Embarrassing Song Attempts to Pump Browns vs. Dolphins
December 2, 2010Jake Delhomme Knows His Place in Cleveland
December 2, 2010Intriguingly timed, on Wednesday evening, the NBA world caught wind of a legal probe involving Dan Gilbert and the possible tampering of LeBron James at the hands of the Miami Heat.
An owner that has recently told many media outlets that he had in fact moved on from his relationship with the two-time MVP, Gilbert has been working diligently behind the scenes to wager any and all evidence of would-be illegal discussions between his former player and another team, specifically Heat president Pat Riley. Sources tell WFNY that not only is this report “completely accurate,” but it is something that has been going on since James announced his Decision to take his talents to South Beach, despite the adverse recommendations of his front office.
After the Cavaliers were eliminated from the 2010 playoffs at the hands of the Boston Celtics, Gilbert seemingly went on a scorched earth campaign that resulted in the now-infamous comic sans letter to Cavalier fans, then general manager Danny Ferry resigning from his lauded position and Mike Brown being fired. Wanting to take control of the Cavaliers, Gilbert went against the recommendations of his front office in pursuing various head coaching candidates but also went against their wishes in the legal probe that has now been reported to the public.
In addition to Ferry and Brown, WFNY is told that the departure of former legal counsel Mike Winger – who was an extremely valuable asset to the Cavs under Danny Ferry – may not have been coincidence. Winger left the Cavaliers in late July, roughly three weeks after James’ announcement, to become the assistant general manager of the Oklahoma City Thunder. And while this was a promotion in terms of title, Winger had had increased responsibilities upon the departure of Ferry, but opted to not only move on with another organization, but disassociate himself from the subsequent legal probe of Gilbert.
Though the Cavaliers will neither officially confirm nor deny the reports in question, the end goal appears to be two-fold: not only to cast a scarlet letter T across the chest of Riley and the Heat, but potentially to acquire additional assets, even if it is only another draft choice. Draft selections can cost upwards of $3 million, so any additional pick could be conceivably had at a discount while rubbing the Heat’s name in to the mud.
But in the same regard, the fact that a draft pick would be enough to force Gilbert into a legal investigation that has now lasted the better part of five months makes this appear to be more personal than professional. This past Tuesday, Gilbert went on record to say that he was “over” James.
“I really am [over it],” Gilbert said. “That’s the truth. I let it all out in about 24 hours. I just think we have such a great core and a great coaching staff. We have a lot of opportunities with the trade exception and the draft. I feel good about this team.”
Two days later, it appears that the truth is something Gilbert wishes to be hashed out by the Commissioner of the NBA, David Stern.
The difficult part, as confirmed by sources, will be the fact that it appears that if tampering did occur, it went down between the players, but also that Gilbert’s team agreed to a sign and trade. Comissioner Stern is by no means a fan of any actions that would cast a negative light on his league; the increased variability of the case in question may not do Gilbert any favors.
27 Comments
Being “over LeBron” leaving and being over billions of dollars in revenue walking out the door with him are two completely different things.
Like the picture says. I’m with Gilbert. Get em Dan.
In a lot of these pieces on Gilbert, it seems like people are trying to make him out to be this over-emotional, petty mess who will stop at nothing to get retribution. Granted he wrote an emotional letter that night, but the idea that seems to be being thrown around that he’s just acting emotionally about all this seems wrong. I think it’s more accurate that he’s approaching this as the businessman that he is: Shelling out a few hundred thousand (though I feel like it wouldn’t actually cost that much) to have a place look into something that will either net him draft pick(s) worth far more, or punish one of the better teams in the conference for a while that the Cavs are theoretically competing against in the long-term, would be more of a wise investment than a grudge match.
Gilbert could get all the evidence in the world, taped conversations and a smoking gun, but David Stern will sweep it under the rug. This is a Star league and three “Stars” are teamed up. Stern will not try to hurt the team that has 40+ games on national TV. This team is Stern’s money maker, Stern has ESPN running propaganda for the Heat. No way the NBA does anything about tampering.
