1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Jesse Jackson: "LeBron was treated like a slave"

Discussion in 'Other Sports Forum' started by AbideN703, Jul 12, 2010.

Tags:
  1. PhiNomina

    PhiNomina White-Collar Redneck

    7,433
    3,637
    113
    Dec 21, 2007
    Cleveland, OH
    I do enjoy that the Heat just had three of the biggest superstars in the game come together and decide to play for their team and you are playing the underdog card.

    I would have been upset if he had left, no question. But how he handled it is the worst part.

    You are looking at it as if I am just mad at James because he left and I want to scream and yell what a horrible person he is. Look at it from a Cavs point of view (and Dan Gilbert's).

    Time to start over. Can we use some cap space on a FA? Nope. LeBron wouldn't give us any indication so all the FAs already signed. Can we make a trade? Most teams have made all the deals they wanted to make this offseason, and for a rebuilding team, we can't shed any big contracts because teams have already committed all their money.

    So I'm not mad at LeBron for leaving - I'm mad that A) he did it on national TV and named it "The Decision" (just like the Drive, The Fumble, The Shot) and B) he completely screwed any chance we have to start over.

    (Also - Bron sold us on 7 years that he was "The Chosen One" and "The King". He made us play up to his ego - then goes somewhere where he is second fiddle. It is a bit disappointing. I thought I was watching the next Jordan and now I was just watching the next Pippen. Tell me that isn't frustrating.)
     
    AbideN703 likes this.
  2. NJFINSFAN1

    NJFINSFAN1 Premium Member Luxury Box

    17,358
    9,641
    113
    Nov 24, 2007
    Northwest New Jersey
    I have to agree with JT

    Jackson and Sharpton, while I think they started out meaning good, they now come across more racist than the people they argue against. I don't even think people take them serious anymore.
     
  3. Jt0323

    Jt0323 Fins Up! Luxury Box

    12,967
    7,293
    113
    Dec 7, 2007
    Las Vegas
    As a non Cavs fan, i agree, I am not upset he left Cleveland, im upset with the way he handled it. If he went to the knicks, i think Heat Fans would agree too
     
    AbideN703, LandShark13 and PhiNomina like this.
  4. Desides

    Desides Well-Known Member

    38,949
    20,033
    113
    Nov 28, 2007
    Pembroke Pines, FL
    I'm playing the "tears of 49 other states taste so good!" card.

    I have. Thus why I say that the TV special was conceived to avoid another Art Modell incident. Modell packed up the Browns and drove out under cover of darkness. One day the Browns were there, the next they were gone.

    LeBron is cognizant of sports history. He knows what happened. The entire purpose was not to rip your heart out, it was to let you down gently.

    The mistake was getting ESPN involved.
     
  5. LandShark13

    LandShark13 New Member

    4,446
    1,852
    0
    Oct 20, 2009
    North Miami
    The only player in any sport that comes close to this and in many ways is worse is Brett Favre. Brett has called Press conferences that have lasted longer or just as long to both talk about his retiring and his not retiring. Each year he tends to hold the NFL hostage even after he knows his decision. For years before he left he would hold the Packers at gun point (figuratively) threatening to retire year in and year out.

    But that's neither here nor there. I agree with you Lebron could have and should have handled it more discreetly. As a Miami Fan I didnt like the way he handled it so I know that it had to kill the fans in Cleavland.

    I'm not here to defend Lebron. I couldn't if I wanted to.
     
    PhiNomina likes this.
  6. MikeHoncho

    MikeHoncho -=| Censored |=-

    52,652
    25,565
    113
    Nov 13, 2009
    He went to the Jets bro. The Jets. Need-I-say-more?

    Doesn't matter how JT left to me at all. Fact remains, JT is a New York (bleh) Jet. Not only that, he's gotta degrade himself to appeasing that god-forsaken fanbase; which he'd trashed on for years as a 'phin. Again, wouldn't have mattered if JT starred in a 3-hour long special before announcing he'd be a Jest. The fact that he's wearing Green next year is what gets my goat.
     
