Cavs Owner Dan Gillbert Address his Fans

Letter found Here
Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;

As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.

This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.

Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.

The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.

There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.

You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.

You have given so much and deserve so much more.

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:

"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE"

You can take it to the bank.

If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our "motivation" to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.

Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.

Sorry, but that's simply not how it works.

This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow-up to become.

But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called "curse" on Cleveland, Ohio.

The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south. And until he does "right" by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.

Just watch.

Sleep well, Cleveland.

Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day....

I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:

DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue....



Dan Gilbert
Majority Owner
Cleveland Cavaliers

Top Chef Power Rankings (07/07/10)

This episodes challenge was crazy intense. A three round elimination tournament with two Chefs being sent home. The last three teams each had a member that was ranked 2, 3, or 4 so a huge upset was coming. Arnold and Lynne were sent packing in a night full of surprises.


Top Shelf


1. Angelo Sosa



Angelo retains his spot on top. He finished in the top of the quickfire and moved on after the lunch round. I thought his breakfast plate was kind of weak, an egg and toasted bread and that's it? Come on. Atleast he advance on that meal. His rivalry with Kenny looks to be heating up next week.


Best of the Rest


2. Kelly Liken



It was a tough call where to put Kelly. She had to cook until the final round, but somehow won the competition (I don't know how that worked). So that is the reason she didn't make the top shelf category. She now has two elimination challenge wins which is leading the competition. If she has another strong show she will reach top shelf level and could potentialy dethrown Angelo


3. Kenny Gilbert



HOW CAN KENNY BE THIS HIGH! He has now been on the chopping block twice, he has only been in the top of an elimination challenge once! Two reasons. 1. He's been on the top of every quickfire including 1 win. 2. His rivalry with Angelo is going to keep him around for a long time. Also, both of his bottom finishes were group challenges. I don't know what that really means. Just something to think about. Lastly, who do think should jump in front of him?


4. Amanda Baumgarten



Amanda was part of the team that moved on after the breakfast round. She helped cellar dweller Stephen avoid another bottom finish. This strong performance follows a top four finish last week. I think she's too scatter brained to do well, but her past two performances disagree.


5. Tiffany Derry



I was actually tempted to move Tiffany to four, but she did exactly what Amanda did, move on after the breakfast round and helped cellar dweller Tim avoid another bottom finish. I couldn't justify having her jump Amanda based on that. I was very impressed from her performance and continue to expect good things from her.


Middle of the Pack


6. Alex Reznik



Alex stays at 6 for the second straight week. Him and Ed did not work well as a team, but still were able to move on after the lunch service. Their breakfast took too long to plate and they missed a couple of pieces. Alex blamed Ed for the screw up, and Ed blamed Alex. They were able to recover but I don't see these two getting along much going forward.


7. Ed Cotton



See Alex's Comments




8. Andrea Curto



Again, I don't know how to judge this past episodes performance. She had to cook all the way until dinner service, but did end up with the elimination challenge win. Because she had to cook until dinner, I couldn't justify jumping her over Alex and Ed. She did cook better last night, but I still don't see her lasting long in the competition.


9. Tamesha Warren



I was tempted to have Tamesha be a big mover after her quickfire win and her solid elimination challenge performance. I however kept her down here because I don't think she's had as strong as of an overall competition as the three above her. I think she is poised for a move and may be making her way toward the top, but isn't quite ready yet.


10. Kevin Sbraga



Back to back bottom finishes is a way to drop fast. This is exactly what happened to Kevin. Kevin once again seemed please with all his dishes, but the judges, once again, didn't agree. If he can't make food the judges like, then he won't last long. He did complain about Kenny putting in the horseradish, but all the judges agreed, more horseradish was needed and would have made the dish more complete.


Chopping Block


10. Timothy Dean



Tim has no confidence left, which is not a good thing in the competition. Yes he moved on after only the breakfast round, but he was nothing more then a glorified assistant to Tiffany. The crab cakes did look delicious, but I don't think he was doing anymore then hanging on for the ride.


11. Stephen Hopcraft



Maybe it was because we saw so little of Stephen yesterday that I kept him down here, but he didn't do anything that justified him moving out of this spot. Yes he was on one of the two teams to move on after breakfast, but I think like Tim, he was riding the coattails of his partner. I still think he is the best bet to be sent home packing next week.


