LeBron goes from Cleveland to Miami, from hero to villain

FIRST!

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im a fan of sith lords anyways….BREAKING NEWS! Apple to release a special edition lebron james iPhone4. Unfortunately it can only vibrate because he doesnt have any rings

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MB:

Sad commentary on Lebron when Ochocinco is making sense. Lebron sucks.

HT

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Great article Mark – you nailed it. There are so many terrible storylines here – what he’s doing to his hometown, the manner in which he chose to subject Cleveland to this with a one hour special on national t.v., what this says about his drive as a champion, etc. As you stated, he just went from hero to villian. I enjoyed watching him play, and in the matter of one ESPN special, i find myself despising him.

The element of this not getting a lot of discussion is the negative impact this will have on the NBA. As you stated, people don’t want to watch if they already know the storyline. This league already had a lack of parity before, and that problem just increased tenfold. As a Hawks fan, why do i even want to bother watching the NBA anymore if i know my team doesn’t have a chance due to 3 superstars colluding to build an empire? Why should GM’s even bother to try and build teams anymore if this can happen? Unless you live in Miami, this is terrible for the game, and the NBA will suffer for it.

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Makes the JJ contract look worse, IMO. I think this knocks the Hawks out of a top 4 spot in the East – Heat, Magic, Celtics, Bulls

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why even watch the hawks? two words: zaza pachulia.

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agreed techman, but not for too long because the celtics have one year left of true contention

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Smart move. Cleveland is like playing for the Hawks, always mediocre. Miami is Rings, Riley and South Beach.

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Who cares? I know that I don’t.

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I wonder in addition to the damage LBJ has done to his brand what the damage to the NBA is going to be. The whole thing makes me sick.

It’s not THAT he did it, but how. What an awful way to say goodbye to a city that loved and supported you so much.

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I had always liked LeBron until he quit on the Cavs in the last 3 games of the Celtics series. I’ve never seen anything like it, it looked like a fix. And now he goes to the Heat. Maybe he’s not up to being the man and wants to play second banana to Wade. After this ESPN fiasco tonight I think he’s made himself the most hated player in the NBA.

Mark, in case you haven’t seen the bad news, Melvin Turpin committed suicide.

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csi miami is a great show

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wow you are just a giant hater. you are a tool who judges other people for a living. If he wants to play in Miami, let him play there.. He wants to play with other great players, whats wrong with him wanting to play with two of the best players in the league.

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Mark,

All I know is, this situation just turned the heat (no pun intended) up 100x’s on ASG. After watching the East turn into a massive power over night, the HAWKS CANNOT AFFORD TO STAND PAT!!! Not only do they need to sign Shaq, the need to find a way to retain Childress.

Atlanta Spirit,

The fans are watching; and Rick Sund, get off your a$$ and go to work!!

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The Hawks need to get busy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Kiran, if you don’t understand the importance of something like loyalty, especially when your hometown is involved, i’m not sure anyone can explain it to you.

The point is that a true champion who is at the level Lebron claims to be at is able to reach great heights wherever he is. The guys you mentioned were never at that level. And now Lebron is showing that perhaps he’s not either.

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awful

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I agree with every word. Sure it was his choice…but a bad one that will haunt him for years to come. You can’t “buy” a championship team. Wade is reckless and injury prone…Bosh is fragile too. I can’t wait for them to fail over and over again. I also view Wade (used to be my favorite) as a first class chump too. Bosh is just Bosh without the ugly butt braids…doesn’t have the swag, talent and marquee value of the other two. Man I feel sorry for Le ding-dong when they play in Cleveland. He’ll need a suit of armor to deflect all the things that will be thrown at him. Some sport fans are probably mad enough to do bodily harm to him. He is a man on an island with a lot fewer friends. Now that we all know….can we all get back to our boring lives now?

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Mark,
First, the AJC doesn’t send you to South Africa to cover the World Cup…. and now this!! I feel it for Cleveland….. Maaaannnn. He sold out his home city…. for what? And he embarassed them on his egovision ESPN special. I always thought he was full of himself…. what a tool !! Put me down as someone who will never watch a game with this pompous ass…. the NBA has officially sucked for awhile now….. it just got worse. Who in Atlanta wants to watch a bunch of overindulged assclowns stuff a ball through a hoop? Everyone knows they only really try during the playoffs when their bonuses kick in!! Go Braves !!

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This is the dumbest article that I have read on this subject. The writer sounds like a disgruntled fan who is angry that the team he roots for isn’t getting Lebron. There are no givens in the NBA it is a long season full of injuries and no team can claim victory at the start, nor can any sports writer. Second everyone knows that you need a trifecta to win the big one and a solid bench. Third Lebron never experienced anything outside Cleveland and he is when all is said and done just a young man who wants what young men want, fun,sun and success. Finally Lebron can do a lot of good in a state that has the highest unemployment rate in the Union by his presence there. You need to grow up and not be so presumptuous.

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I’m offically done watching the NBA. First we had GM’s sending freebies to their former teams (Garnett to Boston, Gasol to LA). Now this… The league overexpanded now there are only a handful of teams that are truly relevant. It’s pretty pointless to watch… At the least ACC will be on ESPN more so I can still get my basketball fix.

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“Kobe-Magic-Jordan-Bird all created legacies on their own teams. They didn’t join together to make winning a ring easy.” Chad Ochocinco

Right…because Chad Ochocinco knows what it takes to win championships! A worthless perspective!

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Lebron is such an ass for doing this on national TV. I feel so sorry for the Cavs fans. David Stern should just automatically give Cleveland the no 1 overall pick next year as a consolation prize.

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It will be fun watching the Hawks and their 120 million dollar man dominate the Heat!

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He better surround himself with good players because he can’t make a 3, or a 15 footer, or a 10 footer, or a 5 footer when it counts. He is a joke and ESPN isn’t much better. Nothing but a circus!

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Oh and I damn sure ain’t kin to him.

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I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I like the Lakers and Kobe a lot more now, and hope they win it again next year.

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He couldn’t carry Kobe’s, Bird’s, Magic’s, or Pippen’s jock strap. The NBA is a league in trouble when it has to have this much hoopla over one player.

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@ Kiran

Jordan MADE Pippen the top 50 greatest player. As for Lebron, Wade is already a HOF caliber player.

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Count me as an anti-Lebron guy, now, too, MB. Not so much for the reasons you lay out–which are good ones–but because who wants to root for a ridiculous overdog team like the Heat are now? I’ve always been anti-Lakers for that reason (among others), and now that applies to the Heat. I hope they totally fall flat and the Tiresome Trio start pointing fingers.

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Kobe also had like 15 boards in that game 7. He recognized what he had to do

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Mark,
Very well said. I’ve been reading articles by Terry Pluto of the Plain Dealer and Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald, trying to gauge some perspective on the topic. You’ve got ‘em both beat…badly.

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Winner going to winnersville to be the “Champ” Everyone else IE Mark Bradley wants to whine at Miami’s great fortune. Too bad D Wade wasn’t a Hawk. Can you say dynasty.

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Better hire more bodyguards!..

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Everybody should calm down. Theres only going to be 1 basketball on the floor okay, not 3. And which one of these guys is going in the paint against Dwight Howard, and now Yao Ming.

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So Lebron will be choking during the playoffs wearing a different uniform. What a douche!

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What a bunch of looser you guys are!! You Whine when someone goes after the money saying that it cheapens the game, and then you turn around and whine when someone goes after the win saying its cheapening the money. Bradley, the biggest looser on here who’s always the first to say of a player, “He was good BUT he never won a Championship…….”; here’s a quote for you, “Those who can DO, those who can’t write sports columns and whine because they’re not sure if they’re local paper is gonna be around the next year.” Looser!!

Ooops – LOOSERSSS!!! Boo Hoo…!!

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I feel bad for the fans in cleveland. Imagine getting dumped on national t.v. OMG.

Byron scott may want to get back to the studio. He doesn’t have a chance.

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The funny thing is that a year ago it was supposed to be Shaq, all season it was cleveland cleveland cleveland overall #1, league MVP, but now his cast wasn’t good enough. Nobody was saying that the first 82 games were they

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Espn is reporting that tommorrow night at 9:00 Lebron James will announce why he is the greatest player of all time, why the Heat will win the next 10 championships and why he will enter the Hall of Fame before he retires.

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Hey Mark! You put all this other crap on here, why don’t you put my comments?

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ace

July 8th, 2010
11:26 pm
The funny thing is that a year ago it was supposed to be Shaq, all season it was cleveland cleveland cleveland overall #1, league MVP, but now his cast wasn’t good enough. Nobody was saying that the first 82 games were they

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they played boston only a couple of times. The reason they couldn’t advance in my opinion was due to coaching. They could have used lebron as a decoy. shaq can still dominate.

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no they lost that year because as usual Shaq’s fat a55 was out of shape

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umm wow its alotta hate on here i fell bad for cav fans but at the same time lebron dnt owe anybody anything he did what he felt was best for him and no matter what he choose he would have been critized (isnt that right mark?) the truth is this is when big companys or sports teams most important let someone go they care as long as its good for theam so lebron did whats good for him and i love that as far as chad ochostinko is concerend he wanted out of cincy for more money and a chance to win a title just last off season so he talks about being loyal and a lead dawg CHILD PLEASE!

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for 82 games the coaching was never complained about

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Mark,

That show was an hour-long kick to the groin of Cleveland.

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where is it still 88 degrees?

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Enter your comments here

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Delonte West will be alone in cleveland with mama james. OMG. red is a nasty filthy s.o.b.

