LeCharles Bentley has some words for Browns receiver Josh Gordon
June 21, 2013WFNY Stats & Info: Easier schedule ahead for Indians
June 21, 2013Your boy is back after four days out of the country (yes, I have a real job believe it or not). While I was gone, I feel like I missed a lot. Three straight days of meetings will do that to you. It was time to get back on that WFNY Horse. I started to write about the Indians, as I usually do, but there was just too many things that I wanted to touch on today, so instead of a whole host of tweets, I am breaking it down paragraph style in what I like to call “Four For Friday.”Â
1. Let me get this done right off the top. LeBron James and the Miami Heat won their second straight NBA championship. For all of the Cleveland fans who so badly wanted LeBron to fail, he didn’t. Not only that, but he showed up the way a Superstar is supposed to in the biggest game of his NBA life.
Last night, I shed my #NBAFree bit and watched the game start to finish. It was really fun to watch. I had Twitter open on my phone and was scrolling through my timeline at timeouts. Nationally, the sports media marveled at LeBron’s greatness. Local fans were killing him for, well, just being LeBron. What I can’t believe are the people in this city who claim they don’t want LeBron to come back and wouldn’t root for him if he did.
You are all lying to yourselves.
I don’t know about you people, but I want to win a championship. I don’t care how, I just want to win one. If you don’t think that putting LeBron James in a Wine and Gold uniform doesn’t give you the best chance to win, you are absolutely fooling yourself.
I am not saying you don’t have the right to hate him, but you cannot deny that having the four-time MVP and two-time Finals MVP on your team greatly improves your chances to win a championship.
2. After last night’s game, two members of the Cleveland Browns took to Twitter to tell the world how happy and excited they were that “their” Miami Heat won the NBA title. One was the currently suspended Josh Gordon, the other was big Phil Taylor.
Gordon got things started with this beauty:
Y’all can find me atvthe champions parade on the #winners float.. #sorry
â Josh Gordon (@JOSH_GORDONXII) June 21, 2013
That’s when the fireworks started. Is he that clueless to think that he wouldn’t catch a ton of “Heat” from the local fans that actually support him? A sampling of the venom he received in his timeline. The first two came from members of the media!
. @JOSH_GORDONXII You’re the type of mature young athlete we should give millions of dollars. Sharp decision maker. â The Triv Show (@TheTrivShow) June 21, 2013
@TheTrivShow @JOSH_GORDONXII Will you be taking illegal “cough syrup” on that float? â Bob Frantz (@FrantzRants) June 21, 2013
â@JOSH_GORDONXII: Y’all can find me at the parade on the #winners float #sorryâ –> Wish we could find you on the football field #sorry â NOTSCCleveland (@NOTSCCleveland) June 21, 2013
Even former NFL player and Clevelander LeCharles Bentley let Gordon have it in an epic Twitter rant. My thoughts are simple. Gordon and Taylor have every right to root for whoever they want. To put it out on Twitter is just plain dumb. Why rattle the cage of the people that support you for no reason? It was a straight up troll move. In politics, it is the old adage – “play to your base,” especially in a public forum. Joe Haden is the master of this. This will blow over soon enough, but Gordon hasn’t exaclty built up a ton of good will to be trolling his own fans this way. I at least respect the way Taylor handled himself after seeing the reaction to his tweets from Browns fans.
I hope I’m a #Brown for life and I love Cleveland but your not gonna tell me who I can and can’t root for. “Can’t do it, won’t do it” â Phil Taylor (@PhilTaylor98) June 21, 2013
Goodnight! Imma still love Cleveland when I wake up. #GoBrowns
â Phil Taylor (@PhilTaylor98) June 21, 2013
3. You haven’t heard much talk about the return of Tribe right-hander Zach McAllister. The Zach Attack was arguably the Indians most consistent starter until the finger injury that he was eventually DL’d for became a problem. When he is deemed healthy, McAllister will be plugged right back into the rotation.
Obviously, Justin Masterson and Ubaldo Jimenez aren’t going anywhere. Brett Myers doesn’t seem to be in the fold any time soon and when/if he comes back, you would think he is headed for the bullpen. Carlos Carrasco was great in in his last start Monday night, allowing one run and pitching into the eighth. Carlos was hitting 95-97 all night long with his fastball. The time for him is now. Corey Kluber has been spectacular of late and as I wrote on Monday, Kluber may be the guy you want pitching if you had just one game to win to get to the playoffs.