One last thought. I am not sure if it's still early in the season or if this season is a little more up in the air, but it seems there is a lot of jumping around in the power rankings. Last season we knew who the top 4 were pretty early on and everyone stayed pretty similar. This season seems like there is a lot more movement.

Carlos Boozer > Chris Bosh

Well, tonight is the night. And we still don't know where LeBron is going. Hell, I kind of think that LeBron doesn't know where LeBron is going.

Amidst reports that the Miami scenario is a "done deal," I got to thinking, and here's what I came up with after some film study; Carlos Boozer is better than Chris Bosh.

Let's go to the video, shall we?



God, the Fugees are awesome. I had to search for a few minutes to find a video without some crappy metal in the background. Now let's see some video of Bosh...



Here's my point. Did you see Bosh in that highlight, at all? Wasn't he supposed to be his team's star last year? Maybe his girlfriend should have been heckling him instead of LeBron.

Stats. Boozer averaged 19.7 and over 13 rebounds a game in the playoffs this year. Bosh didn't make the playoffs. You can compare them at NBA.com. Chris averaged a double-double in Toronto on a bad team (24 and 10), but watching video it just seems like he disappears in the post. Definitely not a strong presence.

I think that with Boozer and Noah in the post, Chicago is freaking scary. Add Taj Gibson to the mix and the Bulls are, perhaps, the best rebounding team in the league.

Bill Simmons today notes that Bosh has only played in ONE big game in his entire career as a basketball player. That would be the 2008 Olympics. Let's see...



Yep. Bosh is invisible again. Except when he fails to get over on defense. Then you notice. Like at 5:20. By the way, Simmons also really seems to be warming up to the Bulls, as noted in the Free Agency Summit from last week. I always think of him as a Chicago hater, so this is interesting.

"What should LeBron do? Pick Chicago. That's where the rings are. The fact that he didn't say to Bosh, "Come to Chicago with me, we'll play with Rose and Noah and win six titles together" was the single most disappointing outcome of the summer. That team would have been a true juggernaut with pieces that actually complemented each other, unlike this pickup-basketball situation that's brewing in Miami.

Even with Boozer there in Bosh's place -- and I think he's a great fit for them, with or without LeBron -- it could still translate to multiple titles, because Rose could have been the best second banana since Kobe in 2001. "

Nice. What do y'all think? Here, by the way, is one more of Boozer, just for education. Check out the post defense and fast break skills, and passing.



How lucky is Boozer to have played with Deron Williams, Jay Williams at Duke, and now Derrick Rose? That's one hell of a point guard list. By the way, let's not forget, Boozer won a title in college, and, as Simmons notes, Bosh never even made the Sweet Sixteen.



Yep. I'm happy with Boozer.

Vote for Pauliewood

The Captain of the White Sox is sitting third behind Youkils and Swisher (suprise suprise the Red Sox and Yankees players).

click here to vote for Paulie

Wade and Bosh to Miami

Well, it appears that D'wyane Wade and Chris Bosh will sign with the Heat. So, where does that leave the Bulls? It no longer looks promising if you ask me. Chris Bosh and Lebron were seemingly linked together, yet LeBron wanted Bosh to come to Cleveland. Bosh refused. So, doesn't that mean LeBron has decided to stay in Cleveland? Otherwise, wouldn't he be joining James in Chicago? I'm starting to see now that the Bulls are not going to get jack shit. Whose excited for Carlos Boozer and JJ Reddick? This sucks. Oh well, I guess, we'll know for sure tomorrow at 8 pm when LeBron announces on ESPN. Let's hope that I am wrong.

The Cat Poop-World Cup Correlation

I don't really have a whole lot to add to this, except thank you Slate. And clearly this is a subject for further study.

"Landon Donovan Needs a Cat," by Patrick House

And, proof.

Happy Fourth of July, Cubs Fans

I just want to take this chance to say: Drew Stubbs is my homeboy.

Kobayashi Arrested!

Joey Chestnut defended his title today at the Nathan's hot dog eating challenge, winning with a mere 54 dogs.

Meanwhile, Takeru Kobayashi, who has not signed a contract with Major League Eating, was ARRESTED (?!?!!) after storming the stage following Chestnut's win. Wow. That is effing intense.

Here's a great article on the guys behind the Nathan's competition.

Here's more on Kobayashi getting dragged away by the police.