CLEVELAND — After spending two out of the three days at the LeBron James summit in Cleveland, I am amazed how northeastern Ohio takes its lone sports treasure for granted.
I camped at the IMG building Thursday and Saturday and spent the other day in Chicago for the Knicks’ meetings with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. There nearly was as much buzz outside Chicago’s Peninsula Hotel, awaiting Wade and Bosh to come out, as anything witnessed in Cleveland.
The Cleveland “Fan Tunnel” orchestrated by the Cavs on Saturday did not have a significant turnout. The goal was to have crowds lining St. Clair Avenue as James drove in for his final two meetings with the Cavs and Bulls.
One or two thousand fans were needed to make any impact. A couple of hundred showed up — many of them employed by Quicken Loans Arena. They encircled the parking garage entrance when James drove in at 11 a.m. and they didn’t even realize it was him as he drove in.
By the time James drove off in his silver Audi at 4:30 p.m., there were about 100 left. Considering the magnitude of this story, it was an underwhelming gathering.
James talks about loving Akron, not Cleveland. He makes a distinction between the two cities which are 40 minutes apart, according to a source connected to his camp. He often has talked about “putting Akron on the map.”
James should realize playing in New York raises his profile and will bring more attention to Akron. Cleveland fans did not embrace the moment Saturday or in May when James left the Quicken Loans Arena court for perhaps the final time as a Cavalier. He received scattered boos instead of a standing ovation.
It never was a great basketball town before James — ruled by the Browns and Indians. Other than “The Dawg Pound,” there lacks a sports passion found in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago and Detroit.
During the Knicks’ Thursday presentation, team brass sold more than a “wanna-be-a-billionaire” scheme. The Knicks sold the passion and energy of New York City.
The Knicks have done everything to get you to New York, LeBron, trashing two seasons, clearing $35 million in cap space and now adding the guy you wanted in Cleveland — stud power forward Amar’e Stoudemire. There’s no excuse now.
The vibe emerging out of northeastern Ohio — despite Stoudemire’s signing — has James leaning toward staying in Cleveland.
Fact is, Cleveland doesn’t deserve him.