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This makes the Joe Johnson contract look even worse. I think this knocks the Hawks out of a top 4 spot in the East – Heat, Magic, Celtics, Bulls. Joe Johnson cared more about money than winning unlike LeBron James, Chris Bosh & D-Wade. If Joe Johnson wanted to win he would have left Atlanta and joined The Chicago Bulls and played with Derrick Rose, Carlos Boozer & Joakim Noah but him staying in Atlanta he’s not going to win a championship.

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If you like or hate Kobe, you have to admit that all his teammates respect him enough to not stick it to his mama

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Dan Gilbert just put a voodoo curse on LeBron and the Heat. How very adult!! WOW! Cleveland must be one dead beat city…….

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j:
I never have and never will be a Cavs fan. But, I feel empathy for them as well. What if Dominique walked away from the Hawks? That would have destroyed my passion for the NBA. (I know, former idget GM Pete Babcock traded him. That ain’t the point).

Free agency is a blessing to players, but a curse upon the game. How would you like to be a Knicks or Nets fan right now? They’ve spent years, purposefully tanking it for this off season. Both missed out on the James sweepstakes. Yes, the Knicks did get Amare’. But, David Lee is unsigned and will likely leave. They gave away Nate Robinson to the C’s last season. And, without some serious upgrades to the roster, Madison Square Garden will continue to watch its team lose… miserably.

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Hmmm I noticed that Bradley the great did not let my “You can be a winner Mark — if you join a Jumping Jacks Team”, comment go through. Don’t like to be criticized Mark but LOVE to criticize other people? How “sporty” of you.

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As LBJ said, he had to do what made him happy. OK, I can deal with that but don’t make a circus out of it and give the home town one more in the gut. Fans, remember this… 3 superstars but still only ONE BALL! We’ll see what they know about teamwork.

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I’m happy the hype is over so I can get back to some sports highlights on ESPN – maybe they’ll show the Braves for more than 30 seconds per hour. Oh and my 2 fave teams are the hawks and whoever is playing against the Heat. Watch one or 2 of those 3 get a season-ending injury….
Now Lamebrain will always have people saying he couldn’t win without DWade and Bosh – Kobe got his without Shaq.

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Enough with this Lebron talk! Do you think the Hornets will give us Chris Paul if in return we give them Marvin Williams, Mike Bibby, Mo Evans, Za Za Pachulia, the A Town dancers, Ryan Cameron,Harry the Hawk, and a yearly pass to any strip club in Atlanta?

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Great writing Mr. Bradley. You are right (This is LOL-funny) I They don’t have enough money left to win a title so, they just screwed themselves. I hope the hawks can pull off the unthinkable now. THE EAST IS WIDE OPEN.

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DebbieDoRight-who do you like?

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This is a really great article Mark.

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MARK BRADLEY

YOU AND THE REST OF THESE PEOPLE ARE JUST HATERS. I GUESS IF YOU CAN’T BE APART OF ANYTHING GREAT THE BEST TO DO IS TO DUMP ON THOSE WHO CAN.

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Here lies Cleveland’s dream…….RIP — maybe you can find another LeBron James who wants to waste 7 years of their professional life trying to make a nag look like a class a racehorse.

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VICK SUPPORTER

YOU ARE RIGHT. IF IT WERE THE HAWKS THESE CLOWNS WOULD BE ON HERE THANKING JESUS. THEY ARE A BUNCH OF HYPOCRITES AND HATERS.

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Track dawg- so people should be happy a team in their division just got better?

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I hope this alliance of mercenary free agents isn’t a sign of things to come in pro sports. Things are already unbalanced enough everywhere as it is. My fear is that a few years down the road, Atlanta may see Jason Heyward or some other young superstar bolt town for more money/prestige that comes these days mostly from bigger markets. I really believe such events will eventually bring about the demise of entire franchises or even leagues in the not-too-distant future; no ability to compete means you’re losing money hand over fist in sports. Sports, as we’re so eloquently reminded on days like this, is a business. So businesses that lose money go under or disband; it’s the way of things. And if it happens to professional sports, we can all thank free agency for being the catalyst that ruined what was once a great thing in America.

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Strange as this may sound, this move by LBJ actually makes sense to me. People keep saying he was the next Mike when he is closer to be the next Magic and to me that’s a BIG difference so hear me out. Mike was the type that didn’t make his teammates better, he threatened them into to it with his fierce will and killer instinct. LeBron is NOT that type of guy, never has been, and never will be. Mike could take scrubs to the mountaintop, Magic NEVER had to do that. Magic was a nice guy that would throw himself in front of a bus to give his teammate a free lane to the basket after he no-look passed the ball to them. This is what LeBron is and without above-average teammateSSS to do that with he can not and will not get to the mountaintop. Let me put it this way- you take Magic and put him with Jordan’s Bulls and they MIGHT win one title. You put Jordan with Magic’s Lakers and they still win five, maybe more. Magic was always credited with making his teammates better (a phrase you constantly hear LeBron using), but look at who he so called MADE better- James Worthy (superstar champ in college), Kareem (Hall of Famer before he got to L.A.), Michael Cooper (best defender in the NBA at that time, Magic didn’t teach Coop that), Byron Scott, and so on and so on, hardly anywhere near being the stiffs that Bill Cartwright, Craig Hodges, Cliff Levingston and the likes Jordan had to play with. That’s what LBJ had going on in Cleveland. Now he is trading those teammates in for some more high quality guys to play with like Magic played with. Face it, he didn’t have the fire to make those Cavs any better than he did and he knew it and knows everyone else WOULD know it if not for ESPN and every other media outlet donning him the next MJ or “King”. Now he won’t have to worry about that anymore, he has Wade to take that last shot and he can stick to doing what he does better and that facilitate and make teammates like Bosh better. As sweet as LeBron’s game is, just cause you pour syrup on ish, it won’t make em pancakes. Now in Miami he has a few better ingredients to work with and best of all none of them will be found in his mom’s cookie jar.

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Donald Stern, oh I mean David Stern, is a marketing genius. When was the last time there was this much talk about the NBA in July? This is the biggest bunch of baloney since the PET ROCK. Congratulations NBA fans. You have just finished first in the P. T. Barnum “There is a sucker born every minute contest.”

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Now Miami has a stacked team of 3! Maybe LB is not the KING if he needs to surround himself with champs to win. But I will give him credit, he took a pay cut to try and win a ring. There is no loyalty in business, it’s just business. (We can all say the same about our jobs, unless we work for ourselves). With all the new time in Miami, maybe LB will get a jump shot trainer. Maybe Kobe and lend him half a jumper.

Here is a note to all that play LB:
When he has the ball play off of him about 3 feet. Make him beat you from the outside. Most likely he will still try and drive to the goal, that’s when someone should move over and take the charge.

This is what Mickael Pietrus of Orlando does when he sticks LB after realizing LB has little to no perimeter game. One dimensional player that can’t transform his game.

I say Lakers 3-peat again and Miami will not be in the East finals. (Celtics or Magic).

Who crowned this clown the KING anyway?

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How about being busted for an interstate gambling ring based on dogfighting and failing drug tests while being sued for intentional STD infection and delinquent child support?

“I Luh You Puppiez !”

You’ll be better in the long run, Cleveland.

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I’m sorry for Cleveland…there’s nothing worse for sports fans than seeing a young player develop (especially a local boy) and then leave. I’ve never liked LeBron ever since that little high school shenanigan where a car dealer…prevented from selling LeBron a car based on his future earnings…sold his MAMA a Hummer for LeBron…based on his future earnings. But I don’t blame LeBron for leaving Cleveland, if he thinks that’s best for his career. (Rest assured that…if Cleveland thought it were best for THEM to get rid of a player…he’d damn sure be gone.) I do blame him for being such an obnoxious jerk about the way he’s done it.
I may be kidding myself, but I swear I don’t see Miami having a lot of team chemistry. They’ll win a lot of games, and draw crowds, of course. Not sure how they’ll do in the playoffs, though you can bet the NBA would LOVE to see LeBron winning a few titles, and that can sometimes affect officiating.
Bosh is an inside player, but both Dwayne Wade and LeBron need the ball a lot to be effective. Looks to me like Wade is the odd man out, and won’t be getting enough “touches” to keep him happy…bet he’s grumbling by midseason.

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Maybe Lebron can attend my jump shooting camp for kids I’m having in Orlando this summer. I Still don’t think it will help out any.

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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mark Bradley. Mark Bradley said: #LeBron goes from Cleveland to Miami, from hero to villain. http://bit.ly/cydHn6 [...]

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HATER = Broad, sweeping and generic label used by uneducated people to place on all others who disagree with their ill-conceived, inarticulate and uninformed opinions

Street Lingo Example:
“All you people that don’t day Mike Vick the greatest and best QB that ever lived are all just a bunch of ignorant HATERS!”

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How many of YOU would stay on at a crappy job you hated? Let me guess…….probably not one of ya! But you expect LeBron to do it. Most of you are on your 4th and 5th MARRIAGE, yet you’re here dogging LeBron for walking out on Cleveland. CLEVELAND!! Most of you wouldn’t even visit cleveland on a dare!

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We waited all day 2 find out nothing, & Lebron will not get a ring. WTF this is tragedy. You have no bench, which is what you went thru in Cleveland, & now you are betting all your chips on Miami. Ask Nique what he would have done in this situation. This is ugly !!!! Lebron welcome too the Joe Johnson show. You have no low post help at all, do you think any NBA palyer is gonna give money up, just to ride your jock ,WTF. You have showed yo @ss !!!!!

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And you can’t shoot, Lebron. I guess Dwayne gone take all your clutch shots b-cth @ss. I am & always will be a Hawks fan no matter what people say about me, I’m loyal, Lebron has to be on another planet or retarded. Hello, you have gutted the team with these contracts dumb @ss. Earth to Lebron, come in Lebron ????

