Does ESPN Have a Pro-Cavalier Agenda For LeBron?
Written By: Rick | Category: Cleveland Cavaliers | Comments: 23We were alerted to a piece last Friday that simply has to be read to be believed. The article was written by Louis Roxin on the Real GM site, specifically the New York Knicks front page.
I’m not going to argue with Mr. Roxin about whether LeBron is or isn’t going to remain a Cavalier past 2010. To do so would be foolish. He is writing from a Knicks fan perspective, and I from a Cleveland slant. It is a chasing after the wind anyway, as LeBron is going to do what LeBron wants to do. Nothing that I or that Mr. Roxin say is going to change that, nor do either of us have some kind of connection to LeBron that gives us inside information.
What I can’t believe, what I am just dumbfounded about is that he actually claims the media, and ESPN in particular, is biased TOWARDS LeBron staying in Cleveland:
Many of us have carefully read the signals in the saga surrounding the pending free-agency of LeBron James, and the results are now in. Everything points in one clear direction: This planet’s leading voice in sports, the ESPN empire and all its affiliates and subsidiaries, want LeBron to remain in Cleveland for life. At a minimum, they’re expecting a substantial commitment from LeBron to the Cavs and they’d prefer he not put his considerable talents on the free-agent market at all, if it can be helped, a year from now.
Those who have been following the Cavaliers would have to think this is some kind of tongue in cheek sarcasm or joke. But no, he’s serious. That is his opinion. And it is the reason for his 2,500 word rant.
He gives three motives for this ‘bias for LeBron staying in Cleveland’. The first is the sentimental angle; hometown hero stays home. The second is the media’s disdain for the Knicks and their fans. Finally, raw empathy for a suffering city.
Let’s be clear on something. There was a small wave of “LeBron might stay after-all” stories recently, but could the real reason for these stories be the release of upcoming salary cap figures instead of blatant bias against the Knicks? Could the nation finally be on board with the idea that it makes more sense, financially, for LeBron to stay in Cleveland? I know, it’s something that we’ve been saying since the site’s inception, but the rest of the media has chosen by and large to ignore this until the cap figures were cut. Now LeBron can in fact make considerably more money by not leaving Cleveland. But I suppose NBA players aren’t driven by such things as money. (Funny, later in his piece Mr. Roxin actually admits that the smart move for LeBron would be to play out the option year of his contract; meaning he wouldn’t be a free agent next summer, adding himself to the list of LeBron to NY in ‘10 detractors)
Let’s talk briefly about the other two “motives” for the obvious bias in media coverage. Let me ask you which is the better story- LeBron becomes the next athlete in the parade to New York City, or LeBron spurns the Big Apple like NOBODY ELSE DOES in order to play for a franchise that he has built into a perennial winner. Personally I think the country is tired of the big name player signs in New York angle. And I’m sorry if you aren’t a Yankee or Met fan, Mr. Roxin, but those two teams kind of ruin sympathy for your town not getting every free agent you would like to have.
In the article he evens admits that LeBron leaving the Cavs would create “a suffering that would reach almost unimaginable depths of sports grief, playing out like the most heartbreaking Greek tragedy ever to hit Broadway, should LeBron jump ship for the big city.” So I’m confused, why wouldn’t this be a story to write? Why shouldn’t someone in the national media run with this angle? Oh right-
“Hope is a corny angle and doesn’t really sell in the media capital of the world, one brimming with ingrained cynicism for its sports, its politics and its public figures.”
Hope sells here. And I think it recently won someone an election in this country.
The question in regards to Chris Broussard’s recent coverage of the LeBron James/Trevor Ariza he said, he said shouldn’t be why does Chris want LeBron to stay in Cleveland? It should be why does Chris Broussard get away with false reporting? Or better yet, think about why this alleged conversation is news at all. Could it be that since July 18, 2006 when LeBron signed his most recent extension the media has shoved his free agency down our throats? The ink on that deal was hardly even dry when the first reporter started talking about “the summer of LeBron.” If there is any kind of slant in the media with regard to LeBron staying in Cleveland it could be because the world is sick and tired of hearing the “LeBron is leaving” cry that has gone out for three years now.
Now, I will address the truly absurd.
