Lebron -> Miami (screw your spoilers!)

[Hawkeye-X]

I can guaran-damn-tee that the Miami Heat team will be a major, major flop, an embarassment.

They won't win championships for the next 100,000 years.

Meh. At least Melo has indicated he will be signing an extension to stay with Denver.

[Renew Deal]

1. He sucks

He doesn't believe in his abilities so he's going with two other guys.

[Mojambo]

9. Yup.

And I guarantee he lost more fans than he gained with this stupid fucking circus.

[TheMightyFavog]

2. I wouldn't want to be in Cleveland tonight.

Per CNN, Cleveland PD is prepared for angry rioters.

[OhioChick]

Screw LeBron.....

How do you go on national television and stab your hometown in the back?

Arrogant POS

[TZ]

3. He's a jerk

He better leave Cleveland ASAP or at least hire a bodyguard. He sure jerked them around like no one's business---Might be more hated there now than Art Modell.

[JTG of the PRB]

15. +1

Modell took a Browns team that, beloved as it was, wasn't exactly championship material. LeBron is one of the very best players in the league, and he could have pressured the Cavaliers into signing and trading pretty much whoever he wanted to get to play with him.

[Robeson]

4. It's Lebron's world. And we just live in it...

...cherish the moment.

[OmahaBlueDog]

5. OH HELL YES!!!!!

That is all...

[Patsy Stone]

6. You have just witnessed

the classic Miami sports franchise move. And you've nailed the results perfectly. Every damn sports team in this town has egotistical asses for owners and starstruck idiots running the front office.

It's always someone new, and nothing ever comes of it. Every sport. We always suck, and the good solid players always get the shaft.

And whose brazillion dollar brainstorm was this, anyway? I smell Drew Rosenhaus.

[OmahaBlueDog]

8. Right..nothing comes of it..like when we had Wade & Shaq and we...

..WON THE NBA FINALS!

I guess those two Marlins World Series rings don't count either.

The sport Miami consistently sucks at is NFL football...unfortunately, it's the only sport anyone down there cares about.

[Patsy Stone]

10. And after they won the Series

they traded the whole damn team away. Or, they sacrificed good utility players to keep one or two big money guys. Luckily for the Marlins, they have a really good farm system.

Miami only cares about winning *this* season. There is no respect for the game, there's no pride in making something great, it's all about the immediate gratification of winning and bragging.

[OmahaBlueDog]

12. They won the series twice in a 10-year span!

How many other teams can say that currently? You've got your Yankees and your Red Sox and who?? Most teams didn't even make the World Series once....

As for the Panthers ... they were doomed/cursed when they traded Stu Barnes after the "Year of the Rat."

[TZ]

13. BTW, looking forward to LeBron getting BOOOED in Miami

when he starts acting like a selfish brat. And the snow birds from Cleveland go to the game to tell him what they think of him.
I will laugh my ass off if the Heat lose big time...

[OmahaBlueDog]

16. The icing on the cake will be if Shaq will come back for league minimum

to join D-Wade, C-Bosh, and LeBron...and then, during the finals, I will smile my best evil smile while we roast Kobe Bryant alive.

[Hawkeye-X]

19. Unlikely

He's at his end. He's old, fat, slow, and can't shoot worth a damn. That's why Hack-a-Shaq was invented.

He'll finish out Cleveland and retire in obscurity.

[TZ]

20. And Allan Iverson and Carmello Anthony were going to make Denver unbeatable

And Shaq and Steve Nash were going to bring multiple championships to Phoenix....Miami is the new Dallas Mavericks/Washington Redskins---too much talent and ego, not enough team play....As someone who watched the Skins do the same thing...Have fun missing the playoffs next year...

[OmahaBlueDog]

21. The 'Skins problem is that they have had a terrible GM for the entire Snyder era

..now that Vinny Cerato is gone, I have faith that things will improve. Hiring Shanahan was a very good step in the right direction.

