“His feelings of betrayal personify a slave master mentality…”

“He sees LeBron as a runaway slave. This is an owner employee relationship — between business partners — and LeBron honored his contract.”

Jesse Jackson

I totally disagree with Jesse Jackson on this; how can you bring race in this matter? What we have here is an owner (Dan Gilbert) who is upset he lost his #1 cash cow in LeBron James. Was Dan Gilbert’s comments out of line; in my opinion yes! Calling LeBron James a coward is ridiculous; as an 18-year-old James came into the NBA with a tremendous amount of hype and the weight of a city on his shoulders. In his 7 years with the Cavs LeBron handled himself great maturity and never shamed the city of Cleveland or the Cavaliers. James was able to make the Cavs a top draw as they seemed to always be on TNT during the NBA season; so when did LeBron act like a coward??

Dan Gilbert spit so much fire at LeBron in his open letter that even Dylan was impressed, HAHA!!!

Seriously tho Dan Gilbert acted like Spencer Pratt after Heidi left him; instead of acting a professional he let his emotions get the best of him. In no way am I making any excuses for Gilbert, but for Jesse Jackson to say Gilbert sees LeBron as a “Runaway Slave” is a bit of a stretch. I don’t know if Jackson felt he had to defend LeBron’s decision to leave; James has received a lot of negative press since making his decision. From Cleveland to New York City fans are feeling betrayed by LeBron (still not sure why Knicks fans are so upset). Whatever the reasons are Jesse took a sensitive issue like racism (slavery) and interjected into a situation where we have a millionaire owner mad at a millionaire (new money) basketball player.

“Slavery” in this case is a hard sell;especially when you look at LeBron’s career in Cleveland. Since day one with the Cavs, LeBron has controlled that organization. Best believe that there was not a single player/personnel move made in Cleveland without it first being passed by King James. I don’t know many slaves that would receive treatment like that. The whole free agency process itself showed the control James and his team (Team LeBron) maintained. Jackson’s comparison to slavery is a slap in the face to those who really faced slavery.

Jesse Jackson SHOULD be looking into the Oscar Grant case if he wants to do something positive. LeBron doesn’t need “Messy Jesse” coming to his rescue, James has his situation in had. I mean who else would leave approximately $20-30 Million on the table to take less money?? Only someone who is in more control than we give him credit for…

No disrespect Jesse Jackson but do us all a favor and SHUT THE HELL UP!!!

Update 7/13/2010: Monday night David Stern addressed the media from Las Vegas and announced that the Cleveland Cavaliers will be fined $100K for owner Dan Gilbert’s comments concerning LeBron James leaving the Cavs for the Miami Heat. David Stern also stated he disagreed with Jesse Jackson’s statements about Gilbert looking at LeBron as a “Runaway Slave”

As always….
If there is something to be said, “Its On Broadway” to step up and say it!!!