DrunkBomber

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 09:00 PM) What we found out is Lebron isnt Jay-Z, he isnt Kobe, isnt Shaq, he isnt Magic or Bird. Hell hes not even Isaih. Hes Kevin Garnett. How quickly the mighty fall. Ive been throwing that analogy around a lot lately also. However, give KG a little more credit. He rode it out in Minny as long as he could and tried everything to win there until he was traded. He didnt form his big three until he had been in the league for like 12 years.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 07:59 PM) Why should you ever watch that garbage? Pat Riley is watching it because he is scouting Zac Efron to play point guard if they sign LeBron

QUOTE (beckham15 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 07:57 PM) lebron wearing a red and white checkered shirt...hmmm miami? chicago? nm, misread how you meant that

King Wade, Prince James and Queen Bosh

Brett Favre has to be so relieved this is almost over with.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 07:34 PM) So comical that anyone believed LBJ, the KING, the f***ing pariah, the god damn guy who has the balls to go on ESPN for a 1 hour special to announce what team he is signing with... would go to Wade-County and lap up D-Wade's baby juice. 100% agree. On one side you got a guy with a 1 hour infomercial and on the other side you have a guy wearing Miami Wade County all over the place.

QUOTE (G&T @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 07:32 PM) Yes it could make sense. The ad could have said something about the Bosh and Wade deals that wasn't going to be accurate by tomorrow morning. I dont think the AD was mentioning numbers but more of a welcome to Miami to the three. Saying you pulled it because Wade and Bosh havent signed is funny considering LeBron hasnt even announced hes going to Miami yet.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 07:30 PM) that makes no sense. Seriously. Thats one of the funnier quotes Ive heard in a while.

Im amazed people would hand the Heat the east before they see the final roster. Granted they dont have much time left but the Celtics are a very good team and they actually would match up with Miami very tightly. The Heat still dont have a big body and Bosh wont be able to handle KG at the 4. Boston plays great d also and have an emerging star in Rondo. It seems great on paper now but you are playing with fire banking on 3 players to win you games on their own for an entire season. It takes one injury to devastate that team.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 06:12 PM) I think that is the mistake that you guys are making....thinking that LeBron is as sophisticated in making this decision as he is. There have been reports that some of the requests and questions he and his team of decision-makers have asked were ridiculous. I just think their egos are so big that they think no matter what they do, it will be the right decision. Well he hasnt done anything official yet but to me it seems so obvious what going to Miami would do to his legacy. I dont understand how a guy with an ego the size of his can go into this situation thinking its the right decision. Im assuming he is getting a lot of bad advice from people who dont care about a legacy. His cronies on Team LeBron wouldnt be affected by his legacy after he is retired. But they would be right there basking in what they consider easy rings in Miami soaking it up. He can piggy back other superstars in a few years if he cant win any rings on his own but if he signs with Miami he officially closes the window on being an all time great at the age of 25. The reason why people put up with this circus now is because for the past couple years weve been just waiting for him to be the next Michael Jordan, almost expecting him to become a legend, but if he goes to Miami he loses that luster. He will be known as the guy from Miami Thrice, not King James anymore. I dunno, maybe we can call him Prince James to King Wade and Queen Bosh. Even if they continue to win he will start to lose relevance and that unique anticipation surrounding him waiting for him to become a King will be gone forever.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 06:09 PM) I still think he's going to Mia, although NYK or Cle wouldn't shock me, but I agree, it makes little sense to me, he automatically took himself out of the running to be a legend like MJ, Magic, etc. by going to Miami Exactly. This guy has been hyped since Jr High and he has the chance to become an all time great but instead he would rather go to Wade County and attempt to take the easy way out. Just thinking about it makes me shake my head. A true great wouldnt want to take this route, they would want to make a name for them self and lead a team.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 06:01 PM) Steve9347 If leBron James leaves the Cleveland Cavaliers, it will be to sign with the Chicago Bulls. Book it. +1

QUOTE (MurcieOne @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 05:56 PM) I love hearing Dan Bernstein talk about the LeBron stuff. He is able to place everything in the proper perspective. LeBron to MIA makes everyone change their impression of him in someway. What he was saying today was exactly what I had been thinking the past few days. I will never understand it if he goes to Miami.

Can we get a chatroom going for this?

