Shunning LeBron… and Other Stuff
There seems to be a fair amount of angst floating about in regards to how Cavs fans should conduct themselves when LeBron makes his much-anticipated reemergence at the “Q” on Dec. 2. Ever since he decamped for the sunnier climes of Miami our panties have been all in a bunch … we’ve had rocks in our jaws … we’ve been so pissed off our collective ass could chew bubblegum. Now, it seems, it’s payback time.
But what form should that payback take? Should the Cavs mascot Moondog choreograph a group shout out where all the fans stand up in unison and, on the count of three, all yell “YOU NO GOOD @&*%#$” when LeBron takes the court? Would that make us feel better? Others have suggested fans use the “Silent Treatment,” a form of punishment usually doled out by petulant wives to errant husbands … but, to my mind that makes us out to be a bunch of wusses.
The fear is, if fans act too boorish and immature toward LeBron they will only legitimize his leaving … pundits will be able to point and say, “Wow, look at how badly those Cleveland fans behaved, he was right in leaving.” But there is another option.
If we were wise and mature enough, and really wanted to demonstrate our displeasure with LeBron with extreme unction, we would use the age-old, time-tested and very effective method of shunning … also called the boycott. Unfortunately some fans want to be at that game so badly that, purportedly, courtside tickets are selling northwards of $1700 (which is completely insane) but not gracing him with our attendance is a much more powerful statement.
Instead Cavs fans rushing down to the Q to verbally bitch-slap the superstar (similar to what he did us when he announced his plan to depart), we should simply stay away … in droves. Just imagine how powerful an image it would make if, when the TV cameras panned the arena it was completely empty — perhaps save for one lone small child, holding up a sign that stated to the world in big block letters “WE DISAPPROVE.”
What would happen if, in every city where the Heat played this year, fans of fairness refused to buy tickets and season ticketholders boycotted the games? If every time LeBron showed up, fans, instead of showing out, simply didn’t show up? You ever hear the sound of one hand clapping?
Showing up and booing gives LeBron something to work through, to push back against … an obstacle to overcome. He can use that kind of negativity to fight back in the media as well. But if no one shows up he’s robbed of the opportunity … he’d be cut off at the knees. We would be depriving him of what he (similar to all other performers) needs most: An audience.
But, as I said at the outset, IF we are wise and mature enough … but that’s a pretty a big “IF.” It may simply be that collectively we are too weak to stay away… like spoiled children we won’t be able to control ourselves. But here’s what I’d like to see on Dec. 2: Real fans in front of the entrances to the “Q” holding up signs urging others not to enter … now that would be super cool.
Protecting the Unwilling
Thank God the area around W. 117th Street has again been made safe for decent folks on their way to play Bingo. The Internet Depot Cafe was busted for gambling, in spite of the fact some judges in other cities have ruled that what sweepstakes cafes offer is not gambling. Meanwhile, out in Brunswick the city fathers decided to take the more reasonable approach of working in conjunction with the cafe owners to determine a reasonable and sane course of action. And we have the nerve to call them hicks from “Brunstucky.”
Of course closing the cafe doesn’t actually “protect” anyone, it simply means that Cleveland residents will now have to drive out to one of the many suburbs that have stood up to Dan Gilbert and refused to close down operations he perceives as being threats to his coming casino. Another waste of taxpayers dollars and police manpower.
Politricks as Usual
It seems as if our media watchdogs hereabout are blind, deaf and dumb. Take the case of Dale Miller, who, with his bald-faced, bare-knuckled and bruising attempt to become president of the new County Council, exemplifies everything we thought we wanted to get away from in politics.
Last week I wrote about how he attempted to buy the presidency of that body by “donating” to the campaigns of other members when he was sure of who would win in each district. Problem is, not only is he creating the appearance of unscrupulously attempting to sway votes, he also donated twice as much to white candidates as he did to those of color. So it appears as if he might be a bigot to boot. When the vote for the president’s seat is called, I wonder how these discounted and disrespected blacks will vote?
Is this the reform we voted for?
Evidently none of media watchdogs knew of his dirty dealing (in spite of the fact there is a public record) which begs the question: Can these ace reporters find their own asses with both hands and a set of detailed instructions? With watchdogs like these, the public just might be dead meat.
Balance of Power
While I don’t want to come off as a latter-day Luddite, I think we have to tread carefully with all of the new technology available to us via the Internet. We’ve seen cases where connectivity has caused bullying, and access has resulted in outing. Tragic consequences of a powerful force in the hands of inexperienced or simply downright mean people abound.
Which brings me to the invitation I recently received via Facebook to interact with a new “friend.” But this “friend” isn’t a person, it’s a website. “Balance of Power” is a discussion board of sorts I guess. But here’s my problem with such outlets: Anonymity. Someone can “throw a rock and then hide their hand” as we say in the hood.
