After he lost the greatest player in his franchises' history, arguably the best player in the NBA, and Ohio's favorite son(former), Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert took to his keyboard... what happened next was one of the bitterest, scathing, revealing, and glorious things ever to show up on the internet. You will likely never see an owner of a pro sports franchise write something like this again. The full letter is posted over at Fear the Sword, but we've got some highlights after the jump.
As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.
This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.
His characterization of self aggrandizing way Lebron did this is spot on... but why is "witnessed" in quotes?
There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.
You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.
You have given so much and deserve so much more.
"Cowardly betrayal?" Pump the brakes a bit Dan... He chose to play somewhere else. You played a part in that as well.
In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:
"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING' WINS ONE"
You can take it to the bank.
Don't actually take that to a bank though... They'd laugh you out the door.
If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our "motivation" to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.
This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow-up to become.
"Shameful display of selfishness?" "Shocking act of disloyalty?" At this point Gilbert is completely off the rails just ranting like a mad man... and it's awesome. Be sure you read this thing in it's entirety.