July
11 th
Akron, Ohio Removes “Home of LeBron James” Sign
Written By: Scott | Category: Cleveland Cavaliers | Comments: 62“Akron, Ohio Will Always Be My Home”
- LeBron James, May 2, 2010, accepting his second consecutive MVP trophy at the University of Akron
Judging by the purely unaltered photo above, it appears that Akron, Ohio surely has their say in the matter. Once embracing James as the son who could do no wrong, it is becoming more evident – despite James’ best efforts at keeping Akron and Cleveland separate – that both Ohio cities are completely disgusted by the events of the last 72-plus hours.
The two-time MVP is officially “homeless.”
–
Updated image via Jacob Rosen/WFNY
Author: Scott
Scott is a co-founder/editor of Waiting For Next Year who resides in Cleveland, Ohio. Feel free to follow him on Twitter or email him at scott@waitingfornextyear.com.Scott has written 2076 articles for Waiting for Next Year.
But where will Rick Reilly get to tape LeBron’s Homecoming show?
From Dwayne Wade’s house
Look, I’m as upset about the kick in the junk delivered Thursday night by lebron, but that’s just cold.
Oh well…I guess turnabout is fair play.
Is he going to remove the tattoo of “Loyalty” from his chest?
How about the 330 area code down his forearm?
Damn, I didn’t think those signs were real when I saw them pop as people’s FB profile pics…
Edit: Nevermind, the second pic wasn’t what I thought it was.
Good for them for removing it. Might seem juvenile in one way, but on the other hand, why acknowledge him any longer?
@Matty, 330 could be changed into 305 fairly easily. Maybe they could change the other to LOLalty while they’re at it?
Signs like this are hung to show people how proud a community is of it’s famous residents.
LeQuitter’s actions over the past few days are nothing to be proud of, and actually are a disgrace to Akron. Kudos to Akron for not embracing this embarrassment.
(Again, it’s not the leaving itself that is embarrassing…it’s the way he did and and has handled himself during the process.)
LOLalty.. HAHA
Has anyone mentioned Larry, Curly and Mo all signed contracts that have a provision in it that they can leave after four years? If they were so confident they were going to amass seven championships then why the need for an escape clause after just four years? Kind of interesting.
The “Chosen One” tat could be changed to
“Chose2bSecond”
My brother refers to the Heat as cHeat now. I find that humorous. What other nicknames could we give these three?
LBJ= Loyalty Betraying B@$t@rd
I like the “He Who Shall Not Be Named”
Lebenedict James
As an Akronite, it does piss me off that LeBron’s twitter bio says that he’s “King of Akron”.
This is a clear sign that the King has been deposed.
@12, with all the spanish spoken in Miami he can just go from “LBJ” to “El BJ”
Bravo to Akron for speaking it’s mind in this small way.
Maybe LeBrA$$ will not be able to so easily separate Cleveland from Akron anymore.
On the other hand I wouldn’t put it past him to now remove all his support for the city.
(I bet Gilbert will step in to support those kids ten-fold though.)
As a University of Akron Alumni and resident I am proud of “Our City”. No one should feel they have the right to say they are the King of any city.
Whether you are from Akron, Cleveland, Mogadore or Parma we are all from this region. If they were the
Akron Cavaliers and I lived in Cleveland I would support them just as most people in Akron have supported the Cavs in Cleveland.
I feel bad for LeBron. I hope one day he wakes up because he surely does not remember who he was or where he came from. He has let outside unfluences change his beliefs….unless everything he said in the past was untruthful. He might not regret it now but in time he will.
