LeBron James Fallout: Decision Creating More Enemies Than Fans

Oh, LeBron James what have you just done?

 You have done a dastardly thing to millions of your fans across planet Earth by pulling a ridiculously large publicity stunt on national, no wait, worldwide television.

I for one am a Clevelander and have been for my entire life, and, as a life-long Clevelander, my heart has and always will be with the Cleveland Browns, since this is a football town.

But as a Clevelander last night, I was talking with my girlfriend, who isn't a big sports fans at all, and she too was affected by James' decision to leave the city and hide behind other superstar names in the hope of getting championship rings.

Leaving Cleveland honorably, like every other athlete who signs with another team, is one thing, but leaving this way is a completely different way to lose fans.

After talking with my girlfriend, I came up with the ways Mr. James has lost fans by the millions.

James Has Lost Fans in Chicago

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WASHINGTON - MAY 03: U.S. President Barack Obama (C) speaks as head coach Ken Niumatalolo (L) of the Navy football team Midshipmen during the presentation ceremony of the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy at the East Room of the White House May 3, 2010 in Wash

Chicago fans wanted James badly, and it even went as high as President Obama, who was also trying to convince James to join his hometown Bulls.

By not signing with the Bulls, James has lost approximately 9.5 million fans in the Greater Chicago area.

James Has Lost Fans in New York

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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 15: Director Spike Lee looks on during Game Six of the 2010 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on June 15, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges

The Big Apple was supposed to be James' destination so that he could become a huge worldwide icon in the biggest media center on the planet.

Sadly, there are now approx. 19 million people in the Greater New York area who now hate James.

James Has Lost Fans in New Jersey

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CLEVELAND - MAY 28: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shakes hands with rapper/producer Jay-Z after defeating the Orlando Magic in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2009 Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 28, 2009 in Cle

James and Jay Z were supposed to be teaming up wit the Nets, and James has been good friends with the rapper/entrepreneur for many years now, which made everyone think James was heading to New Jersey to help rebuild the team.

Jay Z was rumored to have offered James his own clothing line among other enticements to play with the Nets, but New Jersey just doesn't have the beaches like Miami does.

Chalk up another 8.7 million who live in New Jersey that are now enemies of James.

James Has Lost Fans in Cleveland

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CLEVELAND - MAY 28: Fans wave a Cavaliers flag during Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Orlando Magic during the 2009 Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 28, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User

The most important loss in James' decision is that he has now lost his hometown of the Greater Cleveland area that includes Akron as well.

He will never be able to walk around the Greater Cleveland area ever again without heavy security.

How does it feel to abandon your hometown?

Does it hurt?

Were you able to sleep the night of your decision to flee to South Beach?

It doesn't really matter anymore because you are No. 2 on the Clevelanders' most-hated list, right behind Art Modell.

Another five million fans that YOU have made turn against you.

This is all your own doing James.

James Has Made an Arch-Enemy in Cavs' Owner Dan Gilbert

Cavaliers' owner Dan Gilbert immediately released a statement on the Cavs' site calling out James' lack of loyalty to his own hometown.

Here is the best quote,

You can read the entire statement here.

James Has Most Likely Lost Fans Worldwide

People across planet Earth watched James make his announcement, and I can only think that he lost millions of more fans worldwide by slapping the city of Cleveland right in the face on ESPN.

Many fans of James will sympathize and empathize with the city of Cleveland, and his abandonment of his hometown will cause more people to stop caring about him and find another player to follow.

James Won New Fans In Miami

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BOCA RATON, FL - JULY 08: LeBron James announces he will join the Miami Heat during a televised interview as fans look on at Duffy's July 8, 2010 in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

The only winners in this whole ordeal are the Heat fans.

And no disrespect toward Heat fans, but I say so what?

So James just acquired a new fanbase that is approx. six million strong in the Greater South Florida area.

So doing the math, that's six million new fans and 42 million-plus lost fans in just the United States alone.

Was it worth it James?

Michael Rosenberg Said It Best

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GREENWICH, CT - JULY 08: LeBron James speaks at the LeBron James announcement of his future NBA plans at the Boys & Girls Club of America on July 8, 2010 in Greenwich, Connecticut. James announced during a live broadcast on ESPN that he will play for the

In his latest article on SI.com, Rosenberg said it best when he wrote the following:

"That would have sounded absurd, right? Well, it is no more absurd than what LeBron James is doing. Jordan was 27 years old in 1990, slightly older than James is now. He had never been to the NBA Finals. He had been beaten up by the Celtics and Pistons for years. He doubted his supporting cast was good enough.