Jim Brown on Lebron: "I think he's gonna leave"

• mallymal614

  Are Cleveland fans that bad? First former Browns QB Derek Anderson said Cleveland doesn't deserve a winnner and now this from the greatest athlete in Cleveland history.....
  

  "I think he's gonna leave, and I think that the treatment that he's getting right now is going to be the motivating factor,'' Brown told a Baltimore radio station last weekend in an interview aired Tuesday.
  
  "You know, it's so unfortunate that a man that's got so much would feel so bad right now because of what he couldn't do. I think he's being treated unfairly,'' Brown said. "I think the expectations were too high, and I don't think he's gonna stay in Cleveland because of it. I think as one man, there's only so much you can do, and for people to analyze you and to basically say humiliating things about you, when you've given all those things through the years to that franchise, I think it's an atrocity."

  And Brown, just like Charles Oakley, is another person who is close to Lebron. Not looking good for the city of Cleveland?
  
  http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/05/jim-brown-thinks-lebron-james-will-leave-because-of-treatment-by-fans.php
• sjmvsfscs08

  Yeah I think he's gone.
• thedynasty1998

  

  Everyone has an opinion on Lebron and obviously not everyone's opinion should be newsworthy, but I do find this to be very interesting, considering it is Jim Brown and he knows Cleveland fans as well as anyone.
• Al Capone

  hahaha LOL LOL
• wes_mantooth

  

  well, if Jim Brown said it...it must be true.
  
  I am getting so sick of this Lebron stuff....it has completely overshadowed the NBA playoffs now...and not just in Ohio.
• osu99

  Is Brown really that close to Lebron? I had never seen anything besides Brown going to a couple Cavs game. Now as far Bron's statements go I question what kinds of expectations people will have for Lebron when he goes elsewhere? Something tells me they, like the city of Cleveland, will expect championships. I think Brown is pretty far off base here.
• gut

  IF Lebron really thinks about what is best and gets some good advice, he'll stay. Bringing greatness to NY or NJ might be one thing, but even if he wins multiple titles in CHI he'll never be Jordan and he'll never have the love and admiration as he would for finally bringing a title to CLE.
  
  If you want to think about legacy, bringing a title to CLE - your hometown - is worth multiple titles anywhere else.
  
  He already gets as much exposure as he would anywhere else. I'm honestly skeptical as to how much endorsement money he can really gain from another city. Maybe that's worth a bit more to a Nike or whoever, but I don't think local endorsements would be more than a few mill.
  
  Mike & Mike had an interesting comment, though. They said the big market is China, and there Kobe is the biggest because they care more about the rings. If Lebron wants to be #1 in China, he needs multiple rings.
• Little Danny

  

  I have no dog in this fight, but if Jim Brown thinks Lebron is being treated harsh in Cleveland, how is he is going to feel when he fails in New York City or Chicago. The media is much more critical in those cities and the expectations are much higher.
• Heretic

  

  osu99 wrote: Is Brown really that close to Lebron? I had never seen anything besides Brown going to a couple Cavs game. Now as far Bron's statements go I question what kinds of expectations people will have for Lebron when he goes elsewhere? Something tells me they, like the city of Cleveland, will expect championships. I think Brown is pretty far off base here.

  I'd agree with that. If Jim thinks this is an "atrocity", I'd be interested to know what he'd be thinking of the New York media/fanbase if he went to the Knicks or Nets and that team laid an egg in losing three straight playoff games including an apathetic, lopsided defeat at home.
• wes_mantooth

  

  Little Danny wrote: I have no dog in this fight, but if Jim Brown thinks Lebron is being treated harsh in Cleveland, how is he is going to feel when he fails in New York City or Chicago. The media is much more critical in those cities and the expectations are much higher.

  This is exactly correct. How would the new yorkers reacted if it was Lebron in a Knicks jersey after game 5???
• mallymal614

  I remember when Lebron and Jim Brown teamed up a few months ago to celebrate black heritage, Brown openly said he wanted Lebron to stay. Then again Lebron is his own person.
• j_crazy

  

  osu99 wrote: Is Brown really that close to Lebron? I had never seen anything besides Brown going to a couple Cavs game. Now as far Bron's statements go I question what kinds of expectations people will have for Lebron when he goes elsewhere? Something tells me they, like the city of Cleveland, will expect championships. I think Brown is pretty far off base here.

  exactly.
  
  if he goes to the nets they will expect the playoffs next year.
  
  think about it, a team that scramble to win 12 gamse this year will expect to make the playoffs next year. mainly because of the addition of 1 player.
  
  i'd say the expectations are better in cleveland. but that may be just me.
  
  
  and for the record. i don't trust a word anyone says regarding this subject. i'll believe when the pen is pressed to the paper.
• BR1986FB

  Had the Cavs made it to the Finals and lost in a hard fought series I would have said "90% chance he'll be back" but this ended badly...VERY badly.
  
  Honestly, if you're Lebron KNOWING that your team may not even be top 5 in line for a championship with a front office that handcuffed itself with the Jamison deal and has a bunch of heartless PUSSIES around him, would YOU stay?
  