One surefire way to destroy the Republic is to encourage people to speak or write and not take responsibility for their words. It’s cowardice of the highest order and no matter how well-crafted is not worthy of reading.
Likewise the letter I received in the mail last week: No return address was a tip off. I immediately went to the end of the four page missive to see if someone had signed their name to it; no one had, so I immediately threw it into the trash unread.
Yes, speaking your mind in public can have consequences … I know, I’ve occasionally paid the price for my very public positions, and probably paid the price in many ways I’ll never know about. Such is the cost of liberty, and if you are too afraid to publicly speak up and be counted, then shut the hell up and simply abdicate the country to the Tea Partiers, who have no such fears or qualms.
From Cool Cleveland correspondent Mansfield B. Frazier mansfieldfATgmail.com. Frazier’s From Behind The Wall: Commentary on Crime, Punishment, Race and the Underclass by a Prison Inmate is available again in hardback. Snag your copy and have it signed by the author by visiting http://www.neighborhoodsolutionsinc.com.
11 Responses to “Mansfield: Shunning LeBron… and Other Stuff”
linda johnson
The same right to speak your mind is the same right Lebron has to work where he chooses. It is his J O B and not recreation like it is to us. Lay off, I am not an angry fan!!
Gary Suchocki
I agree completely about a boycott for James; had the same thought myself the day of “the decision”. A total (or at least, significant) boycott would the most powerful statement we could make.
What a shame that a local resident who could have boosted the civic pride of everyone in our region (and provided a significant positive financial impact as well) decided that feeding his own ego was more important.
Hank Wait
I like the idea of the boycott but it ain’t gonna happen. Next to that just beating the Heat would work pretty good. It could happen. The Cav’s aren’t as hapless as everyone thought they were gonna be.
Patrick McGinty
On the second of December,
let’s do something all will remember.
With respect for the owner, we have sold out the Arena.
OUTSIDE of the Q show your demeanor.
Don’t be crass, show you have class.
Empty seats and empty house for the deposed ROYALTY.
Walk the street with a shirt that says WITNESS LOYALTY.
ROBERTwestbrook (NOT the EX INdian one,NOT the councilman..)
SMART man..should run..SHOULD have been aware of council mess..NOT even FIRST meeting YET..Feel for Fitz! I THINK HE is smart,etc.n can get it done..whole bunch of whutever goin on..NO serious or big baggage…Dolan..COULD have..SUSPECT this anti carpetbagger anti RotaryREpubwhutever..I THINK LANCI &Co.suffered WORST from THAT…DURIN THAT whole campaign sorta had feel of biz tryin to do X…TO A POINT yeah they help drive econ,etc.etc.BUT…if left to OWN devices would *$*@X*2 everything up…HAVE a place..have to do own thing..make some kind of $..ok can accept THAT…
I THINK folks sorta took a Archie bunker (sorry Mansfield..) get er done clean it up w*F is ALL THIS *$*@*X goin on *@**@x…n NOT just Dimora..ALWAYS these *$*@ ‘schemes’ that if ADD up were like this LONG mega BILLION luvlist of whutever whose whutever wasnt up to snuff..real,perceived or otherwise..I could be wrong..GETTIN WORDY here but least TRYIN to lay down a context…WHUTEVER one thought bout TAFT to STRICKLAND least thEY SORTA tried…I just dont know if FITZ is gonna be hemmed in by STATE of Ohio.budget,OWN future politico,’interests’ who threaten to hold back $/other or TRIPPED up by OWN ‘ Fourth or Fifth or Fifteenth Frontier”..IS HIS call…n if can do it right n get mileage out of it gosh bless…
I JUST think HE IS FIGHTING A LOoooooong HARD UPHILL *$*@**(X(*@ w/SHADOWS OF PAST **$*@ overhangin n folks NOT in a mood…
THINK WINDTURBINES..or port authority..NEWBIE $600 MIL port..near dead or will be dead like 3 C train (wont lie..sure OSU to casino crew pondered ‘potential’…ONE ARMED bandits ON the train!)….
MASON…all the strings,bs,etc.HE MAY o rmay not be whutever…BUT POLITICALLY TRY N RUN in 2012 w/ALL THAT n THIS runnin round..n it wont dissipate ENOUGH by THEN to help..GOT folks REMEMBERING DeMarco,DannyGreene,n every other thing..STILL hear bout PERK…
I THINK folks JUST riding it out anywhichwaycan …SSI,JTPA,WIC,LINK,PASSPORT,MealsonWhutever,Sect.8,vouchers,etc.etc.
SAVIOR..CASINO!!! burbdeals..LIMITED..FINALLY GOT the NET…THAT much $ or whutever to warrant a $600 MIL box requiring movin bulkheads,etc.?! ? ?? U tell me…THEY must think sooooo…INITIALLY yeah Luv Khild check it out…by 2012 SHOULD be DECENT enough econ (?)….
