LeBron James Thanks Akron in Newspaper Ad, Cleveland Conspicuously Absent

Maybe I was wrong in blasting the Cleveland fans for their gross overreactions to LeBron’s decision to leave them high and dry for sun-soaked Miami Beach.  I mean, I thought the jersey burning, venom laden message board rants, and LeBron zinging billboard were a bit much, but in light of LeBron’s dickish move in today’s Akron Beacon Journal, maybe all that excessive Cleveland hate for King James was warranted.

Like a lot of athletes who end up leaving a city they’ve played in for a number of years, LeBron James took out a full-page ad thanking his fans for support.  Only thing is, the ad appeared in an Akron newspaper, which is James’ hometown, and, unlike Zydrunas Ilgauskas’ classy thank you to Cavs fans in the Plain Dealer, made no mention of Cleveland, the Cavaliers, or their fans.

“For all my life, I have lived in Akron, and for that, I am truly a lucky man,” the letter read. “It was here where I first learned how to play basketball, and where I met the people who would become my lifelong friends and mentors. Their guidance, encouragement and support will always be with me.  Akron is my home, and the central focus of my life. It’s where I started and it’s where I will always come back to. You can be sure that I will continue to do everything I can for this city, which is so important to my family and me. Thank you for your support…you mean everything to me.”

Poor form LeBron, but well done if you were trying to burn the last remaining bridges in Cleveland.  This totally dick move will make your return to Cleveland in a Heat uniform all the more intense and uncomfortable.

[WCPO.com]