GOONx19;454053 wrote:LOL at "Take your talents to tvguide.com..."

Lebron James Talks to GC Magazine

GQ writer J.R. Moehringer talks about his article about LeBron James

LeBron James won't rule out returning to play for Cleveland some day, but admitted in an interview with GQ Magazine that owner Dan Gilbert's letter to fans on the night James left the Cavaliers gives him "a lot of motivation" for when he and his new Miami Heat teammates play his former club.

In an interview to be published in the September issue of GQ, James told writer J.R. Moehringer that "if there was an opportunity for me to return [to Cleveland] ... and those fans welcome me back, that'd be a great story."

But James, who announced on July 8 that he would leave the Cavaliers as a free agent to sign with the Heat, said of Gilbert's late-night letter: "I don't think he ever cared about LeBron. My mother always told me: 'You will see the light of people when they hit adversity. You'll get a good sense of their character.' Me and my family have seen the character of that man."

James added: "It made me feel more comfortable that I made the right decision."

Moehringer interviewed James three times in a 19-day span -- twice before and once after his announcement.

James And Clevelanders, because they were the bigger-city kids when we were growing up, looked down on us. ... So we didn't actually like Cleveland. We hated Cleveland growing up. There's a lot of people in Cleveland we still hate to this day.

The story looks at the weeks leading up to and just after his July 8 announcement on ESPN -- on a show titled "The Decision," which was widely panned. James said he wouldn't change anything about how he made his decision, or how he told the world about it.

James told GQ: "I understand that a lot of people would be hurt" in Cleveland by his decision, but also said that growing up, he and his friends from Akron didn't always like Cleveland. Akron is about 40 miles south of Cleveland.

"It's not far, but it is far," James told GQ. "And Clevelanders, because they were the bigger-city kids when we were growing up, looked down on us. ... So we didn't actually like Cleveland. We hated Cleveland growing up. There's a lot of people in Cleveland we still hate to this day."

James said he'll remain anchored in Akron. "I'm going to spend a lot of the summer here," he said. "This is my home. Akron, Ohio, is my home. I will always be here. I'm still working out at my old high school."

And he said Cleveland fans were "awesome," but didn't take back his comment late last season that those around him were "spoiled" by his play.

"I love our fans. Cleveland fans are awesome," he told GQ. "But I mean, even my family gets spoiled at times watching me doing things that I do, on and off the court."

"But I mean, even my family gets spoiled at times watching me doing things that I do, on and off the court."

BR1986FB;454104 wrote:"I don't think he ever cared about LeBron." THAT comment is bullshit. Gilbert did everything short of give him a reach around (and he probably would have done that too if he thought it meant Lebron would stay) to make him happy. TOTAL BULLSHIT.

Art Modell;454128 wrote:Lebron dropped Cleveland like an ugly girl friend. He has a much sexier one now. Get over it Cleveland fans, he's gone and not coming back. Look at the bright side,you still have the Indians and Clowns to cheer for. hahaha

thedynasty1998;454108 wrote:I think it's fair to say he didn't personally care, or he wouldn't have made those comments. He cared because Lebron was a cash cow and he profited from him.

thedynasty1998;454108 wrote:I think it's fair to say he didn't personally care, or he wouldn't have made those comments. He cared because Lebron was a cash cow and he profited from him.

bases_loaded;454106 wrote:My mother always told me: 'You will see the light of people when they hit adversity. You'll get a good sense of their character.'"

thedynasty1998;454108 wrote:I think it's fair to say he didn't personally care, or he wouldn't have made those comments. He cared because Lebron was a cash cow and he profited from him.

Heretic;454166 wrote: That's called "being a pro team owner". You care and bend over backwards for your star player while he's there. After he turns leaving for another team into a national spectacle, though, all bets are off. Your first sentence could be paraphrased to speak about LeBron ("I think it's fair to say LeBron didn't personally care, or he wouldn't have announced he was leaving Gilbert's team in the way he did"). In short, LeBron left Cleveland in a dickish way possible. Gilbert responded in a dickish way. Mr. Third-Person-Speak only can grasp half of that, though.

like_that;454156 wrote:Lol, before looking at who posted this quote, i knew it was you.