Topic: LeBron's coming home

[FreebirdSTF]

Everyone knows by now, but LeBron's returning to Cleveland.  I found out via Twitter when someone Tweeted a link to the SI story.  He's not going back to number 23 though as he'll apparently continue to wear his Miami Heat 6.

I'm happy for the folks in Cleveland.  If the Atlanta Hawks aren't in the mix then I'd love to see LeBron and CLE win a Finals at some point.

Also good for these folks...

http://deadspin.com/here-are-cavs-fans-who-didnt-burn-or-throw-away-their-l-1603649056

[Zandrax]

The closest I can relate to this is Greg Maddux. I dunno how much heat he got from Cub fans when he went to Atlanta, but I was ecstatic when he came back to the Cubs.

Ultimately in the end there is a business element to sports. The dedication is to the craft and not the location for some of these guys, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

[Chus-Kay]

weren't cleveland fans  ready to riot when he left?  should be fun to see them do a 180.

[BobbyR]

The closest I can relate to this is Greg Maddux. I dunno how much heat he got from Cub fans when he went to Atlanta, but I was ecstatic when he came back to the Cubs.

Ultimately in the end there is a business element to sports. The dedication is to the craft and not the location for some of these guys, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

how does that relate to the giant fuck you he gave Cleveland on the way out?

[FATSEXY]

He didn't give Cleveland a giant fuck you. They gave him a giant fuck you. The team owner took out full page ads saying Cleveland would win an NBA Title before LeBron would (LOLOLOLOOLOLOLOLOLOLOL).

[BobbyR]

that whole tv special where he picked Miami wasn't a fuck you?
that ad was a pretty stupid thing to do though - but team owners fall under the stupid pro athletes rule

[FreebirdSTF]

The Decision was an especially cruel way to tell your home town team you were leaving.  I'm over that now and have been for a while, but I think you're wrong if you have no issue with it.  Dan Gilbert's letter was also wrong, but then again two wrongs don't make a right.

Let's make this wrestling related while we are at it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0rrdJp6jJ8

[BobbyR]

almost every time I let myself think a pro athlete isn't an asshole I'm proven wrong

[Zandrax]

Well, I don't live in Cleveland and not much of a Basketball guy, so there's probably a lot I missed.

[FreebirdSTF]

Mark Harmon from NCIS was an athlete.  He seems like a decent dude.  No idea if he made it to the pros at any level however.  Actually just confirmed that he was never a professional athlete.  Just his two years at UCLA as QB.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Lebron's contract is only for 2 years and he has an opt out for next summer. Meaning, it's a one year deal if he doesn't want to stay in Cleveland, whether because the team sucks or they won their title. So, the Knicks can start praying that he wants to come to NYC and break this team's championship drought.

[FreebirdSTF]

I cannot imagine LeBron leaving Cleveland a second time.  Not saying it won't happen, but it would shock me more than him coming back to Cleveland did.

Here's some context on why it's a two year deal.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11207703/lebron-james-deal-cleveland-cavaliers-2-years-421-million

James signed a two-year, $42.1 million deal with the goal of re-signing with the Cavs before the 2016-17 season when a new television deal is expected to create a large jump in value of the maximum contract.

As part of the deal, James will have an option to become a free agent next summer but is fully committed to the Cavs long term, sources said.

[FreebirdSTF]

Also what's kind of great about this whole process is how LeBron froze out ESPN.

[BobbyR]

Mark Harmon from NCIS was an athlete.  He seems like a decent dude.  No idea if he made it to the pros at any level however.  Actually just confirmed that he was never a professional athlete.  Just his two years at UCLA as QB.

well played sir. Mark Harmon would be an exception, as an athlete or actor, he is still a shining example of humanity

[EDGECRUSHER]

It probably is about the money with the new dal, but don't think it won't be a huge story when the Knicks have a ton of cap space following this season.

[FreebirdSTF]

I'm sure it could be depending on how it is handled.  If the fans of New York want to get their hearts broken again then they should certainly convince themselves he's really coming in this time too.  Fun for everyone.

The LeBron to the Knicks mentality strikes me just like the Saban to the Longhorns stuff.  It's a mentality of entitlement that I think kind of irritates me.

Not directing this at you mind you.  Just talking about the mentality in general.

[EDGECRUSHER]

It's not an entitlement as much as it's a prayer. Unless, they feel that way just by comparing New York City to Cleveland. I think we all know the winner in that one.

[FreebirdSTF]

Now it's a prayer, but in the original free agency year there were some who seemed to think it was as good as done that King James was going to be in New York cuz New York.  This go 'round it would certainly be different  though like you said.

[EDGECRUSHER]

It was a pretty big surprise at the time that he chose Miami, they were kind of a last second thing. It was a HUGE shock when Bosh came along. So, the race was really Cleveland or New York and then Miami jumped in. Between the two, NY had the advantage because it's fucking NY vs. Cleveland.

This time though, I don't think Knicks fans have any sense of pride left or sense of entitlement other than "It's been 40 fucking years since our last title and we are the biggest market for basketball in the league. WHY DO WE STILL SUCK???".

[SCB]

[FreebirdSTF]

Apparently LeBron is ditching the number 6 and going back to 23.