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Karl Malone and Scottie Pippen
Karl Malone
Malone spent nearly his entire career in Utah before joining a powerful Lakers team that had Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant for a last-ditch run at a title in 2003-04 was more understanding about James' decision. He refused to criticize James for leaving Cleveland for a better shot on a better team, however, he didn't care for the way the decision was made. "That's his decision. My decision, when I left Utah, I went to L.A. to win a championship and had an opportunity," Malone said. "Him leaving, that's him. I don't know what to tell you. The way it went down, I'm not into that."
Malone eventually got hurt and the Lakers fell short, and he also warns that injuries could get in the Heat's way.
"I would say this: With the guys they got, they're going to be a hell of a team," Malone said of the Heat. "I pick the Lakers." Malone also joked that former coach and current ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy "must have had some red wine that night, a lot of it," when he predicted recently that the Heat could break Chicago's record of 72 wins set in 1995-96.
Malone said the Lakers also got better over the summer with the additions of Matt Barnes and Steve Blake. While admitting he's biased, he believes they will win a third in a row.
"As long as you've got Kobe on that team," Malone said, "and Derek Fisher on that team and Pau Gasol and coach (Phil) Jackson and his staff, I'm picking the Lakers."
Scottie Pippen
“Heat need to start with smaller expectations,” "I'd like to see them win a championship first," he said. Pippen also thinks Miami's size could be a problem.
James was criticized for deciding to announce his free agency decision during an ESPN special, rather than inform the Cavaliers and his other suitors himself. Pippen agreed that James' decision to announce his free agency decision during an ESPN special,wasn't the best choice, but said, “there was nothing wrong with him leaving Ohio”. "I don't know what all the grief was about," Pippen added. "No fans, no organization, no one can decide what a free agent can do or should do or where he's going to go, and there's no reason for anyone to hold a grudge against LeBron for making that decision."
"There are a couple of teams in the East that they're going to have to contend with, that they're going to have matchup problems with," Pippen said. "You think of Boston, Orlando. I don't see anybody that they can get to run up and down the court with (Dwight) Howard right now and that's a game changer."
Oscar Robertson
Robinson, defended James' decision, by saying, “the free agents were just taking advantage of the "Oscar Robertson Rule."” Robertson, as president of the NBA Players Association, filed a class-action lawsuit against the league and its teams that the league settled in 1976, removing a team's option to keep a player for life and opening the door for unrestricted free agency.
Charles Barkley
Sir Charles has never been one to bite his tongue. Right or wrong, he says it as he sees it. Barkley again voiced his displeasure with LeBron James' decision. This time, the Hall of Famer is using even harsher language than he did in July when James made his live announcement. During that time, Barkley said he was "disturbed" by James' actions. On Friday, he upped the ante after learning that James had tweet in which he claims to be keeping track of "everyone taking shots at me this summer." Barkley said, "I want him to make sure that he puts my name on that {list}," Barkley said, in reference to James' tweet. "I thought that his little one-hour special was a punk move." Barkley also added that Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh's welcome ceremony in Miami was "a punk move." "He knows where I'll be," Barkley said, seeming to be referencing to LeBron James. "I don't run. I'm on TV every week, I'm easy to find."
Michael Jordan
Jordan was not available for the interview. However, he was recently asked what he thought about the biggest NBA story of the summer. His answer was one simple sentence, “I wouldn't have teamed up with a fellow top 3 player.” He didn't say anything else because his message was crystal clear.
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LeBron James Cleveland To Miami & Michael Jordan?
Wow! The fingers are pointing but who is really to blame?
And before starting your list better remove LeBron’s name,
Michael had Scottie Pippen for three & with Horace Grant,
With the final tray “Bad Boy” Dennis Rodman was in camp.
Probably the biggest name not surprisingly is Mike Brown,
He is not the head strategist, who should be leaving town,
Subtract another big name, the Diesel also known as Shaq,
Nor is he the one who put the knife in, MVP James’ back.
Okay, two names are deleted any longer should we tarry?
It is the guy who put the team together, Mr. Danny Ferry,
From last years defeat, needed changes were no mystery,
Why did he wait till mid-season to get a “D” in chemistry?
Don’t harp on LeBron’s elbow or Shaq’s injured thumb,
Saying this caused downward spiral in Boston is dumb,
Not doubles in tennis there’s 11 guys in this team sport,
Where oh where were the rest of the basketball cohorts?
A defeat determines your greatest infrastructure need,
As is the case for several years now we lack the speed,
Offense, defense, transition, side to side, coast to coast,
Saw the roster twice I failed to see #86 Casper the Ghost.
I’m not a basketball aficionado just a residential area fan,
By watching the Browns I know an already defeated plan,
No steel chain can ever be stronger than its weakest link,
Criticizing Mike for not using his bench, what do you think?
Now you see him, now you don’t, will he go or will he stay?
Are they committed to getting players who can actually play?
No need to argue about who didn’t step up to do this or that,
Simply go online or read the Plain Dealer and check the stats.
New York, Miami, Chicago, the sun, the moon or Timbuktu,
He has all summer for deciding the right thing for him to do,
And should LeBron remain in Cleveland, things must change,
Or he’ll garner many accolades but never a championship ring.
