TM
THE PORT AUTHORITY

LEBRON – IS HE, OR WAS HE EVER
by Tom Stroup - May 31, 2010
We love Lebron James as a Cavalier. He’s the best player in the game today, and someday will be in the discussion as the best player ever.He is unselfish, and makes everyone around him better. He is a class act on the court and off. He is one of us – a rare homegrown talent playing for his local team.
The overused quote of Richard Bach says, “If you love something, set it free; if it comes back it’s yours, if it doesn’t, it never was”. Who knew he was talking about Lebron?
While he is free to leave, Lebron’s best option is to stay at home, in
1. His work’s not done here. He rose to Kingdom on the expectation of his delivering the Cavaliers their first championship. That
2. Championships. The word is that Lebron’s decision will be based on where he has the best chance of winning multiple championships. Champions are built, not bought – see the NY Yankees and Washington Redskins. There is proof that the Cavaliers will assemble a team around him to accomplish that, and that proof has resulted in the league’s best record in each of the last two years. The Cavs free agent pickups and trades were being heralded leading into the
3. Money. By NBA rule the Cavs can pay Lebron $30M more than any other team. As for endorsements, Lebron’s deals are already national; they’re not for the West Side Market or Brook Park Chevrolet. According to Forbes most recent annual rankings of athlete compensation – including salary, winnings and endorsement - Lebron is tied for #6. The rank and earnings of Lebron and those above him:
It could be argued that everyone above Lebron on that list is slipping, while Lebron is entering his prime earning period. The difference between what the Cavs can pay in salary versus anyone else will alone move him up the list.
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Despite these reasons for staying in
Some of the luster may have already worn off the King’s crown due to his playing out the drama of the decision – one that he has undoubtedly already determined. That routine was fine during the season; it would be fine if its purpose was to play the negotiating game to his greatest favor. But the season is over, and there is no negotiating game. The numbers are set, dictated by league rule.
Cleveland is a final destination; it is not a stepping stone. Clevelanders are a loyal bunch and they expect the same in return. Jim Brown is wrong in his assessment that the fans have under-appreciated Lebron James.
Now Lebron’s free, and its time to renew the vows. The Cavs and Cleveland’s fans have expressed themselves; now the ball is in the King’s court – to see if he is really ours, or if he ever was.
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NO BROWN OUT FOR ME
LET'S SEND A DIFFERENT MESSAGE
by Tom Stroup
Dawg Pound Mike’s heart is in the right place – he is one of many that want a return to the proud and glorious days of the Cleveland Browns that many of us remember. His head is in the right place too – that it is time for the fans to send a message of their dissatisfaction to the Browns most senior management.
Unfortunately, the tactics Dawg Pound Mike proposes for sending that message – an empty stadium for the kickoff of a Monday night, nationally televised contest – are all wrong.
A Monday night game is an opportunity for a city to put on its best face – to light up the town. What should
So what’s to encourage? There’s a 50/50 chance that the opening kickoff on that Monday night will be being returned by Josh Cribbs. I’ll root for the effort and the outcomes of Josh Cribbs. I don’t want to be standing in the concourse while Josh Cribbs returns an opening kickoff in a Monday night game against the ratbirds. Josh Cribbs is a great representative of the proud and glorious days of the Cleveland Browns.
What message would we be sending the Browns anyway, as we help give
THE ALTERNATIVE
So how do we send a message? How about not buying anything? Anything. Eat and drink before you come. No beer – they’re going to stop selling at halftime anyway. Nothing in the team shop. Nothing to eat. Nothing to drink, unless water if needed. The truth is, that will send a louder signal to the Browns, because they are a business, and one that already has your ticket money whether you’re in your seat or not. It is the loudest message that could be sent to the Browns business trust, and yet is one that is silent in terms of the national media and how
On Monday night the game is going to play out as it will. It’s going to be on national display, along with the fans reaction to it. We have a say in part of that script, and in what the national audience thinks of