While We’re Waiting… The LeBron Years, “Interchangeable” Safties, and Loyalty in Sports
July 14, 2010Indians All Star Break Analysis – The Rotation
July 14, 2010If you haven’t heard by now, Zydrunas Ilgauskas will be signing with Miami to join the Chimera. This is according to his agent Herb Rudoy. The Cavaliers’ all time leader in games played, rebounds and blocked shots will wear the colors of another team* for the first time in his 14 NBA years. (Zydrunas never played for the Wizards despite being traded at the deadline last season.) The Heat will have on their active roster Cleveland’s all time leaders in games played (Z), minutes played (James), FG made and attempted (James), FT made and attempted (James), offensive and total rebounds (Z), steals (James), blocked shots (Z), turnovers (James), fouls (Z) and points (James).
Ilgauskas did not announce his choice in primetime. He first called Dan Gilbert and Chris Grant to thank them for the opportunity and say that he would appreciate the chance to return to the organization in some capacity when his career ends, more than likely after this season. He was recruited heavily by good friend LeBron James. Unlike James, he had this to say about Cleveland-
“I don’t have to tell you how much I love Cleveland,” Ilgauskas said. “I know I’m from Lithuania, but Cleveland will always be my home. I love the people of Cleveland. But at some point in life, life changes and you have to move on. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be back in the summer. I’m just changing my workplace.
“I’ve been a loyal soldier for 14 years. I just feel it’s time for me to go and chase my dream of winning a ring. If I’m fortunate enough to do that, a lot of me will thank Cleveland for it.”
As of 11:23pm Tuesday night, no Ilgauskas jerseys were reported to have been burned.
With the trade deadline approaching this past January, it became obvious that if the Cavaliers were to add a significant piece to the team, Zydrunas would be the contract they would use to accomplish the goal. There was a voice among Cavalier fans that pleaded for them to keep Z, saying that winning a title without him would seem somewhat hollow. It was not a loud voice. And it was drowned out by the screams for Danny Ferry to do whatever it took to improve the team, even if it meant parting with the 7-3 Lithuanian that had been through so much as a member of the Cavs. The belief was that Zydrunas would likely receive a buyout anyway, and choose to come back to the Cavaliers. It worked out that way, even though Zydrunas was clearly upset about the trade as well as Mike Brown’s snub the night he was to break the all time games played record. Ilgauskas felt somewhat betrayed, and certainly fans could see that point of view. He came back to win a championship, and well, we know how that turned out.
It will be strange to see Zydrunas in a Miami uniform. But it is safe to say that Cleveland fans will wish no ill-will towards Zydrunas. In fact, if I had to guess, I would guess that Zydrunas will get a loud ovation from Z when he returns to the Q. James will too, but it will be a lot different.
And that is where Miami fans, and media types around the country will try to call Clevelanders out. The two situations are of course night and day. Those who say that the manner in which James went about his business shouldn’t matter to fans are surely mistaken. But here’s a word that I caution Cleveland fans from using in making a defense- it’s about loyalty.
I remember very vividly hearing LeBron say during his television debacle that “I know how loyal I am” and thinking that was the most ridiculous thing ever uttered by an athlete. It seemed absurd of course because LeBron was doing the exact opposite of what Cleveland fans would think was loyal. Yes, he made statements all along that made us think he would honor his word and stay until Cleveland was able to hold a championship parade. He sold loyalty as a brand. It was part of his image. But what we didn’t understand was that he was loyal to something else entirely.
We kind of were hoping for that secretly. It has always been about the money with elite athletes. Sure, there are a few exceptions, but for the most part they followed the cash. And for once that was good news for Cleveland. Because of the NBA rules Cleveland could offer more money than any other team. Boston couldn’t offer more money than us (Ramirez), and neither could New York, forcing a trade out of town because we were losing him down the road (Sabathia). We loved to use that as a defense for LeBron staying. We threw that out like a badge of honor, and we cried foul when New York tried to say that LeBron could earn more in endorsements there than in Cleveland. We were counting on LeBron being loyal to his hometown, or money. Both would have kept him in town. LeBron it turned out was loyal to something different. He was loyal to his own idea of what was best. So he, Bosh and Wade plotted and established the first AAU NBA team.
But what about fans? We’re loyal. We’re loyal to the teams we love. We’re loyal to the colors, the tradition. But we do have our moments. When a player begins to lose effectiveness, we start to hear rumblings. When teams don’t live up to our expectations, we call for the coach to be led to slaughter. When General Managers make trades or sign players that don’t work out, we call for the owners to take action. And when teams fail year after year, we plead for those owners to sell the team, because who really owns the franchise, the man signing the checks or the fans of the city that is on the jersey?
So LeBron and Zydrunas will suit up for another team. One will always be welcome and one may as well find a new home on the beach. And that’s ok. But let’s not use loyalty as the reason that one is hated and one is loved. We are all loyal. We’re just loyal to what serves our own needs.
(Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
57 Comments
I don’t think I’ve ever used the term “loyalty” when it comes to any professional athlete. Since the advent of free agency it’s really hard for me to openly root for a player because i know when the next big contract comes along it’s all about the money and not about the team. For every one Cal Ripken there are 50 Joey Belle’s that will go to whomever signs the largest paycheck.
I don’t fault Z for leaving. He’s on borrowed time in the NBA and is chasing a championship much like Karl Malone did when he signed with the Lakers. He left with class though which is unlike what LeFraud Shames did. How many times in that one hour debacle did he refer to himself in the 3rd person? 5? Did he go to the Rickey Henderson School For Public Speaking? I knew that LeFraud wouldn’t stay here his entire career. I just figured that when he did leave he wouldn’t make such a spectacle out of himself.
I have absolutely no problem with Ilgauskas going to Miami. He’s handled both the good and bad in his 14 years in Cleveland with the utmost class. If Lebron James manages to become 1/20 of the man Zyrdrunas Ilgauskas is, he should get down on his knees and thank God. If Miami does indeed win a title, Z being on the roster will be the only positive, no matter how small that positive may be.
@Gregg – “Z is leaving a lottery team to play out the final year of his career.”
Not only that, he left a lottery team that didn’t really try all that hard to get him back
Miami Heat fan here. Good post & blog. Since our team won the lotto [yes we worry about this turning into a curse], it’s much easier to try and think about this more analytically. But you’ve done it from the other side. We sport fans are the same all over. Heck, we’re still not over the Terry Porter Bowl.
Z, I’ve loved having you in Cleveland for 14 years. The hard thing about that 14 years, you’ve been serving that long and didn’t get a ring. So you don’t owe us anything in Cleveland. We traded a loyal soldier for Antwan Jamison. And you choose to come back and then get trashed by the coaching staff. I understand and I love you. I hope you win a ring in Miami. You deserve one!
[…] have been angered by Z for picking Miami as the destination to “take his talents.” Rick wrote an exceptional piece last month on Z and loyalty that is worth revisiting. His decision to join the Heat presents an […]
[…] while most fans have a bit of closure with regard to Ilgauskas leaving Cleveland via free agency, the veteran big man is still unsure […]