Bitter Wine and Gold

Even though this is a Browns blog, the subject needed to be addressed. As just about everyone on the planet knows, LeBron James made his big announcement yesterday that he is going to the Miami Heat. This whole thing has been a three-ring circus, with the people of Cleveland being the clowns...and we didn't even know it.

First off, let me say that I don't have a problem with any player deciding to switch teams. That is their right, and this is not the first time a sports star has done it. My problem is with the way LeBron conducted himself during this whole deal. I saw an article today likening this to LBJ being The Bachelor, and all of the cities in the running wondering which one of them would get the final rose. That pretty much describes this scene. He kept stringing everyone along in several cities, not just the team officials but the people who live in each of these cities. Sure, there are bound to be negotiations in this kind of deal, but this was carried so far out that it's sickening.

Even his Twitter name, King James, lets you know that he believes the world revolves around him. (I'm not following him...but I am following the account called LeBron James' Ego...it's a riot...check it out!) I don't blame Dan Gilbert for writing that open letter. He had the right to say every single word in it. I'm not for burning jerseys, but LeBron should still get to hear the displeasure and disappointment we have with him. He put down his hometown on national television, and made it sound like he was the only good thing about our city. We all know this is not the case, but it stings just the same. He is just as much of a coward as Art Modell, moving the Browns out of town in the middle of the night. LeBron went to Connecticut to make his announcement, so he would not have to face the people of Cleveland. He didn't even have the decency to tell the Cavs of his decision first...a common courtesy that most players give their old teams. I think that bothered the Cavs organization more than anything, and I know it bothers me.

So the Court Jester masquerading as King is packing up his circus tent and moving to another town. Congratulations to the people of Miami, and I hope they know that we are not mad at them. We are angry about the way No. 23 handled all of this...and I pray that he doesn't treat Miami as badly as he treated us. If you can't be kind to your own hometown, there's no telling what you can do to someone else. As for Cleveland, we will survive just like we always do, and find another way to shine. God bless the Cavs and the city of Cleveland!