at other teams, but I wasn’t going to leave Miami for anywhere except Cleveland. The more time passed, the more it felt right. This is what makes me happy.

To make the move I needed the support of my wife and my mom, who can be very tough. The letter from Dan Gilbert, the booing of the Cleveland fans, the jerseys being burned -- seeing all that was hard for them. My emotions were more mixed. It was easy to say, “OK, I don’t want to deal with these people ever again.” But then you think about the other side. What if I were a kid who looked up to an athlete, and that athlete made me want to do better in my own life, and then he left? How would I react? I’ve met with Dan, face-to-face, man-to-man. We’ve talked it out. Everybody makes mistakes. I’ve made mistakes as well. Who am I to hold a grudge?

I’m not promising a championship. I know how hard that is to deliver. We’re not ready right now. No way. Of course, I want to win next year, but I’m realistic. It will be a long process, much longer than it was in 2010. My patience will get tested. I know that. I’m going into a situation with a young team and a new coach. I will be the old head. But I get a thrill out of bringing a group together and helping them reach a place they didn’t know they could go. I see myself as a mentor now and I’m excited to lead some of these talented young guys. I think I can help Kyrie Irving become one of the best point guards in our league. I think I can help elevate Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters. And I can’t wait to reunite with Anderson Varejao, one of my favorite teammates.

But this is not about the roster or the organization. I feel my calling here goes above basketball. I have a responsibility to lead, in more ways than one, and I take that very seriously. My presence can make a difference in Miami, but I think it can mean more where I’m from. I want kids in Northeast Ohio, like the hundreds of Akron third-graders I sponsor through my foundation, to realize that there’s no better place to grow up. Maybe some of them will come home after college and start a family or open a business. That would make me smile. Our community, which has struggled so much, needs all the talent it can get.

In Northeast Ohio, nothing is given. Everything is earned. You work for what you have.

I’m ready to accept the challenge. I’m coming home.


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Re: LeBron James returns to Cleveland Cavaliers.

Postby JaoSming on Sat Jul 12, 2014 2:55 am

BOOM

now let's blender the rest of FA and enjoy. Lin moving, Mr Highlights back out of a verbal commit to the heat, Bosh to rockets, Wiggins for Love? Spo to Bucks? Melo to Hornets? Sleeved ad-driven unis for all the western conference, wooohoo!
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Re: LeBron James returns to Cleveland Cavaliers.

Postby formx on Sat Jul 12, 2014 2:57 am

RIP Heat fanbase 2010-2014
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Re: LeBron James returns to Cleveland Cavaliers.

Postby Stress Fracture on Sat Jul 12, 2014 3:04 am

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Need to repost this.
benji wrote:LeBron is such a choker. And people were talking about him as an all-time great. As having possibly surpassed Kobe. What a joke.

velvet bliss wrote:Andrew, you the real MVP.

Andrew wrote:He who flops and flails to the Finals and a title, flops and flails best.
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Re: LeBron James returns to Cleveland Cavaliers.

Postby Murat on Sat Jul 12, 2014 3:13 am

How does Dan Gilbert feel?
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Re: LeBron James returns to Cleveland Cavaliers.

Postby shadowgrin on Sat Jul 12, 2014 3:16 am

Badger as always with the thought provoking question.



phpBB [video]
Last edited by shadowgrin on Sat Jul 12, 2014 3:18 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: LeBron James returns to Cleveland Cavaliers.

Postby PepsiWithCoke on Sat Jul 12, 2014 3:17 am

LeBron leaves and Cleveland get a shit ton of first round picks and first overall's, Only for LeBron to "Shockingly" return home.

Smells fishy.
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Re: LeBron James returns to Cleveland Cavaliers.

Postby Haxz0rz1337 on Sat Jul 12, 2014 3:22 am

Bennett must be like "Oh...Fuck me" lmao
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Re: LeBron James returns to Cleveland Cavaliers.

Postby NovU on Sat Jul 12, 2014 3:31 am

Does the Cavs have Heat's first round pick(top 10 protected) for next season?
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Re: LeBron James headed back to the Cavaliers

Postby YaoKnowWhat_I_Ming on Sat Jul 12, 2014 3:46 am

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NovU wrote:Does the Cavs have Heat's first round pick(top 10 protected) for next season?

2015 first round draft pick from Miami
Miami's 1st round pick to Cleveland protected for selections 1-10 in 2015 or 1-10 in 2016 or unprotected in 2017 [Cleveland-Miami, 7/9/2010]

http://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/ ... s/detailed
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Re: LeBron James headed back to the Cavaliers

Postby Mandich on Sat Jul 12, 2014 3:50 am

Oh I see it already....

Heat fans acting all classy about it but slowly dying inside...

Whata beautiful summer this is turning out to be.
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Re: LeBron James headed back to the Cavaliers

Postby Haxz0rz1337 on Sat Jul 12, 2014 4:09 am

Kyrie's reaction lol

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Re: LeBron James headed back to the Cavaliers

Postby volsey on Sat Jul 12, 2014 4:38 am

Good for Cleveland; but honestly, how can anyone respect/lookup to/cheer for this man? He's so full of shit that it's difficult to look beyond. I think years to come they're going to glamorize (as they already are) his return saying he sacrificed for the Cleveland fans or something. Fuck that, anyone remember when how he actually left Cleveland out to dry? Or how he promised "not one, not two ..." championships in Miami. You went 2 for 4 (which is amazing) and gave up.

He's saying that he felt obligated to go back and work for his "home". Yea, it has nothing to do with his team getting destroyed in the the finals. He lost, was feeling discouraged, and lost faith in the other "big 2", and saw a way out to a young and promising team.