This leaves tonight’s starter Scott Kazmir as the probable odd man out when McAllister is activated. The left-hander’s comeback story has been well documented, but his performance on the field has been spotty at best. He has made 11 starts and sports an ERA of 5.89 and a WHIP of 1.65. Right-handed batters are hitting .327/.400/.612 against him. With that said, he has had good life on his fastball, consistently in the mid-90’s. There is a simple solution to this problem: send him to the pen.
Talk about killing two birds with one stone.
The Indians have a serious problem with their southpaws. Rich Hill has been brutal and is probably the next man to lose his job. Nick Hagadone has had his moments, but has been completely unreliable. The lack of a quality left-handed reliever who can throw strikes is clearly the biggest hole in Francona’s pen. Kazmir can be that guy. Not to mention, this may be the best route for him to keep his career going.
You know how many failed left-handed starters have become quality relievers late in their career? Why can’t Kazmir become Darren Oliver, who is still going at age 42 in Toronto. He was a starter for most of the first ten years of his career.
It it certainly worth a shot for the Tribe, who are collecting AAA lefties for tryouts seemingly every week.
4. There are rumors floating around that the Cavs and the Dallas Mavericks are discussing a deal that would send three 2013 draft picks, including #19 to the Mavs in exchange for the #13 pick and veteran small forward Shawn Marion.
Before you get yourself excited about adding the defensive-minded 35-year old, let me pump the breaks for you. Marion has one year left on his deal, which is a good thing obviously, but this is not exactly the “veteran’s veteran” you want to add to this locker room. Marion’s diva days in Phoenix were documented in Jack McCallum’s 2007 book Seven Seconds or Less. He also wants to win.
At the end of his career, you think he is going to want to be a part of a team that may be fighting for the seventh or eighth spot in the East? In 2008 and 2009 he was traded at the deadline – to Miami from Phoenix and then from Miami to Toronto. After being shipped up North to a rebuilding team, Marion did not want to report to the Raptors and threatened to retire. That summer, the Raptors were more than willing to part with him in a sign and trade deal with Dallas.
The bottom line here? Marion wants to win now. He potentially has one year left in his NBA career and won’t want to use that playing for a middle of the road at best team if he doesn’t have to.
56 Comments
You can root for whomever you like, but when you’re playing for a city who (for the most part) dislikes the man winning on said basketball team, and pays to watch you play, maybe you should be a little quieter.
Also, I want McCallister back. The three headed monster in the playoffs, Kluber, Masterson, and McCallister! mmk!
What I canât believe are the people in this city who claim they donât
want LeBron to come back and wouldnât root for him if he did.
You are all lying to yourselves.
I donât know about you people, but I want to win a championship. I
donât care how, I just want to win one. If you donât think that putting
LeBron James in a Wine and Gold uniform doesnât give you the best chance
to win, you are absolutely fooling yourself.
Maybe if my boyfriend tells me he loves me for real this time it’ll make it ok that he beats me.
I too want LBJ back. Hate to admit it, but I do.
The question is does his success in Miami make it more likely he would come back or less likely? I have no clue.
Welcome back TD but man I think you stirred the pot worse then $hamWow! I see two comments already and expect alot more probably.
I must admit it was tough watching LeBron James celebrate but not as bad as last year. Hearing him reference that he was from Akron, Ohio more then once probably felt like a knife twist to many but what can you do. He obviously made the right decision for himself and as time progresses his time in Cleveland will become more and more of a footnote. Unless the unimaginable occurs and I don’t see that happening.
I wouldn’t mind having the best professional basketball player in the NBA back either I just can’t imagine it happening. Of course I really didn’t think he’d leave even though I could understand why he did. Maybe he’ll fool me again only this time in a more positive way.
cleveland hates a winner. it’s been old for a while now. get over it.
if you’re still rooting against Bron, it’s a you problem.
1- You are absolutely right about LeBron. He was incredible in The Finals, and when the pressure was on, he was great. they forced him to shoot, and it backfired. I too want him back merely just for a chance at the title.
2- Gordon isn’t very smart, hopefully some of his teammates, like Taylor or Haden can shape him up. Taylor handled it well, Sheard even better (Sheard handled it so well that you didnt even realize hes a Heat fan)
3- Great idea with Kaz! I thought about that the other day, its a win all around. Well, except for Rich Hill. Any word when ZMac will return?
