How on earth can you justify this statement in regard to Cleveland? How does this guy bring Cleveland money? People are already living in that city (poor people).

...

people go to games. go out before and after games in the city (putting money into local businesses). people buy sports team apparel from local businesses.

i mean i'm not incredibly well versed on the economic impact of pro sports, but there is obviously a benefit. and saying "well lol cleveland still sux" does nothing to refute that.

if you can't see how a winning franchise brings money into a city you are mildly (possibly severely) retarded.

in the particular case of cleveland, which was hit particularly hard by the recession, i would argue lebron james (one of the biggest athletes in the world) leaving could potentially have severe economic repercussions on the city to certain businesses.

no one moved to the city to watch this guy? i don't even know what the fuck that means. But certainly you can't argue against the fact that it is a huge tourism draw for the city, especially a city that other than rock and roll hall of fame and the other sports teams, shitty browns and shitty indians, doesn't have a huge draw (at least not that i know of).


people want to watch him play. people don't go to games in miami and already they season tickets are sold out with news they may have this super trio.

he leaves cleveland, and certain local businesses, ie. bars, restaurants, hotels, sports shops etc will certainly notice. now hopefully the economy does get better and the loss isn't as severe as it could be, but the fact of the matter is they won't make as much money as with him there.

now he isn't the entire economy, i mean to take your no one moved there comment seriously for a moment, one could argue that if you live in cleveland and decide to go to the cavs game great, but if you didn't you would have spent that 70 dollars somewhere else in cleveland, at least maybe they do. of course all of the stuff i've read on pro sports ecnomics and impact on city tends to look at things on the macro level. on the micro level i'd say small business will feel a loss with bars/restaurants would have the most to lose i'd say.

of course you may just be trolling, if so touche, but your services would do better on the sp board

brendan haywood got a 6 year 55 million dollar contract

celtics signed jermaine o neal :(

People go to games. People go out before and after games. You think people did not go out prior to this? You think Clevelanders would never exit their shanties were it not for their basketball team games?

People buy sports team apparel from local businesses. And I suppose those people would be unable to sell regular clothing?

Eulogy, Eulogy, Eulogy... You're moving the same money around in the same city. The point of an attraction like a successful sports team is to bring other people into a city so it can grow. But Cleveland's such a desolate hellscape that nobody's going to move there purely for the sake of seeing a basketball team win a game. If anything, Cleveland would make more money through attracting new money by selling their team and using the money to repair their streets.

post/custom title

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH

If he was staying in Cleveland, why would he have the press conference in Connecticut (before you say it, Greenwich is no where near Bristol. It's about as far as NYC).
It's the Knicks or Nets. Nothing else makes sense at this point.

Maybe Jay-Z will be performing live on ESPN tonight.

I bet 30,000 posts he doesn't go to the Knicks.

(If I'm wrong oh well who cares - he'll continue to never win championships)

I'm gonna say.......... BULLS!

Are they still a team?

ha, miami it is. and some kid tried to start a clap after he said it and it just didn't take off

espn is ruined for a couple of weeks

Hope LeBron's Akron home is on fire.

Again, colossal douche. Enjoy not winning championships in a town that doesn't really care.

I would have gone to Miami too

You also enjoy being Wade's bitch?

So he's a douche for taking a pay cut and giving up the spotlight?

the bandwagon just broke from the whole city jumping on it.

You don't understand what has happened over the past few days, do you?

LeBron's a douche for milking this bullshit, throwing Cleveland under the bus, etc. And he sounded like one dumb motherfucker tonight, that's for sure.

Yeah Lebron orchestrated all this telecast shit

Same thing happened with Tiger, Favre

It's all a media game. They love this.

I will say I'm sick of hearing him say "I gave a lot to that organization"

did the cavs site get hacked. no way this is real

edit:it is real

Cavaliers: Open Letter to Fans from Cavaliers Majority Owner Dan Gilbert

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

It's all a process.

Oh and LeBron apparently wanted ESPN to follow him around and tape the teams' presentations. All for a mini-series. He's a joke.

I'm sure it's hacked. HOWEVER the Cavs did have West's photo up after this bs announcement, which is beyond AWESOME.

espn just verified it was real

I love how ESPN confronts Lebron with fans burning his jersey live on air.

ESPN is hilarious...their almost getting to the point where they're like "THE HEAT ARE GOING TO SUCK"

what a douche