Stern Fines Cavs Owner $100K; Criticizes LeBron James and Jesse Jackson

The NBA has fined Cleveland Cavaliers majority owner, Dan Gilbert, $100,000 for his emotional “open letter” to Cleveland fans.

NBA Commissioner David Stern said Monday that team owner Dan Gilbert’s words, “though understandable, were ill-advised and imprudent.”

He also came down hard on former Cavaliers star, LeBron James, for his over-the top, narcissistic handling of his departure from Cleveland. James, who joined the Cavaliers straight out of high school and played forward for the team for his entire career, announced his decision to leave the team during a much-ballyhooed ESPN special Thursday entitled “The Decision.” [link]

In a press conference which was posted on the NBA’s website Monday, Stern said that James was “certainly entitled” to leave the team, but he would have advised the basketball star to handle his departure and announcement differently.

“I think that the advice that he received on this was poor. But his performance was fine. His honesty and his integrity I think shine through, but this decision was ill-conceived, badly produced and poorly executed,” Stern said.

Stern also criticized civil rights leader Jesse Jackson for comments he made saying Gilbert’s letter showed a “property-owner’s mentality.”

“Equally imprudent I believe are the remarks by my good friend Jesse Jackson, which purport to make this into a racial matter… he really is mistaken,” Stern said.

Man, I just don’t care™

David Stern is a genius. He can smooth over chit with tact. I have to give it to him.
VIBABY

Everything is a racial matter…..
honeygrahm

Yeah @Man I have to agree….It was like dude said, got.dam.nit this is enough!
Anna

I don’t think that Rev Jackson made it into a racial matter. It is what it is and I found nothing wrong w/Jackson saying that Dan Gilbert treated Lebron like a runaway slave. As far as Gilbert being fined $100,000, LOL.
LadyLew

What Man Said!
honeygrahm

#Whatseatinggilbertgrape
pointhimout

david stearn…isnt he dead yet?
ohpretty1

Anna says:

I don’t think that Rev Jackson made it into a racial matter. It is what it is and I found nothing wrong w/Jackson saying that Dan Gilbert treated Lebron like a runaway slave. As far as Gilbert being fined $100,000, LOL.
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You took the words from my mouth. It is what it is, and it’s the truth.
bigtyme

agree with Man…my good friend jesse jackson…
waterlily_76

Why does calling him a runaway slave make it racial? Does “slave” automatically = “black”? Just asking?
Mamacita

I hate people who try to make EVERYTHING about race…get the hel.l over it
Mamacita

@waterlily says “Does “slave” automatically = “black”? Just asking? ”

Well seeing how Leron is BLACK and Jesse is BLACK i would assume he was talking about BLACK people. But that’s just me…

Slave doesn’t automatically = black but it’s Jesse so it’s definitely about black people coming from him.
jazi65

I do agree with Jesse to an extent. Gilbert went off like somebody came into his yard & stole his favorite toy.

The fine wasn’t big enough IMO & he owes LeBron an apology for that disrespectful letter.

I also say the fine $$$ should be donated to a charitable organization in Cleveland.
Nika405

I David Stern ever since Clay Bennett moved the Sonics to OKC. Glad he fined Dan Gilbert because that open letter was a B I T C H (<–Too Short voice) azz move.
FloridaChick813

with Man
Krysi J

Well Im glad they called Lebron out for his wrong doings as well…he didn’t have to act like that. At the same time ol boy deserved the fine as well for taWking Reckless.

#TheirBothBadForBusiness #LebronMightDoTheSameToMiamiWhenHisContractIzUp
http://myspace.com/mullatos SnootyPooty1

He should be fined because he was acting like a possessive little girl…
Lebron has given that man 7years and he has made him millions of Dollars. who wouldn’t understand that he wants a championship if I reached the NBA and was the best player my next goal would be to WIN a championship which he clearly cant do in Cleveland….
No one owns him…
http://twitter.com/dckim74 dcwife1622

Anna says:

I don’t think that Rev Jackson made it into a racial matter. It is what it is and I found nothing wrong w/Jackson saying that Dan Gilbert treated Lebron like a runaway slave. As far as Gilbert being fined $100,000, LOL.
_____________________________
ohpretty1

waterlily_76 says:

Why does calling him a runaway slave make it racial? Does “slave” automatically = “black”? Just asking?
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No it doesn’t automatically equal that. But when some can’t articulate their real thoughts, it’s easy to equate it with that. Gilbert owns the team, NOT Lebron. His letter clearly reflects that he thought the latter and Jesse called it. Stern should simply worry about employees of the NBA. He could have left Jesse out of it, but the fact that he included it shows me that comment got under his skin.
Mamacita

People keep saying that he was wrong for what he did but how was he wrong? It was a bit much, but I don’t think it was wrong

