Cavs owner losing touch with reality

[kevinmartin23]

Dan Gilbert went on CNBC and talked about how the LeBron Sweepstakes is a "media phenomenon" and how it will go away in time. Does he actually believe that? Has he completely lost it?

This is the biggest story in the NBA right now and one of the biggest in the world of sports. It's here to stay and even if it isn't, the media will make sure it finds it's way back into the public's consciousness.

http://davissportsdeli.com/wordpress/2008/12/02/cavs-owner-losing-touch-with-reality/

[gflem]

Is this really the biggest story in the NBA? I mean, dont the games, or even the next two seasons mean anything? WOW, some people will find anything to fault our owner, team, fans, or city for. Look, Gilbert is a multi millionaire if not a billionaire, and if he wants to say Lebron leaving is a non issue to him then I believe it is his right. Maybe he knows something the rest of us fans dont.

One thing he does know is that he can and WILL offer more $ than anyone else can under the NBA salary rules. He also has control of how this team is run, and that is what Lebron has said is most important to him. Gilbert will spare nothing to build a championship team, and he has said so repeatedly. So if Lebron is being honest about wanting to win multiple championships he has the right owner right here. And in case anyone isnt paying attention this team as it stands RIGHT NOW is a contender for the next two seasons.

So I think anyone who is waiting for 2010 or thinks it is the biggest story in 2008 is the delusional one.

[Gordon Bombay]

he's kind of right...its not really a hot-button issue at this point in time unless we are in the new york area - and then when we are in new york, espn will devote about three days worth of coverage to it

[sdmgm]

if anyone has lost touch with reality its NY. Thinking they will land 2 big FA's in 2010 with a team of scrubs and an all offense coach.
Reality check, NY your team is weak and that will probly continue for a long time.

[the edge]

How about we retitle this thread as, "uneducated NBA fan losing touch with reality!"

[Icness]

I think Dan Gilbert is 100% correct--it is a media phenomenon. There's really nothing else interesting about the NBA going on right now. Does anyone really care about Kobe scoring some obscure point plateau or Starbury's travails, or that TMac is injured once again? The Lakers and Celtics are good, blah blah blah. It's a pretty lame time for the NBA and their writers have to justify their paychecks on something, and all things Lebron clearly sells.

The one thing that fascinates me is that there are so many other top-flight free agents hitting the market that summer and you almost never hear any speculation about any of them going anywhere specific, yet so many people assume Lebron is going to New York and won't consider anywhere else. It's like Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh et al all don't even matter. By that rationale, shouldn't the Cavaliers be considered a real strong favorite to win the next 2 titles? Yet almost nobody who pegs him to NYC in 2010 gives the Cavs any chance of getting out of the 2nd round in the East this year. Simply baffling

[INKtastic]

as of last night, we are favorites to win the title, at least according to this projection

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/playoffodds

People that want LeBron to leave don't want to say we're going to win titles because they know that winning titles only makes him more likely to stay.

[LBJ]

That's actually a good point. Cuz if they say LeBron's staying in Cleveland, it would be much less interesting than him bolting for NY since it's the media center of the league. As a basketball fan, I'm actually disappointed that even though we're at the BEGINNING of the 08-09 season and people have already began talking about 2010. I blame the media. Hello, there are still 2 championships decided between then and now. Let's focus on the here and now, not whatever happends in 2 years.... It might be a very entertaining off season, but there's just as good a chance that nothing happens!!.

[No Offense]

So the NYC media isn't asking completely loaded questions like "what's your favorite burrough?"

Trust me, if you were Dan Gilbert and you invested all of that money in a franchise and had nothing but love for the midwest, you would also have some things to say. The NYC media has gotten pretty out of control with their lust after LBJ, and Gilbert is just reacting.

[realfung]

I am kinda boring about this media thing about 2010.
I think people are getting boring too/

[heathmalc]

What Gilbert said made perfect sense. Losing touch with reality? How, because he said it was a media phenomenon? It is. If not for the media, it wouldn't even be discussed.

LeBron will be staying in Cleveland as the 2-time defending NBA Champion... well on his way to 10 NBA titles.