All the while the media seems to go on pretending that LeBron never said any of the following, just days after the Knicks cleared a maximum salary slot in 2010: “[Madison Square Garden] is the last building that’s still alive. It’s just a different feeling when you come into this building. You feel like, honestly, you’re on stage and playing the game of basketball more than you’re on the court, because of the fans and how the lighting is in here …. There’s no way for me to ever think that this is just another road game.” Or that in the same press conference, LeBron didn’t say: “Every time I come here, it’s like a warm feeling just because you know the history.” Or that LeBron’ favorite apparel isn’t a Yankee hat, worn even while the city of Cleveland was holding its collective breath during LeBron’s first interview after the Cavs were eliminated from the playoffs this past season.
Right. The media pretends LeBron never made pro-New York statements. They completely ignore the fact that LeBron grew up a Yankee fan and likes to wear a Yankee hat. Or that he grew up a Cowboy fan and was seen on the Dallas sideline in a game against the Browns in Cleveland for that matter. Wait, then how do we know these events took place? Come on. They go to commercial break on Sportscenter with these kinds of clips. The major media lives for Cavs/Knicks, Nets/Cavs games. The level of attention the press gives to LeBron anytime he’s in New York is absurd.
“Their tense tone concerning the topic, and the corresponding refusal to even consider the possibility that LeBron may not see himself finishing his career in Cleveland, implicitly confirms their own doubts. It’s a version of the truth hurts. Doubts hurt too, and so does unrequited love, even if it’s only just playful.”
How very poetic of you Mr. Roxin. And how unbelievably one sided your own perspective is if you really believe that Clevelanders don’t accept the possibility that LeBron may just leave after the 2009-2010 season. But I suppose this is a clue as to how incredibly narrow your vision is on the topic-
“Witness the infamous puppet bird commercial from Nike. When a blue (some say purple) and orange bird waited outside the window for the MVPuppet while LeBron did curls and counted down (or up) to 2010, Cavs’ fans and their enablers in the media almost pretended like the bird was not there, or was perhaps just the whimsical throw-in from one of Nike’s intern puppet makers. The purposely ambiguous implication was blinding.”
Are you serious about this? The colors on the puppet bird are supposed to be some sort of subliminal message that LeBron is signing with the Knicks? Let’s just assume for a second that you are correct, which is quite a stretch, but who exactly are you implying ordered this “ambiguous implication” be put in the commercial? LeBron himself? What national media member is supposed to devote column space, or camera time spreading that rumor? Wow.
I suppose I’d be grasping for straws myself if my franchise spent three years… wait I’ll let Mr. Roxin explain it himself-
“It’s great copy – and terrific ammunition to hold back the fire of the blogosphere – to perpetuate the agony that gripped the Knicks over the past several years. Things started to change when Donnie Walsh came aboard, began shedding bad contracts and put a defined red circle around July 1, 2010 on the calendar of every Knick fan.”
Yep, if my GM spent three years blowing up the roster under the incredibly pompous assertion that LeBron would choose to leave money on the table in Cleveland in order to play for New York – and vilify himself in his hometown – I’d be on edge myself.
Author: Rick
Rick is a co-founder and editor of WFNY. His love of Cleveland sports is surpassed only by his faith and love of his family. Follow him on Twitter- @rickwfny.Rick has written 743 articles for Waiting for Next Year.
reading that article on realgm hurt my brain… still havent figured it out! how does that dude have a job
The craziest thing of all is how the guy could be OFFENDED that the team that DRAFTED LeBron could have some kind of privilege to keep him. The New York view of free agency is so jaded. The assumption is that New York teams should always have an equal if not better shot at getting free agents than anywhere else in any league. Like because it is New York and because they have cap room that they should have first pick of available players.
This isn’t baseball, dude.
I h8 NY
I got through about half of the article before I could feel my brain turning into oatmeal. A media bias against New York. Now I’ve heard it all.
Lebron + Cleveland + ? = Profit. Apparently ESPN uses the same business model as the Southpark Underwear Gnomes.
There’s nothing about LeBron going to the Knicks that has ever made sense to me. The fact that he likes the Yanks and is friends with Jay-Z does not outweigh the fact that the Cavs (not the Knicks) have continued to build a team around him to win and the Cavs (not the Knicks) can get LeBron a more financially appealing situation. What’s the appeal? Less than or equal to 33 wins in the last 4 years?
You guys totally missed the most important point, which is so obvious it hurts.
Since ESPN is New England based, they want not only what is best for the Celtics, but also what’ worst for the Knicks and Nets. Clearly they have to do everything in their power to keep LeBron out of NY.
@Swig that is funny. We did discuss that in our emails last week and someone brought up the question of whether Bristol is actually closer to Boston or NYC.
