Comments on: Bienvenidos a Miami http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/bienvenidos-a-miami/ People don't think it be like it is, but it do. Sun, 20 May 2012 07:04:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.7 by: Cliffy http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/bienvenidos-a-miami/#comment-2056 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:48:31 +0000 http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/bienvenidos-a-miami/#comment-2056 Actually, I'll add one other point: Even if the "Cavs are out" had gotten out in the five minutes between him telling them and the show airing, I actually agree with Gonzo. In the previous 24-48 hours, everybody was pretty much reporting he was going to go to Miami (which as we now know, happened to be accurate) - but still, nobody knew for *sure* until they heard him say it. Even *if* "the Cavs are officially out", he did hold the thing near NYC - i.e. Knicks and Nets franchises. No change in that everyone and his cousin was reporting Heat. He could've done "the right thing", and still maintained all the suspense that led up to the viewership and ratings that produced the windfall for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Actually, I’ll add one other point: Even if the “Cavs are out” had gotten out in the five minutes between him telling them and the show airing, I actually agree with Gonzo. In the previous 24-48 hours, everybody was pretty much reporting he was going to go to Miami (which as we now know, happened to be accurate) - but still, nobody knew for *sure* until they heard him say it.

Even *if* “the Cavs are officially out”, he did hold the thing near NYC - i.e. Knicks and Nets franchises. No change in that everyone and his cousin was reporting Heat. He could’ve done “the right thing”, and still maintained all the suspense that led up to the viewership and ratings that produced the windfall for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

]]> by: Cliffy http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/bienvenidos-a-miami/#comment-2055 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:45:56 +0000 http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/bienvenidos-a-miami/#comment-2055 It does seem like that's the point that's closest to reaching consensus, among the many things people are complaining about. There are still some who insist he fulfilled his contract and didn't "have" to tell the Cavs before "The Decision". Technically, that's absolutely correct. But in the real world, a heads-up shouldn't have been too much to ask. I think most people see it that way (and perhaps Lebron now, or sometime in the future, will realize his error - for what little that's worth). Everything else he did? I have no problem with any of it, personally. It does seem like that’s the point that’s closest to reaching consensus, among the many things people are complaining about. There are still some who insist he fulfilled his contract and didn’t “have” to tell the Cavs before “The Decision”. Technically, that’s absolutely correct. But in the real world, a heads-up shouldn’t have been too much to ask. I think most people see it that way (and perhaps Lebron now, or sometime in the future, will realize his error - for what little that’s worth).

Everything else he did? I have no problem with any of it, personally.

]]> by: Gonzo http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/bienvenidos-a-miami/#comment-2054 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:42:06 +0000 http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/bienvenidos-a-miami/#comment-2054 Tank - regarding the monetize angle - he could have called the Cavs 5 minutes before the show began. And yes, I';m fully aware that in today's blog/twitter world, 5 minutes might as well be 6 days, and plenty of people could potentially know about the Cavs being "out" of it before the show went on the air. However, I submit that the "suspense" of the moment would not have been ruined if "the decision" was between only 4 teams instead of 5; ratings would have been pretty healthy, anwyay IMO... Tank - regarding the monetize angle - he could have called the Cavs 5 minutes before the show began. And yes, I’;m fully aware that in today’s blog/twitter world, 5 minutes might as well be 6 days, and plenty of people could potentially know about the Cavs being “out” of it before the show went on the air. However, I submit that the “suspense” of the moment would not have been ruined if “the decision” was between only 4 teams instead of 5; ratings would have been pretty healthy, anwyay IMO…

]]> by: Tank http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/bienvenidos-a-miami/#comment-2049 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:47:04 +0000 http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/bienvenidos-a-miami/#comment-2049 Well where else would they ski? Vermont?! Don't be ridiculous - that's where the help goes skiing. Well where else would they ski? Vermont?! Don’t be ridiculous - that’s where the help goes skiing.

