Lebron to pick Miami Heat.

[JamStone]

Jam, don't complain about shaking hands. Your bad boys tried to get away before the game ended.

I'm not complaining about it.

And Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer were two of the biggest assholes in their playing days. And walking off before the game ended and not shaking hands with the Bulls was a major move. What's your point?

People haven't figured out by now that slamming the team I root for doesn't change my opinions? I'll be the first one to bash anything Detroit Pistons if it's deserved.

[024]

LeBron isn't an egomaniac.

It's not like he tattooed "Chosen One" on his back or something.

It's not like he is marketed like a divinity with a following of disciples and witnesses.

It's not like he had a shoe company come up with a different designed shoe for each of his possible suitors in free agency.

It's not like he's above shaking hands with the players of a team that beat him in a playoff series.

It's not like he had a free agency parade of pomp and cir stance culminating in an hour special on national TV that is getting hype that rivals the arrival of the Beatles to the United States.

LeBron isn't an egomaniac. It's not like he's self-absorbed or anything.

none of the things listed have to do with basketball actions. maybe the shaking hand part but i wouldn't want to shake hands after losing either. people to learn to separate lebron's marketing from lebron as a basketball player. i don't see how lebron having a hour program to benefit charity will affect him and his team or teammates, while kobe throwing bynum and shaq under the bus or publicly calling for a trade negatively affects the lakers. again, it's not like lebron publicly declared himself the best player in the world like pierce.

[redzero]

I'm not complaining about it.

And Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer were two of the biggest assholes in their playing days. And walking off before the game ended and not shaking hands with the Bulls was a major move. What's your point?

People haven't figured out by now that slamming the team I root for doesn't change my opinions? I'll be the first one to bash anything Detroit Pistons if it's deserved.

Yeah, but Laimbeer flopped so your post is invalid.

[Andrew Bynum]

. Proud to say me and miamiheat were here before all this was even possible .

Except you didn't start showing up again until your team had a chance to be good again.

[JamStone]

none of the things listed have to do with basketball actions. maybe the shaking hand part but i wouldn't want to shake hands after losing either. people to learn to separate lebron's marketing from lebron as a basketball player. i don't see how lebron having a hour program to benefit charity will affect him and his team or teammates, while kobe throwing bynum and shaq under the bus or publicly calling for a trade negatively affects the lakers. again, it's not like lebron publicly declared himself the best player in the world like pierce.

You initially said LeBron "isn't some crazy egomaniac. he wants to win. everything he does on and off the court paints him as an unselfish player who will do anything to win."

His actions off the court, which you included in your original comment, paint a very different picture than a purely "unselfish" player who only wants to win. He's basically said he's more concerned about making money. And this decision isn't just about what's involved "on the court."

His ego both on and off the court will dictate his decision. If he chooses to go to Miami, even with all these reports that that is where he is leaning, I'd still be shocked. I don't think he can do it. Every championship he wins, even if he's the top dog, it will still be one less than Wade.

He can prove me wrong. But I'd be stunned.

[kamikazi_player]

Once I read this thread, I thought of this song

[024]

You initially said LeBron "isn't some crazy egomaniac. he wants to win. everything he does on and off the court paints him as an unselfish player who will do anything to win."

His actions off the court, which you included in your original comment, paint a very different picture than a purely "unselfish" player who only wants to win. He's basically said he's more concerned about making money. And this decision isn't just about what's involved "on the court."

His ego both on and off the court will dictate his decision. If he chooses to go to Miami, even with all these reports that that is where he is leaning, I'd still be shocked. I don't think he can do it. Every championship he wins, even if he's the top dog, it will still be one less than Wade.

He can prove me wrong. But I'd be stunned.

again, people should learn to separate lebron's marketing and lebron as a basketball player. on and off the court pertains to basketball. lebron can't demand a trade in the middle of playing basketball. things like kobe going on the radio to demand a trade is an "off the court" action that's relevant to basketball. the things you listed had nothing to do with basketball. i could care less about his marketing, shoes, or tattoos as long as he continues to behave professionally in the world of basketball.

