Letter To LeBron James

   Dear Mr. James,

      161. That’s how many day’s until you will ultimately decide to opt out of your current contract and become the biggest free agent in the history of the league. I understand your desire to keep your options open so your able to make the best decision for your career, family, and financial future. I also know that you like the attention and for that first week of July there will be cameras following you wherever you go to see if you leave a trail of breadcrumbs to were you will play basketball next season. As I’m sure you have heard or read there are several locations you have possibly been linked too.  The New York Knicks, The New Jersey Nets, The Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, and the outsider Los Angles Clippers are the ones most frequently mentioned. Then of course there is Cleveland.

      The Clippers shouldn’t be an option because your not going to be second fiddle to Kobe Bryant or The Lakers. Plus they have possibly the worst ownership in all of sports. Secondly, although the Bulls have the talent, could you imagine being able to surpass Jordan in Chicago you might be better. The he was ultimately but can you surpass the legacy he left. The Heat is location that looks great on paper with you and D-Wade teaming up and becoming the most dominant team in the NBA. However is Pat Riley really dedicated to winning, the reason I say this is because D-Wade has questioned it himself, publicly last summer he said he was not signing his extension because the Heat were not making the moves necessary to win now. So will they have that dedication next year or the year after that. Now we come to the Knicks, that’s were a lot of people feel you will end up.

      To tell you the truth the first time I heard the argument of being  King of the Big Apple, and the chance to restore them to the heights of the basketball world and reclaim the title of the Mecca of basketball I could see the appeal. You have to remember though  that with the good comes the bad, first off the way it looks like the salary cap is going to work out they will only be able to sign one major free agent this off-season and with lets face it the lack of talent especially with David Lee and Nate Robinson Leaving, it would be like totally rebuilding from scratch. Secondly, the New York media is the meanest, most aggressive, nastiest  reporters on the planet. Were if it takes longer then a year to win a championship they remind you of how bad you are. That leads us to the Nets, this is the team you would most likely leave us for in my opinion, they have a young talented core, there moving to New York in the next couple of years and one of your best friends happens to own a share of the franchise. There really doesn’t seem to be any negatives besides the fact that right now they do play in New Jersey and the arena in New York isn’t built yet and what s the difference between New Jersey and Cleveland on he “Global Icon” scale. 

       Now we come to your current team the Cleveland Cavaliers, and my plea to you to remain in this great city. First of all you have full control over this teams personal ,you essentially have veto power on not only trades but roster cuts, people like Jawad Williams remain on the team because you see promise in them and argue his case to Mike Brown and Danny Ferry. Secondly, the Cavs have done everything possible to keep you happy from spending money on free agents and making expensive trades to building a brand new state of the art practice facility. Were not yet done making trades yet either, there is still a month before the trade deadline this year a trade that could significantly improve this team. Thirdly we are already title contenders, if you stay you have a much better chance of not only winning one championship but multiple championships and becoming a dynasty. The final reason is you can become not only The Man that saved Cleveland but the man that saved the Small market teams all over the country.

        The problem with sports is that New York, LA, Philadelphia, Miami all ways end up with the best athletes whether its because they can offer more money or the lifestyle that goes with being a large city. Those cities that are  small markets are pushed aside because that can’t compete financially or socially but you can change that. You can become the first person to say thanks but no thanks to New York and tell kids everywhere you can be a global Icon anywhere as long as you have talent and will. The biggest incentive though to stay in Cleveland is to become this cities savior. We have watched players like Albert Belle, Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez, Cliff Lee, CC Sabathia, and lets not forget the Browns leaving from 1996-1999.It has been 66 years since we have won a championship, and the Cavaliers have never won a title. You are already the most revered sports figure this city has had since Jim Brown. Cleveland fans have endured through a lot of pain and we need an athlete to stand up and banish the cities “ Mistake by the Lake” moniker. And in 161 resign your name on a brand new spaking long term contract. This will save this city from disapointment and give us hope that sports can be saved.

                                                                                        Sincerly,

                                                                                             Nick Fink