4- Marion could always be dealt at the deadline if a team is in need of a forward off the bench and can afford his expiring salary. That alone could be enough motivation for him. I’m not in love withe the idea, id rather just give 19 + a 2nd for 13, but that seems out of the question now.
Great point. Its becoming clear that LeBron made a great choice for himself. In his three years in “South Beach” he has 3 Finals Appearances, 2 Rings, 2 MVPs and 2 Finals MVPs. And if you are a Bron defender and want to chalk up year one to a “transition year”, you can say that the last two seasons, He won the title, MVP of the Finals and League MVP both seasons (The REAL Big 3), while beating the best the West had to offer.
But that doesn’t change the *way* he left (eyes rolling)
There’s a reason I don’t follow any jocks on Twitter…
Poor comparison. A better example would be…
“I hate that guy, he’s such a scumbag and made fun of me when we were younger. But now I’m hot, he’s hot, and I’ve never been kissed. I know its only one kiss, but damn it would be a good one. AND I HAVENT BEEN KISSED. I got close in the 90’s, but I choked. Then I got close again a few years ago, but then everyone left the party and I was stuck hanging with Jhonny. The last time was with this same guy, but he teased and teased and teased, and then just left. BUT I DESERVE TO BE KISSED, NO MATTER WHO ITS WITH.
Thats the comparison
Absolutely agree the way he left is what permits me to understand the venom the haters of James still possess. I’d like to chalk it up to him just not knowing better and like to think he’s matured since that fateful night. The one thing that I do know is all of the hardware he’s accumulated since deciding to leave. Meanwhile the Cavaliers have put together one of, if not, the worst stretches in team history the past three years.
So I turn the page and look towards the upcoming NBA draft. But as I watched last night I realized even more that for the Cavaliers to become relevant once again it’ll take more then drafting young, underdeveloped but promising kids. Grant must use some of the financial flexibility to either find a way to sign a stud FA or trade for one. Unless the young Cavaliers make strides signing a stud FA will be more difficult so that means making a deal. This is why a big part of me was hoping someone would make an offer for the #1 overall selection. Keyword: hoping.
you and I are totally on the same page! AIR FIVE!
I don’t get the “championships no matter the cost” ideal – we’re not players, where that’s our life goal. We are *fans*. If I wouldn’t be happy rooting for a team, I wouldn’t really enjoy it as much if they won, either. I wouldn’t be happy rooting for Lebron after “The Decision”, so I wouldn’t be happy if they got him back, and I wouldn’t be happy if they won championships with him. I’d rather roll with guys who haven’t disrespected us as fans, who don’t make me cringe quite as much with their antics, and if they play well but come up short – fine. At least I’m entertained. And if they win, that’s just awesome.
People say character shouldn’t matter, wins should, when it comes to who we root for. I’ve never understood that. Yes, I don’t care a whole lot about a lot of the off-field stuff players do – it is mostly irrelevant to me. But aren’t there lines? Wouldn’t you rather root for a Tim Duncan or Omar Vizquel than a Ben Roethlisberger or Ray Lewis? Or Kevin Durant than Lebron James? As a fan I get a lot more joy watching good and hard-working people succeed than watching narcissistic jerks win rings. It’s why seeing young no-names wins Olympic gold is moving, or seeing underdogs upset in the NCAAs is exciting.
Anyway – I’ll pass on “The Return”, thanks.
Won’t use Gordon’s brain-dead tweet as absolute proof of anything, but taken with what else we know about him in just over a year don’t see how this clueless kid will stick around long. Was impressed at how he went from visibly pouting and incompetence last training camp to great production in the regular season, but right now he looks like one of those guys destined to derail his own talent and become a punchline. And I love his talent.
Too many bad choices in a short period of time. As I’ve repeated ad nauseum – break down the timing and circumstances of his multiple failed college drug tests and its breathtaking what he did to his colleges and himself – only to be rewarded with a second rounder contract. No consequences, no lessons possibly learned. So now we get the drama of watching whether some change will shake him up or someone can get through to him before the sands in the hourglass of his chances run out. Never fun to watch this with my teams’ players.
I hear you completely. But I don’t think that TD would (falsely) accuse you and I of “fooling ourselves” if one of the city’s teams had a championship or two in the last few years. I think he’s reflecting a widespread attitude that we have to break the logjam some way, any way, and the ends justify any means to restore our fan sanity.