  7. Bumrush

    Bumrush Stable Genius Club Member

    29,473
    34,332
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    Sig worthy response... O M F G that made me snort the coffee I was drinking...
    :lol::lol::lol:
     
  8. Finsanity

    Finsanity New Member

    718
    363
    0
    Apr 21, 2009
    City of Angels
    :lol:

    Jessie should look in the mirror.
    How the Black Leadership Exploits Black America. How do think Jessie makes half million a year by not doing much.
     
    gafinfan, PhiNomina and MikeHoncho like this.
  9. MikeHoncho

    MikeHoncho -=| Censored |=-

    52,652
    25,565
    113
    Nov 13, 2009
    *sits patiently in wait for someone willing to call Jackson on his BS once and end his disingenuous media-whoring career for all*
     
    PhiNomina likes this.
  10. LandShark13

    LandShark13 New Member

    4,446
    1,852
    0
    Oct 20, 2009
    North Miami
    I don't know how much folks are defending Lebron. I for one didn't like the way he handled it but that's me. I will say he was within his rights to leave Cleavland and that Dan Gilbert was way out of line in how he handled the situation.

    As for JT or Lebron its fine that fans voice there displeasure. We're fans we live and die with our teams. If Ross or Bill had come out and lambasted JT for leaving I would expect a backlash that would include some heavy fines.
     
  11. PhiNomina

    PhiNomina White-Collar Redneck

    7,433
    3,637
    113
    Dec 21, 2007
    Cleveland, OH
    For the record, I like the Heat. I love Dwyane Wade. If Bron hadn't gone to MIA I would have cheered like crazy for you guys.

    This isn't about the Heat vs the Cavs - it is simply about how we were treated by James.

    You can say the TV special was about letting us down gently - but go back and watch it again. He never once says thanks to the fans. When asked about Cleveland he more or less strokes his own ego "I brought that franchise places they've never been and took those teammates to places they've never been." It wasn't about letting us down gently. It was exactly like after the playoffs when he sucked in game 5 and then said, "I've spoiled those fans for the last 7 years."

    So I don't buy that he did the special to let us down easy.
     
  12. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

    44,356
    22,480
    113
    Mar 22, 2008
    He looked like he did against Boston previously. He looked like Kobe did in 08 against the Celtics.

    I'm not sure how LeBron couldn't leave if he won. If he won a title, he can say he gave Cleveland exactly what he told them he would. A Cleveland title with that garbage team around him would have been one of the greatest accomplishments in team sports history.
     
  13. AbideN703

    AbideN703 Yes, I'd hit it

    2,532
    925
    0
    Jan 7, 2008
    Springfield, Virginia
    Definitely. He's the one guy in the NFL that has the LeBron-esque mystique that ESPN loves to suck dry.

    At least he's won a ring though :wink2:
     
    LandShark13 likes this.
  14. Desides

    Desides Well-Known Member

    38,949
    20,033
    113
    Nov 28, 2007
    Pembroke Pines, FL
    There's a difference between the reasoning behind the TV special and the execution of the TV special.
     
  15. PhiNomina

    PhiNomina White-Collar Redneck

    7,433
    3,637
    113
    Dec 21, 2007
    Cleveland, OH
    Yeah, with that roster they'd be lucky to win 61 games.
     
  16. LandShark13

    LandShark13 New Member

    4,446
    1,852
    0
    Oct 20, 2009
    North Miami
    I know your not saying that because he won a ring he is allowed to hold his teams hostage every year.

    For the record with the team Miami is putting together and Favres Age I would be willing to make a gentleman's wager that Lebron will end his career with more rings. :up:
     
  17. PhiNomina

    PhiNomina White-Collar Redneck

    7,433
    3,637
    113
    Dec 21, 2007
    Cleveland, OH
    How does that make a difference? If the execution was that bad, doesn't Gilbert / Cavs fans have a reason to be mad?

    (Also, just wanted to reinforce that I am sure a big part in that letter was rallying the fans. As soon as the Indians lost their stars, the fans turned on the owner. I am sure Gilbert wanted to tap into fans' anger and channel it towards LeBron. He wanted to be the hero. I can tell you that by looking at message boards here, it worked. Fans are on his side and ready to buy tickets. That can't be overlooked.)
     
  18. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

    99,377
    37,301
    0
    Nov 22, 2007
    inching to 100k posts
    Utterly disagree, the Cavs are poorly run, and here is why:

    James wound up leaving via a S&T, the Cavs received Heat 1st rd picks, meanwhile, Mike Beasley was peddled off to the T-Wolves for a #2 pick, and a shot at a lottery pick by the Heat.

    Beas was the #2 overall and has shown flashes, why didn't the Cavs pick him up?

