If He Leaves Do The Cavs Retire Jersey?

There is no doubt in anybody’s mind of whom the greatest player in Cavs history… Lebron James has been in the league for 7 years, and has led the Cavs to heights that many in Cleveland never thought would be reached. That being said if he goes on ESPN and decides to choose another team, in my book Lebron James would instantly become the 2nd most villainous person in Cleveland sports history, behind Art Modell who decided to steal a whole team (Cleveland Browns) from the city. It is not just because he left but also the way in which he did so, if he had told the Cavs in June that he may not come back, and its not looking good, people would have been hurt but that pain would have subsided but by going on national television and then stabbing Cleveland fans in the heart would be one of the worst things in my recent memory.


By choosing another city Lebron James should not have his number retired just because it would be the equivalent to Barack Obama winning the presidency, and then going on CNN and saying I am not black I am Cablasian, throwing the African American community upside down and setting it back for ten years. I use this analogy because as much as he has done for the city of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, this decision would destroy the team and place the Cavs in a horrible place in terms of the near future.

Does a player who leads or is near the lead in all relevant categories deserve to hang in the rafters if his name would be vilified? I for one would not want to go to a Cavs game and see his name anymore, not because I don’t respect his body of work but because those names should signify pride and happy memories. Despite all that he has done from this point on no matter what has happened in the past, the only moment that would stand out in my mind would be the one where he stomps on the heart of the city by donning the hat of another team. I cannot be mad at Lebron James wanting to win and leaving for a “seemingly” better situation, but I can despise a player for disregarding the emotions he would elicit by dragging on this process, only to turn his back on a city that has been following him since the 9th grade.