Parsing Dan Gilbert’s Mr. James Letter

Open Letter to Fans from Cavaliers Majority Owner Dan Gilbert


Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;

As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening,
A jab at Mr. James, from the get go

is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.

This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.
He’s right. It was.

Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.

The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff
Don’t quit on us, we need the money.

over here at your hometown Cavaliers
Mr. James from Akron was not a hometown guy, but we are.

have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.
Mr. James is the bad guy in this, not us.

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.
Have no idea what he is talking about here. Lebron’s Posse, perhaps?

You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.
Not only was it betrayal, it was COWARDLY betrayal. Don’t know if anyone else was betrayed, but Mr. Gilbert feels he was betrayed. Guess he felt he deserved a phone call at 8:30 last night.

You have given so much and deserve so much more.
So don’t quit on us, we need the money.

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:

"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE"
What’s the plan here? Couldn’t win it with Mr. James, how you going to do this without him?

You can take it to the bank.
So keep coming to the games, buying season tickets, and buying merchandise, so I can take that $$$ to the bank, anyway

If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland,
He’s right here. Really thought they were doing whatever it takes

I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own
Just wanted to make sure you knew how selfish Mr. James is and how betrayed I feel.

has shifted our "motivation" to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.
Okay, now this is personal

Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.
Is South Beach heaven? Not sure what he is talking about here?

Sorry, but that's simply not how it works.
What works? You have to die to go to heaven?

This shocking act of disloyalty
I think this is the crux of the matter. There is no loyalty anymore. We coddled this guy and gave him everything, you would expect some loyalty, but all he did was draw his paycheck and perks.

from our home grown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow-up to become.
This is one generation talking about another generation. This is a sad lesson that this generation is the “me first” generation, something most of us knew all along and Mr. Gilbert might have just learned.

But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called "curse" on Cleveland, Ohio.
Well, why not? I already guaranteed a championship before he does, might as well go all the way.

The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south.
Has Mr. Gilbert put a curse on Mr. James or is this wishful thinking? Either way, guy’s really angry at him.

And until he does "right" by Cleveland and Ohio,
You mean until he comes crawling back into Cleveland and Ohio on his hands and knees for you to lift the curse?

James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.
I don’t know if this spell is the so-called Curse of Rocky Colavito, but I do know that what comes around goes around.

Just watch.
And keep coming to the games and buying our merchandise, we need the money.

Sleep well, Cleveland.
And you Mr. Gilbert.

Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day....
Actually, the day started off cloudy and raining on the shores of Lake Erie and it still is as of this writing. So much for optimism, but nice try.

I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:
Here’s the big finish.

DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue....
Long deserved – like anyone is owed a championship, yeah right.



Dan Gilbert
Majority Owner
Cleveland Cavaliers

Actually, to be fair, I think this is a good public relations strategy as Mr. Gilbert has now become the Face of the Cleveland Cavaliers, not a position an owner should be in.