1. An Essay to Cleveland
Lebron James

2. Roots “The Chosen One” The 2003 NBA Draft Lebron James Roots
He was born to a single mom in a poor working-class family in Akron, Ohio.
“The Chosen One”
He was a phenomenal high school basketball player who was dubbed by Sports Illustrated as the “Chosen One.” The fact that he made it on the cover of SI as a high school athlete is incredibly impressive.
The 2003 NBA Draft
The NBA draft is a lottery. The worse the team, the more ping-pong balls they get in the barrel. Therefore, the worst teams have the greatest chances of getting the best players.
In 2003, the Cleveland Cavaliers won the first draft pick in the lottery.
Everyone assumed James would go as #1 pick. In a stroke of fate, James was drafted by his hometown team!
STOP VIDEO AT 1:30 (the rest of the video shows him leaving Cleveland and is reserved for later).

3. Cleveland and James Cleveland Team Reflected by the City
James as silver bullet
(7 seasons)
It’s important to know that Cleveland is a small market NBA team. This means they
Have limited resources
Can’t keep up with larger markets
Are often a losing team
Have cold weather, brutal winters, which possibly makes it more difficult to recruit athletes to this location.
Rarely have good NBA season
Have no championship in the history of the organization
Have, as a city, no world championships since 1964
Browns’ Super Bowl win
1948: Indians’ World Series win
Team reflected city
Hard workers
Physical style of play
Played tough night in and night out
Working class cities most passionate about their sports teams
Lebron James seen as a silver bullet
Championship time—finally!
(7 seasons)
Estimated he brought $1 billion economic impact per year
Sold out every game
Rookie of the year in first year
Playoffs in 3-7th years but no championship
Finals in his 4th year—lost to Spurs. Got swept. Zero wins.
6th year, Cavs had best record in league. James MVP. No Finals.
7th year, MVP. Best team in Eastern Conference. No Finals.
He was at the top of his professional game but couldn’t bust through ceiling with Cavs. He also can’t seem to recruit any free agents to join him.
All of which led him to make “The Decision.”

4. The Decision Free Agent, 2010 Miami Heat: Hero To Villian
Reactions from Cleveland
Fans
Dan Gilbert’s Letter
Free Agent
He became a free agent in 2010, which means any of the 30 NBA teams could bid for his services, and he could chose the one he wants to play for.
Miami Heat: Hero to Villian
He announced that he was joining the Miami Heat.
Many people took issue with the way he announced it, which was during an ESPN one-hour special filmed at the Akron Boys’ and Girls’ Club. He was surrounded by all of these kids from his hometown, all of whom likely revered him as a hero. And he announced he was leaving Cleveland to play for Miami. He went from being a hero to a villain. People felt like he was one of them and was thus betraying him.
The “Gone” image is from the front cover of Plain Dealer (Cleveland’s largest newspaper).
Reactions from Cleveland (FINISH VIDEO FROM SLIDE 2 AT 1:30)
The fans feel betrayed by their native son
READ Dan Gilbert’s letter (read, discuss issues with arguing with emotion, which is not an ideal place from which to argue)

5. Cleveland Cavs Fans Being . . . Fanatic!!!

6. Dan Gilbert’s Letter to lebron
Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert posted this letter on the team's website after LeBron James' announcement he was leaving for the Miami Heat.
Dear Cleveland, All of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;
As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.
This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.
Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.

7. Dan Gilbert’s Letter to Lebron
The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.
There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.
You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.
You have given so much and deserve so much more.
In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:
"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER 'KING' WINS ONE"
You can take it to the bank.

8. Dan Gilbert’s Letter to Lebron
If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our "motivation" to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.
Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.
Sorry, but that's simply not how it works.
This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow-up to become.
But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called "curse" on Cleveland, Ohio.
The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south. And until he does "right" by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.
Just watch.

9. Dan Gilbert’s letter to Lebron
Sleep well, Cleveland. Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day.... I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only: DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue.... Dan Gilbert Majority Owner Cleveland Cavaliers

10. Back in Cleveland and down in Miami
In his absence…
Miami Heat
Why
4 years
In his absence…
In the first year without him,
Cleveland was the worst team in the NBA
They had a 26 game losing streak, which means they were tied for longest losing streak in American sports’ history.
So bad, they earned two #1 draft picks in the 4 years.
4 losing seasons, no winning record
No playoffs, No finals.
For James and the Miami Heat, it was a different story. Very successful.
Why?
Part of the reason James went to Miami was to play as the Big 3 (James with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh). Wade and Bosh are superstar players.
The three of them were in the same draft class
They made up 3 of 4 first draft picks that year.
Additionally, unlike small market Cleveland, Miami was a top 5 market.
Plus South Beach has great weather and there is no state income tax.
In the four years he was there,
They made it to the NBA Finals 4 times (all four years!)
They won 2 NBA Championships.
James was the Finals MVP twice (each of the 2 years they won it).

11. And NOW . . . He’s coming home.
Letter to Cleveland, July 24, 2014, Sports Illustrated publishes personal essay written by LeBron James to Cleveland.
“I’m Coming Home”
Rhetoric
After tons of hate mail and bad press . . .
4 NBA Finals Appearances . . .
1 huge apology from Dan Gilbert . . .
And a humble apology of his own . . .
2 NBA Titles . . .
King James is ready to go home!
Read the letter as a class.
Show VIDEO. Can stop at 1:16 (some foul lyrics in video after that).
Note: It’s true that Cleveland now has some high draft picks, but James’ real reasons for coming home are in the letter. It’s “bigger than basketball.” And it’s a phemenonal piece of rhetoric.

12. CLIPS
(Quick Overview, 27 seconds) His decision The Plain Dealer, Cleveland’s largest newspaper front page image vs Losing Lebron A Heartbroken City