According to Google Maps, it is 2 hours and 6 minutes to drive from Bristol to Boston and 2 hours and 2 minutes to drive from Bristol to NYC.
How far is it to Objectivity from Bristol?
Swig — that’s ridiculous. ESPN through its contractual relationship has financial ties to the NBA. ESPN wants the NBA to succeed, especially in ratings. If LeBron goes to NY the prevailing thought is that this would increase interest in basketball in the biggest market in the US. And I can’t argue with that. Ratings would probably go up, and therefore revenues go up and therefore ESPN makes more money. Mney always trumps hometown loyalty.
I watched on ESPN as on of the NBA experts (and I wished I knew his name) basically stated that the new cap number screws the Knicks because they can’t give two players max contracts in 2010 now. Which was the only way they were getting LeBron anyway. If LeBron and Wade/Bosh went together to NY that is attractive. LeBron going to NY to rebuild another franchise in the way he has the Cavs is not as enticing. This was the first time that I heard a national sports reporter acknowledge the obvious — that LeBron is better off financially and professionally staying in Cleveland.
He’s probably doing some crazy reverse psychology thing so the media sees his article and makes sure they do their part to move LBJ there in 2010. Or he’s a flaming idiot.
great article and rebuttal….it might not be his fault though cause new york has their head up their own a$$ that they can’t see from anyone else’s point of view
And also, I have no idea how the bird with Knicks colors is supposed to be promote a pro-Cleveland bias which was what his whole article was about
I’m sure people like Bob Ley are really going to influence Lebron’s decision making process on the issue of his pending FA after next season. I mean nothing says influence like “outside the lines” that is on at 9am on Sunday mornings.
is this an article from the Onion!!!? haha
The bird this is probably true. That can’t be an accident. It’s hardly a stretch. Those are very artistically inclined commercial producers and designers. I don’t think it’s a conspiracy. But a little blue-orange bird (which don’t exist by the way – true, they are muppets, but the rest of the setting is a legitimate simulacrum) cast in the foreground of the frame twice, tweeting for no apparent reason while Lebron counts down to 2010. Yeah, that’s definitely true. That’s definitely Nike. Nike wants him to leave. Don’t be silly – that’s the whole point of the commercial, isn’t it? 2008-2009-huff-2010…a sigh of release, uh, I mean, relief. Can you imagine how much apparel Nike would sell with Lebron in NYC? It would be absurd.
While the premise of this Roxin’s article is outrageous, I really think the reading of that commercial is not only legitimate, but keen, clever, and insightful.
@Dingo,
Welcome to the internet, isn’t it neat in here?
I’m confused about this dude’s angel… does he want us to feel sympathy towards NYC?
I love the bird conspiracy… all this time I’ve been trying to figure out LeBron’s allegiances by dissecting his quotes and soundbites, when all I needed to do was pay attention to Nike’s subliminal (puppet) messages. Genius.
Somebody should take Louis Roxin’s pen away from him for a while…. he’s clearly lost the privilege to write.
Wrong to accuse Broussard of false reporting. He reported on what someone close to Ariza said Bron said to Ariza – the counter-reports merely reported on what someone close to Bron said Bron said to Ariza.
Both reports really have the same amount of validity, don’t they? Plus, why would Ariza’s people make that story up…I’ve been searching for a reason and i can’t come up with one. However, there’s a pretty obvious reason Bron’s people would come out and say the opposite – it kills the mystique.
@ Mike- But shouldn’t Broussard have contacted LeBron for his side first? He knew the implications of that conversation. He knew the media frenzy that would develop by leaking that piece of conversation. To be honest, I expect a lot more from Broussard, who acts like LeBron’s pal. I’m certain that Broussard is dying for the rights to break LeBron’s decision first. I would think he should have sat on that conversation story until LeBron confirmed or denied it.
But I still don’t understand why he gets a free pass. He essentially broke one story, then broke the exact opposite story. How is that good journalism?
why would you write a stupid article, about someone elses stupid article?
Orange and blue bird. Weird.
http://www.nba.com/media/cavaliers/1987_blue_jersey.gif
http://www.nba.com/media/cavaliers/1983_orange_jersey.gif
I dont remember if I saw this on ESPN, ABC, or TNT, whatever. One analyst was talking about how the New York Knicks fans, and hell, the entire organization seem to think they are one of the elite franchises in the league… up there historically with Lakers, Celtics, Pistons and Spurs. His quote was great. “The Knicks are like the tonsils of the NBA, they’re nice to have around but you could do perfectly fine without them” I love it