Understanding LeBron's decision.

[Bandwagon Fan]

People arent going to hate him. Except for maybe 'the decision'.

But his legacy is always going to be criticized. It doesnt matter why he did it, the fact that he did will always make him 2nd banana to other greats.

[Basketballgirl25]

What's so difficult to understand?..

He joined the Heat because it gives him the best chance to win multiple les..winning should be the only concern for any athlete in pro sports..

He did it on National TV, because it generated 6+ million $ to various charities..

I used to be a big fan of your posting Basketballgirl25, but your Lebron hatred has brought out the worst in you TBH, it's too much..

ok great, so you hate me over the internet, haha big deal not the end of the world lol. How can you hate me for saying what I thinking. I understand why Lebron went to Heat, do I like the Heat(no, never have since 2005) do I like Lebron wasn't a big fan of his before just if he beat a team I hated, do I like the way he said where he was going on national tv(no,but peopler can disagree with that)

[Baseline]

Watch "More than a Game" (2008)

http://megavideo.com/?v=POGCA212

Do entary about LeBron James and his group of friends, playing basketball from youth leagues, to high school.

LeBron already made a decision like the one he made on July 8th.

When LeBron and his friends chose to go to St Vincent high school, the black community criticized him. Apparently, Dru Joyce, the 5'2 PG, was part of the group of friends, but the only school that would give him a shot to play was St. Vincent's high school.

So LeBron chose to go play at St. Vincent's to keep the core of friends together, even though the school was a "white people school".... the black community and the black high school area called him a sell out and all those things.

In time, LeBron's decision will finally sink in with people. What he did was a great thing that you should celebrate.


/inb4 flames.

I totally agree. I really don't understand why this is such a bad thing. As I've said before, it's simply three dudes deciding that want to play together.

And secondly, if the League will allow trades like Kwame Brown for Pau Gasol, then players need to take matters into their own hands. I applaud Wade and James for doing this. I personally think Bosh is overrated and is nowhere near the players Wade and James are, but he's certainly a capable big.

[DPG21920]

The reference seems to be more in line with him being ostracized for what he did in high school only for it to turn out to be a good decision.

He is predicting the same thing for the Heat.

I have a question: If Lebron would not have gone on TV to do the special, would people still hate on him for taking less money to win les?

[Shane27]

i think they still would hate him, but everyone on here is going to say no.

[JamStone]

The reference seems to be more in line with him being ostracized for what he did in high school only for it to turn out to be a good decision.

He is predicting the same thing for the Heat.

I have a question: If Lebron would not have gone on TV to do the special, would people still hate on him for taking less money to win les?

Outside of Ohio, not nearly as many. I think there still would be some criticism, the type that has called him a coward for taking an easy way out to winning championships instead of taking on the challenge to lead his own team where he's the undisputed leader of the team. That criticism would still be there. But I think fewer people would be on him if he didn't take the route he did.

And this has been discussed a little bit, but let's be clear about him "taking less money." What he and Bosh are making is roughly the equivalent to what they would have made in New York when you take into account the no state tax thing. Moreover, once LeBron establishes his residence in Miami, there will be no state tax on all of the endorsement revenue he makes. He's actually saving money, and in reality "making more" with that salary because of that, especially over the course of the 5-6 year contract.

[John HollinPER]

During my statistical analysis, I did not see any relatively high kurtosis in regards to the James Doppler Effect of MVPS+HYPE =/= RINGS simulation theory.

[MiamiHeat]

The reference seems to be more in line with him being ostracized for what he did in high school only for it to turn out to be a good decision.

He is predicting the same thing for the Heat.

I have a question: If Lebron would not have gone on TV to do the special, would people still hate on him for taking less money to win les?

You nailed it. "The Decision" was a disaster and the main reason why people got turned off by him. It was bad enough with the picture taking and the dancing during games.....

[MiamiHeat]

And this has been discussed a little bit, but let's be clear about him "taking less money." What he and Bosh are making is roughly the equivalent to what they would have made in New York when you take into account the no state tax thing. Moreover, once LeBron establishes his residence in Miami, there will be no state tax on all of the endorsement revenue he makes. He's actually saving money, and in reality "making more" with that salary because of that, especially over the course of the 5-6 year contract.

While that may be true, he still took less money.

You cannot go around it.

If he had signed a maxed out deal in Florida, he would have the extra money + no state tax savings in Florida.

You can try and rationalize it, but he left money on the table. He could have that + no state tax.

[Red Hawk #21]

The reference seems to be more in line with him being ostracized for what he did in high school only for it to turn out to be a good decision.

He is predicting the same thing for the Heat.

I have a question: If Lebron would not have gone on TV to do the special, would people still hate on him for taking less money to win les?

I think many people feel the way I do about the situation. Lebron James made his decision to play with his buddies years ago. If he already decided this, was it really right for him to give so many other teams in the league false hope that they could get him? He's a phenomenal player that everyone would love to have. But I get the feeling that Lebron really just loved the attention he got from the entire situation. He loved the fact that teams were begging him to come play for them, he loved that fans all over were hoping and wishing for him, and he loved that other superstars were also trying to recruit him for their teams. Lebron James is an attention . That is all.

[Sisk]

Great post..

It annoys me to see that it's so difficult for people to understand how Lebron works..he puts his friends and the kids/charity first, which is evident from his actions over his career IMO..

[JamStone]

While that may be true, he still took less money.

