Borrow a feeling from this man!

About 20 years ago, I remember sitting at my desk during social studies reading something that relates to a certain NBA owner:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

In short, you have a right to voice your opinions. Needless to say, thank god David Stern has nothing to do with the federal government.

Why is Dan Gilbert being crucified for speaking his mind? (SOURCE: Associated Press)

After losing the now despised hometown hero Lebron James to the Miami Heat, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert wrote an open letter to heartbroken and betrayed Cavs fans voicing his opinions on how Lebron went about his public humiliation of the city. Gilbert’s letter was about as warm and loving as a kick in the crotch, but to be fair, that’s just what Lebron did first.

Whenever you are blindsided with bad news, psychiatrists always suggest that you talk out your problems. That’s what Gilbert did, and he was fined $100,000 by David Stern as a result because NO ONE can talk badly about things that Stern is responsible for.

But if you’re a fan, player, front office guy, beer vendor, etc., you have to be encouraged by what Dan Gilbert did. He showed passion, and he showed determination. Gilbert has a team that really isn’t that great on paper, but that’s okay because he’s got heart.

Some say that Gilbert’s letter will cause future free agents not to sign with the Cavs. Why? Can anyone make sense of that? He was only burned by arguably the best player in the NBA. You can give him a pass for being a little upset about it.

Of course, David Stern wasn’t the only person to voice his opinion about Gilbert’s letter. Leave it to the Reverend Jesse Jackson to take a story that has nothing to do with race and possibly turn it into a story that’s racially charged. When the Rev decided to open his mouth, you knew it couldn’t be good.

“His feelings of betrayal personify a slave master mentality.  He sees Lebron as a runaway slave.”

Sometimes you really have to wonder whether or not Jackson thinks before he speaks. First, would be the obvious chronological problem with that statement (Jackson was born in 1941, so how would he know what a slave master mentality is); and second, NBA players make millions of dollars every year, so they’re actually paid for their work.

You can only discard that aspect of the story because its so ridiculous, but Gilbert continues to be criticized for his remarks. In an age where many see the super team in Miami as being beneficial to the league (something totally wrong in my opinion), it’s nice to know that at least one person disagrees. Because of that, I give Dan Gilbert full permission to bad mouth whoever he wants as it relates to Mr. James and the unholy alliance he has become a part of.