LeBron James dumps Cleveland for Miami
CLEVELAND, OH
At 9:27 p.m., James, looking nervous and somewhat unsure,
finally announced his plans from a small stage in Greenwich, Conn.
"This fall, and it's very tough," James said to a national TV
audience. "I'm going to take my talents to South Beach and join
the Miami Heat."
In Florida, there was rejoicing.
In Ohio, only heartbreak and tears -- then anger.
The most wanted man in league history decided Thursday night
that it was time to leave the comforts of home to chase a
championship.
The two-time MVP, a player with supreme skills but without a
title, decided to join forces with fellow superstars, good friends
and U.S. Olympic teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh -- a dominant
threesome that could rule the league for years to come.
"I can't say it was always in my plans, because I never thought
it was possible," James said of this union with the two perennial
All-Stars, players he has known for years. "I've looked forward to
it. Those are two great players, two of the greatest players that
we have in this game today. You add me, and we have a really good
team."
Landing James was a huge victory for the team president Pat
Riley, who was able to corral the top three stars in an
unprecedented free-agent class and now must resist the temptation
to leave the front office to coach them.
James' announcement ended weeks of speculation and capped a
multi-ringed media circus in this age of social networking that
spun out of control. It also concluded a somewhat embarrassing
courtship of a player by cities, celebrities and franchises who
fawned over the 25-year-old who doesn't have a finals win on his
resume.
New York, Chicago, New Jersey, Los Angeles and every other NBA
spot came up short, finishing out of the money.
So did Cleveland. As it always does.
This time, losing was tainted with bitterness.
Once James shared his secret, fans poured out of the same
downtown bars and restaurants that have thrived during these tough
economic times. A few set fire to his No. 23 jersey while others
threw rocks at the 10-story-tall billboard featuring James with his
head tossed back and arms pointing skyward.
"We Are All Witnesses," the mural says.
This was something Cleveland never thought it would see.
Cavs owner Dan Gilbert was as upset as anyone. He posted an open
letter to fans on the team's website ripping James and told The
Associated Press he believes James did not play up to his abilities
in Cleveland's second-round loss to Boston.
"He quit," Gilbert said in a phone interview. "Not just in
Game 5, but in Games 2, 4 and 6. Watch the tape. The Boston series
was unlike anything in the history of sports for a superstar. ...
People have covered up for him for way too long."
Not Gilbert, not anymore.
"As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very
region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland
Cavalier," Gilbert wrote. "This was announced with a several day,
narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national
TV special of his 'decision' unlike anything ever 'witnessed' in
the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.
Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.
"The self-declared former 'King' will be taking the 'curse'
with him down south. And until he does 'right' by Cleveland and
Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own
this dreaded spell and bad karma.
"Just watch."
Cleveland could offer James $30 million more than any team, but
that wasn't what interested James this time. He was willing to make
less for something else -- a title. Maybe a bunch of them with the
28-year-old Wade and 26-year-old Bosh in their primes.
"It's about a team," James said.
After leaving Connecticut, James touched down at a private
terminal at Miami International Airport at 2:30 a.m. He was met by
Heat officials, shook Riley's hand, climbed into a car and was
driven away while a small group of fans, paparazzi and other news
media waited outside.
Meanwhile, outside the W Hotel on Miami Beach, 17 more celebrity
photographers and about a few dozen fans lurched toward every SUV
that neared the hotel entrance, eager to get a look at the two-time
MVP. Also inside that club was Bosh, who walked in virtually
unnoticed earlier in the evening.
Meanwhile, in Cleveland, fans so accustomed to disappointment,
were let down again -- this time, by one of their own sons.
Not long after James' decision was announced, one of his jerseys
was shown being burned in the city's streets.
"I can't get involved in that," James said. "I wanted to do
what was best for LeBron James ... At the end of the day, I feel
awful. I feel even worse that I wasn't able to bring an NBA
championship to that city. I never wanted to leave Cleveland. My
heart will always be around that area. But I also felt like this is
the greatest challenge for me, is to move on."
Even one of James' teammates was distraught.
"I feel like my heart has been pulled out," Cavs guard Mo
Williams posted on his Twitter account. "But I'm happy for my
friend."
James' decision ends nearly two years of posturing and
positioning by teams hoping to add the 6-foot-8, 260-pound physical
force of nature to their roster. He famously announced at New
York's Madison Square Garden in November of 2008 that "July 1,
2010, is going to be a big day."
He wasn't kidding. When the clock struck 12:01 a.m. last
Thursday, a free-agent frenzy unlike any before it -- in any
professional sport -- got under way with the enough speculation,
rumor and second-by-second intrigue to last a lifetime.
March may be madness, but this was a year's drama crammed into
eight days.