Monday, October 22, 2012
Lebron James Leaving
Last week in class we talked heavily about Lebron James taking his talents to South Beach. This was a kind of sensitive topic for me since I am from Cleveland and a fan of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Lebron James leaving Cleveland had a huge impact on the city, one that was bigger than just basketball. However, I don't fault Lebron for leaving nor do I have a huge problem with the way he did it.
Lebron James leaving the city of Cleveland had a impact that was bigger than just basketball. Him leaving meant that the city wouldn't bring in as much business to the small businesses around the city and arena. Lebron James bought many people into the city that wouldn't have came if he wasn't there. We all know that small business is a huge part of a city's economy, and him leaving left the city wondering how they would be able to generate that same amount of interest to the small businesses that was there when he was playing for Cleveland.
At the end of the day many faulted Lebron for his decision however, people forget that the NBA is a business. Lebron James fulfilled his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers and had the right to go wherever he wanted. Many would then say that he shouldn't have waited to the last minute to tell the Cavaliers that he was leaving. Like I previously stated, it's a business so why would he tell the Cavaliers, a team in the Eastern Conference that he was leaving if he knew he was going to go to another team in the Eastern Conference. It doesn't make sense for him to do that because the Cavs would of had a chance to try and grab players and end up beating Lebron James and his new team. Lebron didn't want that so he waited to the last minute not to be a prick but it was a smart business decision.
In all I believe that Lebron James left the way he did because of business decisions. I don't think he did it to disrespect the Cavaliers, fans, or the city of Cleveland. I believe that he did it thinking as a business minded person because at the end of the day the NBA is just that, a business.
Tim Love
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Tim,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your statements that LeBron's decision was that of a business man. At the end of the day, athletes are in their sport to make as much money as they can in most cases. Their professional playing window is that of 20 years, max. A smart man will accumulate as much money as possible during that career so that their retirement comes easier. I'm not sure I'd do the same situation, but I would never know since I have not been in that situation.
Wes Gates
I agree with your entire post 100%. I know that when it comes to LeBron, most of my comments can become very bias because he is my favorite basketball player, but I didn't think that he was wrong for leaving Cleveland either. I am from Cleveland, but I only liked the Cavs because of LeBron James, so when he left, I was all for it!
ReplyDeleteComment by Turea Moore ^^^^^
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on the point that the NBA is a business and that he is not at fault for doing what is best best for his career. That should be every persons goal at their work place. However, I do not agree with "The Decision" soap opera. Still to this day I don't see why it was necessary to have an hour long special just to announce which team he was going to play for. MJ never had a TV special to announce he was taking his talents to the District of Columbia; he was past his prime, but that isn't the point. It just seemed distasteful and morally wrong. Even if it was for a ton of endorsement money, all he had to do is say no.
ReplyDeleteDerek Zyski
I agree with you on the point that Lebron left because of a business decision that was best for his career. I do not believe he thought about how the way he went about making his decision would effect the way he was seen by people. I also agree with Wes and that people will try to make as much money as they can while they can. Lebron was trying to achieve the best of both worlds; more money and a championship. After watching the clip from Lebron on Oprah, I believe he is a different person from the person who made that decision, and still has a lot to growing up to do.
ReplyDelete- Jenny Kelley
Hi Tim,
ReplyDeleteI agree that it was a business decision, and I believe an "immature" LeBron didn't know what he was getting himself into when he was making "The Decision". I believe he thought he was doing the right thing by making money for the kids, himself, and making him even more of a superstar. Unfortunately he didn't know what he was getting himself into by the way the fans reacted. Over the past two years I think LeBron has matured a lot and gained respect back around the league and with his fans.
-Brett Creamer
I agree that Lebron made his decision based on business, but I do think he could have gone about presenting his decision differently. I agree with Brett that he was young and a little too immature to understand what kind of impact this would have on Cleveland and the NBA. I know that the whole television special was also made for business but it also made lebron kind of look arrogant and big headed. It gave fans and viewers the impression that he was this big shot who needed a televison production just to say what team he was signing under. No one had ever had that before, but he was apparently great enough for his own television special. As a whole I understand both sides, but the situation definitely could have been handled differently.