Now there is also a vicious rumor about guard DeLonte West,
And yes it is certainly putting LeBron’s reputation to the test,
I will not dignify the rumor by writing in this poem the claim,
But, it’s obvious that this guy was sleeping during the game.
When cracks begin to appear in a solid structure due to neglect,
It’s never the fault of the laborers only the designer & architect,
No matter how many practice sessions or how long you rehearse,
You will only get out what ever you put in, for better or for worse.
June 19,2010 there’s a movement, a rally, to get LeBron to stay,
Ok let’s see, what will happen if after seven years he goes away?
Will laid off firefighters come back or closed stations reviewed?
What about police officers, many lost their jobs, I’m so confused.
There are over 600 teachers losing employment, what about EMS?
16 schools are now closed, more city workers, what’s your guess?
Thousands of students can’t read, write, very few do simple math,
Yet none of that is important as LeBron staying, excuse my laugh.
Last but not least, there is a question nagging fans a tad-bit,
Was the, “King” having elbow problems or did he just quit?
6 of 1, half a dozen of the other, exactly what does it mean?
Nothing, since to win it still takes effort by the entire team.
07/08/2010, LeBron James in free agency picked Miami Heat,
Cleveland Cavalier fans are again tasting the agony of defeat,
Ah wait a minute for this city what has this guy actually done?
The drought’s been since 1964 when any kind of title was won.
If the team had surrounded him with the right supporting cast,
An extension could of been signed, the love affair would last,
Now attention might be focused on the real problems at hand,
Cleveland has serious issues more important than one man.
But, what about the financial impact, here he no longer plays,
Well, although he’s gone billion dollar Cleveland Clinic stays,
People are blaming a fiscal collapse by a huge loss of revenue,
As a hospital bigger than any pays nothing, so what else is new?
It’s now time for Cleveland, Ohio to get their priorities straight,
One guy with a basketball should not, cannot seal the city’s fate,
There’s still car jacking, thefts, gang activity, a high murder rate,
Racism, foreclosures, less bus routes, hey there’s more just wait.
University Hospital pays nothing to the city, what’s the big deal?
Oh, are they exempt because their business is supposedly to heal?
Quit blaming our sports franchises or players with a famous name,
The same chaos now that he’s gone was here long before he came.
Hey! , Do you realize this might close more than half of the bars?
The flip side, think about the less number of towed & stolen cars,
All sports are businesses, certainly his decision was based on that,
By no means did he or the city of Miami stab Cleveland in the back.
Joblessness & homelessness, half the residents without health care,
While those who do have it the rates are so sky high it’s still a scare,
Look in the mirror Cleveland before pointing fingers shifting blame,
Resurrection of “the best location in the nation” is not LeBron James.
Basketball is not real life, it’s a past time, just another seasonal game,
However, people are treating this crap like life and death, that’s insane,
Life & death’s played out for real on the battlefield of Afghanistan & Iraq,
BTW, ever hear of the 13th Amendment? He didn’t have to come back.
From Cleveland’s Cuyahoga County to Miami’s County known as Dade,
With fellow superstars Chris Bosh and NBA-Ring holder Dwayne Wade,
In professional hoops it requires not a couple but 3 to get the job done,
Because no where in the history of the game was it accomplished by 1.
Hometown fans crying, jersey #23 burned in the streets, hey let it go,
Old saying albeit incorrect English, “one monkey don’t stop no show, ”
It’s his life, he opted out to take a pay cut whatever it is or isn’t worth,
Understand there is still only one King and His Throne is not on Earth.
7/20/10, several days removed Michael Jordan has something to say,
Claiming he would not have called up Bird or Magic as a trio to play,
Um, excuse me Your Airness but you have 1 NCAA & 6 NBA Rings,
So, if you had zero titles are sure you would not have done the same?
The Michael who wined and said you’d play for no coach except Phil,
Do you think James is any different 7-years he’s swallowed this pill,
No qualified coach without a Pippen, Rodman, Paxton, Kerr or Grant,
You’ll always be my favorite player but to criticize LeBron, you can’t.
Do you really think if you had no help & all you ever did was loose?
Air Jordan would not have packed his bags and been on the move?
Maybe not to Larry’s Boston Celtics or to Johnson at LA in the west,
Ask yourself, without those titles would people still call you the best?
The majority of your fame and fortune was from products you endorse,
May you have been a sought after spokesperson as a 2nd place horse?
LeBron, Chris & Dwayne are no different than any other athletic stars,
Hey! Without titles, after their playing days, they will only travel so far.
A true fan is only a sincere fan in the worse & not just for the better,
It’s so obvious that Cleveland fans are only fair/fare by the weather,
The only real concern seems to be the amount of revenue now lost,
World record heat but the summer is cooled by the fans chilly frost.
The 2010-2011 NBA season has started, Cleveland fans are still bitter,
TV, radio, magazines, Web pages, My Space, Facebook, even Twitter,
There are many serious challenges facing the city yes times are tough,
Yet, no athlete or sports franchise has the answers, enough is enough.