[JamStone]

How does "off the court" pertain to basketball? Or do you just not want to be wrong that badly?

How does this entire Disney princess free agency movie he's put on for his "decision" not pertain to basketball?

How does having a one hour special to announce his next "kingdom" not pertain to basketball?

I'm sure LeBron got that "Chosen One" tattoo in reference to how he's so great at skateboarding or ping pong, right?

You want on the court examples? How about that 50/10/9 game he had in Madison Square Garden after Kobe had just put up 60 there, and LeBron snatching the ball out of Ben Wallace's hands to get his "triple double?"

How about talking to Chris Bosh's girlfriend on the sidelines?

How about dancing ON THE COURT while he's not even in the game WHILE the game is going on?

How about the powder toss?

How about fake photography?

Those things pertain to basketball? Those things not egomaniachal?

How about flirting with the New York media before and after games versus the Knicks?

No, not egotistical at all... in whatever universe you live in.

[sook]

How does "off the court" pertain to basketball? Or do you just not want to be wrong that badly?

How does this entire Disney princess free agency movie he's put on for his "decision" not pertain to basketball?

How does having a one hour special to announce his next "kingdom" not pertain to basketball?

I'm sure LeBron got that "Chosen One" tattoo in reference to how he's so great at skateboarding or ping pong, right?

You want on the court examples? How about that 50/10/9 game he had in Madison Square Garden after Kobe had just put up 60 there, and LeBron snatching the ball out of Ben Wallace's hands to get his "triple double?"

How about talking to Chris Bosh's girlfriend on the sidelines?

How about dancing ON THE COURT while he's not even in the game WHILE the game is going on?

How about the powder toss?

How about fake photography?

Those things pertain to basketball? Those things not egomaniachal?

How about flirting with the New York media before and after games versus the Knicks?

No, not egotistical at all... in whatever universe you live in.

Hit the nail on the head. If he does leave cleveland it is going to be one of the most classless things I have ever seen, considering they have had to worry about this bull for 2 yrs now with all the NY crap.

[Warlord23]

So I take it Antoine Walker and Gary Payton are available to lace 'em up and chase rings again? The Heat's championship aspirations will be determined by the quality of role players who are willing to give them a discount.

[Kevin Durant 35]

this jamstone real mad

[Giuseppe]

Grim news.

[Cane]

Kobe (rape settlement, breaking up Shaq/Phil Jackson, talking about leaving Lakers until the infamous Gasol trade, tendency to be a stat-padder that got called out on such by teammates even in 2010), Shaq (feud with Kobe, how does my ass taste, got lazy/fat, movie/TV star, always trying to use his "marketing skills" by being a loudmouth on camera, divorce), MJ (baseball, Wizards, Bobcats, divorce), LeBron (not shaking hands/being unsportsmanlike in the past, taking away that dunk vid from a NIKE camp, unparalleled media coverage, probably leaving Cavs in firesale mode) Allen Iverson (trials/controversies, talking about practice?!, Detroit/Memphis/2010 season) , KG (fist pumping, cheap-shotting, , left Twolves, annoying persona) , Barkley (loads of controversial incidents, consistent asshat whether its DUI's or just being stupid on TV), etc. all are attention s with incredible ego's especially when they were younger and it looks like these habits die hard since many will go through some kind of NBA-midlife crisis as well. Thats what likely happens when young people get a ton of media coverage.

But if LeBron takes less than max money then he joins the likes of Dirk, Duncan, etc of superstars that were willing to take on less $$$ to try and grab a championship which gets some props. If the ringless King joins Miami he joins a team, county, city, and franchise where Wade not only has the ring but is the real King and leaves his hometown empire behind.

By joining the Miami Thrice you're basically committing to a team oriented style of basketball ala Team USA since thats the only way I see it working. This could also have an extra benefit of extending all their careers as opposed to them having to carry an entire team on their back like they have been.

[FkLA]

Wont believe it till I see it.

Just seems like some bull ploy to try to get more viewers for tomorrow's ridiculous one-hour "special". No way this happens imo.

[ezau]

Hit the nail on the head. If he does leave cleveland it is going to be one of the most classless things I have ever seen, considering they have had to worry about this bull for 2 yrs now with all the NY crap.