  There are so many grenades the kid is gonna dive on. I don't think he says "I know we won't win it in 2011 but I have faith that once Jamison's contract is off the books we will have a legit shot at a championship." He's been here 7 years, sees the team is NOT championship caliber and will likely move on.
  
  I'd like to see him stay even though the way he pussed out at the end of that series made me question whether he is really "all about championships." I only think there are THREE guys in the league that are killers/assassins who have that mentality (and I said it before Reghi even mentioned it so don't go there wes ) and they are Kobe, Garnett and Tim Duncan.
  
  I frankly think it might be past the point of no return and I wish it would just END so we could move on.
• BR1986FB

  mallymal614 wrote: I remember when Lebron and Jim Brown teamed up a few months ago to celebrate black heritage, Brown openly said he wanted Lebron to stay.

  And then Jim bitch slapped him and said "go get me my sammich!"
• wes_mantooth

  

  Jim Brown needs to get back to his "good ol' days" and beat the shit out of Gloria.....kidding
• thedynasty1998

  

  BR1986FB wrote: Honestly, if you're Lebron KNOWING that your team may not even be top 5 in line for a championship with a front office that handcuffed itself with the Jamison deal and has a bunch of heartless PUSSIES around him, would YOU stay?

  This! I won't blame Lebron for one second if he leaves, however if he does stay, he should be looked at in admiration whether he ever wins another playoff series or not because the only reason to return to Cleveland is loyalty (don't tell me money because that's irrelevant).
• wes_mantooth

  

  whoa....30 mil is irrelevant?
  
  I agree with most of what you and br are saying, but money will play a part if he decides to come back.
• BR1986FB

  thedynasty1998 wrote: because the only reason to return to Cleveland is loyalty (don't tell me money because that's irrelevant).

  And right now, that's Dan Gilbert's ONLY selling point...loyalty/legacy.
  
  If he leaves and wins championships (which I doubt because I don't think he's mean/heartless enough to get one regardless of supporting cast) his legacy WILL be tarnished. He'll be the guy who "couldn't get it done in his hometown" and who will "never be as good as Mike."
• mallymal614

  Lebron can make the most basketball money in Cleveland. However, New York or Chicago can give him endorsement money that would crush his NBA paycheck with the Cavs.
• thedynasty1998

  

  I am assuming that you are talking about a max deal contract, and I think it's widely known Lebron is looking for a 3 year contract.
  
  So, if the Cavs can pay $10 million more per year than anyone else, that's news to me.
• BR1986FB

  wes_mantooth wrote: whoa....30 mil is irrelevant?
  
  I agree with most of what you and br are saying, but money will play a part if he decides to come back.

  Reghi had somebody on the other day talking about this. I have to correct part of my last post saying "legacy/loyalty" will be the ONLY thing. $30 mill will be A LOT to leave on the table.
  
  Now here's my next question...if Lebron tries to be a sneaky ass like Boozer and says "I'm leaving but I don't want to leave the cupboard bare. Sign me to the max deal and then trade me to XYZ team so you can get players in return. What do you do?
  
  I say "fuck you, Mr James....we did EVERYTHING you wanted (remember LBJ isn't without fault here because he signed off on Mo, Shaq & Jamison and wanted Mike Brown retained)...we're not going to give you max money so you can leave. Fuck you, Charlie."
• wes_mantooth

  

  thedynasty1998 wrote: I am assuming that you are talking about a max deal contract, and I think it's widely known Lebron is looking for a 3 year contract.
  
  So, if the Cavs can pay $10 million more per year than anyone else, that's news to me.

  No, but it is a well known fact that the Cavs can offer the highest salary per year...
• thedynasty1998

  

  BR1986FB wrote:

  thedynasty1998 wrote: because the only reason to return to Cleveland is loyalty (don't tell me money because that's irrelevant).

  And right now, that's Dan Gilbert's ONLY selling point...loyalty/legacy.
  
  If he leaves and wins championships (which I doubt because I don't think he's mean/heartless enough to get one regardless of supporting cast) his legacy WILL be tarnished. He'll be the guy who "couldn't get it done in his hometown" and who will "never be as good as Mike."

  This seems to be the perception of Lebron now, and he brought it on somewhat himself, but before the Boston series this year, no one would have ever said that about Lebron. He's carried his team in the playoffs in the past.
  
  That's what has me thinking the Delonte rumors are right, because it's the only explanation. And I'm not even saying it's okay to let something like that effect your play, but it seems like it did.
• KR1245

  

  mallymal614 wrote: Lebron can make the most basketball money in Cleveland. However, New York or Chicago can give him endorsement money that would crush his NBA paycheck with the Cavs.

  I dont know if I agree with this. Any endorsement he could get in Chicago or NY he could get in Cleveland.
• thedynasty1998

  

  wes_mantooth wrote:

  thedynasty1998 wrote: I am assuming that you are talking about a max deal contract, and I think it's widely known Lebron is looking for a 3 year contract.
  
  So, if the Cavs can pay $10 million more per year than anyone else, that's news to me.

  No, but it is a well known fact that the Cavs can offer the highest salary per year...

  So is it $30 million more than anyone else, like you said, over 3 years?