Wednesday, September 10, 2008

My question is: Where's the "LeBron to Mavericks" rumors?

I don't care who he roots for. He's been consistent throughout his entire life, Bulls, Cowboys and Yankees (ya, like 90% of the kids I went to school with, he's a frontrunner, so what?):
LeBron James may raise the ire of local fans by wearing a New York Yankees cap or cheering for the Dallas Cowboys, but another of the city's biggest sports stars isn't bothered by the NBA icon's out-of-town loyalties.

As far as Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards is concerned, James can root, root, root for any team he wishes.

"I give him credit for being loyal," Edwards said Tuesday.

On Sunday, James, who last season showed up at an Indians playoff game against New York sporting a Yankees cap, was on Dallas' sideline during pregame warmups before the Browns' season opener against the Cowboys. In full view of Browns players, James, again wearing the Yankees cap and a blue-and-silver T-shirt, chatted with Dallas owner Jerry Jones and hugged Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens and cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones.

James has pledged an allegiance to America's Team since he was a kid.

If this shit bothers you, you're an idiot. And guess what, he roots for the biggest Ohio team of all, the Buckeyes. He's routinely spouting pro-OSU sentiments, so don't worry about it.

Again, if LeBron ends up leaving, it will be because of basketball reasons and nothing more. If the Cavs put together a team capable of winning 55-60 games, he's not going to bolt for a Nets team anchored by Yi Jilian.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ben, the Cavs signed Lorenzen Wright while you were off sampling the finest ales of Europe. I expect a full breakdown of this pivotal move.

Philip Morris of the PD wrote a "LBJ hates us" column for the metro section yesterday. I have been resisting the temptation to send him a "get over it" e-mail because he's a metro columnist and sports analysis probably isn't his strong suit. It was just an emotional overreaction that didn't belong on page B1 of a major daily.

I'll never understand this aspect of Cleveland fans: Why do we need to have our star players love all things Cleveland, and if they don't, then we assume they hate us and want to leave?

Morris pulled the "He's from NE Ohio, he should love where he's from" card. So just because he's not a Browns or Indians fan means he loathes this area to the bone? Doesn't he have "330" tattooed somewhere on his person?

It all adds up to another hyper-defensive reaction to someone famous doing something that could be construed as anti-Cleveland.

Ben said...

you mean, Lorenzen Wright, the missing piece? The guy whos gonna put the Cavs over the top. Who will challenge Big Ben and Z for playing time? LeBron's Pippen!

I had this argument with a friend the other night, (not to get too psychoanalytical) but you root for the team you do because of your father. at least that's why I root for the teams I do. my dad liked the cavs, so I like the cavs. LeBron didn't have that. He picked the teams that A) were on TV the most and B) won the most.

Good for him, and ya know what? he kept rooting for them (also, note that one of these teams is Ohio State).

But after all that... I don't care. I just don't. Is it a slap in the face? Maybe, but I'm not concerned. As long as he suits up for the Cavaliers and wins games, I'm gonna be ok.

I mean, I don't know if anyone has noticed this, but he's easily the best chance this town has at winning some kind of championship. He makes the Cavs legit contenders by simply suiting up. I'm not gonna let his favorite football team ruin that for me.

The Mummer said...

I agree with your take on this subject. I wish everyone would drop all the speculation until his contract is up. However, I do have a problem with this quote from Braylon...“LeBron (James) isn’t a Cleveland guy. LeBron only plays for the Cavaliers, and who knows if he even likes the Cavaliers? He doesn’t like the Indians. He doesn’t like the Browns.”...Lebron needs to START being a Cleveland guy. He plays in Cleveland and lives only 40 minutes away. The best thing Braylon Edwards did was to sing and sign O-H-I-O at the Browns football game, and he went to Michigan. Lebron should take a page from Braylon's book and at least humor the fans.

Ben said...

well... yes and no. Braylon is a key (if at times underachieving) part of the Browns. LeBron IS the Cavs.

Braylond gains more by getting into the fans good graces. LeBron isn't exactly flaunting his other allegiences, he just attends games when his teams are in town.

Of course I'd rather see LeBron show up to games in full Browns regalia but if LeBron's biggest fault is that he roots for the wrong team, consider that a blessing.

He hasn't made any stop snitchin videos. He's never been caught with drugs. Children out of wedlock (or rather outside his longtime girlfriend). No violence problems. No club issues.

Think about that: LeBron's most pressing PR issue is that he doesn't root for the local sports team. I think it'll be OK

Anonymous said...

Delonte is signed. Get on the post