to correct a few factual errors, essentially that people arguing that cleveland didn't do enough to keep him simply have no idea what they are talking about. that's not your fault, unless you are a cleveland fan, live in NE ohio or are an incurable NBA junkie, there is no reason for you to have known any of this... until now.

1. this year alone the Cavs had the third highest payroll in NBA, paid over $20 million in luxury tax, all to obtain veteran players to help win LeChoke now (for three years in a row).  that's $60 million out of pocket over and above what every other owner is spending.  most owners refuse to pay more than the luxury tax limit, Cavs owner Dan Gilbert went $20 million over three years in a row (it's a dollar for dollar tax).  sadly, the heat was ultimately rewarded for doing (and spending) absolutely nothing to get better for over the same three year period.

it is annoying and almost personally insulting to me to see intelligent posters on this board stating this absurdity (the Cavs didn't do enough to keep him) as if it were undeniable fact.  in fact, it is completely uninformed and flat out ignorant to say that the Cavaliers ownership did not attempt (and pay dearly) to surround james with complimentary players with the goal of winning a championship.  players james "signed off on" by the way. 

can the heat say the same thing about what they have done for wade these past three years?  they surrounded him with nothing, except the second pick of the draft (which they obtained by being terrible and which they blew by drafting beasley).  on the other hand, the cavs turned spare parts and expiring contracts into pricey yet experienced veterans including four former all-stars (to correct the notion there was no other talent on the team) and the kind of quality role players that the big me, er, three + miller + 8 minimum wage scrubs will certainly not have as teammates any time soon.  this is a team that led the NBA in wins the last two years. during LeScam's extension period, the general manager and coach each won GM and coach of the year distinctions.  this was not isiah's knicks, this was the polar opposite.  this was, and is, regarded as one of the best-run organizations in professional sports.

2.  should i even mention the $20 million practice facility and team office complex not coincidentally built 10 minutes from LeFraud's compound?  let me know when daddy mccruiseship (or any other NBA owner not named mark cuban) spends $80 million out of pocket to keep his superstar happy.  in retrospect, that may have been the biggest part of the Cavs' problem.

3.  it boggles the mind that anybody can suggest that the completely manufactured charitable aspect of last night somehow whitewashes what was unquestionably a fete of narcissistic self-promotion of historic and epic proportion, the likes of which made deion sanders, muhammad ali and joe namath blush in embarassment. 

4.  these are just facts and, other than a few jibes here and there for my own amusement, most of this should not even be in dispute.  you can always debate whether they could have done "more," whatever that means and i have no intention of entering that debate.  clearly my opinion on the matter is well known and documented.

furthermore, i have no intention of even wading into any moralistic waxing and waning about whether the owner should have said what he said, whether any of it is actually true, how LePromote handled this whole fiasco (hint - compare it to kevin durant or even wade/bosh if you want my answer), whether he LeChoked (or LeTanked) in the Boston series, whether he's shown that he can be a real leader or just a self-proclaimed one, whether he had any responsibility to his home town team / city / region, whether he should infomred the Cavs (or even the other suitors) of his decision prior to the announcement, etc.  these are emotional subjects that i reconigize that reasonable minds could differ on.  my firmly-held opinions on all of these subjects are not changing any time soon so engaging in debate would be fruitless because (a) i am emotional about this at this time (and, if my replies to MDGatorFan about the ravens are any indication, i will be for quite some time), (b) i have nearly 25 years of vested interest in this team (I attended my first Cavs game at the Coliseum in Richfield in 1988 and can still recite the starting lineup) and, by extension, seven years of devoted interest in this player that most of you did not have until around 9:20 p.m. last night and (c) many of you will not like what i have to say so why bother going there in the first place?

of course you can reply to this but i am done making any comments on LeScamapalooza.  i am also done replying to errors of fact, you may now feel free to believe what you want to believe but at least you now know some of the actual facts as they pertain to the situation.  do with them what you wish.  as uncle junior once said to tony, some people in the race are so far behind, they actually think they're leading.

to fans of any sports teams, this should serve as yet another reminder why idolatry and star worship is the absolute worst part of team sports and the worst possible thing for a "fan" of any team to do.  the BEST thing about college sports (except calipariball) is that players are loved for being on your team, you don't love a team because they have a certain player.

with that, i bid you adieu.  for now.  if there is a God, Tom will be making a "XX Days until Gator Football" post very, very soon.