Read the opposing arguments from Bleacher Fan and Babe Ruthless.
As a sports fan, if you didn’t recognize the name Dan Gilbert a week ago, then you certainly do now. I knew who he was, and knew he owned the Cleveland Cavaliers. But until a few days ago I didn’t know he was the owner of Fathead, and that he is sometimes generous enough to offer Fatheads for as low as $17.41! The main focus of this debate, however, revolves around the letter Gilbert posted for his fans regarding LeBron James’ departure, and whether or not the letter was good for his investment in the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Bleacher Fan, being an avid Cavs fan for his entire life, was pleased with Cavs letter. In fact, he fired off an email to Babe Ruthless, Sports Geek, and me the minute he read the letter. Bleacher Fan loved it, and that’s pretty clear when reading his argument. The point was made that Dan Gilbert ultimately has to answer to the fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and it’s his job as owner to please those fans. It was an absolutely devastating turn of events for the city of Cleveland. That was obvious by watching footage of the jersey burning of the old #23 Cavs jerseys, and by all of the security that was placed throughout the streets of the city. He scored major kudos with Cavs nation, as evident by the fact that many Cavs fans have offered to help Gilbert pay the $100,000 fine assessed to him by NBA commissioner David Stern.
In contrast, Babe Ruthless writes that Gilbert’s letter gives Cleveland fans unrealistic expectations. In the letter he promised that Cleveland would win a championship before LeBron would, and I think all of us can agree that may be a little farfetched. The letter, according to Babe, is a “cowardly attempt to focus the blame on someone else.” Babe Ruthless does write that Jesse Jackson’s comments have no bearing whatsoever, and that they border on lunacy. That’s something I definitely agree with, as I have doubts as to how much this “friend and ally” of the NBA actually follows the NBA with all the other people he advises. Shouldn’t he be advising Michael Vick to have toy guns at his birthday party instead of real guns?
Here’s the deal. This is something Dan Gilbert had to do, and that’s why I am rewarding the victory to Bleacher Fan.
Even if the letter is nothing more than a Band-Aid on the situation, it is a Band-Aid that had to be placed on the wound. Around 9:30p last Thursday night fans were devastated, even as word had leaked out earlier in the day that James was likely “taking his talents to South Beach.” Words like “betrayal” and “Benedict Arnold” and “traitor” were just some of the clean words used to describe the situation by fans. They needed something positive to go to bed with that night. Dan Gilbert gave them that. As owner, obviously, he wants to turn a profit and that’s going to be a lot tougher without the former hometown hero. But he’s no idiot. He didn’t become a multi-millionaire by being passive with his investments. He wants to protect his investment. He needs the support of Cleveland. He got that support by saying what every Cavs fan wanted to hear, and was probably thinking. He certainly didn’t steal LeBron’s “glory’ that night, but he became a big part of the story. He has brought hope, at least temporarily, to the franchise. For right now, that is enough to build on.
Posted by Loyal Homer 