It has nothing to do with being classless. If he wants to win and earn serious money for a long time, then leaving that hole is first priority

[Giuseppe]

It's no more a hole than San Antonio is.

[FkLA]

leaving your hometown team, especially a city like cleveland which is notorious for losing, out to dry like this would be classless... ing benedict arnoldish.

[FkLA]

It's no more a hole than San Antonio is.

take that back cully, take it back, you gullible child you.

[Giuseppe]

I've been to both cities. I know whence I speak.

[z0sa]

I've been to both cities. I know whence I speak.

Never to LA though

[Chieflion]

I've been to both cities. I know whence I speak.

Culby, your Phoenix Lakers have 16 rings. Never been to LA though.

[Giuseppe]

I went once to Disneyland and the old Forum in the nosebleeds, but, I didn't want to bring it up at the time......Will Hunting was gettin' his fit on, up 3-2 that-a-way.

tee, hee.

[InK]

Laker fan confused about what to think about this. Using arguments that they laughed at a week ago, acting bi polar, disorienteted. Good times.

Going to the Heat secures Lebron's legacy, whatever it might end up beeing. He has been in this league for half a decade, and has nothing to show for it except some regular season MVP's, that and a bucket of money. Going to Heat gets him the ship's, at least one (most likely a lot more then one). If he is about winning, then he takes the 500k paycut first year along with Bosh and Wade, and demolishes the league in the upcomming years.

In a leauge where teams like Celts and Lakers are so stacked, to the point where its literally impossible to build a team like that in a legit manner, what other real option does he have? To be a constant underdog against them, why do that, when you have a onetimeinalife chance to get on the same terms with those artificially constructed teams, teams which were given players for free?

Lebron did his best Jordan impression last few years and failed, time to try something new.

[024]

How does "off the court" pertain to basketball? Or do you just not want to be wrong that badly?

How does this entire Disney princess free agency movie he's put on for his "decision" not pertain to basketball?

How does having a one hour special to announce his next "kingdom" not pertain to basketball?

I'm sure LeBron got that "Chosen One" tattoo in reference to how he's so great at skateboarding or ping pong, right?

You want on the court examples? How about that 50/10/9 game he had in Madison Square Garden after Kobe had just put up 60 there, and LeBron snatching the ball out of Ben Wallace's hands to get his "triple double?"

How about talking to Chris Bosh's girlfriend on the sidelines?

How about dancing ON THE COURT while he's not even in the game WHILE the game is going on?

How about the powder toss?

How about fake photography?

Those things pertain to basketball? Those things not egomaniachal?

How about flirting with the New York media before and after games versus the Knicks?

No, not egotistical at all... in whatever universe you live in.

you get mad pretty easily. how has any of lebron's antics affected his play, his teammates, or team? answer is that it doesn't. these actions have nothing to do with basketball. i'm sure the powder toss negatively affects his teammates' play. he probably throws them into their eyes while they're warming up nearby. that tattoo he keeps under his jersey must make every teammate hate him. he and jameer nelson with his "all eyes on me" tattoo must be the two most hated players on their teams. his one hour special to benefit kids is definitely going to ruin team chemistry with his new team. he might as well ask for a trade because it's just as bad. as for the triple double thing, him allegedly trying to get a triple double must take away from the fact that he scored 50, got 10 assists, and 9 rebounds to beat down the knicks for the win. and oh no, lebron talks to the ny media someone should tell him he's only allowed to talk to the cavs media

don't hate lebron just because the media and fans, including you, give him so much positive and negative attention. should hate on him when he actually engages in talking in public like when the wizards did to him or when kobe told shaq to go suck it when he won his fifth ring or when he starts barking like a dog against smaller players like garnett. there are so many other players more worthy of your hate. lebron's marketing side is just business and does not affect his basketball play nor his teammates nor his team.

[Giuseppe]

Laker fan confused about what to think about this. Using arguments that they laughed at a week ago, acting bi polar, disorienteted. Good times.

Sayeth San Antonio Heat fandom.

tee, hee.