Comments on: Cavs owner not worried about LeBron leaving … http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/mcmanamon/2008/05/21/cavs-owner-not-worried-about-lebron-leaving/ Musings on the world of sports Tue, 02 Feb 2010 04:17:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Daniel http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/mcmanamon/2008/05/21/cavs-owner-not-worried-about-lebron-leaving/comment-page-1/#comment-244 Daniel Sat, 31 May 2008 00:27:21 +0000 http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/mcmanamon/?p=133#comment-244 I read similar article also named Cavs owner not worried about LeBron leaving …, and it was completely different. Personally, I agree with you more, because this article makes a little bit more sense for me I read similar article also named Cavs owner not worried about LeBron leaving …, and it was completely different. Personally, I agree with you more, because this article makes a little bit more sense for me

]]> By: alan t. http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/mcmanamon/2008/05/21/cavs-owner-not-worried-about-lebron-leaving/comment-page-1/#comment-200 alan t. Thu, 22 May 2008 04:20:12 +0000 http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/mcmanamon/?p=133#comment-200 Yes, I neglected to mention that ... a wonderful state-of-the-art practice facility. LeBron ain't goin' nowhere. A practice facilty bought and paid for with the gracious assistance of diverted tax dollars. Somehow Pat neglected to mention this fact when he wrote his original puff piece about the practice facility. There were and are rumblings that Jordan was actually suspended by Stern for gambling during that 1 1/2 years he played minor league baseball, and that's why he *really* wasn't playing in the NBA. Truth be told, Jordan was actually holding out for a better practice facility. Yes, I neglected to mention that … a wonderful state-of-the-art practice facility. LeBron ain't goin' nowhere. A practice facilty bought and paid for with the gracious assistance of diverted tax dollars. Somehow Pat neglected to mention this fact when he wrote his original puff piece about the practice facility. There were and are rumblings that Jordan was actually suspended by Stern for gambling during that 1 1/2 years he played minor league baseball, and that's why he *really* wasn't playing in the NBA. Truth be told, Jordan was actually holding out for a better practice facility.

]]> By: larry d. http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/mcmanamon/2008/05/21/cavs-owner-not-worried-about-lebron-leaving/comment-page-1/#comment-198 larry d. Wed, 21 May 2008 18:44:01 +0000 http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/mcmanamon/?p=133#comment-198 I'm sure LeBron realizes that all-time greats like Jordan, Magic and Bird are known for playing for franchises with state of the art practice facilities. He's not going anywhere. I'm sure LeBron realizes that all-time greats like Jordan, Magic and Bird are known for playing for franchises with state of the art practice facilities. He's not going anywhere.

]]> By: alan t. http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/mcmanamon/2008/05/21/cavs-owner-not-worried-about-lebron-leaving/comment-page-1/#comment-197 alan t. Wed, 21 May 2008 16:39:01 +0000 http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/mcmanamon/?p=133#comment-197 Of course Gilbert is not worried. Because he has a strong Plan B. Or, if the relative unlikelihood of re-upping James is Plan A, perhaps it's more like Plan A(2). Not surprisingly, not one single sportswriter in the Beacon Journal or the Plain Dealer will ever point out the obvious. It will violate the unwritten rule of making sure you maintain full access to the players and the teams you cover. Oh, and civic spirit. During his tenure, Gilbert and his minions have already raised average ticket prices over 300% more than the average NBA increase over the same period. It's repulsive. Yet they still sell out, so who cares what the ticket prices are, right? Gilbert isn't paying the higher payroll, Gilbert isn't paying the luxury tax, people who buy the tickets are paying the payroll, people who buy the tickets are paying the luxury tax. And they'll be raising prices again next season. It was a giant 12.2% increase for 2007-2008, it will be interesting to see how badly the people are going to fleeced for 2008-2009. If it's at least a little over 9%, it will mean Gilbert and his goons have jacked up average ticket prices in excess of 40% in the few years since his group purchased the franchise. Hell, I thought the rising cost of gasoline was bad, but the oil companies and the Arabs are Santa Claus compared to Gilbert. Yet not single one peep from even one of you local yokel sportswriters. Instead, you consciously paint the guy as Mr. Dan Benevolent Businessman. I mean, seriously, why do you guys keep kissing this guy's ass? Hell, if there's anybody who should be taking aim at Gilbert, it should be YOU, the local media. After all, he tore out the media seating, replaced your seats with fan/corporate seating at ticket prices sufficient to rake in an additional $1.4-$1.5 million a year from regular season and playoff games, and then made you guys watch the games with binoculars while hanging upside-down like bats from the rafters. And you're actually putting up a shield and protecting this schmuck? The very worst contracts expire at the exact same time that James' contract expires. Even shrewd slick scoundrels sometimes deserve respect. So if James indeed says "Shalom," Gilbert can simply go into full Gund salary-dumping mode without further delay, devalue the franchise, keep ticket prices high, and ultimately sell the franchise. And Hello Seattle CavaSonics!!! But all we read from you local sportswriters is the same thing we read every summer. "Ferry has to make the right moves." And really harsh criticism like that. Marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate. S'mores for a campfire. Great as a treat for the kids, but for folks seeking opinions containing blunt honesty, integrity and candor from their morning sportswriting, it blows to high heaven. Of course Gilbert is not worried. Because he has a strong Plan B. Or, if the relative unlikelihood of re-upping James is Plan A, perhaps it's more like Plan A(2). Not surprisingly, not one single sportswriter in the Beacon Journal or the Plain Dealer will ever point out the obvious. It will violate the unwritten rule of making sure you maintain full access to the players and the teams you cover. Oh, and civic spirit.

During his tenure, Gilbert and his minions have already raised average ticket prices over 300% more than the average NBA increase over the same period. It's repulsive. Yet they still sell out, so who cares what the ticket prices are, right? Gilbert isn't paying the higher payroll, Gilbert isn't paying the luxury tax, people who buy the tickets are paying the payroll, people who buy the tickets are paying the luxury tax. And they'll be raising prices again next season. It was a giant 12.2% increase for 2007-2008, it will be interesting to see how badly the people are going to fleeced for 2008-2009. If it's at least a little over 9%, it will mean Gilbert and his goons have jacked up average ticket prices in excess of 40% in the few years since his group purchased the franchise. Hell, I thought the rising cost of gasoline was bad, but the oil companies and the Arabs are Santa Claus compared to Gilbert.

Yet not single one peep from even one of you local yokel sportswriters. Instead, you consciously paint the guy as Mr. Dan Benevolent Businessman. I mean, seriously, why do you guys keep kissing this guy's ass? Hell, if there's anybody who should be taking aim at Gilbert, it should be YOU, the local media. After all, he tore out the media seating, replaced your seats with fan/corporate seating at ticket prices sufficient to rake in an additional $1.4-$1.5 million a year from regular season and playoff games, and then made you guys watch the games with binoculars while hanging upside-down like bats from the rafters. And you're actually putting up a shield and protecting this schmuck?

The very worst contracts expire at the exact same time that James' contract expires. Even shrewd slick scoundrels sometimes deserve respect. So if James indeed says "Shalom," Gilbert can simply go into full Gund salary-dumping mode without further delay, devalue the franchise, keep ticket prices high, and ultimately sell the franchise.

And Hello Seattle CavaSonics!!!

But all we read from you local sportswriters is the same thing we read every summer. "Ferry has to make the right moves." And really harsh criticism like that. Marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate. S'mores for a campfire. Great as a treat for the kids, but for folks seeking opinions containing blunt honesty, integrity and candor from their morning sportswriting, it blows to high heaven.

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