whitesoxfan101

QUOTE (T R U @ Jul 9, 2010 -> 01:56 PM) Billion dollar companies with enormous fan bases across the world? Haha. Actually to be fair, the NBA is worse than wrestling. At least wrestling doesn't pretend it's not fake and setup beforehand.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 9, 2010 -> 01:51 PM) of course you do. It's like participating in a thread about the hottest girl in the world, and you're married to Marissa Miller. The Heat are going to be just like the San Francisco Giants were during the later Bonds years, except instead of Bonds being the one hated at an epic level, it'll be the entire team (led by LeBron of course). Outside of South Florida and a few scattered fans in other areas, absolutely everybody will hate this team. They've managed to make Kobe Bryant and the LA Lakers into knights in shining armor for crying out loud.

I believe the whole thing last night was actually Jim Gray's idea. I still say shame on LeBron and ESPN for doing it though. I also find it fitting that the show was aired live from the same city that Vince McMahon's giant mansion is in, because the NBA and wrestling have an awful lot in common.

I find it AMAZING that LeBron managed to win 66 and 61 games the last two years in Cleveland even with "no help" as so many people like to put it. Well, if the LeBron nut lickers who say that are right, the Heat should have a win total in the low to mid 70's every year he's there, and they should win the NBA Championship every year. Good luck with that!

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jul 9, 2010 -> 12:37 AM) Hes just a 25 year old kid who just doesnt understand exactly what this decision is going to do for his image or his life. He was loyal to his friends but I doubt he had any real advisor who was telling him how this might all go down and public perception. I forget how young he is. I think he just was frustrated and got swept up in Wade's pitch. I think in the future he may have made a difference decision. It's certainly possible you are right here. This is why you need to surround yourself with good people though, and it apperas he hasn't. His image, both as a person and basketball player, is irreperably and eternally damaged, and he can NEVER go back to Cleveland or Akron. Ever. I'm not sure he realized such consequences awaited a decision like this, even though he should have.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 11:20 PM) Considering there were a ton of people who thought his ego was too big to go to Miami maybe LeBron isn't who we thought he was. Exactly. We thought he was this cocky egomaniac all along. Turns out, he's an insecure coward.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 10:55 PM) Sure you can... LeBron dropped a deuce on Cleveland and made it a point to do so on national TV. Leaving in free agency is one thing, LeBron took it to new levels. I thought it was a little over the top. The Cavs fans will LOVE him for it though, so he's going to get good PR for it.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 10:44 PM) You know what's really exciting about this Gibert thing? Things are going to start leaking like a motherf***er from over there. I expect confirmation of the West-Gloria James thing in a week. Oh yeah, and i'm looking forward to it. QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 10:43 PM) All things said, I love how this is blowing up in LeBron's face. Tons of articles in the media bashing him already. Yep, and you knew it was coming if he went down there. I wonder if he knew how bad this would make him look?

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 10:42 PM) wow, not only did he lose his franchise tonight, but he lost his dignity Yeah, the owner can't say that. LeBron has no dignity left, but you can't counter it like that.

For the record, had the big three come to Chicago, LeBron would still be a coward admitting he's not what everybody thought he was the last 7 years. We'd obviously learn to deal with it since it'd be a good deal for the Bulls, but it wouldn't change what he is. I can't say I'd be sitting here ripping on him, but I certainly wouldn't be defending him as some sort of great team player. LeBron admitted that he wants to play the role of Scottie Pippen tonight. That's nice, but it's not a guy in the discussion of all time greatest.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 10:29 PM) Is that Gilbert letter real? Yep. And he's got a point.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 03:34 PM) When will this team beat a real AL team??! I'm more concerned with the bad AL teams right now between Kansas City and especially Cleveland. Need to have a good weekend.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 03:14 PM) well Minnesota and Tigers have flaws too. Oh absolutely. I'd be getting awfully close to declaring us the favorites in this thing if Peavy hadn't had a muscle fall off the other day.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 03:10 PM) It's weird, because they are so flawed. But they just keep winning. Yep, that's why I'm not going to make any "for real" declarations. But I'm not making the mistake of burying this team either at any point again because they are capable of running off a streak at any time with this pitching, even with the sketchy offense and Peavy out. It'd still be nice to acquire a bat though.

QUOTE (JohnCangelosi @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 03:06 PM) Who would have ever bet on that in the first week of June, LOL I don't think the very small minority of people who even in early June thought this team had a run in them thought it could come this fast. They are on just on fire, this pitching staff has been ridiculous.

Still in 2nd, and 1/2 game out of first. Need to beat on the Royals (for once) like we should do this weekend and head into the all star break strong, and perhaps in first place.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 02:58 PM) He didn't stop. Rather, he got it. He got it. What a performance by Danks. Covers for the offense and gives the bullpen a day off in one fell swoop.

QUOTE (Palehosefan @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 02:49 PM) Might be only a 3 year deal for LeBron. That would be interesting. That'd be kind of strange. Go for the ring grab at 25? Usually guys do that much later on.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 02:46 PM) Hah...as much as Chicagoans can be meatheads, New Yorkers can be such assholes. I agree with their point that he's taking the easy way out if he goes to Miami. Although I don't mean that as a i'm mad he's not coming to Chicago point, or think he's a wimp not going to New York point, I mean it more as a general point.

If New York is out, I'm saying Cleveland is a slight favorite over Miami now.

Does that mean the Bulls have more, less, or the same cap room than they would if they just signed him?

As much as I ripped on the Bulls yesterday for the potential of coming up empty (when I wasn't thinking about the Miami scenario for LBJ), if he goes to the Heat, I don't think there is much they could have done to stop it. Or anybody else for that matter.

Ahh I must have missed the appearance of the videos. Or I am so tired of all of this s*** that I just forgot about it.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 02:19 PM) I just generally don't think the Sox should be looking to acquire a front line starting pitcher period, regardless of whether he is a show stopper or there are red flags that may indicate an injury. The marginal effect that adding a good starting pitcher would have to this team would be far less than the marginal effect of adding a huge bat. Danks, Floyd, Buehrle, Garcia, and Hudson make up more than a formidable rotation, but this lineup, while effective now, won't get it done in the long run. Even with Peavy gone, we still have some of the best starting pitching in baseball (assuming Hudson can be adequate, and I think he can). Adding a bat to a mediocre lineup everyday means a lot more than an starting pitcher for 14 or 15 starts.

I'm a little surprised neither of the hastily made Cleveland tourism videos have made an appearance in this thread.