Gilbert played his own part in Lebron mess

I find Lebron James to be about as vile a testament to self-absorption and unprofessionalism as there possibly could be in our society.

His one-hour ESPN farce to announce where he was taking his “talents” showed him to be a 12-year-old boy in a 25-year-old man's body, and revealed the once revered athlete as nothing more than a egotist either unaware or uncaring of what his actions might do to others.

His refusal to take on the challenge of being the focal point of a championship run in Cleveland, New York, or Chicago show's him to be a basketball follower, ready to hand the responsibility of winning a ring to his friend Dwayne Wade. But, his decision to not even look his former employer, Dan Gilbert, in the eye to inform him he was leaving the Cavaliers after seven years where James was treated like a god, given every perk he could imagine, and paid hansomely for his services, reveals him to be a coward. The fact that he didn't even give the team a heads up before his “surprise” announcement and had a lacky hanger-on call Gilbert only minutes before announcing it live to the world, is further evidence that Bron Bron doesn't have the stomach to stand face to face with another man and deliver difficult news.

In response, Gilbert delivered what will go down in history as one of the most explosive rants against a former player. The message was so rambling, cutting from accusations against Lebron that he quit on games to calling down curses and hexes from the heavens, that it appeared at times to have been a stream-of-consciouness email that was never intended for the light of day. In fact, ESPN reporters were forced to do something they hadn't bothered with for more than a month: they confirmed the letter actually came from Gilbert before releasing its contents.

In one way, I understand and applaud Gilbert. That was a letter that represented Cleveland fans everywhere. Gilbert, the owner, said what his paying customers were feeling. As a football Giants fan, myself, the most encouraged I have been in my team was when, after last year's collapse at the end of the season, owner John Marra came out and essentially said “we will never see something like that happen again while I am here.” Too many owners check data sheets and bottom lines at the end of the season. It's why franchises like the Pittsburgh Pirates in baseball, or Detroit Lions in football, have wallowed in mediocrity for so long. Owners rarely show the type of emotion Gilbert did last week and when it is revealed that ownership cares as much about winning as the fans, it is heartening.

However, there is also a part of me that looks at Gilbert and wonders if he understands the part he may have played in what transpired last week.

From all accounts, Lebron James was essentially given free rein to do whatever it was he wanted to do while with the Cavs. He had little or no rules which had to be followed. Unqualified friends were given high-paying jobs within the organization, and other Lebron lackies were allowed to fly with the team, and live the NBA life, all to appease The King. While no specifics have been provided, it is believed that Lebron influenced player acquisitions, pushing for certain guys to be signed or even traded. That kind of ill-informed influence may have ended up putting the Cavs in a position where their roster was both shaky and inflexible, making winning a difficult proposition.

The more glaring problem is the attitude that was cultivated under Cavs management. By allowing Lebron to “rule the roost” it also allowed him to essentially remain perpetually a teenager. He was living his high-school life. No one was there to smack him on the hand and say “no.” If he wanted a new teammate, he got one. If he wanted a job for a buddy, they got one. If he wanted anything, Gilbert and the Cavs bent over themselves to make it happen.

While Gilbert might have thought such actions would engender loyalty or appreciation, all it did was empower Lebron to feel even more indispensible and entitled. Considering James had been handed everything he could want since his days in middle school, it didn't take much cow-cowing on the part of Gilbert to turn him into self-absorbed monster.

There's not a doubt in my mind that Gilbert would have had a better chance of keeping Lebron if he had played father rather than brown-nose friend. James has enough of those and could easily discard one and pick up another like he were going through Kleenex. If Gilbert had layed down the law, put some shackles on Lebron, brought in some respected veterans to show the “kid” right from wrong, and made it clear that greatness was inside Lebron, but with that came great responsibility, it seems far more likely he would have been showed a level of respect James, on his own, was incapable of showing.

Gilbert's letter, while striking a cord with so many that found the Lebron spectacle utterly distasteful, and while being thuroughly entertaining, also can't be taken that seriously. It reaks of a scorned lover, who showered praise and gifts upon their partner, only to find that person escaping to the arms of another.

Gilbert fed the Lebron ego. He catered to it. He never questioned it or tried to contain it for fear that any dissent would force James and his entourage out the door. Yet, after all that was handed to him, he still left because, just like it was with the Cavs, it was about James and no one else in the end.