Let me first thank you for reading the column and taking time to respond with your thoughts. I do appreciate it.

As for you claiming I or any other upset fans don’t see the big picture, I disagree.

It is safe to say that with any kind of anger towards James, there is a tinge of sour grapes. But I think everyone has a right to upset with the superstar.

The big picture is there were several immature moves made on James’ behalf by either himself or his management team.

I in no way am condemning the move itself. In fact if you read the article, I state that it the situation that presented itself in Miami is an extremely enticing scenario. LeBron James earned the right to move on if he so chose to do so.

I encourage you to read Brian Windhorst’s pieces from the Cleveland Plain Dealer who has laid out a timeline of how “The Decision” came to be. It seems to be pretty clear from Windhorst’s investigation that James, Wade, and Bosh had decided to play together in Miami as early as the Saturday prior to the NBA Draft.

If the King is so kind and selfless, why did he then drag out a free agency process for an extra week and a half, instead of informing teams right away that he was going to Miami?

James would not return phone calls or emails from Cavs front office members in the several days prior to the announcement, thus leaving the team in a state of limbo wondering what was going to happen. Then when the time came, James didn’t even have the decency to notify the teams himself, but rather had a member of his entourage call the Cavs to inform them moments before James notified the world.

There is a sense of professionalism lacking here, and why, outside of a pure ego stroking moment, would James drag on a disingenuous free agent process?

I find your comments about Jordan rather short sighted as well. Jordan didn’t win an NBA title until his 7th season in the NBA with the Bulls, and he endured several coaching changes, numerous free agent moves, and painful early exits in the playoffs.

Jordan was a winner in every sense of the word, and at the end of the day, MJ was never questioned about quitting on his team in the same ways LBJ has.

Jordan didn’t hold the NBA hostage not because he had good players around him, but rather because instead of teaming up with other good players to win championships, he wanted to be the best and beat those players. He never met with Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, and Magic Johnson about teaming about, because the competitor and the winner in MJ wouldn’t allow it. He didn’t quit believing he was the best, and MJ was obsessed with winning.

Jordan did have supporting casts that were great, but so did LeBron. You don’t claim the best record in the NBA in consecutive seasons without one.

The Cavs did the best with what they had available, and Gilbert (regardless of his letter) did all he could to enable James to be happy. There wasn’t one coaching decision, free agent signing, or trade that was made without LBJ signing off on it. Gilbert overspent on players to do all he could to surround LeBron with a supporting cast.

Your proof of James being selfless by citing his statistics and playing in Cleveland is short sighted too. Yes LBJ played in Cleveland, but he really didn’t have a choice. He was drafted by the Cavs and even when he resigned with them in 2007 he did so for only three years, so he could create the kind of spectacle that ensued this past off season. When it was time to show his selflessness knowing all he meant to the city and the area and all that the Cavs, the city, and the area did for him, he decided to go to South Beach so he could play with his friends.

I make no qualms that LBJ is a good guy, and yeah he does alot of charity. He has always been mature beyond his years, but that doesn’t mean his free agency saga was not the most selfish moments I have ever witnessed in sports.

The TV special that was the culmination of it all was ill conceived and James showed no kind of loyalty to an area that gave him their all over seven years too. A simple thank you, or I am sorry moment would have sufficed.

Instead we got, things like like “I elevated that team and city to new heights” and several third person references that flashed a “me” attitude more than anything else.

The big picture is a guy who spoke openly about family and loyalty for seven years chose others when it counted most.

We witnessed who LeBron James is. He is free to play wherever he wants to play, but to act like, there is nothing wrong with a self serving TV special under the guise of charity is wrong no matter how you look at it.

Again thanks for reading and responding. You obviously know your basketball!

Chris Schmidbauer
Sports Editor

The fact that Cleveland wasn’t willing to outbid other teams bidding for James’ attention is why Cleveland will never win a championship. For SEVEN YEARS the Cleveland management failed to give Mr. James a supporting team with which to bring Cleveland a championship. ONE PLAYER cannot win championships. Michael Jordan had Pippen [six years], Kukoc, Kerr, Rodman, Grant, Armstrong, Cartwright, King, Paxson, Purdue, Williams, Brown, Caffey, Harper, Longley, Buechler, Simpkins, Wennington ……. They were with him for three years. There were others with him for championships as well [two years or less].

Michael Jordan never, as your colleague put it, “Held the NBA hostage,” because he didn’t have to. The Chicago Bulls had a wise and successful management team that was willing to spend the money to put talented players on the court to support him, their star player. This is why the Bulls won SIX NBA championships with Jordan on the court.

The irrational, irresponsible and purely emotional statement you made regarding Mr. James “true colors” as he moves into the off season begs this reader to question your ability to judge character altogether for James is still a consummate team player as proven by his statistics.

One must also consider that James’ decision to move was not a hasty one; but, made after long and careful consideration of all factors and, quite possibly while waiting for “outraged” Cavs owner Dan Gilbert – who clearly dropped the proverbial ball – to make the winning offer.

James exhibited selflessness not only by staying in Cleveland for seven almost-not-quite seasons, but by sharing his life and being involved with or starting various foundations across the country such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, The LeBron James’ Family Foundation, et-al. If that is not selflessness, I don’t know what is, Mr. Schmidbauer.

It is always easy for someone like Dan Gilbert, who knows that he screwed up, to send a scathing letter and throw stones. It is also easy to be a sports writer and cast aspersions upon mega-talented individuals who make moves in the best interest of themselves and their families when it is clear that the management with whom they have been working will continue to fail.

My suggestion to you and all the indignant fans out there is to sit back and as yourselves if what LeBron James did was truly wrong. Then, ask yourselves if, as a potential Cleveland Cavalier player, you’d want to enter an atmosphere such as the one present in Ohio right now.

As a loyal fan, the twist of the knife in my back is EXCRUCIATING !!