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And I thought Sund was the dumbest person in the NBA ????

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The funny thing is I guess you don’t need any role players, right? Horry,Fisher,Paxson, Rambis what did any of these guys ever do?

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To hell with him, we can not win a championship with or without him

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The media always tells us what to think, but the players win the games, they just write about it. This young man has fell into the worst trap ever. Even Larry Bird ( the best pure shooter I ever seen ) had a bench !!!!

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I don’t care if you come watch me play or not. I’ll still go home at night and sleep on a big a55 pile of money

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Anybody remember me?

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” Change ” we got a second rate player at a max price & he wasn’t worried about improving the team around him. Lebron has fell into a worst trap, his bench is worst than the Hawks.

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Lebron’s decision almost seems like him crying like a baby saying “it’s not fair” that he could not win with his previous team the cavs, so he makes it easier for himself, and he is suppose to be a “king” haha, it’s like employees trying to gang up to beat the system, at least joe johnson stayed with his team even if he did go for more money he at least showed that it the willingness and drive to go the extra mile with your team to see the light at the end of tunnel, he might not win a championship but at least he tried with obstacles in the way, too bad we now have another team in our division that is hard to beat, can we ever win our division, now we have dwight, wade, lebron, and bosh in the southeast division, get ready for no one talking about hawks again for awhile but at least we aren’t cavs fans (for every high there is a low)

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Jay- you make it seem like Clev. didn’t try. All season long they were the team, he was the “best player in the world”, actually the last 2 years. So I don’t want to hear that tired a55 s%#t.

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Magic-Jordan-Bird-Duncan-Kobe were not alone. If you were getting your butt kicked year in and out for 7yrs, you’d want your compadres by your side to relieve you. It’s not fair you guys jump on the kids. He didn’t have any help. The before mention had waaaaaay more structure and support than Lebron. I hope they go undefeated and beat the shyyyyt out the HAWKS.

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I guess the fact that they had the best record the last two years means they suck and are void of talent?

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maybe lebron saw how artest left the rockets to go to la and win his first championship with them but then again artest didnt start his career in houston and la already had a championship caliber team, why give him the MVP award for him to leave his team the next season, I believe the media hyped this decision up and lebron wanted to spice things up and make this a soap opera by doing an hour long special to him at least kobe never did that since he actually has class and 5 rings, I can’t wait for them to interview Kobe about the super 3 in miami and Kobe says “oooh, I’m so scared now let me just quit now” b/c this is still all paper and talk and no walk

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Remember when the baseball owners were accused of collusion and fined millions of dollars? It’s OK as long as players collude, but not owners?

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Oh boo hoo you cry babies! So he left. Keep in mind he was in Cleveland for 7 years and made that franchise $250 million. He did what he could. How long did you want him to stay in a losing city without help? I think it’s a great career decision. A decision I’m sure was hard to make. So to all you haters (especially the owner of the Caviliers) get a grip and move on. You would have made the best decision for YOUR CAREER too. Cleveland’s loss is Miami’s gain!!! THE HEAT IS ON!!!!!! GO HEAT!!!!

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Boo Hoo, whatever this about a young man making one of the most dumbest business desicions ever. Heat or Hawks sounds the same to me.

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Wow too many haters on this site. Jay said it best: If Lebron would have chosen Atlanta there would be no complaints. Coming thru by way of Miami (Carol City)! Live in Atlanta but will always be a HEAT FAN!!!!

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You really think he would’ve won in any situation? iIf he stayed he would’ve been 31, with bad knees, and no ring. If he left everybody would hate him but he would’ve accomplished his goal, maybe not as sweet. So what if he joined with his best friends? This is so bias to me I want to smack you. Did you not know Jordan had Pippen? did you know that Kobe had Gasol via Shaq. Did you know Bird’s team was basically all HOF. And Magic had Kareem? This 25 year old man is put under so much pressure, and he looked so unhappy and uncomfortable. HE CARES WHAT PEOPLE THINK. he has feelings too. Maybe he doesn’t want to have to get the rebound, AND make the pass, AND make the shot and if he doesn’t check all those boxes they lose. As you saw. jesus christ now you’re really gonna see a big 3 and let it go.

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Oh cry me a river!!! Where are the violins??? The NBA is a business. Whoever said his decision will be dumb? All you haters!!!! And who are you a psychic? Please!! Little can you guys remember what Lebron DID for the team but you still insist he stabbed them in the back. Point blank he made a decision HE felt right for HIS CAREER. Sadly you won’t agree with me but YOU would have done the same.

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Couldn’t he have signed a deal w/Clev. for 3 years and told them to get him a #2? Just wondering

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Who is going to play center on this soon to be 15 time championship team? Wasn’t that what Shaq was supposed to do for Lebron?

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anyone out there?

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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Barbara Marchand and Stacey A.. Stacey A. said: maybe you shoulda copyrighted it *snickers* http://tinyurl.com/2fgvbmr RT @duepayer: I'm officially dubbing the new Big 3 #MiamiThrice [...]

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Hey ReddJonn68 you want to come to be third wheel???

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I’m still waiting for someone to explain why they had the best record the last two years, yet he didn’t have any help. Did MJ go join the Pistons after losing a few years?

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now they traded Beasley, so they have 4 players on their team!

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Ok, I’m sorry but the more comments I hear about Dan Gilbert just shows why Lebron did not contact him before his decision, he would probably sent the mob to him and threaten for him to stay, Dan sounds unprofessional especially as an owner and shows he was just another Lebron fan not a Cavs owner this whole time, sigh, the media hyped this too much so lebron made it into a soap opera with his hour long special, at least kobe challenged his front office to bring in more talent not just leave when the going gets tough but then again it is cleaveland (no championships) and not la, can’t wait to see kobe interviewed about the super miami trio and kobe say “ooohh, I’m so scared I should just quit now” haha, funny how everyone thought joe johnson would leave his team (even though he’s getting more money) and lebron stay with the cavs, now the cavs have a new head coach with rebuilding process now a reality, for their fans “for every high there is a low” and they were all on that lebron stuff and now know all his dust, dancing, and jokes were just that and nothing more

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It’s funny how everybody talks ish on here, but when you call them on it they shut up. Gotalotofbooty305 Phil4real where you at?

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I had you tagged for more of a WNBA fan, or LPGA?

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Next year when Kobe has the trophy again, you can come up with some new reasons for Lebron. Where as all he cares about is that now it’s Wade’s team/fault when they lose. You might also want to keep his mom away from the team. haha

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Marioshaft?-sounds like he is ready for Key West also

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He was a “Free” agent. Free to do whatever he wants.
It is very bad news for the Hawks and every other team in the East.

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Enter your comments here

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@ace: I’m here!!! Just got back from buying a James HEAT jersey, hater!! Been a HEAT FAN 4EVER. Oh and give Kobe a message: Career over, this is the last time he will ever win a championship ring. So enjoy. He might as well join our team cause WE THE BEST!!!!!

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good luck with your 4 man roster. What have I said that was “hater”, there is a difference between hating and stating facts sorry dude.

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and after seeing lebron not shake hands last season in the playoffs what else did people expect from him, he is not loyal and disrespectful, it’s all about him all the time and he knows what he’s doing at least his agent does by trying to suck up as much money and media time that he can from others

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Sorry you don’t have any confidence in Wade, i do, and i’m a Lakers fan. It doesn’t soun like you’re much of a heat fan to me

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WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS MY FRIEND!!!BACK TO BACK!!!SOON TO BE BACK TO BACK TO BACK!

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one basketball, 4 quarters, they can only score so much. other teams will adjust their games against miami to limit their production.

How would you feel if you were….Dexter Pittman? Heats first draft choice in the 2 round, their 1st in this years draft….Kid worked all his life to be in the NBA, gets drafted and Boom….

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What are the ticket prices going to be in Miami, 1,000$/game?

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Ive been telling everyone for YEARS that Queen James is way overhyped!! Did anyone not see him play in the playoffs against the Celtics?? “James for 3…. CLANK” “James at the foul line.. CLANK”! James is the most unclutch superstar perhaps ever.
PS… love what the owner of the Cavs did… told the truth!

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Well, I hope LeBron is happy… because he just tarnished his legacy; he’ll always be playing second fiddle, the Robin to the Batman (in D-Wade, by joining HIS team). Michael BROUGHT a championship to Chicago, Magic BROUGHT a championship to LA, Larry BROUGHT a championship to Boston… all cemented themselves in their franchises and cities, doing whatever it took to BRING a championship. They did whatever it took to BEAT the best (in beating each other, creating such great rivalries) in order to earn their championship legacies; they didn’t join each other so that their championship runs were against nobodys. LeBron cemented himself as a NY fan, a Dallas fan, and a Chicago fan, then LEFT to look to go FIND a championship. That is no legacy or legend that will live on in the shadows of the likes of MJ, etc. Even Wade has brought his team a championship, and he didn’t leave his team behind. “Winning” was his number one reason for leaving to go to Miami. I hope it pays off for him… because it cost him his heart, loyalty, dignity, respect, leadership, integrity, and a majority of the casual basketball fans who admired him.

In LeBron’s words, “I wanted to soak it in and make sure I was making the right decision for NO ONE ELSE but MYSELF.” Uhh.. teammates, organization, friends, family, community, etc…. forget them?

Sure, it’s your life, you want to be happy, but I see that the work, dedication, and loyalty that others overextend to you means nothing in the long run. That’s right–forget all you other people; it’s all about me and my hour-long special to announce it to the world and rub it in the face of Cleveland that I have no connection with you, just like I’ve shown that I never do.

