so what's the deal with...

cryco · 10th July 2010, 06:40

So what's the deal with this LeBron dude?
I don't follow basketball, I like the sport btw (unlike baseball, which makes me want to stare at goldfish instead) but until yesterday, couldn't have told you who this guy is.
Why are so many cleveland fans, including the owner, pissed at him?
isn't he a free agent? What am I missing?
And how good is this guy that NY Knicks spent so much money to woo him?

Gunker · 10th July 2010, 15:48

He's pretty much a freak of nature. Ever since his senior year of high school, espn has followed him and even televised some of his high school games (grew up and went to school in Akron, Ohio). He was 6'8" and ~240 lb coming out of high school with amazing athletic ability and skills.

Cleveland happened to get the first pick and picked him, so he got to stay near his home town in the NBA. He was also the last player to be drafted out of high school (now the NBA makes you wait at least a year after high school). At first he was humble, and acted like any other NBA rookie, but over the years has gotten to be pretty egotistical. He is probably the best player in terms of raw athleticism and skill, but hasn't been able to lead his team to a championship.

Fans/owner are made because he's a hometown kid who turned into a superstar, and after 7 years in Cleveland, he wants to leave. NBA fans should be mad because 3 players colluded to all play for a big market team, furthering the disparity between big market (LA,Boston,Miami, NY etc.) and small market (Cleveland, Minnesota

, Utah etc) teams, a trend that has been happening for the last 5-10 years.

cryco · 11th July 2010, 18:13

ah, now I see.
The fact that he's leaving his 'hometown' can be dissapointing, but he's a free agent so I don't see it as a big problem.
What sucks is his ego and the collusion you mention. THat would upset me, had I had any interest in pro bball.

Peregrine · 13th July 2010, 17:16

Speaking as a Clevelander and a BBall fan....

F him. I was never a big fan anyway. But the way he left us it what ticked a lot of people off.

LooseCannon · 21st July 2010, 14:15

I had my brother-in-law with his wife and kids staying with us when this news broke. He's an-expat, she's from Wooster, Ohio. They're pretty quiet, unassuming folk, not prone to over reacting. They were actually, visibly shocked to hear about this. I don't think they even really follow sport very much. It seems a localised issue to me. The home-boy gone bad and dumping on his 'family'.

Back in the real world....

10th July 2010, 06:40	#1
cryco 34T m3 Joined: December 2000 Location: montreal, Canada Posts: 4,078	so what's the deal with... So what's the deal with this LeBron dude? I don't follow basketball, I like the sport btw (unlike baseball, which makes me want to stare at goldfish instead) but until yesterday, couldn't have told you who this guy is. Why are so many cleveland fans, including the owner, pissed at him? isn't he a free agent? What am I missing? And how good is this guy that NY Knicks spent so much money to woo him? __________________ [Ci]cryco freelancing agent of chaos

10th July 2010, 15:48	#2
Gunker Clan Member Joined: May 2001 Location: Minnesota, USA Posts: 1,205	He's pretty much a freak of nature. Ever since his senior year of high school, espn has followed him and even televised some of his high school games (grew up and went to school in Akron, Ohio). He was 6'8" and ~240 lb coming out of high school with amazing athletic ability and skills. Cleveland happened to get the first pick and picked him, so he got to stay near his home town in the NBA. He was also the last player to be drafted out of high school (now the NBA makes you wait at least a year after high school). At first he was humble, and acted like any other NBA rookie, but over the years has gotten to be pretty egotistical. He is probably the best player in terms of raw athleticism and skill, but hasn't been able to lead his team to a championship. Fans/owner are made because he's a hometown kid who turned into a superstar, and after 7 years in Cleveland, he wants to leave. NBA fans should be mad because 3 players colluded to all play for a big market team, furthering the disparity between big market (LA,Boston,Miami, NY etc.) and small market (Cleveland, Minnesota , Utah etc) teams, a trend that has been happening for the last 5-10 years. __________________

11th July 2010, 18:13	#3
cryco 34T m3 Joined: December 2000 Location: montreal, Canada Posts: 4,078	ah, now I see. The fact that he's leaving his 'hometown' can be dissapointing, but he's a free agent so I don't see it as a big problem. What sucks is his ego and the collusion you mention. THat would upset me, had I had any interest in pro bball. __________________ [Ci]cryco freelancing agent of chaos

13th July 2010, 17:16	#4
Peregrine North American CTF Squad Lt. Joined: August 2001 Location: The north coast Posts: 2,305	Speaking as a Clevelander and a BBall fan.... F him. I was never a big fan anyway. But the way he left us it what ticked a lot of people off. __________________ I rock a lawsuit when I'm going to court, a white suit when I'm getting divorced A black suit at the funeral home, and my birthday suit when I'm home alone

21st July 2010, 14:15	#5
LooseCannon European Captain Joined: February 2005 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 2,701	I had my brother-in-law with his wife and kids staying with us when this news broke. He's an-expat, she's from Wooster, Ohio. They're pretty quiet, unassuming folk, not prone to over reacting. They were actually, visibly shocked to hear about this. I don't think they even really follow sport very much. It seems a localised issue to me. The home-boy gone bad and dumping on his 'family'. Back in the real world....