We'll see what happens when the games are played. Will we finish better than Boston? Maybe. I have a hunch it will be a fun season, and I'm looking forward to getting some tickets when the Heat come to M/SP.

[TZ]

42. We will see

I'm beginning to think that LeBron is like Kobe was for many years, actually a hindrence to a team winning a championship...He showed how immature he was at the end of the season. Let the buyer beware.

[Seneca]

28. You just keep dreaming

[OmahaBlueDog]

31. It is a nice dream, but the reality is that we'll probably face Dallas or Phoenix in the finals

..I doubt that the Lakers have the motivation for another championship. Heck, their Coach was considering retirement until just last week.

[Seneca]

32. *Snarf*

Phil Jackson is coming back, hence the motivation problem is solved. His retirement consideration was due to HEALTH reasons. He is almost 65 and has bad hips, among other ailments. That is the ONLY reason he thought about retiring.

Phoenix or Dallas? :rofl: Phoenix has a much better chance than Dallas, but that's not saying much.

I would keep an eye out on OKC in the West. They are the real up-and-comers.

[OhioChick]

17. You and me both! n/t

[Patsy Stone]

14. LOL!

The Year of the Rat. Hilarious. They had to keep getting the plastic rats off the ice in the middle of the games.

I'm not saying the plan doesn't work sometimes, I'm just saying this is how we roll. Everyone gets all hyped when we win, and then hearts get broken in the off-seasons. Often, it really all does come to nothing. A whole lot of hype and billboards and bupkis.

I'm a huge Marlins fan, and ex-season ticket holder, but when they got rid of Joe Girardi and put in Fredi "Mr. Just Under .500" Gonzalez, and Girardi went on to win the Series the next season at the Yankees, that was the end of my front office support, thin as it was.

[OmahaBlueDog]

18. In the long run, the Marlins only hurt themselves

Huizinga built the first WS teeam to get leverage for a stadium, When that failed, he immediately dismantled them. They always blamed playing in JRS for the attendance issues... it won't be much better after the first few years in the new stadium, because the folks in Coral Springs and Boca will get tired of that long drive.

When the heat had Billy C running the show, I agree- the Heat didn't try to build a good team. Since Pat Riley has come in, they have always tried to be competitive, with brief pauses when cap space ran out. Unfortunately, they never got a ring with 'Zo and Hardaway, but the Shaq years were good, and this crew should be very, very good (and be together for a while).

[Patsy Stone]

23. The audience will change

for sure, but since the stadium is going up where the Orange Bowl was, it will have a built in audience within walking distance. Since it will have the (Hallelujah chorus, if you please, Maestro) retractable roof, you could actually stand to be up in the cheap seats without dying of heatstroke. Plus, I might go more now, since it's so much closer to me.

That stupid stadium, I'm so glad it's finally being built just so we don't have to talk about it being built anymore. :)

I like Pat, and I respect him. In fact, I ran into him at The Container Store one day.

In my jaded way, the only reason I thought LeBron had chosen Miami was the announcement yesterday that Wade had signed. I was surprised to hear that, thinkng he was as good as gone, but then when I put two and two together, it all made sense.

Because Miami also likes to let the great players, who started out as young players, that people have grown to love, go over money. Or for a crappy trade.

I hope for all concerned all of this pays off and the world is happy. I just don't think I'd bet on it.

[OmahaBlueDog]

27. You must live near Kendall

I think Coach Pat lives off of Old Cutler and, IIRC, the Container Store is on Kendall Drive - kinda sorta across from Dadeland.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

36. Girardi was a douche. (So is Loria, though).

Giradi was overrated as Marlins manager--he actually was Mr. Just Under .500 (the Marlins were 78-84 in 2006), whereas Gonzalez had two winning seasons in 2008 and 2009. Never liked Girardi as a player or a manager--never liked how he snubbed the O's when the reached out to him to manage.