You’ve really got to feel bad for Cleveland, but for many NBA fans like myself, I’ve just lost all the respect for LeBron that I had. It’s true, he joins the likes of A-Rod and Barry Bonds amongst the athletes that you just hate.

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So ESPN showed a quick clip in the intro showing LeBron playing in his last game. He was terrible, remember?

Did he tank it in some plan to go to Miami?

And remember, they all were talking to each other. They were talking as early as 2006. They said that they were going to talk to each other. Wow.

All I can say is wow. That last playoff game (the last couple of playoff games) of LeBron in a Cavs uniform looked like a guy who was tanking. Look at his eyes. He was off badly but he looked calm about it. He looked like some guy pushed a button on him.

In other words, the Cavs may have been had in more ways than this “Decision” fiasco. (Oh, and LeBron is going to regret how he rolled this thing out.

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Heres hoping Lebron becomes allergic to leather.

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The Hawks can only manage to resign their barely better than average JJ, while Miami can resign a great player and still go out and get Bosh and Lebron. Why?

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What a show.. all that was missing was the big clock around his neck..oh thats the other guy….what a joke

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All these different opinions over another over priced basketball player.It’s sad when our media makes this front page news.Mixed up minds prevail!

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Why is this the main story for the AJC? I guess nothing interesting happens in Atlanta.

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I’m a Cleveland and Atlanta Fan. After Lebrons move and Atlanta’s overspending on JJ, I’ll now be pulling for the Orlando Majic to rule the East.

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A free man in America does not have to answer to no one but himself and God for his decisions. Get over yourselves. LeBron does not owe Cleveland his life. Haters make this world virtually unbearable.

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Lebron is FREE to do what he wants, that is why it is called FREE Agency….however, this one hour spectacle of ME..ME..ME, has brought down pro basketball to its lowest level

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Hard to imagine the Wade/James/Bosh trifecta succeeding – particularly sustaining excellence (and harmony) for five years. I see one Pippen and two Jordans here. Something’s gotta give.

So these three guys got along during an Olympics. Big deal. They had all locked arms as equals – good Americans doing their patriotic duty. Which was living in five-star luxury while mopping the floor with undermanned international competition. And only for a couple months, too.

They’ll be in each other’s company for the grind of an NBA regular season plus a full complement of playoff rounds (so they hope). Let’s see how good a buddies they are in April 2011.

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Bosh is good, but not great…what has he done to make his teams better ?…same could be said for King James, very little….to me, looks like Heat are trying the same approach as the Celtics did with their “big three”

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Iam going to the Heat not only to win championships but also for the all women. I might go both ways too

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Michaela, Magic, Kobe, and Larry all had supporting cast that would have made any team better. They did not win titles alone. Lebron does not owe the city of Cleveland anything, therefore it is disturbing to read and hear that he has turned into a villain because he chose Miami. If you watched the hour long special it was clear to see that the decision was a difficult one, but because he loves the game he would rather win as a team than be an overpaid billionaire who never won a title.
If you look back at all the greats you can say that there was always a “Robin”. The only thing I can’t wait to see is, who will be Batman and who will take the role of Robin. I think it is encouraging to see players who put the game ahead of their pockets. These are young men who could have gone anywhere and made millions of dollars, but decided to lose a little money and play together. Let’s be realistic if Kobe had a chance to play with D Wade he would have jumped at it. The goal is to be the best; therefore you surround yourself with the best.
The fans burning their jerseys and hating on Lebron need to get a life. This man had to do what was best for him and his family. Chicago was a good fit but maybe he didn’t want to play there, come on if you had a choice to play with Michael Jordan or Joe Johnson who would YOU pick? We all know that Lebron is a great player so having another great player on his team makes him a bad person that the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. I’m sure if you ask any of the retired greats who never won a title what’s missing from their life/career, I’m sure they would say a World Championship.

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He actually didn’t leave more money on the table. He will make more money over how many ever years than the same time frame with Cleveland because of the state income taxes. He did leave that extra year on the table, but then he could make even more the next time around, so it’s debatable if he really lost anything.

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Micheal, Magic, Kobe and Larry…. sorry for the typo

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The only person that was a bigger joke than Lebron on that show last night was Stuart Scott. It is pure agony hearing and/or watching him on TV. I can’t change the channel fast enough.

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From Dan Gilbert’s letter to fans:

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

http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/gilbert_letter_100708.html

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Yes, LeBron has a right to do what he wants, and I have aright not to like it. He made his choice, he the one that has to live with it. Wonder what its gonna be like when he visits Ohio!!!

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I think the backlash may hurt him. How many sportswriters/voters might be less inclined to vote him another MVP, another 1st team all-NBA.

He should have gone to the Cavs and said if you can get me x or y player I’ll stay. If not, then he should have gone elsewhere!

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I wish all of you the BEST of luck, please take care of yourselves don’t have a heart attack or self destruct, because Lebron is playing with Miami! Remember to eat and get lots of sleep I don’t want any of you to harm yourselves because someone made a decision that in no one impacts your life. LOL!!!!!

America is hilarious; because someone does something that you don’t agree with they are a horrible person. You are all right you have the freedom to dislike his decision and even discuss it but listen to yourselves you sound like obsessed idiots. I would have loved for King James to go to the Bulls, but that wasn’t my decision it was his!!!

For the people who believe Cleveland will win a title before Miami please see a doctor because you are losing it!!! LOL

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just glad it’s all over- now we can all move on with our lives

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Championships>$$$$$$

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LeBron is a tremendous player. He gave his all for Cleveland, even led them to the finals (swept by Spurs). To ask him to stay in Cleveland and loose for the rest of his career is selfish on their part. The LA and Boston teams have stacked the deck for years (trading scrubs and getting marquee players added to their teams). The only way to beat those teams; is to combine forces creating a super team of players, if you want to win a title. He has made the city of Cleveland, hundreds of millions of dollars, no one wants to see that change. LeBron deserves a chance to win a NBA title. Which one of you would stay at a job with no chance of advancing in your career, when another company gives you an opportunity to realize your dreams?

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So what happens in 3 years if/when Miami hasn’t won a championship? (Personally, I don’t think you can win with 3 all-stars and 10 D-league players) They will have 3 players eating up over $60 mil in cap space. Which of the 3 get traded? LeBron will get a new “process” to deal with that he hasn’t experienced before. If Miami doesn’t win 2 of the next 3 championships, his “brand” will be tarnished.

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As much as I hate what LeBron did to Cleveland, he got screwed over by their front office. Everyone who talks about how all these other greats didn’t need to cherry-pick their own team is fooling themselves. Kobe needed Shaq (all-time great) for his first three rings and Gasol (top three big man in the league) for his last two. Jordan needed Pippen (a top 50 player), Magic had Kareem (top 5 all time) and James Worthy (top 50), Bird had Parish and McHale and Dennis Johnson.

What did LeBron have in Cleveland? Mo Williams? Larry Hughes? I don’t blame him for leaving, just the way he left.

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He quit on his team during the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals so the fans wouldn’t be mad at him when he ditched them in the summer. The fans probably wouldn’t have hated him if he hadn’t done it in such a grandeur fashion. Good luck LeBron! From the hate shown here, buddy, you’re going to need it.

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Why is everyone so upset? I love this move!!! Go Heats!!!!

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Boo Lebron. Boo Miami. Boo EPSN.

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This was an absolute no-brainer. I don’t blame the guy one bit for leaving Cleveland to go play with a first ballot hall of famer….IN MIAMI!!!! Don’t you guys get it?? MIAMI – 25-YEAR-OLD MAN – MILLINONAIRE…………..IN MIAMI playing with a hall of famer and a young solid center. God, some of you kill me. If you wouldn’t have done the same thing in this age of free-agency you’d be a FOOL. The guy even took a little less money. Jeez people!

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He did not sell his soul, he carried the cavs so what, people always trying to put someone down for what they want to do, you would do the same thing. find you guys a place in life and get one lebron move on and do your thing. year after year you putting your hard work in and not getting any where if you want a ring going somewhere where you well win you won when you left the team they was not helping you. proud of him

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Mark,

You have probably heard by now that Melvin Turpin committed suicide yesterday. Truly sad.His wife is ill in the hospital with heart problems and he went home and shot himself.

He was a genuinely nice person who would talk to anyone he met.

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Mark,

I just read this article in the print edition, I’ve been avoiding most of the LBJ blogs and sportscenter segments because I was/am just sick of it, great article you nailed.

The Cavs owner has just stated that LBJ quit in the playoffs on several occasions. I agree with him too. In some cases it was obvious.

How many times do the Hawks play the Heat is it 5 or 6?

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I don’t remember all of this hatred for his supporting cast during the last 2 regular seasons. On X-mas
day when they smoked the Lakers, everybody was handing them the championship. Shaq was supposed to be the answer. Whatever? It’s funny how whenever LBJ’s boat starts to take on water everybody shows up w/2 buckets, one to bale out the boat and the other full of excuses for the QUEEN

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Not Carmelo, Mark, but Chris Paul will be there soon. Bill Simons (ESPN) has been writing about this since he picked up on the rumor, that during their time on the 08 Olympic team, LBJ, Bosh, Wade and Paul made a pact to play together on the same team. The first three in ‘10, and Paul in ‘12 or before. Stay tuned.

Also, I think having the TV show to announce anything other than returning to Cleveland is just heartless, almost mean.

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Well Ace, I loved my ex-wife, before the divorce. No matter how much you love somebody, the feelings change when they run off with a stranger.

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Not only run off with them, but brag about it on TV. And you are surprised Cleveland fans are bitter.