I would root for whomever brings home the hardware. The 90s Tribe had some questionable characters on it, and I still wanted them to bring that trophy back to Cleveland. The reality is, the majority of athletes are narcissistic jerks. Social media is exposing that more day by day. Actually come to think of it, the real issue is we are finding out that athletes are just as f—ed up as the rest of us, not these paragons of virtue and character their marketing campaigns try to sell you on.
I don’t think LeBron is a bad guy. I think he made a REALLY bad decision, spurred on by some shady folks, and he paid for it. He’s clearly matured, and he’s earning it now, night in and night out. Bron didn’t granstand when he won last night. He didnt stand on the scorers table ala Jordan. He was gracious and humble. We gotta turn the page.
Back to the gist of my original point: I don’t need these guys to babysit my daughter or take care of my mother. I pay to see them play the game at a high level, and hopefully bring some glory to my city. If they can do that, I’m good.
The Browns need their own Jason Giambi to take Gordon aside and make him understand for his own benefit.
All I know is that game stunk last night. It seemed like almost nothing but dribbling and jump shots…looked like warm-ups most of the night. The Spurs basically sat back and let the heat walk into whatever jump shot they wanted. You can call it a strategy to force the Heat to shoot jumpers, but if they’re uncontested jumpers, that’s just too easy.
It’s like know one has ever seen LeBron stutter step his way into a set 3-pointer from the elbow…sheesh.
It was the only game of the playoffs that I watched this year, and it was less than impressive.
I get all that, though his comments didn’t strike me as humble or gracious as much as “this is what I’m supposed to say” – like you said, almost all athletes are narcissistic jerks. (And the media Qs are almost worse. Ugh.)
But I’d still rather root for a team that at least hasn’t outright been jerks to me as a fan. At least pretend you care.
I should note that a Lebron heartfelt apology would have gone a long way, but his meek one a year later was not convincing. And now that he’s won a couple rings, it wouldn’t happen.
I get that, too. But as a fan that’s not worth it for me.
Simple answer is you picked the wrong time to watch the only game of the playoffs because prior to last night Miami wasn’t shooting anywhere near like they did. Allen hit that big three in game six but Battier had been worse then horrible. LeBron did for Shane what he did for Daniel Gibson, period.
Lebron is amazing, but he shoots “only” about 44% on long jumpers both during the season and the playoffs (was even less in the playoffs until last night). Last night he did much better than that. It’s a necessary strategy against him, and unfortunately when you play pick your poison sometimes you lose even when you win (on shot selection).
Oh they care it’s just that it’s not until they get older that they can truly appreciate what it is they do. It’s why you see so many aging stars take less money for a chance to win a title. It’s the nature of the beast.
I thought the same thing for years about LBJ. Even when he was here. I felt like “yo this is all so scripted…he doesn’t give a s**t about any of this…”
But I think being crushed by Dallas and the aftermath taught him a bit. You can see the difference in his demeanor. I didn’t WANT to see it, but I did.
I do agree that I don’t want athletes who are jerks to me as a fan. I do want to feel appreciated. I just think that rich, spoiled kids don’t really appreciate ANYTHING all that much, and they exist in a bubble. This idea that a team of choir boys is gonna win anything..well it just isn’t happening.
I just want for one night, one week, one year for someone to have to say CLEVELAND is the best team in the world. At any major sport. ONE. Then I can be more critical of character and all that. Beggars can’t be choosers.
It is to me in the end nobody will really remember all of the extracurricular BS they’ll just remember a championship. Some might consider this selling your soul but sports in general changed a long time ago in particular basketball.
These days if you can’t beat ’em you join ’em (Ray Allen et al)!
Cleveland needs a championship bad who cares about the rest.
I think that’s who they hope Davone Bess will be. I saw Cribbs getting in his grill some in training camp last year. But a spoiled, immature kid who’s shot to the pros on physical talent alone has to want to be mentored. Guys who think they’re bullet proof from consequences become cancers.
Apparently it’s a you problem… sparked some feelings there, eh?
I just want one of our teams to get a ring, any way you wrap it. Otherwise we’re cutting off our nose to spite our face. LBJ hurt our feelings 3 years ago and I’m pretty sure he has no soul, but I’d taken him back in half a heartbeat. Sports fans are hypocritical like that, and so am I.
No, Cleveland WANTS a winner. How hard is that to process?