Is there any pro sports owner that I've actually liked? Angelos, Loria, Huzienga--all idiots.

[TZ]

41. Most owners are jerks..The ONLY one I like is Caps and now Wizards

Ted Leonsis. I would think he would have a thing or two to say about signing alot of big priced egotistical free agents (Jaromir Jagr, Michael Jordan, Gilbert Arenas) to Miami. Talent don't mean shit if you don't know how to manage it. And unless that snake Pat Riley is lying about not wanting to coach (which is likely) I think the Heat will find out that quickly that it was likely LEBRON that held Cleveland back..Like Kobe did for many years in LA.

[alfredo]

7. By the way, "Big Dipper" Melvin Turpin has committed suicide

at his Lexington Ky home.

[TZ]

11. The Miami Heat are like the Baltimore Ravens to me

Worthy of this Ohio native's scorn and contempt. I wear this avvie in sympathy for my Cleveland peeps.

[OhioChick]

22. Then, maybe you'll appreciate this...

[gizmonic]

35. Yup, pretty much sums it up

:thumbsup:

[Tommy_Carcetti]

45. You just hate teams from Maryland and Florida, don't you.....

....tsk, tsk, tsk.

[TZ]

46. Dude...What part of University of Maryland Alumnus did you miss?

:P FEAR THE TURTLE!

[KamaAina]

24. NBA - > major suckage

Boy, I sure hope you're right about that!

[Seneca]

25. Cleveland never had a chance

They never gave LeBron his 'Scottie Pippen' - his solid #2. Instead, he got a washed-up, has-been Shaq.

One superstar cannot carry a team. Kobe couldn't have won his recent 2 rings without Pau Gasol.

[OhioChick]

26. MJ carried the Bulls for a lot of years before they got it together....

MJ didn't give up on his teammates or his city.

[Seneca]

29. Pippen joined the Bulls in '87

Only 3 years after Jordan, and NONE of their NBA Championships were without the 2 of them together.

[NewJeffCT]

34. LeBron has played seven years in Cleveland

and not won a championship and the Cavs had no salary cap room to improve the team enough to compete with the Celtics or Lakers. Jordan won his first title in his 7th year.

[Dr Morbius]

40. That's true. You need talent to win. But I don't believe in the formula.

The reason Boston and LA won championships is not just their big three, but also that the teams around those big players were pretty darn good. Solid role players are a Phil Jackson trademark, and the Lakers are loaded with them. The Celtics in addition to their big three have Rajon Rondo, who I would argue is really their best player. Three big dogs and a ton of role players can win, but Miami has to put these pieces together. I think Atlanta is better. I think Orlando is better. I think Boston may still be a better team than the one they're putting together down in Miami. There are five players on the court, and even the most durable players need ten minutes of rest a game. Miami has three big dogs with virtually no depth. They're not going anywhere next postseason.

Cleveland was one piece away when they foolishly went for Shaq. Had James stayed with the team, they would still be one piece away. Miami has to build a team around these guys. Cleveland already had a team, and they were close. I think James would have won sooner with the Cavs.

I think Lebron James lacks the leadership it takes. In Miami, he doesn't have to be the leader. The leader of that team will be Dwanye Wade.

[FedUpWithIt All]

47. HE wanted Shaq. If he wanted better he could have taken a pay cut in Cleve.

like he is doing for Miami.

He planned this a long time ago, just didn't think that Cleveland deserved a decent amount f warning to pick up the pieces.

All three players signed similar contracts three years ago to free up at the same time. Lebron announced a new jersey number just in time to go to Miami where the number 23 is retired? Uh huh.

Lebron SCREWED Cleveland on the way out and that is what really stings.

[HughBeaumont]

50. Actually, LeBron HAD a "Pippen" in Boozer.

If there is blame to be placed on any singular person for LeBron's lack of championships in Cleveland, it's most definitely Jim Paxson. The idiotic moves this guy made pretty much shackled this franchise's progress for YEARS, and everyone saw the inevitable result on June 8th.