]]> by: Cliffy http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/bienvenidos-a-miami/#comment-2047 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:58:35 +0000 http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/bienvenidos-a-miami/#comment-2047 In defense of Gilbert, he's from the state that brought us Dennis Kucinich and Eric Neumann. Logical, rational, measured responses do not appear to be de rigeur for Ohio. Also, whether consciously or subconsciously, he was talking directly to the (remaining) Cavs fan base and trying desperately to keep as much of them as possible from jumping ship. His ill-advised "We'll win one before Lebron" was a clear attempt to tap into the emotions of the fan base and try to get them to continue to focus on his franchise (i.e. keep coming to games and buying non-Lebron merchandise), rather than now becoming Heat fans, for example... or if they insisted on remaining basketball fans but didn't want to follow Lebron, they could always turn their attention to the mighty Vikings of Cleveland State - and their irresistable mascot, Magnus. In other words, there are other outlets for the Cleveland area's sports-entertainment dollar, especially now that Lebron is gone, and Gilbert is panicking in an effort to try to minimize the financial hit he's sure to take... as those sports-entertainment dollars consider going elsewhere. Planned or not, I submit it's worked - at least in the short term. The NBA fined him $100k for his outburst, and Cavs fans have taken up a collection to pay the fine for him. I'm reasonably confident that the combined net worth of the entire Cavs fan base still pales in comparison to Gilbert's own net worth, but it tells me that at least for now, they're rallying around the owner (and thus the franchise). I believe the term for Gilbert may well be "crazy like a fox". Course, as his franchise slides into mindless mediocrity (think Bucks. Milwaukee) in the next year or two, as Lebron is at least playing in (if not winning) several NBA Finals... well, he'll have to come up with something else. But that's down the road. For now, he's still got Cavs fans rallying around his team - even if it's only in their collective desire to hate Lebron for wanting to win, and realizing he had to go to a franchise that could deliver more than an over-the-hill Shaq in the pursuit of an NBA title (or three). "ski trips to Utah instead of Gstaad"... classic. In defense of Gilbert, he’s from the state that brought us Dennis Kucinich and Eric Neumann. Logical, rational, measured responses do not appear to be de rigeur for Ohio. Also, whether consciously or subconsciously, he was talking directly to the (remaining) Cavs fan base and trying desperately to keep as much of them as possible from jumping ship. His ill-advised “We’ll win one before Lebron” was a clear attempt to tap into the emotions of the fan base and try to get them to continue to focus on his franchise (i.e. keep coming to games and buying non-Lebron merchandise), rather than now becoming Heat fans, for example… or if they insisted on remaining basketball fans but didn’t want to follow Lebron, they could always turn their attention to the mighty Vikings of Cleveland State - and their irresistable mascot, Magnus. In other words, there are other outlets for the Cleveland area’s sports-entertainment dollar, especially now that Lebron is gone, and Gilbert is panicking in an effort to try to minimize the financial hit he’s sure to take… as those sports-entertainment dollars consider going elsewhere.

Planned or not, I submit it’s worked - at least in the short term. The NBA fined him $100k for his outburst, and Cavs fans have taken up a collection to pay the fine for him. I’m reasonably confident that the combined net worth of the entire Cavs fan base still pales in comparison to Gilbert’s own net worth, but it tells me that at least for now, they’re rallying around the owner (and thus the franchise). I believe the term for Gilbert may well be “crazy like a fox”. Course, as his franchise slides into mindless mediocrity (think Bucks. Milwaukee) in the next year or two, as Lebron is at least playing in (if not winning) several NBA Finals… well, he’ll have to come up with something else. But that’s down the road. For now, he’s still got Cavs fans rallying around his team - even if it’s only in their collective desire to hate Lebron for wanting to win, and realizing he had to go to a franchise that could deliver more than an over-the-hill Shaq in the pursuit of an NBA title (or three).

“ski trips to Utah instead of Gstaad”… classic.

]]> by: Tank http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/bienvenidos-a-miami/#comment-2046 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 21:53:12 +0000 http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/bienvenidos-a-miami/#comment-2046 And regarding the income tax, may I just say: "See, Ohio? This is why you can't have nice things." And regarding the income tax, may I just say: “See, Ohio? This is why you can’t have nice things.”

]]> by: Tank http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/bienvenidos-a-miami/#comment-2045 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 21:51:50 +0000 http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/bienvenidos-a-miami/#comment-2045 I agree that it was poor form to force the Cavs to hear James' decision on ESPN, although I don't think it justifies the vitriol of Gilbert's poison pen letter. I would also offer as a defense, or at least mitigating factor, that keeping the decision under wraps was what made it possible to monetize it, for the benefit of the Boys & Girls Club which, as Cliffy points out, is a good thing. Although I was a tad surprised to learn that an outpost of such exists in Greenwich, where material deprivation consists of taking ski trips to Utah instead of Gstaad. I agree that it was poor form to force the Cavs to hear James’ decision on ESPN, although I don’t think it justifies the vitriol of Gilbert’s poison pen letter. I would also offer as a defense, or at least mitigating factor, that keeping the decision under wraps was what made it possible to monetize it, for the benefit of the Boys & Girls Club which, as Cliffy points out, is a good thing. Although I was a tad surprised to learn that an outpost of such exists in Greenwich, where material deprivation consists of taking ski trips to Utah instead of Gstaad.