He’s a punk. It’s all he was and all he will ever be. Shamrock asked a good question about the escape clause. Well why not when the clown can do it all over again in 4 years? I applaud Akron for doing that too. Personally I am done with this quitter who admitted he is the sidekick to Wade on national TV. I’m ready for some football and even to see how the young guys on the Tribe do. We will get over this. We got over everything else. It’s why we live in a hardworking tough town. Go Cavs, Go Indians, Go Browns. And also much love to the fans of the teams in this city. We do not get enough credit for it.
haha @ 14 i’m calling him El BJ for the rest of my life
Looks like the sign may have been vandalized as well–not that I’m complaining……
LeBron lived in a bubble & never understood why we loved him. It was much more than putting a basketball through a hole or winning, it was about being the best at something while lifting your community up. He talked about core values but his actions didn’t back what he said. He took the path of least resistance so he can sell shoes in China. In the last year, LeBron has yet to speak from his heart. What I respected about Dan Gilbert’s letter is he didn’t politically speak, he expressed his true emotions. Until LeBron starts getting real with who he is a person & realize it all matters, he will continue to be a boy without a home. No trophy can ever change that he embarrassed Akron this week.
@16, Following LeBoob since highschool, he will regret it. He’s a loyal person and it will kill him that he can no longer live in Akron. He is just delusional and receiving bad advice from uneducated 25 year olds. I believe that he thought we would retire his number and many of us would root for him in Miami. He may win a championship or 2 but when he’s 45 and wishes to settle down,he will regret doing this to his home town. But that doesn’t make me feel any better about this.
did the city remove the sign or was it vandalized?
@MikeLip,
I am assuming that the city removed it, after the sign was vandalized. Although, I will not be surprised if Akron does not replace the sign.
School Zone Safety > LeBron James
Don’t read too far into Akron’s commitment to school zone traffic laws.
I tend to agree with MikeLip. It was probably stolen. For one, it would probably take some bureaucratic action to remove the sign, and no bureaucracy works that fast. Second, I doubt very much that the government worker who’s in charge of signs works on weekends.
@17–well put. as they say, the best revenge is living well. I hope even as tough as we’ve had it sports-wise people just don’t give up over what is no doubt a massive disappointment. Gotta keep fighting, Cleveland.
I dont see how it was vandalized or stolen. If you notice there is a smaller sign in its place. I dont think vandels did that! Clearly the city did. Also, that is not something the city would do if they were just taking it down becasue someone ruined it. They simply would have put up antoher Lebron sign.
whoever took it down deserves a beer, and jesse jackson needs his mouth stuffed with cotton
@MattyFos –
My favorite new LeBron nickname is “King Nothing,” per the shockingly apt Metallica song. Seriously, listen to the lyrics and tell me it doesn’t fit perfectly:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAGP24eq_0o
My favorites so far:
“LeBrand”
And
“at what point will James have his chosen on tattoo fixed to read chosen1/3?”
And
“taking my talents to South Beach has officially become the new euphemism for taking a large bowel movement”
But of course we are all over it by now.
Here is something funny. I’ve always that Bosh seemed like a dumba$$ but now he just makes me laugh. I finally watched the cHeat party they had to see his slip up about the tampering and noticed how that kid acts. He really things cHeat fans are excited about him. Attn: Chris Bosh. Your new teammates are Wade and Jaime. They could careless about you. They’ve got 2 of the best players in the league. He acts like that guy that is always there but never like. Feels like he’s part of the group. It makes me chuggle. Check it out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9BqUBYaHlM
King Nothing def applies. Curiously “talk” by coldplay also applies in a weird way.
anyway if you haven’t read it – Pat McManamon of Fanhouse has written the best article on this whole thing in my opinion.
http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/07/09/lebrons-james-decision-a-cruel-blow-to-his-hometown/
If you read Mayor P’s comments about Lebron over the weekend, they will most definitely replace the sign. Mayor P still wants Lebron to be involved with the city and community.
Personally, I think it’s a joke. Does Lebron help the city of Akron pass school levies? Does he bring jobs to Akron or balance the debt?
Who cares about some token charity of giving away bikes? Are bikes really going to help these poor inner city kids?