The owners of some of the other smaller-market teams could be supporting Gilbert behind the scenes in this as well. They have to be worried about the Knicks or another team with deep pockets following the Heat’s lead and trying to build a “super team” from free agents conspiring to join the same team.
If the Heat is penalized in some way, the feeling could be that will make another big-money team think twice about trying to run shenanigans in free agency.
Plus, if the tampering charges are true, why not make them pay? Why have the rule if you are not going to enforce it?
This needs a catchy “gate” term.. You know, watergate, wikigate, spygate….
Any suggestions?
What is the argument against this investigation? Gilbert’s front office advised against it and I’m interested as to why? It seems like an obvious thing to me, as a fan, to go forward with it so why the disagreements? What is the downside?
tampergate?
“It seems like an obvious thing to me, as a fan, to go forward with it so why the disagreements?”
From a PR standpoint, it flies smack in the face of what the team has tried to convey with their entire New Expression, let’s move forward motif.
If Gilbert didn’t pursue this investigation, he would just be letting himself get punked again. Go get ’em Dan. Like Misny says, “Make them pay.”
“But in the same regard, the fact that a draft pick would be enough to force Gilbert into a legal investigation that has now lasted the better part of five months makes this appear to be more personal than professional. ”
This might well be the case, but if he spends 1 mil and winds up with a draft pick worth $3mil, that would make an excellent return on investment, wouldn’t it? I can understand if Gilbert doesn’t like being screwed (in a business sense), but who does? Besides, if Miami was indeed illegally tampering, why should they be the ones to get away with it?
Also, I disagree that the sign and trade would vindicate Miami at all. If Riley illegally tampered prior to the deal without Gilbert having any evidence at the time, I don’t see how that would hurt the Cavs case.
As for Stern, I completely agree with that point. Although, if the evidence is there and Stern sweeps this under the rug, that would cast a light a thousand times more negative on the league than anything Gilbert is doing right now, wouldn’t it?
is this a report or a commentary? you disagree with dan gilbert’s course of action and found a source who feels like you do. and that’s fine. the other side of the coin is that dan gilbert is wildly successful, likely by sensing opportunities and acting on his instincts when most people let opportunities slide by. i dont get the prevailing insinuation that dan gilbert is either stupid, reckless, or both.
if riley tampered and we get something out of it, whether cash, draft picks, or a reprimand of the heat — i say great.
what’s the downside? we won’t be able to sign more free agents like larry hughes? espn commentators will tweet encouragement to opposing teams playing against us? (see: http://twitter.com/#!/ErinAndrews/status/10322232152694785 )
many of us don’t consider gilbert’s letter to be infamous. many of us appreciate gilbert’s willingness to go against conventional wisdom and to take risks both on his behalf and indirectly his team’s fans.
and by the way, gilbert can be ‘over’ it and still prosecute a breach of contract lawsuit. they’re not mutually exclusive.
i dont believe for a second that “any tampering went on between the players” only. for the past few years, leading up to free agency, both the Cavs and Raptors have added players, salary and talent, basically to do as much as possible to show Lebron/Bosh how dedicated the teams are to winning and to convince them to stay. all the media nationally said these teams have to do everything they can do convince these guys to stay. Over the past few years, the Cavs added Jamison, Mo, Delonte, Shaq, Ben wallace, Wally, etc. they paid Andy his money. they paid Gibson. at that same time, Toronto paid barnagni and calderon and went after Hedo and Jarrett Jack. these teams were adding salaries and talent.
But did that same “doomsday” spend/win now scenario not apply to Miami? one would think that Miami not doing anything was not helping their case in keeping wade. (imagine if Cle or Tor had dropped salary and done nothing the past few years to bring guys in!) Over that same time period, Miami added nobody of talent or value to their roster. in fact, Miami traded away salary in Shawn Marion, Marcus Banks. they let Moon walk. they let Jermaine Oneal walk. they let daquan cook go. they did all they could over the past few years to DROP salary and talent. to me, thats some fairly strong circumstantial evidence to imply the heat had a definite behind the scenes plan. the Heat dont risk effectively tanking for a few years at the risk of losing Wade as a free agent, if they do not know (and made Wade aware) that a certain grand scenario is in the works.