You cannot go around it.

If he had signed a maxed out deal in Florida, he would have the extra money + no state tax savings in Florida.

You can try and rationalize it, but he left money on the table. He could have that + no state tax.

Say you buy a TV on sale for $500.

I buy that same TV for $600 with a $100 mail-in rebate.

I technically paid more. But in reality we paid the same price.

Same thing. Yes, LeBron took less than he could possibly have made in Florida. But he's going to be making basically the same salary he would have made had he taken a max deal in New York.

You cannot go around that.

[MiamiHeat]

Yes, LeBron took less than he could possibly have made in Florida.

Good, you know it.

Everything else is just mental masturbation.

[Basketballgirl25]

The reference seems to be more in line with him being ostracized for what he did in high school only for it to turn out to be a good decision.

He is predicting the same thing for the Heat.

I have a question: If Lebron would not have gone on TV to do the special, would people still hate on him for taking less money to win les?

Cleveland fans would still hate him even if he didn't go on tv and say it and Knick fans might, but other people wouldn't, IMO

[JamStone]

Good, you know it.

Everything else is just mental masturbation.

It's nonsensical to think that no state tax didn't play in a role of not only LeBron signing with Miami but also a role in he and Bosh and Wade taking less than the max. To dismiss that as a factor is ignorant.

[MiamiHeat]

It's nonsensical to think that no state tax didn't play in a role of not only LeBron signing with Miami but also a role in he and Bosh and Wade taking less than the max. To dismiss that as a factor is ignorant.

You brought up the whole thing. Every time someone says LeBron took less money, you try and rationalize somehow that he didn't, or that he's making the same because of Florida's tax situation.

Doesn't change the fact that LeBron took less money.

[MiamiHeat]

Cleveland fans would still hate him even if he didn't go on tv and say it and Knick fans might, but other people wouldn't, IMO

Yup, as I said before, Maverick Carter might get fired one day. "The Decision" was a terrible idea.

Not even Brett Favre goes that far.

[HarlemHeat37]

The Rapist taking 30 million a year..

[JamStone]

You brought up the whole thing. Every time someone says LeBron took less money, you try and rationalize somehow that he didn't, or that he's making the same because of Florida's tax situation.

Doesn't change the fact that LeBron took less money.

I was responding to someone saying he took less money.

And I didn't say LeBron didn't take less money. Didn't deny it.

What I did say was that because of Florida not having state tax, what he did end up taking as his contract was roughly the equivalent of what he would have made in New York. Moreover, that there was financial incentive in saving income from his endorsement deals.

None of that is refutable. And none of that was proving he didn't take less. It does, however, give perspective on what he was "leaving on the table" compared to the alternatives.

[milkshakeballa]

Watch "More than a Game" (2008)

http://megavideo.com/?v=POGCA212

Do entary about LeBron James and his group of friends, playing basketball from youth leagues, to high school.

LeBron already made a decision like the one he made on July 8th.

When LeBron and his friends chose to go to St Vincent high school, the black community criticized him. Apparently, Dru Joyce, the 5'2 PG, was part of the group of friends, but the only school that would give him a shot to play was St. Vincent's high school.

So LeBron chose to go play at St. Vincent's to keep the core of friends together, even though the school was a "white people school".... the black community and the black high school area called him a sell out and all those things.

In time, LeBron's decision will finally sink in with people. What he did was a great thing that you should celebrate.


/inb4 flames.

You really do not get it do you?

The reason why EVERYBODY except you, Harlem and about 5 other Heat fans are pissed off is not because James joined Miami...its HOW he did it.

How do you not understand this? And how does chosing a high school even compare to this free agent decision?

And Bron was the first one to join SVSM from his AAU team...and his friends followed him...not the other way around IIRC.

If Bron announced his decision on twitter or wasn't playing up his free agency from the day they got eliminated...there wouldn't be this reaction.

If NUMEROUS stories weren't coming out about how this has been planned for years...nobody would be this mad.

If Bron didn't QUIT on a championship favorite team...nobody would be acting like this.

Cept Cleveland.

[Jacob1983]

What if this whole thing was just a way so that Lebron, Bosh, and Wade could all be in some crazy, kinky, gay threesome? Just sayin'.

[Findog]

LeBron's ancillary income from endorsements don't get taxed in Florida either. He did not make a financial sacrifice to join the Heat, especially since he got the Cavs to cooperate on a S'n'T to get him that extra year.

If I were a Heat fan, I'd try to defend his decision on the grounds that he was going to get criticized and alienate fans no matter which team he chose, and by joining up with Wade and Bosh, he went to the best possible situation for winning les, which is what we supposedly ask our athletes to do, put winning first. Don't try and feed us this "He made a financial sacrifice" line, because that won't fly.

[florige]

Great post..

It annoys me to see that it's so difficult for people to understand how Lebron works..he puts his friends and the kids/charity first, which is evident from his actions over his career IMO..

I am still trying to understand his decision for quitting games 5 and 6 against Boston and then bolting for another team. Dude didnt even have the decency to issue an apology for that disgraceful performance.

[NASHville]

Lebron is a sell out but he is loaded so he don't care.

[NASHville]

I am still trying to understand his decision for quitting games 5 and 6 against Boston and then bolting for another team. Dude didnt even have the decency to issue an apology for that disgraceful performance.

The only charity Lebron cares about is his own ego. Did it for the kids my ass.