Fans Support Dan Gilbert, Offer To Pay His 100K Fine

Cavaliers fans are showing their support for owner Dan GIlbert, who was fined $100,000 by David Stern for comments he made over the weekend regarding LeBron James. The support was in the form of donations sent to Gilbert to ‘assist’ him in paying the fine. So much has come his way, that Gilbert released a statement thanking Cavs fans for their generosity.

I would like to say thanks for the incredible outpouring of support by the numerous loyal and passionate Cavaliers fans who have offered to contribute to paying the recent fine I was assessed by the NBA.

The humbling offer by so many is another reflection of the strength of Cavs fans and the people who live and work in this region and are always the first to step up and have each other’s back.

I will pay this fine myself, but would be grateful and highly appreciative for any fan who redirects the dollars they kindly offered to contribute towards this fine to the Cavaliers Youth Fund, which will positively impact our region’s kids through the numerous local charitable groups the Cavaliers Youth Fund supports.”

Donation information: Fans can make checks payable to the Cavaliers Youth Fund and send them to the attention of: CYF, One Center Court, Cleveland, OH 44115. They can also make a donation on-line at www.cavs.com/donate</a>.

Dan Gilbert will pay for his comments following the departure of LeBron James – to the tune of $100,000. Stern fined the Cavaliers for Gilbert’s statements:

Gilbert is attending the owners' meetings in Las Vegas, where NBA commissioner David Stern said Monday he was fining the Cavaliers $100,000 for the comments.

"He was completely correct in expressing his disappointment," Stern said, adding that Gilbert's statement and the sentiments he expressed in a follow-up interview with the AP were "a little bit extreme."

That tells me that Stern really didn’t like Gilbert’s assertion that the NBA’s two-time MVP was throwing games in the playoffs. Needless to say, using the ‘Q’ word is a big-time no-no in the NBA, especially when talking about a figure as big-time as James.

If you thought Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert was done after he wrote an angry open letter to fans and called LeBron James a quitter in an interview with the Associated Press, think again.

Gilbert is also the owner of Fathead, the maker of large, full-color wall graphics depicting various professional athletes. Today, the New York Daily News reported that Fathead reduced the price of LeBron James’s Fathead to $17.41, a reference to the birth year of Benedict Arnold.

What’s the significance of $17.41? One of the most notorious traitors in American history, Benedict Arnold, was born in 1741. Arnold was a general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, but joined the British Army in 1780.

LeBron, after spending seven years playing for his hometown team, announced on live television Thursday night that he was leaving for the Heat, to form a “dream team” with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. This sparked reactions of anger and disappointment in Cleveland that probably rivaled their colonial counterparts.

Dan Gilbert didn’t stop with a scathing letter to fans regarding LeBron James’ departure. Gilbert went on to use the dreaded ‘Q’ word, and I don’t mean Quicken Loans.

“He quit,” Gilbert said. “Not just in Game 5, but in Games 2, 4 and 6. Watch the tape. The Boston series was unlike anything in the history of sports for a superstar.”

Gilbert continued, saying LeBron quit against Orlando in 2009 as well.

“Go back and look at the tape,” he said. “How many shots did he take?”

There is plenty more over at FearTheSword.

While many Cleveland fans seem to appreciate Dan Gilbert’s open letter, Henry Abbott of ESPN’s TrueHoop writes that Gilbert has “done James the most extraordinary public relations favor imaginable” and that the angry missive will backfire on the team and organization.

You want your leader to make sense, and offer comfort and inspiration. Nothing much was called for here. Gilbert could have been silent. Could have wished James well. Could have said he’s heartbroken. Instead, he went on the attack, talked some trash, called James names.

This is a terrible night for Cleveland fans. Not only did they lose the best player in the NBA, but they also are now attempting to rebuild with a green GM and an owner who just served notice that if push comes to shove, he’ll bail publicly, and profoundly, on his players no matter how well they performed.

Cavs fans: Agree or disagree?

Tom Withers of the Associated Press writes that Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert has a few more things to get off his chest, despite his amazing open letter to Cavaliers fans.

Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert says LeBron James “quit” during the playoffs and should be accountable for his actions.

But, wait, there’s more.

In a phone interview with the AP, Gilbert says “people have covered up for (James) for way too long. Tonight we saw who he really is.”