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The whole thing was a sham. Everything from the dishonesty of LeBron and his, I just decided this morning, to his desire to be the next Jordan went up in flames yesterday. There will not be but one basketball on that court, and I see this whole thing blowing up rather quickly in Miami. Plus, are the three of them going to play the entire game? They have no one else. Everything LaBron was saying was, I, I, I…well, he may want to be Jordan, but he will be lucky to be Worthy.

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Basically for years we have heard from athletes “Show me the money” “We need to renogiate my contract” “I am being disrespected” but not we have 3 players saying no to that so can other athletes now use that terminology to gain more money can owners now say to the players it should be about winning championships? I think that allowing teams to dump salaries etc especially this year is ruining the game and the Miami Heat are like the NY Yankees of basketball which kinds of makes it uninteresting? I agree with Mark and hope their scheme fails and they dont winning but also in the process since they have to share the ball that their numbers will be demininished and because of that we hopefully one day all look back and say “Remember the time when 3 young talented superstars came together they never won any championships and their individual stats were not great since there was only 1 ball and there are not listed in the top of any NBA all-time catagories”

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” a AN one hour special..”?! Not an English major but that can’t be correct.

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How many times did James say, “I’ve done great things….”? I quit counting after the third time.

Also, how many times can an athlete say, “At the end of the day…” before I puke on his shoes?

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The story is not that a spoiled kid gets on TV and making himself into the great one or that news media blows up a boring story (big deal somebody moves from Cleveland to Miami.) The story is we watched. What does it say about us that millions are in angst and thousands are in nirvana about somebody playing a game in a different city?

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Joe Johnson makes more than Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh…. Joe Johnson makes more than Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh… no matter how many times it’s said, that is just too funny… Enjoy being the third best team in the division… Ugh.

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And all of these guys make more money in one year, than any of us, will in a lifetime.

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Very sad to see him leave Cleveland. He may come to regret this someday just as some stars like Griffey etc I think came to regret leaving their first team. To have brought multiple championships to his hometown would have been the greatest for him.

On the other hand you can’t say he isn’t about winning because he had more guaranteed money on the table to stay in Cleveland. Apparently if he had convinced Bosh to go to Cleveland it would have been a totally different story and if true shows how much he put winning and his perception of the best chance for it at the top.

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Remember when the Lakers had Kobe, Karl Malone, Gary Payton etc and it didn’t work. Can’t remember if they still had Shaq then or not.

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I was at a Lebron party a few years ago and remembered what an asshole he was to everyone. He intentionally walked around flaunting himself just so he could hold his head high and refused to say hello to everyone. It was really arkward to see that – It was like that popular high school cheerleader that made her rounds thru the cafeteria just so people to could get a glimpse.

I knew then that Lebron on TV is all an act – As the Cavs owners said it best, his true colors are finally coming out.

I could care less that he signed with Miami to pick up some easy rings. i would prob do the same,. But to do a one hour special and spit on all your loyal Cavs fans and an owner that did everything he could to help you win. Don’t forget the Cavs had the best record last year – it was Lebron that failed to close out the season with a Championship.

Lebron is total douche!!!

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N-yes Shaq was still there, good call

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That was the end of Shaq/Kobe, if you remember he showed up to camp that year about 350lbs overweight.

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2004 Lakers roster: No Ring.

Lakers[15]
Head Coach Phil Jackson
Point Guard Gary Payton
Shooting Guard Kobe Bryant
Small Forward Rick Fox
Power Forward Karl Malone
Center Shaquille O’Neal
Reserve
Derek Fisher
Stanislav Medvedenko
Devean George
Kareem Rush
Horace Grant
Brian Cook
Bryon Russell
Luke Walton

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Bradley, you’re just sore because the Hawks STINK and they overpayed and got taken to school by Joe Johnson and his massive contract with a NO TRADE CLAUSE.
Pat Riley is a genius!!! The Miami Thrice will destroy the little birds…Josh Smith is a joke and so is Joe Johnson!

You can’t spell hate without bringing the HEAT!

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No hating Lebron, but you will not win a ring. Everyone on the bench will be making 500k. Where’s Antione Walker when you need him !!!!

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How many non-championships did Michael Jordan endure before Chicago won it all-what a loser–i tink the thing w/ his mother may of had something to do with it

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The Cavs owner should have guaranteed a championship BEFORE Lebron left, how about going out and getting Stoudamier last season? Little late for the Cavs owner to be talking smack. he had his chance. Didn’t get the best coach, or any cast around Lebron.

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AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT IS A BASKETBALL CAREER WITH A CHAMPIONSHIP RING. YOU PLAY THE GAME FOR THE ULTIMATE SATISFACTION – A CHAMPIONSHIP RING. JAMES HAS TO DO WHAT MAKES JAMES HAPPY AND WE THE PEOPLE SHOULD ALLOW HIM TO DO JUST THAT. EVERYONE WHO CANNOT IMPACT JAMES LIFE HAS A COMMENT. YOU PEOPLE WITH YOUR NEGATIVE COMMENT SHOULD SHOVE YOUR COMMENT UP WHERE THE SUN DOES NOT SHINE.

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THAT SHOULD BE ‘WHAT IS A BASKEDBALL CAREET WITHOUT A CHAMPIONSHIP RING’

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Whose to say that Lebron ever wanted to play with the Cavs. He was picked by them in the first round he did not choose to play for them. What if Minnesota had the first pick that year would we even be talking about loyalty then. I think that he did what any athlete that has made money should do. Leave some money on the table to win a championship. Hate to be one of the 50 greatest players to never win a ring. Now he has his chance to win several. Its all about winning!!!!

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Lebron said it best, all the great teams that won titles won as a team, those super stars had help. Jordan had , pippen, Grant, then Pippen, rodman and Tony Kucoc, along with other good role players, Bird had, DJ, Mchale, Parrish and Ainge along with other good role players, Majic had , Kareem, Worthy, Scott, Cooper, Nixon, McCado, my goodness the list goes on and on. Houston and Akeem , had Drexler, Horry, Sam, Kenny Smith, and other good role players. Detroit had, Isaih, Dumars, Lamber, Rodman, Sally and other good role players, Ducan had, Robinson, Parker, Manu Ginobili and others,

Lebron had Mo Williams, Wally szerbiac are you kidding me, the man got tiired of carrying that sorry teeam. Miami will rule the NBA for a long time get use to it. STOP HATING. I am a Hawks fan But Miami will rule the NBA. And, lets keep it real Lebraon and company will make a killing in endorsements unless they pull a Michael Vick.

Football season is nearing and the FALCONS STILL SUCK!!!!!!!

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I can’t wait to hear LeJoke get booed in Cleveland next year. He has a tattoo of Akron’s area code…this is why you don’t get tattoos, people. LeJoke has a tattoo of a city where everyone now hates him and will continue to hate him.

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I will add to my proposed sign and trade deal that i wrote earlier. We will give the Hornets Marvin Williams, Mike Bibby, Mo Evans, Za Za Pachulia, Ryan Cameron, the A Town Dancers, Harry the Hawk, five of Tiger Woods’ mistresses, that lady that was in the car with Damon Evans and a yearly pass to any strip club to Atlanta do you think they give us Chris Paul?

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he’s not winning in cleveland ppl. and forget loyalty. organizations do whats best for themselves. one day they wud have traded lebron when he got older anyway so he has to do the best for himself. garnett almost rotted in minnesota and now he has a ring. i dont hear anyone saying anything about him being disloyal. loyalty in sports is very very rare and almost never coming from owners. they care about money and thats about it. kudus to lebron for doing what he think is best for him amidst all the backlash. i dont agree with how he did it but i agree with where he is going. magic had two hall of famers. so did bird. lebron will have his chance to win and i think they will. stop hating cuz he left your fav team. he did so much for cleveland. no wonder cleveland hasnt won anything since the sixties. u see how the owner blasted him when he MADE yall relevant again. he made that guy so much money and now he is bitter his pockets wont get fatter. NOW THATS SELFISH!

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What a bunch of looser you guys are!! You Whine when someone goes after the money saying that it cheapens the game, and then you turn around and whine when someone goes after the win saying its cheapening the money. Bradley, the biggest looser on here who’s always the first to say of a player, “He was good BUT he never won a Championship…….”; here’s a quote for you, “Those who can DO, those who can’t write sports columns and whine because they’re not sure if they’re local paper is gonna be around the next year.” Looser!!

Ooops – LOOSERSSS!!! Boo Hoo…!!

Only a LOSER spells LOSER “LOOSER”

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good post bigeasy830. im right wit cha!

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Spoelstra will be fired after LeJoke chokes.

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I can’t believe all the hate LeBron is getting on his “decision”. I agree that the 1 hour special on ESPN and the way he went about this was a bit over the top, but at the end of the day the guy just wants to win championships. I don’t blame him for leaving a city like Cleveland to go to Miami…. that’s a no brainer! I wish he would have picked Chicago, because I feel like he would mesh really well with Rose, Noah, and Boozer. The Heat are going to be ridiculous this year… MB, they could sign you and DOB to fill out the starting 5 and they would still win 60 games. I wish LeBron all the best and I can’t wait to see this team play next year! GO HAWKS!!!!!!

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Lebron wanted to win. He made a 60 win team out of subpar players and he singlehandedly took them to the championship series a few years back. The Spurs, Lakers, and Bulls had great coaching. Popovich and Jackson. Duncan had Manu and Parker. Kobe had shaq and company and now he has Pau, Odom, and Artest which are all great pieces. Who did he have in Clevland? Yes Lebron could’ve gone to chicago it would make perfect sense. He saw Miami as his best chance to win and he took it. Sure there are questions about the coaching and the pieces that will be put around him. Thre are always questions. Lebron has now 2 of the five best players in the NBA with him for the next five years while D. Rose will probably leave when his rookie deal is up which would be a huge blow to the team. I’m a huge Hawks fan but I will enjoy watching this team.