ReplyDeleteJennifer Zoellick
I agree with your assessment of LeBron as a business man. I believe the people close to him really persuaded him to go on tv and tell him that this would be a huge event. I disagree, however, with him doing it to hurt the Cavs potential free agency or trade options. I have never heard a report of this happening, not only about him, but any professional athlete. I'm not saying it's not impossible for that to happen, but I doubt that the Cavs could've gotten any one player that would help them beat LeBron, Wade, Bosh, etc, so LeBron shouldn't have even been concerned with that. I think it was just a product of him being immature and easily influenced by those close to him. Also, disrespect the team may not have been a motive for his decision, but he should have known, being from Cleveland, how much something like "The Decision" would effect the fans.
ReplyDelete-Ryan Hetrick
I also agree with your post, Tim, that Lebron had the right to shop the NBA Market and move to the city that would give him the best chance to win a championship. I also agree with most posts that the "Decision" made Lebron come off as arrogant and big-headed. One of the things that I don't agree with however was that people are saying he was too young and immature to understand the impact that the "Decision" would have on the Cleveland fans. At that point in his career, I'm sure Lebron knew that he was regarded as one of the top (if not, the top) player in the league and therefore he should've known that Cleveland fans regarded him so highly. Therefore, he should've known that Cleveland fans were going to feel bitter with his departure either way and so he should've left more quietly. Another reason why I think that Lebron was mature enough to understand the seriousness of the situation was what happened when he first got to Miami. Himself, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh held an introductory event at Miami Heat's Arena in which Lebron claimed that the trio would win Miami multiple championships. By that time though, James had to have heard about (through every media outlet) exactly how bitter Cleveland fans were. If he cared about his former city and/or fans, he wouldn't have gone through that introductory ceremony and acted the way he did.
ReplyDelete-Chris Cournan
Tim,
ReplyDeleteLebron had every right to leave Cleveland, but like most people can agree, the way he did it was unnecessary and over the top. However, the money he did raise went to good causes, but that took a back seat in the whole scheme of things. Lebron overall made the right decision in leaving Cleveland, the people at the top weren't bringing him in good talent to surround himself with and other teams were looking to get stronger. Lebron couldn't get past Boston's big three and Dwayne Wade was looking to return home to Chicago and team up with Derrick Rose. New York was already looking for upgrades during the offseason and landed Melo and Amare. Today, the Knicks didn't look at formidable as we thought they would be, but at the time we thought they were one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. In the end it's a business and Lebron chose to go where most people would. However, given the history of Cleveland sports and the way he did it, things escalated past the point it should have.
Nate Dudzik
Tim,
ReplyDeleteI agree with this post word for word. As much as I hate Lebron and the decision he made, I would have done the same exact thing. He may not have handled the situation in the ideal manner, but in the end he found a way to market himself and raise money for charity. Being in the NBA is nothing like having a normal career, you receive all your success in the beginning and then for the rest of your life you have to live off that success. Lebron was simply looking out for himself, and him being a family man an father is something I appreciate!
Nathan RIley
Good blog Tim,
ReplyDeleteI think you are spot on of him being a business man, whether he controlled any of the performance or not, he was the star to make it happen. I personally disagree with it because I dont think he needed the spotlight to make his desision, he could have done it like Nash and Howard did going to the lakers. Sure it was the talk on ESPN but it didnt have its own title and hour long segment. I think it was done just to make all of the spoofs of it haha.
Another point I want to make is Lebron will never be as much of a leader as Kobe or Durant or Wade. These people are the ones that built their teams and get players to come play with them to be great. (Give the Lakers some time) Lebron could not do that and bailed on Cleveland and in my eyes will never be a leader like those players. He is a great player but to me his decision also lost him alot of respect. For Lebron it will always be a business first rather than playing for the love of the game like Jordan did.
By:RJ Hefflinger