]]> by: Cliffy http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/bienvenidos-a-miami/#comment-2041 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:40:20 +0000 http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/bienvenidos-a-miami/#comment-2041 First, I have no problem with anything Lebron did, including "The Decision" TV show (which incidentally had all $5 million in proceeds go to the Boys & Girls Club... um, that's a good thing)... except Gonzo is right (for a change): Not giving the Cavs the courtesy of a heads-up before the TV event was bad form. Even if it was only five minutes before air, to preserve the "suspense"... the organization shouldn't have had to find out from tuning into ESPN. Second, I think the ESPN anchors summed it up best when they noted, "For the record, we have confirmed that this statement was indeed from Dan Gilbert and not the work of a prankster. He really said what you're about to read."... as they broke his response on the air. Given that the "best" he could give Lebron in seven years was a washed-up Shaq, he should look in the mirror when he's pointing fingers at people who didn't step up. Third, to Tank's point (at least indirectly), and to my complete surprise and utter lack of understanding of the NBA salary cap, the Heat are going to be something more than The Newest Big Three, and Mario Chalmers, and eight stiffs. However the financial machinations have manifested themselves, they've added Mike Miller (a very nice shooter and a perfect complement), kept Udonis Hasland (nice bench player, serves several roles), brought in Ilgauskus (however you spell his name, but he's a good big man), and apparently aren't done yet. Through various exceptions and the willingness to pay a luxury tax, seems the Heat will indeed have a very good roster - even beyond the Three Amigos. Fourth, if I understand correctly, at least Wade chose to take "less" than the max - and given that the other two were sign-and-trades, they also took less than they theoretically could've gotten. But as usual, Tank hits the key point: No income tax in Florida. The "less" they are taking relative to what they *could've* gotten is greatly mitigated by that pesky fact. Hmmm... you mean lower tax rates can actually improve a situation financially? Blaspheme!!! How can that be?!?!?! But I digress... First, I have no problem with anything Lebron did, including “The Decision” TV show (which incidentally had all $5 million in proceeds go to the Boys & Girls Club… um, that’s a good thing)… except Gonzo is right (for a change): Not giving the Cavs the courtesy of a heads-up before the TV event was bad form. Even if it was only five minutes before air, to preserve the “suspense”… the organization shouldn’t have had to find out from tuning into ESPN.

Second, I think the ESPN anchors summed it up best when they noted, “For the record, we have confirmed that this statement was indeed from Dan Gilbert and not the work of a prankster. He really said what you’re about to read.”… as they broke his response on the air. Given that the “best” he could give Lebron in seven years was a washed-up Shaq, he should look in the mirror when he’s pointing fingers at people who didn’t step up.

Third, to Tank’s point (at least indirectly), and to my complete surprise and utter lack of understanding of the NBA salary cap, the Heat are going to be something more than The Newest Big Three, and Mario Chalmers, and eight stiffs. However the financial machinations have manifested themselves, they’ve added Mike Miller (a very nice shooter and a perfect complement), kept Udonis Hasland (nice bench player, serves several roles), brought in Ilgauskus (however you spell his name, but he’s a good big man), and apparently aren’t done yet. Through various exceptions and the willingness to pay a luxury tax, seems the Heat will indeed have a very good roster - even beyond the Three Amigos.

Fourth, if I understand correctly, at least Wade chose to take “less” than the max - and given that the other two were sign-and-trades, they also took less than they theoretically could’ve gotten. But as usual, Tank hits the key point: No income tax in Florida. The “less” they are taking relative to what they *could’ve* gotten is greatly mitigated by that pesky fact. Hmmm… you mean lower tax rates can actually improve a situation financially? Blaspheme!!! How can that be?!?!?! But I digress…

]]> by: Gonzo http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/bienvenidos-a-miami/#comment-2037 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:37:47 +0000 http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/bienvenidos-a-miami/#comment-2037 People are pissed a the WAY he handled the departure, I think, more than the fact he left. He didn't return several calls? Announcing it on TV? Not giving CLE a heads up before hand? Not very classy way to go about it. People are pissed a the WAY he handled the departure, I think, more than the fact he left. He didn’t return several calls? Announcing it on TV? Not giving CLE a heads up before hand? Not very classy way to go about it.

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