Originally Published: July 13, 2010, 07:51 AM

Stern comments on the “Decision”

Posted By Diego | NBA News | July 13, 2010, 07:51 AM |

Days have passed and the controversy over the “Decision” by LeBron James is still going at full speed. David Stern is the latest to comment about the issue. He is fine with James’ choice to leave Cleveland but James’ decision to turn his decision into a made-for-TV spectacle called the “Decision”?


That made Stern a bit unhappy

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Stern said Monday he has no problem with James leaving the Cavs to join Wade and Bosh in Miami – and he has no reason to think the Heat engaged in tampering to get him. It was a roulette game from July 1st, with more than one team having pretty fare chances at James, so it is only natural that some losers came away unhappy. But he does wish James had chosen a better platform to announce where he will play next season, particularly because he didn’t give the Cavaliers more notice he was leaving.
“Had he asked my advice in advance, I might have suggested that he advise Cleveland at an earlier time than apparently he did that he was leaving, even without announcing where he was going, so we could have eliminated that,” Stern after a meeting with the NBA’s board of governors. “I would have advised him not to embark on what has become known as ‘The Decision.’
“I think that the advice that he received on this was poor. His performance was fine. His honesty and his integrity shine through. But this decision was ill conceived, badly produced and poorly executed. Those who were interested in it were given our opinion prior to its airing.”


Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert send a scathing letter criticizing his former star to the team’s fans after the announcement about his departure was official. In it, he called James “narcissistic” and said he displayed “cowardly behavior.” He also vowed that Cavaliers would win a championship before James did with the Heat.


Stern said he had fined Gilbert $100,000 for the comments.
“Remarks by Dan Gilbert, the owner of the Cavaliers, catalyzed as they may have been by hurt with respect to the manner and the fact for himself, his team, and particularly for the people of Cleveland, though understandable, were ill advised and imprudent,” Stern said.


“Equally imprudent, I believe, are the remarks by my good friend Jesse Jackson, which purport to make this into a racial matter,” Stern said. “I find that to be, however well meaning Jesse may be in the premises on this one, he is, as he rarely is, mistaken. I would have told him so had he called me before he issued his statement this morning”.


James left fans in Cleveland angry, crying and shocked after the decision. Some even burned his Cavaliers jerseys and T-shirts. “We touch an emotional cord in our sport,” Stern said. “That’s what happens. Fans feel disappointment. You might feel jilted. We’ve seen that in other circles. Maybe not quite as dramatic.”

Embed Days have passed and the controversy over the “Decision” by LeBron James is still going at full speed. David Stern is the latest to comment about the issue. He is fine with James’ choice to leave Cleveland but James’ decision to turn his decision into a made-for-TV spectacle called the “Decision”?<br /> <br><br /> That made Stern a bit unhappy<br /> <br>.<br /> Stern said Monday he has no problem with James leaving the Cavs to join Wade and Bosh in Miami – and he has no reason to think the Heat engaged in tampering to get him. It was a <a href="http://www.casinotoplists.com/online-roulette">roulette game</a> from July 1st, with more than one team having pretty fare chances at James, so it is only natural that some losers came away unhappy. But he does wish James had chosen a better platform to announce where he will play next season, particularly because he didn’t give the Cavaliers more notice he was leaving.<br /> “Had he asked my advice in advance, I might have suggested that he advise Cleveland at an earlier time than apparently he did that he was leaving, even without announcing where he was going, so we could have eliminated that,” Stern after a meeting with the NBA’s board of governors. “I would have advised him not to embark on what has become known as ‘The Decision.’<br /> “I think that the advice that he received on this was poor. His performance was fine. His honesty and his integrity shine through. But this decision was ill conceived, badly produced and poorly executed. Those who were interested in it were given our opinion prior to its airing.”<br /> <br><br /> Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert send a scathing letter criticizing his former star to the team’s fans after the announcement about his departure was official. In it, he called James “narcissistic” and said he displayed “cowardly behavior.” He also vowed that Cavaliers would win a championship before James did with the Heat.<br /> <br><br /> Stern said he had fined Gilbert $100,000 for the comments.<br /> “Remarks by Dan Gilbert, the owner of the Cavaliers, catalyzed as they may have been by hurt with respect to the manner and the fact for himself, his team, and particularly for the people of Cleveland, though understandable, were ill advised and imprudent,” Stern said.<br /> <br><br /> “Equally imprudent, I believe, are the remarks by my good friend Jesse Jackson, which purport to make this into a racial matter,” Stern said. “I find that to be, however well meaning Jesse may be in the premises on this one, he is, as he rarely is, mistaken. I would have told him so had he called me before he issued his statement this morning”.<br /> <br><br /> James left fans in Cleveland angry, crying and shocked after the decision. Some even burned his Cavaliers jerseys and T-shirts. “We touch an emotional cord in our sport,” Stern said. “That’s what happens. Fans feel disappointment. You might feel jilted. We’ve seen that in other circles. Maybe not quite as dramatic.”<br /><a href='http://www.slicendice.org'>Slice N Dice</a> | <a href='http://www.slicendice.org/NBA/Stern-comments-on-the-Decision'>Stern comments on the “Decision”</a>