Lebron…?? ? ? Ok..anyone want to buy or rent a SUPERMcMANSION…PICKETERS n protestors OUT there….
CultColtRealMcCOY..never met him..U tell me..a few yrs n…NOW THAT will get ME deaththtreasts,etc.etc.WATCH him get TRADED…THREW THIS IN AT the end cuz figure BY TIME someone wades thru ABOVE whitepaperstudy…
ROBERTwestbrook (NOT the EX INdian one,NOT the councilman..)
SPORTS crew…U tell me..B.Edwards..HE putzed til traded..Lebron..DID he plan all along or just saw handwriting..HOW many traded..MORE BOTHERSOME..HOW many ‘succeeded ELSEWHERE”…is it US?!
FANS.team,COLT himself will give HIM a CHANCE…
A LITTLE whutever when NOW down to well worn statement of ‘ed n meds’ as OUR future..yeahhh BLOW mega M$s on some certificate or paper..PRESENT econ EXTREME..whole bunch of *$*@* that I would need a barn to put all the paperwork into…BUT…COMPUTERS n software were gonna be THEE TICKET..still sorta IS..CUSTOMstuff..BUT…ANYWAYS…GOT phone calls,grass to cut,etc.
ROBERTwestbrook (NOT the EX INdian one,NOT the councilman..)
Lebron..NO SHOW..PROPOSED by older gent I know..NEAR genius..Westsider..Lights out as they say..ONE way to SAVE $..n if want to $*@* Mr.G by the way…IS a biz..never forget that..Mr.G in a sense can see WHY HE *$*@..n RODE that pup to CityHall n everywhere else..HOW else interpret..thou to tell the truth I dont think HE reallly needed to ANYWAYS…semi sad REACHED THIS point were when FINALLY READY to hire folks THEY will be STACKED n RACKED n dooown the street..or @mailbox for applications will be OVERFLOWING…EIHTER way….ANYWAYS…
Brunswick deal…old storefront..literally walk right past..TINY compared TO….but I GUESS a cut by a M whutever…ANOTHER COUNTY (HATE sayin THIS but X%# FLED Cleveland n CUYAHOGA for THESE reasons thou Mr.M was HONEST in sayin we fault “*$*@ for being Brunstucky while…”FINALLY found out bout it in one of those ‘free’ circulars…well AD revenue..near as good as Sun..Qualms bout THAT but HEY..exists..”Penny’ OUT there…wayyyy out THERE in OLD small stripstandalone shoppin ctr EDGE of brunswick..n right across from still RURAL enough areas…SLOW population growth n rest…SUSPECT land of 2 job holders,poo enough,OLD folks,semi cheapskates,THOSE WHO WOULDNT travel DOWN ANYWAYS…I TRY n avoid evening stuff..tooo muc $*@**$…OFF times,OFF days..EASIER..PARKING is a **$@…I WILL DO WHUTEVER TO AVOID ANY tickets..Ok a $25 meter ticket ONE thing..
ROBERTwestbrook (NOT the EX INdian one,NOT the councilman..)
$ 1 7 0 0 DOLLARS!!! Even if courtside… I N S A N E..price of a used car..a furnace..a GOOD couch..NOooooooo..FOOOoos….
putz
Lebron….MORE TO LIFE..GOT A WHOLE city..NICE to watch,go to games,etc.Ok fine..BUT…Grt Lakes Sci Ctr or WHUTEVER…Botanical garden..OhioGlassBubbleHouse..ANYthing…WRes.Hist.Soc..check out the 15 FT boat used by a now deceased PD reporter TO CROSS the ATLANTIC..NO GPS,no cellphone when HE did it in…… 1 9 6 5 !! THE ATLANTIC..food,rainslicker,fire exting.FIRE AX…THAT IS GUTS!!
Akron Inventure Place…tooo bad GOodyear Mus.gone..WILD place..RUBBER handfinger ligament replacements…rubber buttons..rubber moon buggy tire..real rubber trees…
NOT a PROMO man for these outfits…HISTORY n rest holds a LOT of wild stuff….WHEN CAVS n Lebron WERE could NOT get NEAR the place…it ebbs n flows..X%# never gonna whutever anyways…
Michael Cobare
there’s no way you don’t like watching him play. No one can match him!
Laurie Redmon
I am an extremely loyal Cavaliers fan since I was a little girl watching them in Richfield. LeBron had the RIGHT to leave Cleveland, but the backlash is for the crass, insensitive WAY he did it! I will be at the December 2nd game (coincidentally my birthday) to support my hometown team. LeBron did not define the Cavaliers, even though it made for 7 exciting years…