I’m a big fan of “The LYIN’ KING” tag for LeBron. That being said, I do like the nickname Miami “cHeat” too.
Miami Heat: the Three Am-Egos
Chosen 1/3
LYIN King… HAHA love it
Maybe we should just refer to LBJ (Loyalty Betraying J@ck@$$) as Princess.. Princess James acted like a Diva. And I think LeDiva has run its course.. So Princess James may be in.
LOLalty was pretty clever.
I like Chosen 1/3.
le mentira Rey is spanish for “the lying King”
A spanish nickname may be fitting for him and his new casa.
Why do I feel like I’m watching Fox News Network? I wrote a comment that differed from all the others and it was removed. So I don’t agree that Lebron wronged Akron/Cleaveland and it gets censored? Great outlet to express your opinion. Maybe if any of you ever left the Artic of Ohio and actually saw what Florida has to offer, you may understand Lebron’s decision….I’m just saying.
It’d be nice if they replaced it with the photoshopped picture.
someone last week mentioned this (huge shout out to whoever it was….sorry i cant recall!), but it is almost SCARY how it appears Alice in Chains wrote the song “Your Decision” for this moment (even down to the title). Here are some excerpts. By the way, fantastic song…
Time to change has come and gone
Watched your fears become your God
Overwhelmed, you chose to run
Apathetic to the stunned
You feed the fire that burned us all
When you lied
To feel the pain that spurs you on
Black inside
No one plans to take the path that brings you lower
And here you stand before us all and say it’s over
It’s over
It might seem an afterthought
Yes it hurts to know you’re bought
It’s your decision
Can we cut it with the implied disparaging comments using female nouns and pronouns to describe LeBron? I’m a girl and there’s no way I would act the way he did.
Are these even the same signs?
The Akron sign is dented in one photo and not the other. The white Akron Welcomes You sign shows rust on the bottom in one photo but not the other.
@ Cindy-
LOL, sorry.
@ #41,
for the thousandth time it’s not that he left it was how he did it. We get it, Cleveland Ohio weather blows. If you don’t think what he did last week was wrong on any level then you are arguing to the wrong crowd and probably missing the whole point of the rants in the first place.
Bravo, Mayor Plusquellic or whoever it was with the stones to send these signs to the scrap yard pronto. As far as supporting Akron goes, I’m told his old boys club & the SVSM gyms look just like they did they day he walked out of them. Hmph… some support. I’m a Clevelander, but I have to say (and to #6 if he’s out there) – fly out of Hopkins toward Baltimore or Washington someday… there is no differentiating the 216 from the 330. We are one NEO, and proud to be so.
@ #47
My question to all of you bitter Cleavelander’s is this. How would Mr. Gilbert have handled it when he decided that Lebron was washed up and the game had passed him by? I doubt he would have given him a “free pass” once he was no longer of any value to the Cavs regardless of where his hometown was. Why do people expect such loyalty from these players when the players don’t get it from the owners? What about Z, who wants to stay in Cleaveland and Gilbert won’t give him a new contract. So you have a player that wants to be loyal and look where it’s getting him.
@41 re: “Maybe if any of you ever left the Artic of Ohio and actually saw what Florida has to offer, you may understand Lebron’s decision….I’m just saying.”
That is just straight up ignorant.
Many of us have lived and/or traveled to many places across this country. I, for one, have traveled all over the US and I can tell you with absolute certainty that I would NEVER live in Florida under any circumstances.
@22 – I would almost guarantee it was stolen. They kept disappearing after they first went up. I drive that way a lot and haven’t noticed one in a long time. Then again, I haven’t been looking either.
@50 re:Many of us have lived and/or traveled to many places across this country. I, for one, have traveled all over the US and I can tell you with absolute certainty that I would NEVER live in Florida under any circumstances.
