Most of us have heard or read the expression, “ when God gives you lemons, make lemonade.” It’s one of those lines you think of when times get a little tough for any number of reasons. Most people involved in professional sports, especially the athletes and the owners, are quite wealthy, and have more money than they know what to do with. With that in mind, I got a kick out of reading an associated press story, about some kids in the Cleveland suburb of Rocky River, who decided to sell lemonade, in order to help the Cavaliers owner, Dan Gilbert, pay the $100,000 fine that he was assessed by the NBA, for what they thought was excessive criticism of LeBron James, after he announced that he was signing with the Miami Heat.
Gilbert was completely outraged by James decision, and that he was using a televised one hour special, to convey his announcement. Gilbert questioned James character,by accusing him of quitting on his team, in several playoff games, including post season matches this year with the Boston Celtics. He also referred to the Akron, Ohio native as “narcissistic”, and “self- promotional”. As would be expected, the outraged owner has asked that any money raised by the kids for this purpose, be donated to the Cleveland Cavaliers Youth Fund. As detailed in the AP story, ten year old Molly Sponseller, said she and her friends wanted to show support for the team owner, as she explained, “because he’s not a bad man.” The lemonade was sold for fifty cents a cup.
LeBron James may win one, or perhaps several championships in Miami, or he may win none at all. Whatever the case may be, he may become one of the most despised players in professional sports, judging by the intense level of anger he raised, by leaving the Cavaliers, and by seeming to rub it in, by turning his press conference into a one hour reality show. It’s not so much that he signed with another team that caused the outrage in Ohio, as much as the way that it was done,with the one hour telecast, figuratively speaking, feeling like salt on the wound. Dan Gilbert may have been better off taking the high road, in reacting to James’ infomercial like program, but it seems he has truly struck a cord with some of the Cavs fans. LeBron may have been well intended, when he was contemplating how to announce his decision. However it came about for him to stage the seemingly self centered show, it was a poorly thought out strategy, and it left a bad impression in the minds of most who watched it, other than the fans of the Miami Heat, and those who work for Pat Riley’s team.
The young super star signed the bottom line, along with top talent teammates in Miami. Of course, he has every right to do so. At the same time, he has left an impression with many, that his tactics were like those of a shark, simply enjoying its latest predatory meal, with about the same compassion for Cleveland, as that of the much feared entrepreneur of the oceans.