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 02:53 PM) He is taking the easy way out. But I doubt if they lose that that the blame will go on Riley or Wade or Bosh. If they lose, LeBron will be the first one blamed. Secondly, simply because you don't want to play or live in New York f***ing City does not mean you are afraid of anything. I hate when they say that s***. LeBron would not be the first one blamed in Miami. Thats Wade County and Pat Riley put the team together. Any of the other 3 teams and LeBron is first to get blamed. Thats the whole point, if they win championship(s) in Miami they are doing something Wade has already done with other players. Its Wades team. It almost seems impossible to me LeBron would put himself in a position like that.

Pretty dumb to take shots at LeBron before he announced where he was going. A few people still gave the Knicks a shot.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 02:23 PM) Drunkbomber, Were on the same page. I worry about what winning with the Knicks could do for his legacy, or being the guy who built the Brooklyn Roc's (I assume they wont be Nets, so im just pretending Jay-Z will name the team after his own label) or the guy who won more rings than Jordan in Chicago. What could he do in Miami that wouldnt be seen as "Lebron/Wade/Bosh" the Three Amigos? Ya the Knicks worry me. They got Amare and have Curry coming off the books next year and two of his closer friends are Chris Paul and Carmello Anthony. We also know he likes NYC. However, as it stands, Chicago is the better option. The young stars at critical positions and addition of Boozer gives him the ridiculously rare opportunity to step into a team built to win now and assume the role of leader. Its also the team his hero growing up played for and its in a major market. The scenario Pax has set up was flawless IMO and is an ideal situation for anyone thinking logically.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 01:56 PM) I do what I want. If I refuse to give up the Lebronasty in Chicago, I refuse to give it up. I dont care what the reports say, I dont care who's "sources" have told them what. I just cant imagine Lebron giving up his dreams to be on Miami. Maybe he will, maybe Wade smooth talked him into believe that everyone will think Lebron is the greatest. Or that whats most important is a great team. But I just cant see it. I cant see a guy who wants to be MJ playing the role of the follower. Ask the question, What would Michael do? Would Jordan have left the Bulls to play for the Pistons if it meant he would have been guaranteed titles? Would he have played on Thomas's team? Would he have gone to LA to play with Magic and be on Magic's team? No, Michael wanted to be on Michael's team. And until proven otherwise I believe Lebron wants to be on Lebron's team. And that means he has to call the shots, and it means that if he was going to go to Miami, that he would have announced first. He would not have let Bosh/Wade steal his thunder. I could be 100% wrong, but I just dont see it. This is exactly how I feel about the situation. To me the rankings go Bulls, Knicks, Cavs, Heat. Thats the order of teams that give him the best shot at creating the legacy he wants to create. All this media bs is laughable and I find it funny ANYONE buys into it anymore. Its just team LeBron keeping people guessing. It seems most people have decided hes going to Miami and are ruling anything else out. Its really surprising to me because of how little sense it makes. For LeBron winning wont be good enough to be considered where he wants to be as a player, he needs to be the reason the team wins. There is no way anything is getting leaked before he announces it himself. He isnt going to go through all this tight lipped and then switch his llc mailing address to Chicago, fly to Miami or book hotel rooms there or have Chris Paul steal his thunder by becoming a client of Maverick Carter the day of the announcement because he is coming to Cleveland. Lets not leave the Knicks out, so he is allegedly holding the announcement 15 minutes from a Knicks training facility. Again, I may be dead wrong about him but I think its the Knicks or the Bulls and he is going to spend the last 45 minutes pleading with Cleveland to not make him a villain. Talking about how he owes it to himself to chase his dreams, and how hard this decision was. I considered he might sign a 3 year deal in Cleveland but then I couldnt imagine what the last 45 minutes of his show will be.

QUOTE (Palehosefan @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 08:52 AM) ESPN won't let one of their employees ruin their big moment. They even kicked all the other media out of LeBron's camp yesterday. Gotta love em. ESPN was the first to air Broussards news. If they were concerned about ruining the moment they wouldnt have scrolled LeBron to Miami on the bottom line from 2-6 am. If anything Id say its a huge tell he isnt going to Miami or it never would have been leaked. Also, anyone else think the last 45 minutes of the LeBron special will basically be a last ditch effort to repair his relationship with Cleveland for leaving them?