Laura-Not to say that the Cleaveland area does not have its good points not that I witnessed any while I was there. I too have traveled across the US as well as abroad. My sentiment towards Ohio is much the same as yours towards Florida. You must admit that the culture, weather and entertainment is much more suited for a 25 year old millionaire than Cleaveland. In the words of Joakim Noah, “who says they are going to Cleaveland for vacation?” We have had numerous athletes in Florida that have left to play for other teams and we don’t personally attack them for it. We are still proud of the them regardless of where their career takes them. A large number of high caliber athletes are from Florida, as you should know seeing as how Ohio State can’t seem to beat the Gators, and they go elsewehre to play and we don’t burn jerseys and act like a bunch babies. Keep in mind that the Heat came very close to loosing D. Wade. If the shoe had been on the other foot, most rational people would understand it is a business decision. The Cavs, as well as the fans, would have shown no loyalty to Lebron had his career been at the end. As soon as he was no longer an asset, you all would have been screaming to trade him.
Whether or not the culture, weather, and entertainment are more suited to a 25 year old millionaire is completely a matter of personal preference. If I was a 25 year old millionaire, I’d still take Cleveland over Florida. I know tons of people who would agree. Obviously, LeBron doesn’t. Oh well.
I’m sure there are some crazies out there who are attacking LeBron for leaving, but I haven’t heard anyone do that. I don’t know how many times we can reiterate that the reason we are upset is the way he did it. We’re not just blowing smoke. LeBron has the right to play wherever he wants. Did I want him to stay? Of course. Do I think he made the right business decision? No, but it’s not my life. Am I losing any sleep over him no longer being a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers? Absolutely not. If he had done this in a way that was more similar to this http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/?p=30943 I would be sorry to see him go but I would be thanking him for 7 great years of basketball and wishing him well in his career.
As far as LeBron at the end of his career is concerned, you can’t possibly know how we would react. But in my 29 years as a Cleveland sports fan, I’ve seen the people of this city react the exact opposite way when it comes to aging fan favorites. Ask some Clevelanders how they felt (and still feel) about losing people like Bernie Kosar or Omar Vizquel, just to name a couple.
Laura- I guess we are just going to have to agree to disagree. As far as not hearing anyone attacking Lebron for leaving, what do you call most of the post on this site? Could Lebron have notified the Cavs of his intentions in a more personal way, sure but once again, I find it hard to believe that Lebron would have been given any more of a fair notice had the owners of the Cavs decided to let him go. And for Bernie and Omar, it was a different era, some of which I wish we as fans could see return. There was a mutual respect back then that went both ways. When Bernie left the Hurricanes we did not expect him to remain and play for the Miami Dolphins. That just isn’t realistic to think that all atheletes will remain in the city that they started in. The sports industry has changed significantly since Bernie and Omar were relevant. Not to mention Bernie Kosar was no Lebron James. And I do say that with the upmost respect as I know Bernie persoanlly and think highly of him. I am sure you are aware that Bernie is also a part time south Florida resident. Once again, yes, Lebron could have handled the situation more tactfully, but Mr. Gilbert can not go without some sort of blame. Doesn’t it make you wonder why he left a team where he played for 7 years, where he basically grew up, where he was adorned by the entire state, for millions less. Yes, I know I have been knocking Cleaveland, but after all is said and done, I find it nearly impossible to believe he would have come to Miami (eventhough our weather is great) if everything was as wonderful as some would have you believe. It just doesn’t add up. It has been nice exchanging opinions with you, and honestly, I really didn’t think Cleaveland was all that bad
You guys just need to cut Lebron a little slack and let it go! It sure will make for an interesting rivalry.
Sorry to burst bubbles but that specific sign on west market by revere road heading east has been gone for more than a year. Don and the city didn’t take any signs down.