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If LBJ ever questioned his decision, he knows now that he made the right one. The owner of the Cavs let him know exactly how he felt about him the whole time. LBJ was only good for him as long as he brought his franchise from $222 mil to $476 mil net worth. Also keep in mind that he took attendance from dead last to 2nd in the NBA.

I figure Master Gilbert is really upset that his prize buck (slave) decided to leave his plantation, and not make master all the money he had become accustomed to.

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LBJ GAVE THE CAVS 7 YEARS TO GET IT RIGHT NAME THE BEST PLAYER HE HAS PLAYED WITH IN CLEVELAND IN 7 YRS A YOUNG BOOZER DREW GOODEN B FOR REAL HE MADE THE BEST WINNING MOVE PAT RILEY IS STILL THE DON DAN GILBERT IS THE WORST OWNER IN THE LEAGUE BYRON SCOTT IS IN YR ONE WHAT HAVE THE CAVS DON TO IMPROVE THE TEAM NOTHIN THE CAVS WONT MAKE THE PLAYOFFS THE ONLY REASON THE CAVS R RELAVENT IS BECAUSE OF LEBRON THE CAVS SUCK GO MIAMI THE HAWKS SUCK JOE GOT 20-30MILLION MORE THAN WADE OR LEBRON AND WE STILL DO NOT HAVE A CENTER RILEY WADE JAMES BOSH KNOW BASKETBALL NOW THEY’LL KNOW WHAT RINGS FEEL LIKE

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I see people hating on the man. He had options many of us dream about and did what he thought was in the best interest for him. He is 25 years old and still learning. I applaud him doing what he wants, not what the pundants, old NBA players, or anyone else want. Live your live as holier than thou and let him live his. He has put in the work to get where he is and you have or not put in yours to get where you are. Get over it!

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Mark – isn’t a bit childish to want Miami to lose because of this? I don’t see how that would right the world – I just want to see great basketball – and it it works out in Miami then we probably will. If it doesn’t – well it doesn’t and the world will keep spinning…

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If you feel this way, Bradley, then what do you have to say about the United States for putting the very same guys on a team to go and compete for the Olympics? And who cares how others might feel about Lebron. What about how Lebron feels about Lebron? Should he have stayed in Cleveland and be unhappy. Oh, and then given Cleveland the opportunity to FIRE/TRADE him at their leisure. This is a business, and this time the small business DUPED the big business of the CAVS by finding a loophole in the NBA’s Free Agent system.

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This is good for one team and bad for 29. Watching the Heat pound overmatched teams that don’t even have one superstar is not “great basketball”.

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I browsed over most of the bloggers out there and I must say this has got to be one of the biggest moments in sports history. If you listen to most of the commentators, fans, or just plain haters, you would think this was Stars Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. People could possibly view this as the moment Annakin went to the dark side and became Darth Vader. Me, personally, it speaks out in volumes. LeBron could have easily taken the money, and still would be winless in Cleveland. I mean, think about it. Two straight years, the Cavs had the best record in the NBA. Two straight years, they didn’t even reach the NBA Finals. If you are winning, you don’t get rid of your winning formula. Mike Brown was coach of the year a year ago and now he’s jobless. Danny Ferry did what he could to put together a squad, but Jamison and Shaq are old. If you really believe that they are the missing pieces to a championship team, then you are mistaken. As talented as Mo Williams is, he is not the answer. Cleveland never landed a “blockbuster deal” to get LeBron the help he deserves. Remember the the Memphis/LA trade, you know, Pau Gasol for some shoulder pads, mops, and jockstraps. People say it’s ego driven….well, how is that? Lebron is the best player in the NBA today, hands down. Yet he left “his” team to go and join D-Wade and Bosh. He wants titles and he wants them now. The crazy part about all of this is that he left Cleveland for LESS MONEY! So when i hear the word “betrayal”, I would like to ask those out there, how? He gave cleveland 7 good years. He kept his nose clean and wasn’t like one of old beloved ones (Vick) messing around out there in the streets. He didn’t go around complaining about the organization or demand a trade like some other superstars have done. Yet, he has just became the 2nd most hated person in Cleveland, behind Art Modell. If I were Cleveland fans, I would worry if history would repeat itself. What do I mean by that? When Art Modell left, I believe his “Baltimore Ravens” went on to win a championship….just food for thought.

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Staying in Cleveland for loyalty is the dumbest thing I ever heard. Would you stay at the same company for loyalty when you know you might reach greater heights somewhere else?

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Check out this prediction article about the Eastern Conference next year — http://bleacherreport.com/articles/417854-look-into-the-crystal-ballthe-2010-2011-eastern-conference-standings

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bigeasy830,
My point is this. You can’t compare LeBron with Magic, Larry, Kobe, Tim or Michael and I’ll tell you why. When you’re a franchise player (Superstar), you bring players to your team. You don’t run to another franchise player team. LeBron James is a two time league MVP and his team had the best record in the regular season for the past two seasons. When Michael, Larry, Kobe, Tim and Magic won their MVP award, they didn’t leave their teams to pair up with another superstar player to try to win a championship, especially when they were in their prime. If you suppose to be the best player in the league, why can’t you bring good players to you? By the way all those supporting players you talked about; Pippen, Kareem, McHale and Robinson. These players were drafted, acquired in the draft or already playing together and guess what, the superstar players made the supporting cast players better. So F@#$ LeBron.

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TECH FIRST-Atlanta may not have a center, but does Miami? Who is going to run the point?
There is still a lot of work to be done before these guys are “Champions”

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Simpdawg-You are the man, unfortunately nobody in here will listen to logic. They just want to race bait, and talk ish.

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The only way to describe how he handled this situation is “Classless”

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@Simpdawg

i don’t get it. Kobe played with a hall of famer , now he’s playing with another one. same with magic, same with bird, Jordan, and Tim. who ever hates on Lebron for going somewhere where he can win a ring, you have some deep seeded issues, point blank, Cle was NEVER going to get the right people around him to win a ring. Did you also hate on Garnett and ray Allen? what about the glove and Malone when they went to the Lakers?

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In all fairness Bradley you are way out of line with this one. Just like ESPN, there is no journalistic integrity here, its just basketball. And I don’t see you writing with the same fervor when it comes to our lowly Hawks !!!!!

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From Cleveland nice,
_________________ to Miami VICE.

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@ReddJonn68

DITTO

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Lebron is LeBORING

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Also wanted to throw out there that if you think the owner made LeBron rich, you are mistaken. LeBron made him rich. LeBron is the one who sold out arenas, not Dan Gilbert. As a matter of fact, I am willing to bet anyone on here that Cleveland will be sold out only on the two games that MIA plays there.

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ElderDawg71, with all due respect, that’s ridiculous, and you’re ignoring a lot of the elements to this story by simply boiling it down to “well, it’s just a business”. It’s a business, but the product is personal to a lot of people… it’s designed to be personal to people. That’s what the NBA wants and that is how it should be.

People keep saying “well, if i could go to another company and make more $, i’d do it, so Lebron is justified”… that analogy is stupid because most people’s jobs don’t have a major impact to an entire city they grew up in. Most people’s jobs aren’t integrated to a product designed to create a sense of community and city pride.

And this isn’t like Tom Glavine leaving the Braves to go to the Mets a couple of years ago. This is a hometown hero to whom this city is deeply committed and to whom they have, for better or worse, tied a large portion of their economy to. Yeah, technically Lebron didn’t do anything illegal by leaving and yes, he was well within his right, but if you’re going to just say “well, it’s a business… people who are mad at him are just being immature”, then you’re not seeing all the sides of this story.

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to all u Lebron haters..he gave Cleveland 7 good years, took them to the playoffs, took them to the NBA Finals, gave them the best record in the NBA 2 years in a row, so what he never won a championship..it’s not like he didn’t try. Before Lebron the Cavs was a lottery pick team, which is how they got him in the first place. Not to mention how their season ticket sales went through the roof once he got there, none of this would have never happened had Lebron not went to the Cavs..now they want to burn his jersey and crusify him for leaving. Fans always hate on players when they leave the team they have always been with for more money $$$$$ but this was not the case..Lebron, Wade, and Bosh will be making less money in Miami. Joe Johnson and Amare Stadamire will both make more than those 3 guys. But it’s not about money it’s about winning a ring. Cleveland should have done more to keep Lebron there besides tell him we can offer u $30 million more than any max contract u are offered from another team…HELLO CAVS IT’S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY! Now Lebron could have re-signed with the Cavs and got a max contract and probably would have been the highest paid player in the NBA…..but he would have never won a championship, because he doesn’t have the players around him to help him win. Miami was smart, they did not want Wade to leave, so they got Bosh, tried to get Stadamire, and now they got James. Now Dwayne wade is happy and will take less money to make room for his 2 new team mates. But all Cleveland did was try to get Bosh, but when Bosh said he did not want to play in Cleveland..did they try to get anyone else there…that would convince Lebron to stay? I think the answer is no! Miami is the favorite to come out of the East, anything less than winning a championship next year will be deemed as a complete failure. But I’m no hater..it’s all about winning RINGS!!!

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@phxfalcon,

I think it’s the fact that he CHOSE to go where hall of famers already are…it makes it seem as if he’s too weak to make other people look good, like he needs to be with other HOFers to look good himself.

he is the ‘big man on campus’. if bosh/wade had gone to cleveland, it would have seemed more appropriate because the perception would be that people are coming to him….not that he’s going to other people. if he had chosen chicago, he would have instantly made AA arena the ‘house that james built’, made the finals next year with them, and would have continued to be KingJames. if he would have gone to the Knicks, it would have instantly been the dynamic duo, but he would be THE markee player and Amare would be his sidekick.

