Lee Jenkins: LeBron James is returning to Cleveland

[RedOctober3829]

http://www.si.com/nba/2014/07/11/lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers

 

Before anyone ever cared where I would play basketball, I was a kid from Northeast Ohio. It’s where I walked. It’s where I ran. It’s where I cried. It’s where I bled. It holds a special place in my heart. People there have seen me grow up. I sometimes feel like I’m their son. Their passion can be overwhelming. But it drives me. I want to give them hope when I can. I want to inspire them when I can. My relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball. I didn’t realize that four years ago. I do now.
Remember when I was sitting up there at the Boys & Girls Club in 2010? I was thinking, This is really tough. I could feel it. I was leaving something I had spent a long time creating. If I had to do it all over again, I’d obviously do things differently, but I’d still have left. Miami, for me, has been almost like college for other kids. These past four years helped raise me into who I am. I became a better player and a better man. I learned from a franchise that had been where I wanted to go. I will always think of Miami as my second home. Without the experiences I had there, I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing today.
I went to Miami because of D-Wade and CB. We made sacrifices to keep UD. I loved becoming a big bro to Rio. I believed we could do something magical if we came together. And that’s exactly what we did! The hardest thing to leave is what I built with those guys. I’ve talked to some of them and will talk to others. Nothing will ever change what we accomplished. We are brothers for life.  I also want to thank Micky Arison and Pat Riley for giving me an amazing four years.
I’m doing this essay because I want an opportunity to explain myself uninterrupted. I don’t want anyone thinking: He and Erik Spoelstra didn’t get along. … He and Riles didn’t get along. … The Heat couldn’t put the right team together. That’s absolutely not true.
I’m not having a press conference or a party. After this, it’s time to get to work.
When I left Cleveland, I was on a mission. I was seeking championships, and we won two. But Miami already knew that feeling. Our city hasn’t had that feeling in a long, long, long time. My goal is still to win as many titles as possible, no question. But what’s most important for me is bringing one trophy back to Northeast Ohio.
I always believed that I’d return to Cleveland and finish my career there. I just didn’t know when. After the season, free agency wasn’t even a thought. But I have two boys and my wife, Savannah, is pregnant with a girl. I started thinking about what it would be like to raise my family in my hometown. I looked at other teams, but I wasn’t going to leave Miami for anywhere except Cleveland. The more time passed, the more it felt right. This is what makes me happy.
To make the move I needed the support of my wife and my mom, who can be very tough. The letter from Dan Gilbert, the booing of the Cleveland fans, the jerseys being burned -- seeing all that was hard for them. My emotions were more mixed. It was easy to say, “OK, I don’t want to deal with these people ever again.” But then you think about the other side. What if I were a kid who looked up to an athlete, and that athlete made me want to do better in my own life, and then he left? How would I react? I’ve met with Dan, face-to-face, man-to-man. We’ve talked it out. Everybody makes mistakes. I’ve made mistakes as well. Who am I to hold a grudge? 
I’m not promising a championship. I know how hard that is to deliver. We’re not ready right now. No way. Of course, I want to win next year, but I’m realistic. It will be a long process, much longer than it was in 2010. My patience will get tested. I know that. I’m going into a situation with a young team and a new coach. I will be the old head. But I get a thrill out of bringing a group together and helping them reach a place they didn’t know they could go. I see myself as a mentor now and I’m excited to lead some of these talented young guys. I think I can help Kyrie Irving become one of the best point guards in our league. I think I can help elevate Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters. And I can’t wait to reunite with Anderson Varejao, one of my favorite teammates.
But this is not about the roster or the organization. I feel my calling here goes above basketball. I have a responsibility to lead, in more ways than one, and I take that very seriously. My presence can make a difference in Miami, but I think it can mean more where I’m from. I want kids in Northeast Ohio, like the hundreds of Akron third-graders I sponsor through my foundation, to realize that there’s no better place to grow up. Maybe some of them will come home after college and start a family or open a business. That would make me smile. Our community, which has struggled so much, needs all the talent it can get.
In Northeast Ohio, nothing is given. Everything is earned. You work for what you have.
I’m ready to accept the challenge. I’m coming home.
 

 

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

He's a hero

 

[riboflav]

espn doesn't have it so I don't believe you.

 

[DJnVa]

Yay.

 

[seageral]

love that he broke it on SI.

 

[bbc23]

Fuck, hated the Heat fans but at least there was always a clear time limit to success there.  That Cleveland potential is near limitless.  

 

[DannyDarwinism]

Ain't gonna lie, I'm excited.  Love the statement.  

 

[LuckyBen]

I feel for all of the heat fans who stuck with the team for four long years.

 

[ifmanis5]

Sports Illustrated is still a thing?

 

[DukeSox]

Guy's got a flair

 

[saintnick912]

 

[Clears Cleaver]

no mention of Wiggins in that...
 
seriously, good for him. good for the nba. bad for Riley. and Wade. and Shabazz (damn)

 

[Cellar-Door]

Fuck, hated the Heat fans but at least there was always a clear time limit to success there.  That Cleveland potential is near limitless.  

It's Cleveland, things will go wrong. Lots of them.

 

[Kliq]

Cue cheesy "I'm coming home" video packages.

 

[Devizier]

I'm pissed that Dan Gilbert didn't issue a hilarious apology letter.

 

[Jungleland]

Fantastic that SI got to break that after the insufferable espn newscycle. PR guy deserves millions for that letter...totally awesome. Instantly reconsidering the idea that Cleveland fans were pathetic for wanting him back.