    *gosh* a 21 yr old player with 14/8 pts and rebounds is just not Gilbert's cup o' tea..one reaps what one sows as an Organization..

    Which yet another thing Jesse Jackson go wrong, Gilbert was *****ing because he was and is a petulant child, not because he is a plantation owner.
     
  19. PhiNomina

    PhiNomina White-Collar Redneck

    7,433
    3,637
    113
    Dec 21, 2007
    Cleveland, OH
    I hope everyone realizes that by constantly flirting with New York and Free Agency that is what LeBron did with the Cavs, too. We couldn't do what the Heat did, because we had to "win now".

    Remember that the Heat had a few bad seasons and little to no talent around Wade. Now you look like geniuses, but we couldn't do that.
     
  20. mbmonk

    mbmonk I have no clue

    1,333
    457
    0
    Aug 4, 2008
    I love how Lebron is selfish, yet he just took less money to go play a smaller role on a team in an effort to get a championship. Normally when someone does that they are considered a 'team player' who 'gets it'.

    I think the bottom line was Lebron didn't have confidence in the Cavs orginazation. If he believed in the coach, FO, and staff he would have stayed.

    I think the 1 hour special was pathetic, but so was the 'open letter to fans'. Wasn't there a press conference by the Cavs the next day? Did the owner show up to own up to his comments? Or did he send out his paid staff to face those wave of questions?
     
    rafael and LandShark13 like this.
  21. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

    44,356
    22,480
    113
    Mar 22, 2008
    Regular season and playoff basketball are completely different. You will never be successful in the playoffs relying on one player.

    I think your stance sums up why LeBron chose to leave. You put championship pressure on a player, don't give him what it takes to win, then say he quit when the team falters. Great strategy if you think the player can be pressured into staying. But LeBron knew better, and got out before it was too late.
     
    King Felix likes this.
  22. PhiNomina

    PhiNomina White-Collar Redneck

    7,433
    3,637
    113
    Dec 21, 2007
    Cleveland, OH
    Why didn't Toronto do the same?

    That and we already have Varejao, Power, Jamison and Hickson on the roster at PF.

    I don't think the Heat even approached us about a sign and trade until after Beasley was traded, anyways.
     
  23. PhiNomina

    PhiNomina White-Collar Redneck

    7,433
    3,637
    113
    Dec 21, 2007
    Cleveland, OH
    And calling yourself "King James" and getting "Chosen One" tattooed on your back don't give the wrong impression about that?

    What more do you want on that roster? A PG who can score, a PF with range and scoring ability, another that has great defense. A big center who can guard Howard. Lots of length to defend.

    There wasn't a second superstar - but there was plenty of talent on that team.

    BTW - Artest and Ariza both said they wouldn't sign here because LeBron wouldn't commit to staying. So we had to trade for ANY talent we were going to bring in.
     
  24. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

    44,356
    22,480
    113
    Mar 22, 2008
    :lol: You can't blame LeBron for poor management. What happened if Wade left Miami? I hardly doubt you'd see Riley crying about Wade not giving them enough notice.

    You also talk as if any FAs would be willing to go to Cleveland. They never have been able to attract FAs, and even guys like Jim Thome left when they had a chance. LeBron wasn't holding the Cavs back from signing anyone.

    (And to be clear, LeBron didn't annoint himself the Chosen One, or King. That was Sports Illustrated and the rest of the world that saw LeBron make an unprecedented 3 appearances on the All American team in HS. Now sure how you see him as second fiddle to anyone either. He's the best player in the NBA, period. He's also unselfish enough to make things work with another great. That doesn't mean he's second fiddle, just means he's unselfish).
     
  25. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

    44,356
    22,480
    113
    Mar 22, 2008
    There was plenty of average talent. Mo Williams is an average PG at best. Varejao was above average defensively, below average offensively. Who was that center that could guard Howard when they actually played Howard in the ECF???

    When your second best player is Anderson Varejao, by no means have you been successful in putting a good team around LeBron.
     
  26. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

    44,356
    22,480
    113
    Mar 22, 2008
    Because Toronto is a poorly run organization that has no hopes of ever being an NBA contender.
     
  27. PhiNomina

    PhiNomina White-Collar Redneck

    7,433
    3,637
    113
    Dec 21, 2007
    Cleveland, OH
    Thome got an extra $20 million to leave I believe.