Now, you can’t call him King James anymore, because Miami is not his castle for him to rule. He’s reduced his role.

Obviously, he is perfectly comfortable with sharing the role of leader with other people, but this lack of leadership ability is what will keep him from being one of the greatest to play the game.

And, he may not believe it now, but perception is everything!

I hope he get’s his ring, but after their first year of playing together and the honeymood period is over….there will be problems in South Beach. ESPECIALLY, if they don’t win a ring next season.

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@smart move,

If i was a cavs fan or owner, i would have been PI$$ED with him. The only part of this whole production that I likede was the fact that he had the network give the advertising proceeds to charity. That was admirable.

But, that is not how you go about telling an entire state that worshipped you that you are leaving them. I mean, even the govenor made and a$$ of himself with those silly songs and videos. That was a complete slap in the face.

And, there is such a thing as not burning your bridges. Even regular working folks give their employers two weeks notice that they are quitting…or risk being black balled from that company in the future.

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#1 Falcons Fan – i can’t believe you are actually peddling the “this shows how selfless Lebron is because he took less $” angle. That’s absurd. Yeah, wow, he’ll take $25 million instead of $30 million, a difference that we all know he will make up by Florida having no income tax and the endorsements and publicity tied to joining this three headed monster. If you think this somehow proves Lebron doesn’t care about $ (this is the same guy who wants to be the first billionare athlete), you haven’t been paying much attention to this story.

But you are a falcons fan, so i respect you for that

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A victory for American labor. Three workers united against the gazillionaire team ownwers, to play together, where they wish.
They got tons of money but still took less to win championships.
It doesn’t sound selfish to me.
To the owner of the Cavs you are just pi$$ed that you lost your main cash cow, that you let run your team over the past 7 years.

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An entire city builds it’s economy around one person, an athlete at that; pathetic. Congrats Mr. James on moving onwards and upwards after 7 years of beating your head against a wall, you finally figured out the definition of crazy. All the money in the world means nothing to a true athlete who at the end of their career has nothing to show for it. Be that a championship ring, superbowl ring, or even a world cup.

As for the genius who changed his name to numbers, I believe he needs to focus on the next baby mamma of the 85 he plans to run through on his new reality show.

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Although, I did not agree with LeBron having a major announcement on tv last night, I do agree that it’s all business. C’mon, let’s look at both sides of the fence. If a player is slowly deteriorating, an NBA owner would be looking to trade that player for someone better. LeBron did what owners would do, look elsewhere to have a better chance of winning a ring. It’s obvious from the Cavaliers owner’s comments, he is only looking out for his wallet. Well, Mr Cavalier owner, don’t spit into the wind ’cause it will come back to you.

Although, I did not agree with LeBron having a major announcement on tv last night, I do agree that it’s all business. C’mon, let’s look at both sides of the fence. If a player is slowly deteriorating, an NBA owner would be looking to trade that player for someone better. LeBron did what owners would do, look elsewhere to have a better chance of winning a ring. It’s obvious from the Cavaliers owner’s comments, he is only looking out for his wallet. Well, Mr Cavalier owner, don’t spit into the wind ’cause it will come back to you.

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Although, I did not agree with LeBron having a major announcement on tv last night, I do agree that it’s all business. C’mon, let’s look at both sides of the fence. If a player is slowly deteriorating, an NBA owner would be looking to trade that player for someone better. LeBron did what owners would do, look elsewhere to have a better chance of winning a ring. It’s obvious from the Cavaliers owner’s comments, he is only looking out for his wallet. Well, Mr Cavalier owner, don’t spit into the wind ’cause it will come back to you.

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Kudos too to Midnight Graham. I view it the same way.

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@Raybud, @phoenix falcon

Thank you, well said.

@Simpdawg,

No one wanted to come to Cleveland. Lebron did raise the level of the players around him. Lebron averaged 28 ppg, and almost 8 apg and 8rpg, come on people. The man could not carry that cast of supporters to the title and the Cavs could not improve his supporting cast and he knew it. He did not want to be like Karl malone and chase the title too late. It was said that Lebron did not want to end a max deal contract in Cleveland at 31 without a ring. Look at the wear and tear that all those minutes are taking on Kobe’s body. The man wants to win it all. He said he wants to put himself in the best position to win a ring. This team, barring injuries, will dominate for the next 5 yrs easy. Decent players will take less money to play on this team. They will make up the salary money with endorsements. Don’t under estimate the power of Nike and etc…

Also if Lebron and company or should I say after Lebron and company win multiple titles then we can compare him to, Magic, Ducan, Jordan, Bird, Kobe, but if he would have stayed in Cleveland you would be comparing him to Karl Malone, John Stockton and Sir Charles, and soon to be Steve Nash and that is great players who never won it all.

Also Lebron skills are second to none, to think that he will not be great along side another great player like D. Wade is stupid. if Lebron average slips 5 or 6 points his assist and rebounds will increase by 2 or 3 per game. I am looking forward to see if he can average a triple double for the season. He averaged almost 8 apg with that cast in Cleveland now he has Bosh and D. Wade to dish to, OMG!!!!!!!

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When, oh when, will football season ever start???

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“Bill Russell also won 11 titles…”

Not taking anything from Bill Russell but you’re comparing apples & oranges. Bill Russell played in an era in which most of the players were white guys who were a foot shorter than him.

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I’m still a fan. He took less money and gave up the spotlight so that he could win. If he had gone anywhere else, would his team (or any team) have been able to beat the Lakers at any time in the next three years? James only has 10 years left of great play, and he wants to be the best ever.

His decision was obvious and everyone should have seen it coming as soon as Bosh went to Miami.

As far as him “quitting” in the playoffs, doesn’t anyone remember his elbow injury? As soon as that happened and he shot that free throw left-handed, I knew Cleveland was done. For the Cavs to win, Lebron had to play in a way that is ungodly good, and that wasn’t happening with a hurt elbow. MVP-good wasn’t good enough to help that crap team win.

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Wow the man is acting like a scorned girlfriend. I wouldn’t want to be in a town where folks threatened to burn down your house, etc., etc. Isn’t that a threat and why are they not in jail for getting on television saying such things. Wow did he have to bring the kids into it as if LeBron is now a babysitting now to make sure the kids have morals and values. That is the parents job not his. He was with them for 7 years. I know some people who don’t stay married that long. Now watch somebody blame President Obama for this as well.

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I think I finally finished puking. WTF do BLACK athletes make such a spectacle of themselves Not enough love from the family unit I suppose. This whole charade was an absolute disgrace and ESPN, Sports Illustrated et al should all be ashamed of themselves. It’s truly disgusting to put these effing idiots up on a pedestal from grade school on just because they can shoot a basketball, throw a football etc. I LOVE sports, I have played them all my life (college scholarship in baseball) but am ashamed of what we as a society are holding up as the standard for success.

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Mark–I’m in town for a two-day conference and read your article this morning in the AJC. Thanks for putting into words what my heart and gut are feeling. I’m wondering how long before one of them asks for a trade or the large egos now present won’t be stroked and soothed. And, like you, I could care less. I’ll be rooting for them to lose every game.

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YOU PEOPLE STILL DON’T GET IT. LEBRON WANTED TO STAY IN CLEVELAND, BUT HE COULDN’T RECRUIT ANY PLAYERS TO COME THERE. BOSH SAID NO. NOBODY WANT TO PLAY IN CLEVELAND

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Agreed all around.

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Mark – not sure why you would want to root for a team to lose at all? – especial as a sports writer. Usually as an analyst you predict a team to win (or lose) based on some criteria – but not because you hate them… It’s unfortunate that sports have to come with this type of baggage – but it does (all sports). It does not mean we cannot have opinions as we all do, and we all have likes and dislikes (hate) even in sports – but to want harm to come to a person (or team) because you hate them would be even beyond you…

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The NBA is quickly turning into MLB, with the haves and have-nots, basically rendering the regular season meaningless and the playoffs a foregone conclusion. Its little wonder more people watched US v. Ghana than any of games between the Lakers and Celtics.

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I think Lebron made the right decision. I think the owner of the Cavaliers is very immature. This is a business and anyone who knows business know you have to make decisions that’s going to benefit your company. Lebron made a decision that’s going to benefit himself and family (his company).

The Cleveland Cavaliers is a private organization and not managed by city government. So, I am confused about how he managed to let the City of Cleveland down.

Maybe I am confuse but when GM’s and owner’s of franchise make trades are the conferring with the players or making a business decision.

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Mark stop HATIN on Lebron James. In the end he made a business decision to better his career. It’s no different than a person in the corporate world who makes a career move that’s best for them Lebron gave 7 years to Cleveland. He didn’t have to stay with them forever. Dan Gilbert has NO CLASS and neither does your article Mark.

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The thing is, for the most part people aren’t hating on him, just the way he handled this situation. But
whatever, the ignorant ones will always cry one of two things #1Hater #2Racist

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Nobody was bashing his teammates during the first 82, hell you guys were already sizing up their rings!
I remember the venom with which everyone was killing the Lakers w/on Xmas day.

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If you don’t think Lebron signed off on all moves Clev. made then you are clueless. No one ever answered my question about what if vick had done this to ATL?

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And I don’t know if he made the right move or not , but he certainly could’ve handled it better.

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“Oh, yeah, jay. That Wilt Chamberlain was really short.”

