dan gilbert open letter to cav fans

[SI5]

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

[bigsportsguy2006]

ha, i posted it in the nba forum ....

Dan Gilbert (Cavs owner) goes OFFFFFFFFFF ....

[SI5]

never seen an owner go off like this!!

[MCP313]

As if Lebron owes this fool anything. He should've wrote a letter thanking him for actually making this franchise relevant for the last 7 years as opposed to the scorned girlfriend approach.

Believe it or not Ive personally spoken with Dan Gilbert face to face and worked for him for a very brief time and held Lebron in such high regards that he set himself for this type of failure.

Its not the first time nor will it be the last time that a high profile athlete leaves one team to go to another.

Lebron does what is best for Lebron and Dan Gilbert should do the same. What a douche.

[westcoastO]

i personally guarantee that when these 3 guys figure it out, it's OVER for the rest of the NBA

[Dr. Jack]

Originally Posted by SI5

"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE"

I personally feel for the Cavs, I really do but this is absurd. Cavs won't make the playoffs before Lebron wins a championship. lol

[QuadzillaXXX]

I think it's funny that he said the franchise is now dedicated to winning a championship, did it really take this to motivate them?
And, there's no way he could've been that surprised by the decision.....for someone who is now motivated to win a title and just freed up quite a bit of cap room, you'd think that maybe instead of writing hate letters, Gilbert might have started signing some guys

[Steel]

LMFAO. They can't win a NBA title, they just lost their whole team.

[barryg]

Dan Gilbert is my new hero......it's about time one of these candy-assed owners speaks their mind without worrying about David Stern calling tehm in to the principal's office. Gilbert paid LeGone lots of money, surrounded him with players and what does James do? He goes out and chokes in game 5 of the Boston series. That's right, CHOKES. Anybody who knows anything about basketball agrees with this. I don't care how many MVPs he has, until he wins a title he will be nothing more than a great individual player. I have no problem with him seeking the best deal, anybody would. I have a major problem with him making a publice spectacle out of something that should have been a private matter. And not even calling Gilbert with his intentions is so classless it's beyond belief.
This is why real basketball fans prefer college ball to the pros. The NBA is all about the sizzle, little about the steak.
The best part of Gilbert's letter was the ESPN morons not believing what they were hearing!!!!!
By the way, I'll take the field against the Heat for the 2011 NBA title.

[Steel]

Originally Posted by barryg

Dan Gilbert is my new hero......it's about time one of these candy-assed owners speaks their mind without worrying about David Stern calling tehm in to the principal's office. Gilbert paid LeGone lots of money, surrounded him with players and what does James do? He goes out and chokes in game 5 of the Boston series. That's right, CHOKES. Anybody who knows anything about basketball agrees with this. I don't care how many MVPs he has, until he wins a title he will be nothing more than a great individual player. I have no problem with him seeking the best deal, anybody would. I have a major problem with him making a publice spectacle out of something that should have been a private matter. And not even calling Gilbert with his intentions is so classless it's beyond belief.
This is why real basketball fans prefer college ball to the pros. The NBA is all about the sizzle, little about the steak.
The best part of Gilbert's letter was the ESPN morons not believing what they were hearing!!!!!
By the way, I'll take the field against the Heat for the 2011 NBA title.

Spot on !!! Airing this on TV was way over the edge for this sportsfan.

[Bozzie]

Gilbert firing off like that will ultimately hurt the franchise... You have to think other vets and free agents will look at gilbert as classless and ungrateful for the 7 years service from james...

If i'm 28, rich and looking for a ring would i stay in akron? Akron with 60 days of decent weather a year, ugly women and chit for services a billionaire would want.

[barryg]

Seven years of pampering for LeGone and his posse of 22 people is more like it (they all traveled with him on the road, taking the team plane)...the Cavs bent over backwards for "The King" only to be dumped on by his royal ass...and he does not live in Akron, he lives out in the country in Bath, Ohio....one neighbor was so elated James was leaving that he set off fireworks....
Dan Gilbert was his employer, he can say whatever the hell he wants to...

[ksturg]

Commented on this in the NBA thread already, but the Tom Izzo factor is what really makes his comments look ludicrous.

Izzo grew up in Michigan, always coached at MSU, and Gilbert graduated from there. He then tried to buy Izzo's loyalty to coach the Cavs and failed. Then he turns around and complains about Lebron abandoning his home state?

Would he of felt the same way if Izzo left MSU for the Cavs?

Those comments were a joke when looking at it from that perspective.

[be47320]

jesse jackson not happy...jesse jackson spot on as usual as this was obviously a racial issue

Jesse Jackson Defends LeBron Against Cavs Owner | TMZ.com

Jesse Jackson Defends LeBron Against Cavs Owner
14 minutes ago by TMZ Staff


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jesse Jackson has come to the defense of LeBron James -- even though no one asked him to -- and compared Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert to a "slave master."


In a harshly-worded statement, Jackson took Gilbert to task for his open letter to Cavaliers fans which slammed LeBron's decision to sign with the Miami Heat. Jackson says, "He speaks as an owner of LeBron and not the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers. His feelings of betrayal personify a slave master mentality. He sees LeBron as a runaway slave."

He goes on, "LeBron is not a child, nor is he bound to play on Gilbert’s plantation and be demeaned. He has been a model citizen and has inspired the children of Akron, Cleveland, the State of Ohio and the United States."

[danv6]

Jesse Jackson should never open his mouth