 

[Zomp]

AWESOME.
 
 
I love him again.

 

[DJnVa]

That statement is a fucking home run.

 

[DannyDarwinism]

no mention of Wiggins in that...
 
seriously, good for him. good for the nba. bad for Riley. and Wade. and Shabazz (damn)

 
I noticed that too.  

 

[Jungleland]

Double post

I hope they keep Wiggins, that team is more fun to root for if it's actually built from within.

 

[seageral]

DID HE PLAN THIS ALL ALONG???
 
that statement is genius

 

[Cellar-Door]

Cue cheesy "I'm coming home" video packages.

I demand that they feature a hilariously misued "I'm going home" by Marvin Gaye.

 

[LeoCarrillo]

Never loved him before. Do now. 
 
Thirded or fourthed on screw ESPN.

 

[ifmanis5]

He needs to bring Love with him. And he definitely needs to stop flopping and bitching to the refs all game.

 

[Bunt4aTriple]

Cue cheesy "I'm coming home" video packages.

Nothing will ever top this, though. 
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtZ9I12SNJQ&feature=kp
 
Man, the NBA made some good commericals with the Big 3 C's.  I loved the Rondo - My Name is Mud one as well.

 

[thehitcat]

That statement is a fucking home run.

I agree I actually got goosebumps at the end.  I'm going to root for him and the Cavs until Danny gets us the horses again. 

 

[rembrat]

 

[mascho]

That statement is a fucking home run.

Yep.

Good on him.

 

[LeoCarrillo]

I agree I actually got goosebumps at the end.  I'm going to root for him and the Cavs until Danny gets us the horses again. 

 
Yep, Cavs and OKC.

 

[EvilEmpire]

Best heel-to-hero turn ever.

 

[pedro1918]

espn doesn't have it so I don't believe you.

 
Until it's "confirmed by ESPN", I'm with you.
 
I was sick of him when he was in high school, so this really doesn't change a thing for me.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Cleveland sports radio right now is absolutely tremendous.
 
http://player.radio.com/listen/station/923-the-fan

 

[HomeRunBaker]

I love LeBron. He took "The Decision" backlash like a man, learned from it, and handled these past couple weeks as professionally as can possibly be handled including this announcement in the form it came.

I'm rooting for the Cavs to win a Championship hard......until hopefully the Celtics become relevant again down the road.

 

[TSC]

Ok, so that letter was pretty classy. He makes no excuses, he accepts everything he's done, and he talks about growing up and moving on.
 
Either his PR guy is amazing, or he's really grown up.

Good for him, good for Cleveland, and good for the NBA.

 

[dcmissle]

... And his heart grew three sizes that day.

Nicely done.

 

[swingin val]

It is odd that he didn't mention Wiggins, but not sure CLE and MIN line up for a trade without including Varejao. But there is no way he can be traded after what Lebron just said about him.

 

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

DID HE PLAN THIS ALL ALONG???
 
that statement is genius

 
Not just was it really well done, but the PR person didn't take Lebron's voice out of the essay. 
 
Very impressive, and I certainly have a new respect for Lebron which, regardless of the decision he made, I didn't think I would.

 

[Reardon's Beard]

My God! My God! LeBron James has hit Dwayne Wade with a steel chair! He has turned his back on the Miami NWO!!!

 

[bluefenderstrat]

Damn it, now I'm a LeBron fan.   Definitely a major face turn.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Pretty amazing statement. If he actually wrote that himself, double wow. Glad he's going back, I'll probably be rooting for him.

Also, fuck Pat Riley.

 

[zenter]

no mention of Wiggins in that...

 
To state the obvious: he's hedging. Wiggins is the centerpiece of the now-much-more-likely Kevin Love deal.

 

[Bergs]

That statement. Wow.

 

[ElUno20]

I know im in the small minority but I cant root for him in Cleveland. I hope he fails big time

 

[MakMan44]

Echoing the "great statement" remarks. Awesome stuff. 

 

[Devizier]

I love LeBron. He took "The Decision" backlash like a man, learned from it, and handled these past couple weeks as professionally as can possibly be handled including this announcement in the form it came.

I'm rooting for the Cavs to win a Championship hard......until hopefully the Celtics become relevant again down the road.

 
The .. erm.. good news is that the Celtics won't be a legitimate title contender until Lebron is fully on the downswing, or perhaps retired.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Damn it, now I'm a LeBron fan.   Definitely a major face turn.

Not if you're Dwyane Wade, he owes that man about $25M now.

 

[Tony C]

Fantastic that SI got to break that after the insufferable espn newscycle. PR guy deserves millions for that letter...totally awesome. Instantly reconsidering the idea that Cleveland fans were pathetic for wanting him back.

 
Yeah, great PR move....great move for the LeBron brand. I've never been a LeBron hater -- in fact I'm a fan -- but I think people are giving him too much credit for what is a very savvy, self-interested decision. He was never an ass. And this doesn't make him a hero.
 
Smart move though.

 

[SoxFanInPdx]

Would love to be a fly on the wall in the Miami front office.
 
Good for Lebron to return home and become a god.

 

[jose melendez]

Cleveland gets the Republican convention and LBJ within a week-- best week in Cleveland history?

 

[SaveBooFerriss]

Not a Cavs fan or a LeBron fan, but this is good for the NBA and great for Cleveland.   
 
WIth all the build up that has happened, it would have been cruel if LeBron had not gone back.