If you were a GM and had a prize like LeBron James land in your lap, wouldn't you . . . I don't know, do every single thing in your power NOT to screw it up? Here's a guy that let Carlos Boozer get away and got shiz-NIT in return. LeBron HAD a "Pippen", the near-Superstar; it just wasn't known yet. But they never knew, because they didn't take the RISK.

Instead he signed Kevin Ollie and Ira Newble to long term contracts. Wow.

Then there was the 2004 draft, the Cavs only Post-LBJ lottery pick. The Cavs needed, REALLY needed a point guard. They could have also used a shooting guard and a hustle PF. Jameer Nelson, Delonte West, Kevin Martin, JR Smith, JOSH Smith, Al Jefferson, Tony Allen and Anderson Varejao were all available . . . aaaaaaaaand they drafted Luke Jackson. WHO? Luke played a whopping 46 games in two seasons, bounced around the NBA and now plays in Italy. Everyone else mentioned above . . .

That wasn't Paxson's first stupid draft either. Prior to LeBron, in 2001 he passed up Gilbert Arenas, Richard Jefferson and Tony Parker and wasted his 8th pick on DeSagna Diop. Brilliance.

This guy also killed the future development of this team by trading the 2005 and 2007 draft picks for some stiff named Jiri Welsch, who shot worse than I did, and Sasha Pavlovic, who was capable but ultimately very inconsistent and a waste. You wonder why this team had to get all of it's "talent" through FAs and trades during the Ferry years, here's a primary reason.

He'd make doctorate moves by grabbing free agents like Lucious Harris, who, of course, left his ability to shoot threes in Jersey. His frontcourt was anchored around a 7'3" klutz who's 35 on paper but is stuck with a 49-year-old body and 54-year-old reflexes.

Despite Dan Gilbert finally stepping in and firing this idiot, I just feel LeBron was set up to fail from the very start due to Paxson's bumbling, boneheaded moves. Not that Ferry was any better by overpaying stiffs like Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall, Damon Jones and Antawn Jamison, but this team never got a chance to develop and get young lasting talent because of this clown.

[one_voice]

30. My son is PISSED!!...

He's a huge Dwayne Wade fan, and can't stand Lebron. He says Lebron is going to ruin the heat, cuz he's all about Lebron. He's very unhappy tonight.

[KeyWester]

33. haters

[TZ]

43. lol

If I'm a hater because I dislike an arrogant lying egomaniacal immature millionaire prick, then I wear the name proudly! I suspect Miami will reap what its sewn....

[Fleshdancer]

37. I don't get all the emotion over this

Granted I'm not really paying much attention to it, but professional athletes move to different teams all the time. Why are people so mad at Lebron for doing it?

[Ikonoklast]

38. It's not that he did it, it's the egocentrical way he did it.

The focus was all on Lebron for the sake of enormous ego gratification.


And he didn't even inform his former boss, either personally or any other way of his decision.

[OhioChick]

39. I couldn't agree with you more...

It's the manner in how he did this. Even the real "King" (Michael Jordan) is distancing himself in what he called "LeBron's circus act."

[TZ]

44. Its also a rejection of Cleveland itself as a city

He grew up in the area and talked about how much he loved it...and then did this. This is a city that has an inferiority complex, for good reason....How many Cleveland jokes are there......

[Initech]

48. Did anyone else have the same reaction I did - just a jaw-breaking fucking yawn?

[Bombero1956]

49. Where is the Player's Union this?

If I remember correctly didn't the Player's Union in baseball step in and stop a deal to keep Arod from joining the Red Sox because he had agreed to take less money to help the deal go through? Isn't Lebron agreeing to take less money to allow Bosh and Wade to join the Heat? Tell me this isn't the same damn thing. Is the Player's Union in Basketball out to lunch here?