Tag: Dan Gilbert (Page 3 of 4)

      Stay classy, Dan Gilbert

      July 9, 2010 /

      If, by now, you haven’t read owner Dan Gilbert’s scathing open letter to Cavs fans, do so now.

      Done? Wow, right?

      Our esteemed publisher, Gerardo Orlando, a proud Cavs fan, wrote that it’s this kind of dedication that makes Gilbert so loved in Cleveland.

      I know emotions were running high last night, but this letter doesn’t make Gilbert look very good to the objective eye. Here’s why:

      1. It’s hypocritical. Gilbert blasts LeBron for his “several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up” but would have been elated had LeBron announced he was going to stay in Cleveland. Elated. Gilbert also told the AP that he thought LeBron “quit” in the playoffs against Boston and Orlando. Again, these claws are only out because LeBron spurned the Cavs. Gilbert doesn’t make these accusations until after LeBron decides to leave, and his previous silence on the matter only served to enable LeBron’s childish behavior.

      Continue reading »

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

      Cavs owner Dan Gilbert rips LeBron James in scathing letter

      July 8, 2010 /

      Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James reacts to a play against the Boston Celtics during the fourth quarter in Game 6 of their NBA Eastern Conference playoff basketball series in Boston, Massachusetts May 13, 2010. REUTERS/Adam Hunger (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

      You have to read it to believe it, but Dan Gilbert held nothing back in an open letter to fans posted on Cavs.com.

      He said that LeBron “deserted” Cavs fans with a “several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up.”

      He said Cavs fans “simply don’t deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.”

      Then he said this:

      “I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE”

      Wow.

      There’s much more – read the whole thing.

      This is why Cavs fans love Dan Gilbert. It’s hard to imagine the Cavs making a quick comeback, but having a dedicated owner willing to spend millions of dollars is critical to success in the NBA.

      Finally, Gilbert also said this:

      “There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.”

      I suspect we’re going to be hearing a little more about LeBron’s game 5 meltdown and the circumstances surrounding it. We should expect nothing less after reading this letter. Stay tuned . . .

      UPDATE: Gilbert just told the AP that James “quit” on the Cavs during the Celtics series. Ouch! He goes on to say that “people have covered up for (James) for way too long. Tonight we saw who he really is.” Like I said, expect much more . . .

      External Sports, NBA

      Source: Cavs make offer to Izzo

      June 7, 2010 /

      The News-Herald reports that Dan Gilbert has his eye on Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, and has already made him an offer.

      According to a league source, they are centering their efforts on bringing in Michigan State coach Tom Izzo.

      In fact, they’ve already made him an offer to be their coach, the source said.

      Izzo makes $3 million a year at Michigan State, so it would take a big offer to get him to leave, especially considering that he might be coaching a Cavs team that is without LeBron James.

      Even if the Cavs doubled his salary, would Izzo want to leave East Lansing to try to coax 40 wins out of Mo Williams, Delonte West and Antawn Jamison?


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

      What LeBron really meant in his first post-playoff interview

      June 8, 2009 /

      Back in the good ol’ days, athletes used to speak their mind when someone put a microphone in front of them. Players would get into trouble for the things they said, so as time goes on, they’ve become more and more careful about not offending anyone. Some guys even hire publicists to teach them how to interact with the media. This has led to virtually all player/reporter interactions to be completely sanitized of any possibly controversial material.

      As a former college player, I’ve been interviewed by a few reporters in my day, and watching one of the best (Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan), I learned how to sound like I was saying something when I was actually saying nothing. I did it out of pure fear — I didn’t want Bo waking up the next day to see that his small forward had said something stupid or controversial to a reporter.

      While listening to LeBron’s first post-playoff interview the other day [video], it occurred to me that he was talking a lot, but wasn’t actually saying much of anything. There were a lot of platitudes — he needed to get better over the summer, that he loves playing in Cleveland, etc. — but the interview was seemingly absent of honest opinion or revelation.

      So here is LeBron’s transcribed interview, along with my translation of what he really said when he wasn’t saying anything…

      Continue reading »

      Humor, NBA

      Dan Gilbert still has head stuck in the sand

      December 2, 2008 /

      Cavs’ owner Dan Gilbert had this to say about all of the LeBron-to-the-Knicks talk in recent days.

      “This is not LeBron James saying this stuff, this is just a media phenomenon here that will pass in time,” Gilbert said while appearing on “CNBC Reports.”

      “We’re focused on this year and you know what, so is he, and he’s focused on this year and next year and hopefully a long career in Cleveland, Ohio. We believe that and we think we have a great situation here and we’re off to a great start.”

      There’s nothing wrong with the second part, but if Gilbert doesn’t think that his star player is fueling a lot of this speculation, then he better open his eyes.

      In fact, Charles Barkley thinks that LeBron is saying too much.

      “If I was LeBron James, I would shut the hell up,” Barkley said in the Wednesday interview. “I’m a big LeBron fan. He’s a stud. You gotta give him his props. I’m getting so annoyed he’s talking about what he’s going to do in two years. I think it’s disrespectful to the game. I think it’s disrespectful to the Cavaliers.”

      LeBron responded like any fifth-grader would…

      “He’s stupid. That’s all I’ve got to say about that,” James said Friday night before the Cavaliers’ game against Golden State.

      But back to Gilbert, who two months ago said that the media was to blame for the LeBron speculation, which was an insult to the city of Cleveland.

      I asked this question before and I’ll ask it again…

      Which is a bigger insult to Cleveland — speculating about a possible LeBron departure or pretending that it won’t happen?

      If Gilbert wants this talk to go away, he needs to rein in LeBron, who has given several interviews on the topic, saying that July 1st, 2010 “is going to be a big day.” Gilbert needs to get LeBron to tell the press that he’s not going to comment on his future and that he won’t field any questions about the summer of 2010.

      The so-called “bored sportswriters” are going to keep speculating, but at least LeBron won’t be adding fuel to the fire.

      NBA, Rumors & Gossip

      « Older posts Newer posts »

      © 2026 The Scores Report – The National Sports Blog

      Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