Do Not Cross Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert

Yesterday after Lebron made his long anticipated announcement and as ESPN's special on it was winding down, the never ending analysis began much like those that proceed NBA games, a signal that the night is nearing its end and the show is reaching its close. As was the case with the entire NBA playoffs, the wrap up show was my cue to go to bed. Little did I know that as they wrapped up last night, comments came out of Cleveland that show that this Lebron story is all but over.

 I speak of course, of Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert's open letter to Cavaliers fans in which he called Lebron a quitter and a "self titled former king". As I could completely understand, to many, this open letter was seen as a bitter move done out of desperation, and one that has been characterized as child like. To me, the opinion is much different as I absolutely loved the passion that showed clearly in reading the owners comments. I say this because as a fan of Sport, the all too often owner in a beautiful suit whose seen walking the sidelines or seating courtside seems completely disconnected as he is there to sign checks and shake hands. As Mark Zinno put it to me earlier, Dan's reaction to Lebron's departure was despicable as he should have kept his feelings to himself. In other words, the owner is only a professional when he is robotic and says all of the right words. That point of view is utterly ridiculous, as I am always a supporter of speaking your mind, and not somebody else's. What Dan Gilbert released to Cavs.com last night was an actual human reaction to a devastating realism. Not only will their basketball team suffer on the court without Lebron James but their organization will take a huge hit financially. A hit big enough to where a robotic response for the sake of being "professional" would not have been satisfying enough. Before writing off the owners open letter to fans, in reading it you'll see he makes a few valid points. Do you feel Lebron gave his full effort during the Eastern Conference Finals? Another point that needs to be addressed is the fact that Dan Gilbert did not release these comments for the Mark Zinno's of the world. There is a reason that it was titled  "Open Letter to Fans" and that's clearly that it was written with the fans in mind, and them only in mind. Many of them feel the same way, and to see that their owner is on the same page is comforting in a situation needing of just that-comfort. In reading Dan's open letter you'll find that the words are filled with a lot of anger but you'll also see that the man that wrote them isn't a man that just signs checks. If you're like me you'll find a man completely emotionally tied to his team much like the fans in the seats. As a fan, I love that. Though I wouldn't have guaranteed a championship, I do respect Dan Gilbert's real response. It's a human response and we're all human.