As for Jesse Jackson, he doesn’t speak for all black folk. Gilbert, is not a slave owner at the amount of money he paid Labron. Labron, owed Gilbert the respect after being on his team of letting him know that he planned to leave.Just say “I am going to leave”. And that would have made him a MAN. not a 25 year old inmature person. His actions were inmature. People in Cleveland would have excepted that better than not giving Gilbert any respect. After all he disrespected those loyal fans who paid $100.00 or more dollars for each game. They will continue to support the Cavs, because they are that kind of town. Thank you Gilbert.
This ‘it’s a business’ line is being milked to excuse any number of sins. It’s as though ethics in business are that much different from ethics in.. life. Let’s look at this.
Sport is indeed a business. But what is the product this particular business is selling? Sports?… meh. My son’s youth hockey is a sport I can watch for free. Remarkable athletics? The Will Mastic Trio was amazing athletically.. but wasn’t in the sports business. Competition? I can get that watching Adobe and Apple swing at each other.
Why do we care about our sports teams? Why root for Cleveland and not Kansas City? It’s because this BUSINESS is built on primitive, human, tribal loyalty. As Frowns touched on, it’s being able to say ‘my place was the best.’ it a subconsciously emotional feeling (ie, primitive). it’s strong enough to make people buy the colors of their tribe/community. and then WEAR THOSE COLORS ON THEIR BODIES AS CLOTHING.
(think about that.)
so it’s this emotion that creates the demand for the product of this BUSINESS.
yeah it’s a business, michael wilbon. but let’s not be naive about what the business sells.
and so when an athlete builds his ‘brand’ playing to sense of community and loyalty… and then leaves for less money and jetskis… that community will feel not just hurt. that community will feel exploited. after all this BUSINESSMAN sold his BRAND to us under false pretenses.
agree with 56 and @ 41 we are Cleveland fans, that means something, we have seen enough crap with our sports that people should know by now we are loyal to our city. The False Prophet left childishly and now has to live with the consequences, he said all that mattered was that he was happy and so now he is. But his selfish and childish way of leaving leaves a nasty taste in the mouths of those who supported him. And so yeah we are not happy and he is no longer one of us: HIS choice not ours. He decided during the last two Celtic games not to show up.
Here’s a quick question: If Gilbert could write like that (and speak to the AP) immediately after hearing where he decided to go would you want to work for him? Since we don’t know the behind the scenes of that organization wouldn’t it be fair to assume that LeBron knew the ‘true’ Dan Gilbert before he started showing his immaturity via his teen angst letter? If any of you all saw the documentary on his high school team/friends wouldn’t it also make sense that maybe he just wanted to have fun with friends again?
As much moaning as I hear about “How he did it” I rarely hear any reasons as to why he should have stayed. The Cavs organization has made an insane amount of money off of his brand and in the process tried to do a quick fix to get him a championship ring in hopes that he states. When you look at the team you need to ask yourself what’s the core? How can he pull off championships with a team that constantly defers to him? If I were LeBron I would have left and the current choice will ensure a few more years of him at his peak since he won’t be (like D.Wade has) relied to clock the most minutes in order to win. As a Pistons fan I can only say that you all should have been gracious about him leaving and thank him for his years of service, like we were when Big Ben left in the middle of our title runs.
Either way it’s entertaining to watch Ohio reinvent hate into a mutant version of itself. Plus every time Gilbert opens his mouth he alienates any chance of you all being able to get any stars of worth because they’ll know how he truly is. Good luck on your season and I’ll be watching when he comes to Cleveland
The sign was vandalized with “Akron Hates You”… of course they’re going to take it down.
A Cavs Fan .. and ‘was’ a Heat fan. Lebron can no longer call himself King James – as D’Wade is and always will be the Miami King. James is now what….. COURT JESTER JAMES? Now my favorite team (after the Cavs) will be whatever teams is playing the Heat. I have no problem with him leaving…. as all have said – it is the way he disgraced him hometown doing it. For someone who once claimed ” I am not a ring chaser – I will bring it Cleveland ” HA! He has shown that HE can’t do it without being the sidekick to someone who can.
Lebron James = Wade’s Pippen!