I can honestly say I don’t want LBJ back on the Cavs. I can appreciate that LeBron is the best player in the league, but I can’t separate that from the fact that I despise him as a person. Some of you can, and that’s awesome… wish I knew how to do that. I just can’t figure out how to support a guy’s play while not supporting who he is and what he’s about. I would still root for a Cavs team that had LeBron on the roster, but it’ll decrease my enjoyment of winning a title… it’ll feel like selling my soul to get the championship.
I don’t care who players root for. I’m over it. Just don’t start popping off to fans about it.
Game Six was the best game for pure basketball, in my opinion. I think both teams gave everything they had through overtime. By Game 7, both were run down, resulting in that sloppiness.
What’s the convincing argument for LeBron even coming back to the Cavaliers? Someone tell me why they think that’s plausible? It seems like folks in Akron are back to rooting for him, so he doesn’t have to worry about much flak in his home town, and he seemingly never felt any ties to Cleveland or NEO as a whole. Why would he leave the city he loves, a team that’s a proven winner, and an environment that’s more his speed? This whole idea of “The Return” strikes me as bizarre and a result of wishful thinking.
The only one I follow is Blake Griffin because he is hilarious. By and large, following jocks on twitter is like opening your feed to a Moron River.
As a Cleveland fan, I’m of two minds.
1) He’s never coming back, so stop kidding yourself. If you think he’ll do it for Cleveland, you’re not so bright.
2) Yay, LeBron is back and he’s bringing his 3 rings to Cleveland… with his championship hunger sated! Hooray for fat LeBron who doesn’t really care.
I’ve been saying this too… if he’s coming to Cleveland, it’s because he thinks it’s his best chance to win more rings, and I just don’t see that as being the case in 2014. Maybe after the contract he gets in 2014 runs out.
Being bitter is for the young when you start to get older you realize it’s not worth it. I’m getting older and frankly I don’t think I have nearly the number of years required to endure all of the Cleveland rebuilds. Therefore I’m choosing the path of least resistance and hoping that the best player in the NBA somehow makes his way back to the Cavaliers. Does this mean I think it’ll actually happen? No, but there’s always a slim chance.
Game 6 was up there with the best NBA games I’ve ever seen. Didn’t watch last night because I knew both teams were spent. (And that the old Spurs had taken their best shot at the ring and just missed … I HATE the 2-3-2 format)
I think he wants everyone here beg him to come back to get that last ugly taste of peeps not liking him out of his mouth. And he’ll play that out in a slightly more classy way than the last time. And then he’ll go elsewhere.
Fine with me. Don’t wanna be inundated with the saccharine national story line of “return” and “redemption.” Don’t wanna watch him every night slowing down with age at the end. Truly loved watching him while he was here but truly sick of all things LeBron now. Can’t we just move on, please.
So you’re saying there’s a chance…
Did anyone else do a spit-take laugh at his comments about, “not even supposed to be here! Inner City Kid! From Akron! OMGZOR!!”
Seriously? Akron is what you are throwing out there? The mean, mean, mean streets of… The Rubber City. What an amazing obstacle to overcome for a physical freak (in a good way).
TD – Not lying to myself. Lebron comes back, I would not watch one more Cavaliers game with Gilbert as the owner.
I disagree I think he was over it, Cleveland, the moment he officially signed with Miami. If he wasn’t two championships, two series MVPs and two league MVPs probably later I think it’s safe to say he is now.
I probably have a better chance of being taken out by a drone but yes, there’s always a chance! đ
He most likely was speaking about not having a father or having much growing up in what were I believe project apartments compared to where he stands now. I didn’t have a problem with it.
The Akron, Ohio comment that got me came on NBA TV when he was sitting with Shaq, Greg Anthony, Chris Webber and Shane Battier. He said it wasn’t until he left home and moved to Miami that he grew up. It forced him to have a different perspective because until then all he had known was northeast Ohio.
So your the one?
Yeah, that’s almost the comparison. Except he didn’t just make fun of me or tease me â he gave me a wedgie in front of the whole school. For an hour.
It’s a you problem!
Akron ain’t Detroit, but it ain’t paradise either. From all accounts, he had a pretty unstable childhood, and certainly wasn’t as privileged as some athletes were. In addition, the unsaid part of this is: young black males in a lower to middle class situation often fall victim to lots of things before they reach adulthood. This is what hes referring to.
In short:I completely got what he was saying.