If he had done something bad like being charged with rape, or cheating, had a drug addiction, etc. everyone would want him to do a press conference to the WORLD about his situation but when he makes a career move that will support his family and may help get him a championship he can’t announce it?
Mamacita

I’m talking about Lebron being wrong, not the owner
http://twitter.com/dckim74 dcwife1622

Lebron does not own ESPN. Do you think he was sitting up one day and decided I’m going to take over ESPN? I think someone came to him with the idea. I guess it doesn’t matter he donated the ad money to several Boys and Girls clubs…including here in Chicago. He tried to do some good but it was overshadowed… SMDH
ohpretty1

Good point ^^^
ohpretty1

* @ Mamacita
Krysi J

Just because someone offers you something doesn’t mean its not poor in taste…..somebody offer you some crack you gon smoke it cause the drug dealer donates toys to the kids….come on….that don’t mean shyt…he did that shyt nasty cause he wanted to…..People have left teams they’ve played for and won championships for in the past and it has never been put on blast like this….PLAYERS way better than LEBRON at that!! It was un-called for, bottom line. Same thing goes for the Owner who wrote that letter…they’re both wrong in my eyes…but thats just how “I” feel.
shunda

Krysi I totally agree with you and I was born and raised in Cleveland and still love here. It was the way LeBron did it that upset everyone here. We knew he was leaving. Who wouldn’t? Dan has been passionate since he bought the Cavs. They both were wrong.
amatrex

Dan Gilbert was just venting because he bent over backwards to try to keep Lebron in Cleveland, but he’s gonna lose millions now that Lebron won’t be there to fill those arena seats. Gilbert should’ve shown more self control, and kept his feelings to himself.

Jesse is dead wrong for comparing Gilbert to a slaveowner and Lebron to a runaway slave. How you gon compare a multi-millionaire to a slave? Really? *SMDH* Even if Jesse was a mind-reader, and he knows for a fact that Gilbert posesses the mentality of a 19th centruy slavemaster. Should he or Lebron really care one bit considering James has the monetary wealth and popularity that most humans on this planet will never know?

C’mon Jesse–Did you reallly wanna get your name back in the news that bad?
iyonah

The fine is appropriate #thatisall
Krysi J

Oh yea and I definitely ain paid Jesse Jackson any attention since his LOVE CHILD came forward in the press….nor since they aired footage of him telling Obama to suck his dyck or something…..why does give him any creditability?? #JesseWhO?
PAHairston

Hello All. Whether we like it or not, whether we agree with it, racism is STILL very much alive and well in America. Truth be told, I’ve never liked Jesse, he’s such an opportunist but white America? Most are ‘deliberately dismissive’ when it comes to race and race relations in America. Black folks can’t be racist! Bigots, yes, prejudiced yes but racist? NOT!!!! Racism is power, it’s an institution that this country was built upon. Truth be told, most white Americans love their pets more than they do people of color. (Look at how they degraded Michael Vick!) Did you EVER read anywhere in the Bible where Jesus tells us to love our pets more than our neighbors? NOT! I’m just saying people, I’m just saying. Hate me for speaking the truth will ya? “Let me first know my history before you ask me to forget it!” Peace.
amatrex

PA Hairston,

You are 100% correct in your notion that racism still exists today in America. But do you believe that today’s racism is strong enough to prevent you, I, or any other black person from doing what we want to do in this country? I don’t believe so because the petty racism that we face today (yes petty, compared to what our ancestors endured), will only be an obstacle to people who allow it to be.

So even if the Cleveland Cavaliers owner does indeed have racism in his heart to the core, it didn’t stop Lebron from making his millions, nor did it prevent him from taking a private jet on a one-way trip to Miami to continue earning less money (but still millions) from the Heat organization.

How does racism play a significant role in the events that have transpired surrounding Lebron’s career or his latest decision to leave Cleveland–and why does Jesse feel the need to involve himself in this situation?
Musiqal1

I totally 100% agree with this man and this is the same thing I’ve been saying all along!
Krysi J

PA Hairston I agree that some does exists…but unfortunately people forget to add that BLACK people are racists too…jews,asians,indians, mexicans….we all have situations that we are willing to fight desegregated…but the only upper hand white folks have is owning half of the businesses we recieve bad treatment, don’t get hired at, won’t sell to us without owning a percentage..etc….other than that racisim is done…everyone holding on to little stuff concerning another race is their choice…it won’t hinder anybody for long Jesse getting involved in this is LAME because regardless of what this WHITE man said about the BLACK ball player he couldn’t prevent anything from happening…PROOF THAT THE WHITE MAN NO LONGER HAS CONTROL OF THESE SO CALLED “SLAVES” its OVER people……I mean I still have issues that I deal with concerning other races….but it won’t do a damn thing for my health or well being, feel me. JESSE, LEBRON, AND THE OWNER ARE ALL WRONG.