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Thursday, 11:23 a.m. EST -- From a Cleveland radio show hosted by Tony Rizzo on WKNR-850 -- A gentleman named Frank from Streetsboro, Ohio, e-mailed to say: "If you can't beat them, join them. Coward."
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Thursday, 11:09 a.m. EST -- LeCharles Bentley played in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints and then signed with the Cleveland Browns before a torn patella tendon and staph infection decimated his career.
After going through hell for a year or two trying to fight the staph, Bentley has started to do local radio for WKNR-850 AM. He is excellent, too. Because he is blunt and honest.
Bentley was on early Wednesday evening and he illustrated the problem Cleveland faces if LeBron James leaves. A city and team like New York or Chicago or Miami can lure people because of the city and because of the team. Cleveland does not have that lure.
Asked the image of Cleveland around the nation among pro athletes, Bentley simply said: "That's part of the problem."
He returned because it was home to him. Others won't do that. Bentley said the consequences and ripple effect of James leaving could be devastating.
"It could ruin sports in Cleveland," he said.
Then he aptly pointed out: "We couldn't get Chris Bosh here, when we had LeBron James."
How are they going to lure a guy like Carmelo Anthony without James?
They're not.
"If you can't keep your own," Bentley said, "who was born and raised here, who would want to come here?"
This is why Cleveland and its fans need James while the other cities simply want him.
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Thursday, 11:04 a.m. EST -- The anger and bitterness are starting to build. Even though nothing is certain yet.
A friend called last night to say he was going to watch "More Than A Game," the documentary about James' high school team, St. Vincent-St. Mary.
"I'm going to watch (Wednesday)," he said. "After Thursday, I might not want to watch."
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Thursday, 12:53 p.m. EST -- The Bath, Ohio, Police Department will be ready tonight when James makes his announcement. The Plain Dealer reports that"the Bath Township police department is ready to maintain order near the basketball superstar's home" no matter the announcement. The police force has 20 officers.
HOPE HE LEAVES THAT FUCKIN HELLHOLE!!!