    He didnt give himself those names - but he is surely the one that got the tattoo and referred to himself in third person 5 times during that special.

    Listen - I gotta go but if you think LeBron has no blame whatsoever then so be it.
     
  28. mbmonk

    mbmonk I have no clue

    1,333
    457
    0
    Aug 4, 2008
    Doh: Just read Lebron didn't take less money. Well there goes my post :)
     
  29. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

    44,356
    22,480
    113
    Mar 22, 2008
    Blame for what? He gave the Cavs 7 years of the best basketball they'll ever see. But at some point you have to say that the team isn't championship caliber, and move.

    Could he have handled it differently? Sure, he could have been more sensitive to Cleveland as a city. But at the same time what he did was great for the NBA. It was a turning point for a league thats been slowly declining in popularity. If anything, James deserves credit for putting so much pressure on himself.
     
  30. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

    99,377
    37,301
    0
    Nov 22, 2007
    inching to 100k posts
    eegads, think about it, the Cavs could have secured Beas cheap, they instead took the draft picks...err...the Heat are likely to pick between #28 and #30 for years...why would you take later round picks when you could have had the mildly productive, yet stiffled, Beas?

    Give him 42 minutes a game, cat is 24/10, instead the dummy Gilbert Cav's took late rd #1 picks..


    [​IMG]
     
  31. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

    44,356
    22,480
    113
    Mar 22, 2008
    I think Gilbert has made it very clear that he really has no idea what he's doing, and instead was just riding the LeBron gravy train until it ran out of steam. Instead of getting to work building a roster, he instead writes hate mail to former players. He even says he thought he had a 70% chance of resigning LeBron. He had no backup plan to riding LeBron's gravy train. The incompetence is second to none.
     
  32. AbideN703

    AbideN703 Yes, I'd hit it

    2,532
    925
    0
    Jan 7, 2008
    Springfield, Virginia
    What he's done the last few years is definitely inexcusable but he gets away with it. Ego = getting stroked
     
  33. AbideN703

    AbideN703 Yes, I'd hit it

    2,532
    925
    0
    Jan 7, 2008
    Springfield, Virginia
    He took less money (even if he did/didn't). Oh how unselfish here is for taking less money than all of us combined can even dream about.
     
  34. LandShark13

    LandShark13 New Member

    4,446
    1,852
    0
    Oct 20, 2009
    North Miami
    That's just it it hasn't just been the last few years. He started doing this to Green bay 3 or 4 years before he actually retired (Cough) came back......

    Could you imagine if Marino threatened to retire each of his last 4 years?
     
  35. AbideN703

    AbideN703 Yes, I'd hit it

    2,532
    925
    0
    Jan 7, 2008
    Springfield, Virginia
    I'd prefer to never think of Marino in that light so no :pointlol:
     
    LandShark13 likes this.
  36. Section126

    Section126 We are better than you. Luxury Box

    47,525
    72,483
    113
    Dec 20, 2007
    Miami, Florida
    110 is less than 127. so yes he took less money.
     
  37. Section126

    Section126 We are better than you. Luxury Box

    47,525
    72,483
    113
    Dec 20, 2007
    Miami, Florida

    The odd thing is this.

    Beasley has a friendly contract and would have softened the blow a little for Toronto or Cleveland in the long run.

    BUT THEY REAPED what they sowed. They tried to sabotage the Heat and not deal with us. So we gave him away to Minnesota. in the end, they got less than they could have.
     
  38. Desides

    Desides Well-Known Member

    38,949
    20,033
    113
    Nov 28, 2007
    Pembroke Pines, FL
    Beasley trade is official now. We get Minnesota's 2nd rounders in 2011 and 2014.
     
  39. Ronnie Bass

    Ronnie Bass Luxury Box Luxury Box

    16,376
    10,864
    113
    Dec 19, 2007
    Another insightful article by one of the best sportswriters for my money in the country:

    http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/Jesse-Jackson-LeBron-James-Dan-Gilbert-slavery-comparison-071210

    I can understand why some people might think Gilbert's rant made him sound like a slave owner, but Jesse Jackson is the LAST person in this country who should be making this judgement.
     
    gafinfan likes this.
  40. High Definition

    High Definition No Smoke / No Drink 2011+

    8,836
    2,880
    0
    Nov 26, 2007
    South Beach
    I'm black and a Heat fan and I hate Jesse Jackson with a passion.

    /thread
     

Share This Page