I was a HUGE LBJ fan his first 3 or 4 years in. But jesus his legacy is beyond repair for me personally; and honestly it really doesn't have much to do with his skill, athleticism, or his winnings, but moreso his demeanor. He's a few years older than me and god his bullshit and on-court demeanor is painful to watch in a grown ass man.

Anyways, it'll be fun to watch Kyrie and him work together. Kyrie is the player he needed in Cleveland the first go around for sure. I don't expect them to be great right off the bat, but jesus their transition offense looks promising.
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Re: LeBron James headed back to the Cavaliers

Postby _Steve_ on Sat Jul 12, 2014 6:10 am

Anything is possible for the Cavs right now, even a 1st or 2nd round exit next year.
Things are just getting easier for the top 3 teams in the west.
Edit: And yes, I was taken by surprise that LBJ returns to Cleveland.
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Re: LeBron James headed back to the Cavaliers

Postby NovU on Sat Jul 12, 2014 6:19 am

People are cheering for him more for break up of the big three and because they always have been superior moral beings this whole time. Predictable. Those are same idiots that mindlessly hated him just yesterday.


My personal opinion though is that he didn't do much wrong in 2010 and share the similar sentiment this time again. He had all the rights to do whatever he wanted, and he chose his hometown over money and better chance to win, which actually is a nice rare doing these days by superstar players. By doing that he certainly deserved some new fanbase and media support. That is neat I guess. But if you are a Heat fan, complaint and disappointment are similar to those of Cavalier fans from 2010. It looks like the Heat never had a chance from the day he opted out seeing how this played out exactly like a pre-arranged goodbye. Sheradian's confident 90% LBJ leaving article came out way before the meeting between Riley and LBJ as well.
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Re: LeBron James headed back to the Cavaliers

Postby shadowgrin on Sat Jul 12, 2014 6:47 am

NovU poor sweet NovU :(
Let the NLSC comfort you :(
First you must lie down :(
Now assume the fetal position, it's more comfortable that way :(
Cry, let it all out, don't be ashamed of your sorrow :(
Cry until your tears are dry and you can cry no more :(
It will help you in the long run throughout the season :(
When Wade carries the Heat with his nonexistent knees :(
They will then realize that they cannot hurt you anymore :(
For you are all cried out and cannot shed a single tear for them to rejoice :(
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Re: LeBron James headed back to the Cavaliers

Postby NovU on Sat Jul 12, 2014 6:52 am

:roll: You used to be better at this trolling thing.
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Re: LeBron James headed back to the Cavaliers

Postby shadowgrin on Sat Jul 12, 2014 7:03 am

:cry:



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Re: LeBron James headed back to the Cavaliers

Postby JaoSming on Sat Jul 12, 2014 7:33 am

http://gfycat.com/LoathsomeThatApisdorsatalaboriosa
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Re: LeBron James headed back to the Cavaliers

Postby NovU on Sat Jul 12, 2014 7:38 am

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Re: LeBron James headed back to the Cavaliers

Postby benji on Sat Jul 12, 2014 8:24 am

Except the Heat did the same thing...
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Re: LeBron James headed back to the Cavaliers

Postby stereoxide on Sat Jul 12, 2014 8:30 am

NovU wrote:[ Image ]

In 2010 Wade's face must be changed to the logo of the Cleveland Cavaliers and you have a good gif.
Is this Cavs team now the team with the most no. 1 overall pick playing for one team in the history of the NBA? And considering they are all picked by the Cavs.
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Re: LeBron James headed back to the Cavaliers

Postby Andrew on Sat Jul 12, 2014 9:21 am

At one point, the Showtime Lakers of the 80s had four number one picks as well.

Even with all the talk that it was close to being a done deal, 90% likely and all that, I couldn't shake the feeling that LeBron would ultimately stay in Miami and that all that stuff would turn out to be nothing but overblown rumours. Considering all the fun that was made of him, you have to hand it to Chris Broussard: he was on the money, this time.

I can't say I'm shocked to see it happen, because all the reports this week had built it up as a distinct possibility, but still...I'm surprised. For all the potential there is in Cleveland, for all the questions surrounding the Heat's roster, I still think it's a tough situation to walk away from. Again, deep down, I figured he'd remain with the Heat.

Reading that open letter, I'd say that LeBron handled this decision with a lot more grace than the one back in 2010. Reportedly, both he and Dan Gilbert have admitted they would've handled things differently back then, and you'd certainly hope that they'd both grown and learned from what turned out to be a very bitter split.

It'll be interesting to see what the Cavs can accomplish, but I guess the pressure is ultimately off LeBron, having overcome a couple of wilting performances to lead a team to back-to-back titles. With a couple of rings to his name, he can have a little more patience as Cleveland builds around him and Irving. It'll also be interesting to see where the Heat go from here; I'm not sure they're off to the best start by giving Bosh the max.

I suppose the rest of the dominoes are ready to fall, now.

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Well played, a worthy sequel to the Bash at the Beach '96 take on The Decision. :lol:
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Re: LeBron James headed back to the Cavaliers

Postby Jackal on Sat Jul 12, 2014 9:41 am

Ray Allen will sign with Cleveland. The little bitch that he is. Fuck Ray Allen.

Also fuck Dwight Howard. Just because he's a bitch too.
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Re: LeBron James headed back to the Cavaliers

Postby Sauru on Sat Jul 12, 2014 10:06 am

Jackal wrote:Ray Allen will sign with Cleveland. The little bitch that he is. Fuck Ray Allen.

Also fuck Dwight Howard. Just because he's a bitch too.



i agree with all of this
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