Why would ESPN scoop their own press conference by letting Broussard run with this if it was true? While theyre saying his source is credible, it definitely isnt LeBron himself or Maverick Carter. There have been smoke screens to keep interest from each of the potential fan bases and keep the hope alive in every city. Obviously none of us know what he is truly thinking but despite all the bs ESPN and the media is spewing there are really only 2 logical destinations that would satisfy the most obvious requirements for someone that has presented themselves the way LeBron has, New York and Chicago. At this point money isnt an issue, he is getting paid anywhere he goes and the endorsements will be there no matter where he plays. LeBron has done nothing to make me assume he can check his ego at the door and go play a role in Wade County. There is an ENORMOUS difference between accumulating rings with other superstars (one of which has won a championship in that city already) and going into a situation where its your team with the right mix of players around you that you can carry to a championship (IE Kobe the past 2 years). I think a lot of people are underestimating LeBrons opinion of himself. He is coming into his prime right now and isnt at the stage in his career where he needs to piggy back other superstars in a last attempt to get his ring (IE Kevin Garnett). He wants to go down as the GOAT and he simply cant do that from Miami, it simply would never happen. Multiple championships in New York or Chicago immediately gives him notoriety as an all time great. The reason I lump the Knicks with the Bulls is because they already have Stoudemire , they would more then likely add Mello, Chris Paul or Tony Parker. In Pauls/Mellos cases neither has a ring and they would be joining him in NY which is much different then joining Wade in Miami. The Bulls still make the most sense by far and should be his choice. I still think it will be but I guess we will find out tonight.

Until I see LeBron in a Wade County shirt I am sticking to him coming to Chicago.

Im on the same page with you for the most part. Bulls in a land slide. Its such a unique situation where he can come in and step right into a leadership role with two upcoming stars that are in their early 20s and still be "the man." Like you said every other situation has enormous red flags and Chicago almost makes too much sense. I might put the Knicks ahead of the Nets for the 2nd team because LeBron might have a more insider info on what someone like Mello may do and might be willing to wait 1 year to play for the team he had been pimping for 2 years. ESPN is leaking bs stories involving every city to maximize the buzz on the joke of a tv special. You really think if LeBron was going to Miami he would fly there the night before his big tv show? Or he would be switching his tax bills or whatever to a Chicago address. ESPN/LeBrons camp is leaking all this garbage. Lets see what he says at his extravaganza before we order our jerseys.

If LeBron goes to Miami and wins anything he will be perceived similar to a Kevin Garnett. Which is fine, HOF'er and great player, but is he one of the best players of all time? If he goes to Chicago and wins his supporting cast is more comparable to Kobes last 2 rings where he would be the only superstar on the team. Both could get you multiple rings, but one scenario makes you one of "the big three" and the other lands you in the discussion for the GOAT. Its amazing to me so many of you are overlooking the ego of LeBron and assume Miami makes sense. I might be wrong, but I dont expect LeBron to hold a press conference 2 days after Wade and Bosh announced their plans to say hes headed to "Wade County" Look how Kobe was talked about before his last 2 rings, he couldnt do it without Shaq. He knew he had to win not only one, but multiple rings without Shaq to solidify his place in NBA history. LeBron is a self proclaimed student of the game and has the option to either piggy back Wade County just to maximize his odds of winning no matter how its perceived or to go to Chicago and step in and lead the young upcoming stars to multiple playoff runs which also would create a Magic/Bird type rivalry with Wade and Bosh in Miami. I just dont see anything about LeBrons personality that would push him towards going to Miami. If he does, his legacy will take a hit.

LeBrons coming to the Bulls. You all will see.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 7, 2010 -> 06:14 PM) Cleveland is his home. He's not going to spurn Cleveland when he can make just as much or more money there than anywhere else. Money making potential? He's Tiger Woods pre scandal. He can make zillions anywhere. He's not going to leave Cleveland for New York. Chicago makes absolutely no sense. He'll be so hated. Chicago makes the most sense by far. As you said he can get rich anywhere. Im under the impression LeBron James considers himself to be in the discussion for best basketball player of all time when he retires. If he goes to Miami he will NEVER be in that conversation. Also, if he stays in Cleveland he will be lucky to win 1 championship with the way the east is shaping up.