Ok you got me. But name me some more dominant big men from that era. I already wiki-ed Kareem and he didnt play in that era

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WHEN A PLAYER GETS TRADED IT CALLED BUSINESS DECISION; WHEN A PLAYER QUITS A TEAM HE IS CALLED A COWARD, TRAITOR AND ALL KINDS OF ILL NAMES. THEY CAN KICK YOU BUT DARE YOU TRY TO KICK THEM. I AM GLAD JAMES KICKED THEM BEFORE THEY KICK HIM. NOW THAT HE IS MOVING ON THE OWNER HAVE ALL THESE NASTY COMMENTS, TALK ABOUT SOUR GRAPES, HE IS LIKE THE FOX WHO COULDN’T GET THE GRAPES THEN CALLED THEM SOUR. YOU GO JAMES DO WHATS RIGHT FOR YOU AND YOU ALONE.

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The big flaw with this article’s criticism of Lebron is this. All of those superstars that you compared him to had other great players on their teams when they won championships. Lebron did not in Cleveland. I do agree that he is arrogant, and it was ridiculous to have a 1 hour special to build your own hype, but again, he needs great players to win championships, just like those others guys mentioned in this article. He was a free agent and he had to make a decision based on either money or winning, and he chose winning. I used to hear of people being criticized for being too money hungry, but he is being criticized because he wants better players around him to win a championship. He wants great players like Jordan, Magic, Bird, etc had. And now he has it.

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I don’t think they left as much $ on the table as everyone is saying. What would the state taxes be
on a $100 million dollars?

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and by the way Dan Gilbert is officially crazier than a sh%#house rat!

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The Cavs, Cleveland, and all of Ohio for that matter will be just fine with out Lebron. Miami will be saying the same thing too one day and maybe sooner than you think. Let him get injured or not win a championship, he’ll leave MIA too. Mark my word.

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This is a business, plain and simple. Keep the emotions out of it. Blah, blah, blah. No one is in a position to dictate anything to Lebron about where he should or should not play for whatever reason. Why is it so hard for people to allow this MAN to dictate his own destiny? Jealousy/envy all around me; it’s sickning. Or maybe folks are angry that this franchise player can make power moves like these and the whole world stops and pauses to watch? Hmmmm. As for the Cavs owner, he can suck a lemon. He sounds like a plantation owner who freed a slave and then got angry when the slave didn’t want to stay on the plantation after being freed…WTF? Ridiculous. LEBRON DOESN’T OWE ANYONE DIDDLY. All Lebron haters: SUCK A LEMON!

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and now we can all go back to not caring about a crap association, the NBA.

Miami will not win. Karma. Cleveland will not win. Worse karma with that jacka$$ owner who doesn’t even play basketball. Nice try being Mark Cuban of the North. Like LeBron, an idiot with money who thinks his opinion matters more than those without.

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Atlanta has snifed the playoff for the last time for years to come ….. Losers …..

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I for the life of me cannot understand why people are upset at LBJ!Key words this summer-FREE AGENT! He is FREE to do as he pleases. He did not sign a contract in blood saying that he would never leave Cleveland. People are just mad at him because the people of Cleveland put him on his pedestal and boosted him up to where he’s at and now he rightfully left. As for people talking about Kobe, Magic, Jordan, and Bird all being loyal, well LBJ would’ve been if he had a good supporting cast like the other 4.I can go on and on about how stupid the people who are hating on LBJ are!

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Congratulations to LeBron James, a grown man who makes his own decisions. No granting time to a team that has been trying to win a Championship for seven years or feeling as if he owes a particular city anything. He choose to move on and grow as an athelete, and move his family to a beautiful city. It’s a grown man who can accept being the hero and the villain.

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Kudo’s to you Mark for keeping up with your blog. Many here at the AJC stick with it for about 15 posts, yet you are usually there til the bitter end.

As to your article? you pretty much nailed it. I don’t think anyone really blames James (or Wade or Bosh) for following through on the plan they made in 2008 while doing the Olympics, it’s just the WAY he did it. Why did he string 6 teams on when all along he knew where he was going, he was going to where ever the other two guys went. There is a fourth player in the group who becomes available in 2012, (may be available in 2011) who made the pact with them. Know who he is?

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mark, have you a problem with a man making his own decision???? and a black man at that. don’t know you mark and really hate to bring race into this; however i can not help but wonder what role it plays here. lebron is articulate and had the courage to take charge of his own destination. even you, mark, (and others may not recognize your own prejudices and entitled privileges and consider yourselves not to have a drop a racisim in you) may have deeply rooted beliefs about a black man making his decision and making big bucks while doing it. when you can bash the big monied ceo’s for doing this then i’ll believe you. btw mark, you did not start your career at ajc and left somewhere else for what you thought were greener pastures or because you could… james has just as much right as any team owner, you and any white man to take charge of his future. more power to lebron and i wish him well. get over it mark, and hope the hawks do better this year.

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tbif, thanks for the example in elway…..somehow few people had problems with elway taking charge of his future. hmmmm

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Wow, Greg Oden is popular.

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i have had it with the show. Michael, larry, Magic, Kareem etc kept their mouths shut and did the job. I hope he loses every game

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I am so happy that LeBron made the decision that he did. He is a villain in whose eyes? Not mine and many others. He will get his ring. Dan Gilbert and the so called fans showed there true colors. They are only happy if he is a step and fetch it puppet that does what they want. This is a business they didn’t own him, If he became injured while playing for Cleveland, they would have dropped him like a hot potato. The fans and owners could care a less about LeBron and he owes the city, fans and owners nothing. He made Cleveland. They DID Not make them. They got it all twisted. It is so childish and immature for someone wanted to hurt a player because he was a free agent and made a choice that was best for him. Congrats to LeBron and the city of Miami.

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Plus, the Boys and Girls club gets money from the special on which he revealed his decision. What have you done lately for charity??????

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I like the Villain…. At least he finished the season…Unlike a bobble-head coach that left in the middle of the season to head to Arkanas for a college head coaching position….. People get over it… Owners would have hung him out to dry had he not panned out… The City of Cleveland did not pan out for Lebron so he “X-ed” them first!!!!! Why hold players to a different standard than owners?

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Wow, I can tell we are in the South. Because an exceptionally talented young man fulfills his obligations and decides to move on hes a bad guy now. Mark you and Dan Gilbert seems to insinuate that LeBron is his property and he has no right to seek his best interest if they conflict with his. I am African-American and any who have read my political postings know I rarely agree with Jessie Jackson but the comments he made today along these lines are right on the mark. I admit that the advisement LeBron got on the presentation (the Decision) was questionable though I believe he had every right to do it. We are inundated with reality TV daily which is just plain garbage so to criticize LeBron for the way he did this when the whole sports world was interested; smacks of other issues being at play here, mainly jealousy and more seriously racism. I know that seems strong but there really seems to be a sentiment growing in America which insinuates he is too powerful especially as a Black man. LeBron has given this city his life and I blame city officials for depending on an athlete for their prosperity. This young man has every right to work wherever he chooses and to also preserve his longevity. The one man show style of basketball LeBron was relegated to in Cleveland would have definitely shortened his career. Gilbert did not surround him with legitimate talent to win championships and bears a great deal of the responsibility for the ORGANIZATION’S lack of obtaining a ring during LeBron’s time with the team. Another aspect I think people are overlooking is if these were the true feelings of Gilbert don’t you think LeBron was discerning enough to know this? Gilbert has political aspirations and seems to really be trying to polarize a certain group around a movement of hatred for James but from what I’ve heard in the Black community this has backfired greatly. As one African-American expressed, “we didn’t care where he got the ring, as long as he got one. We never expected to even have a chance to have him this long”. Gilbert is not only what’s wrong with leadership in Corporate America through his sense of belief that the employees are to “serve” them to their own detriment, but he is also an example of how America still feels that even successful Blacks are still second class citizens.

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Well said Drew. I’m from Cleveland and I couldn’t agree with you more. Though I can’t say I totally agree with how he broke the news, I don’t blema him one bit for wanting to leave Cleveland. He would have never won anything here. The CAVS did not do what was needed to win a championship. We got Shaq way too late and A.J. didn’t have time to jell with the team. On top of that, Mike Brown was way over his head in the playoffs.
Besides, I can’t feel sorry for Dan Gilbert. He and the cith of Cleveland made a lot of money off LeBron. They used his loyalty to the city against him and thought he would just stay because he’s from here. Dan Gilbert is a Billionaire!!! I find it hard to believe that he had no clue that LeBron might be leaving. To become a billionaire you have to have some sort of foresight and intuition, don’t believe he had no clue.
To all who say Kobe did it “by himself”, really?? Wasen’t he the guy who said he wanted to be traded if he didn’t get some help?? Wasen’t he the guy puting pressure on the Lakers to “bring him some guy to help him win”?? Didn’t he and MJ have a coach (Phil Jackson) who now has 11 rings as a coach??? Magic had an allstar team and so did Bird. Name me one guy on the CAVS roster, besides an over-the-hill Shaq, in the past 7-years who will be in the Hall of Fame???
Good luck LeBron. Your TRUE fans still love you and will celebrate with you when you win that trophy.!! Besides, who wants to be Reggie Miller, Barkley, Pat Ewing, D-Wilkins ect. ect. ect…. Hi Keisha

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yes he sold the place out but he got the finals once against a horse crap eastern conference. he had the right to go to miami try to get a ring. But the way he did it was not any good. he didn’t call 5 teams. that ricioulous hour special. his team in clevend was good but dont kiss his @ss……………………

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would you stop lebron hater i don’t hate he is a great player. just because he handleded it badly. why is the media so soft. kobe was ripped until he won without shaq lebron should be ripped too.

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[...] Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution knows who everyone will be rooting against next season. [...]

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