@9, I might disagree with that statement. As LeBron or anyone else would tell you, basketball is basketball and business is business. The team has very much moved forward without LeBron. I honestly don’t think Coach Scott or any of the players talk about him in the locker room. The fans haven’t moved on yet, but they’ll get there. This seems to be about the business side of things… there’s a difference between moving on emotionally and seeking justice.
Happy Hate-LeBron Day Everyone
http://cavschants.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/cavs-chants-x-laugh-at-lebron-pdf1.pdf
though it’s missing my favorite chant:
Spoel-stra, Spoel-stra (fan the flames )
or
By-Ron’s Better (clap, clap, clapclapclap)
Should replace the Delonte one with that. That one is unwarranted.
“you disagree with dan gilbert’s course of action and found a source who feels like you do.”
Who said I disagree? Nothing written above was in conjecture.
Does game five fit into this at all?
Say you’re Lebron and you have a plan to play with your buddies in South Beach, ostensibly in the name of winning championships. There’s just one problem – it looks like you may have to walk away from Cleveland after a championship. What to do?
Gilbert ultimately trading LeBron shouldn’t be an out for Riley or Stern. LeBron was leaving Cleveland regardless and all Gilbert did was getting something instead of nothing. LeBron could have still colluded before that and the fact that it’s been well documented that Gilbert was completely out of the loop right up until The Decision, I would think, would only strengthen Gilbert’s case.
@18 – It’s a lot easier to walk away from Cleveland after bombing in the second round OR after winning a championship. In the former, you can just say that I gave it a good shot, but the team isn’t good enough to win. In the latter, you can say that you delivered on your promise and brought the championship home…now you’re going to play with my BFF’s in Miami. Either way, the damage isn’t as bad, and the excuse it at least plausible.
The way that it looks the worst is if the Cavs make the Finals and lose to the Lakers in 6 or 7. Now LeBron can’t argue that the team isn’t good enough to win a Championship. If he would have left after being within 1 or 2 wins of a title, EVERYONE would have called foul.
I’m convinced that he quit in game 5 with this in mind…losing early in the playoffs was the much easier of the two viable routes for him to take to get out of here.
i’m with DAN
Easy guys we all know about WFNY and their sources. I kid I kid! But hopefully Gilbert does make a case. Stern will probably aovid the issue though. Sad to see that the NBA become sports entertainment.
I fully support Dan Gilbert and glad he has the guts and financial means to pursue. Final closure will not happen until the truth is told. If tampering did occur, those involved need to punished appropriately. Otherwise, it makes a mockery of the rules established within the NBA. Thank god Gilbert has the balls to pursue. The weak-kneed commisioner would rather bury his head in the sand. Go, Dan, go!
@MattyFos: DecisionGate
@16. Someone needs to print those out and distribute them to incoming fans (not on Q property, or course). Those are great
As far as Gilbert’s actions are concerned, I love it as a Cavs fan. I am not sure how other players, coaches, GMs, and owners feel about how Gilbert has acted the last 5 months. It could be viewed either as very childish, or very bold. If he turns out to be right on most of his actions (the letter, Brown firing, Ferry’s “resignation”, the investigation), he should earn some respect, but its a big gamble (gamble… haha, get it? casinos?)
So far, the only one of his big actions we can conclude on is that Byron Scott is better than Mike Brown. Gilbert 1 – Advisors 0. Lets hope Gilbert wins three or four of these, although I would settle for two if the letter happens to be right (championship!).
#BeachGate
The NFL spends a million dollars investigating whether Brett Favre sent a frisky text message to a cheerleader, but the NBA won’t investigate a serious tampering allegation in violation of NBA rules.