Dan Gilbert's Extreme Reaction
Was Dan Gilbert's letter heartfelt, or a ploy to drum up attention and sympathy for Cleveland?
So.....that happened.
LeBron jumped ship in F-you Cleveland fashion by announcing his decision on "The Decision." I didn't see the show, but I inevitably saw the highlights of it, and one thing stuck out to me. Did anyone else think that LeBron looked a little pudgy? He looked very, very round to me, but some close friends pointed out to me that his beard just made it appear that way.
Let's move on. I'm not here to critique or analyze the specific decision, because there's not really much to say. We knew he was choosing among 3-4 teams and that he'd have good reason to pick any one of them. I want to talk about Dan Gilbert's onslaught of cheap shots at LeBron. Here's a transcript of the letter he wrote for the Cavs' website subsequent to LeBron's announcement:
Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;
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.
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 good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.
There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.
You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.
You have given so much and deserve so much more.
In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:
"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER 'KING' WINS ONE"
You can take it to the bank.
If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our "motivation" to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.
Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.
Sorry, but that's simply not how it works.
This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow-up to become.
But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called "curse" on Cleveland, Ohio.
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.
Sleep well, Cleveland.
Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day....
I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:
DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue....
Dan Gilbert
Majority Owner
Cleveland Cavaliers
Pretty scathing stuff right there. Even if Gilbert--and Cavs fans--feel this way, there's no good reason to verbalize it so publicly. Gilbert sounds like a hormonal pregnant woman who impulsively says things that she fully regrets after the fact, except that Gilbert's statement was premeditated and drafted. So there's that.
There's no confusion about how Gilbert feels in reaction to LeBron's decision on his TV special. Maybe that was done in some poor taste on LeBron's part. The argument can be made, though, that Gilbert and Cleveland have no right to feel the way they do. Everything LeBron said about his time with the Cavs, about taking them to new heights, bringing revenue to a depressed downtown, and offering hope for a championship...those things are all true. I don't think that is arrogance or pride or self-righteousness on LeBron's part. I think he's just shooting straight and being honest, which is something we always wish that athletes will do.
Gilbert's statement is unnecessarily vengeful and combative. In his crazed reaction, he makes a hasty promise that Cleveland will win a championship before LeBron does. And he means it. (Side note: I wonder if he looked at his current roster before making that promise).
He uses words like "betrayal", "disloyal", "shocking", "heartless", and "callous" to describe LeBron's decision to leave. Really Dan? Is it really an act of treason to bleed through seven years of terrible teammates and coaching for a superstar who craves to be the best? Did LeBron not sign an extension with your team with no guarantee or down payment on a viable roster? Did LeBron not bring your team from last in NBA attendance to 2nd during his tenure? LeBron was a free agent and was well within his rights to pick among suitors. And that's exactly what he did. Nothing traitorous or malicious about it.
This is all to neglect mentioning the incredibly fickle nature of Gilbert's reaction. If LeBron had said Cleveland instead of Miami, Gilbert would be singing his praises and telling us how much he loves LeBron for his loyalty and courage. Instead, it just feels like we got the prewritten hate speech instead of the prewritten love speech. The perspective in this situation is everything: love LeBron if he stays, hate him and lay him out if he leaves. Its a senseless contradiction that I would expect from a 13 year old.
Gilbert's shocking reaction shows a man in denial that his franchise just crumbled. It was way out of line, undeserved, and intentionally defamatory toward LeBron James. It makes you wonder if Gilbert really meant it.
Which brings me to an interesting theory. Is this a simple attention and sympathy grab by Gilbert? Was this carefully orchestrated (read: not heartfelt) to maximize the positive attention and pity toward the franchise? Is Gilbert a renegade who doesn't care what people think about him as long as it benefits his team? I would not rule any of these things out. The next question is, what is he trying to accomplish or get out of the stunt? There are no free agents left, he doesn't stand to benefit there. GMs, while possibly feeling bad for the Cavs, certainly won't make mercy trades with Cleveland at their own expense. I guess I don't really get what the point is, assuming that this theory checks out.
Anyways, those are my thoughts on Dan Gilbert's statement. After sleeping on it, I wouldn't be surprised if Gilbert regrets writing that letter, both because it is a black eye for his franchise, and because he really didn't mean the things he said about LeBron.
It will be interesting to see if a swift apology follows. Even more interesting will be the first time Miami visits Cleveland next season.
