LeBron runs and hides with Riley in Miami

By MARC BERMAN

Last Updated: 9:40 AM, July 9, 2010

Posted: 3:53 AM, July 9, 2010

Call him LeCoward.

“Hope” turned to “Nope” for all of New York last night.

LeBron James broke the Knicks’ hearts right in their own neighborhood last night by joining Miami’s “Dream Team,” passing on “The Dream City.”

In a nationally televised event staged at the Boys and Girls Club in Greenwich, Conn. — just 15 minutes from the Knicks’ state-of-the-art Greenburgh practice facility — James spurned the Knicks and is headed to South Beach — instantly becoming the biggest sports villain in New York. James may want to catch the flu next time the Heat play the Garden.

Pat “The Rat” Riley got his Heat “Dream Team” with James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and the Knicks got the shaft in a curious ESPN stunt that also damaged the fragile sports psyche of Cleveland.

Sources have indicated James was afraid of the bright lights of New York and didn’t want the intense scrutiny of the tabloids— with Mike D’Antoni alluding to James not being up for the challenge, during Amar'e Stoudemire's news conference.

“I’m going to take my talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat,” James told Jim Gray on ESPN. “I feel this will give me the best opportunity to win and win for multiple years. Not only win in the regular season, I want to be able to win championships and I feel I can do that down there.”

Knicks president Donnie Walsh, who is on the verge of retiring due to health reasons, it was learned late last night, released a tasteful statement that read: “We are disappointed that LeBron James did not pick the New York Knicks, but we respect his decision.

“We will continue to move forward, getting back on track to develop into a championship contending team.”

However, Cavs owner Dan Gilbert unloaded in a fan letter, calling the circus a "narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his decision unlike anything ever 'witnessed' in the history of sports and entertainment." Gilbert guaranteed the Cavs would win the title before "the self-titled former King."

Gray never asked James about New York during the formal interview. Later on, Michael Wilbon specifically asked James about New York as an attraction and James cowardly sidestepped the query.

“I think I was attracted to a lot of cities,” James said. “I was attracted to a lot of cities, but it came down to where I can win and where my family would be happy.”

James strung the Knicks along for two years to motivate his Cavaliers and teams like Miami and Chicago to clear cap space. The Knicks torpedoed two seasons to create cap space for James and another star, and Walsh did the trick – adding Stoudemire, with an ability to sign Carmelo Anthony or Tony Parker next year.

“I did think New York was the perfect place for LeBron — the whole way,” Walsh said.

James referred to a Miami dynasty. Bosh is 26, James 25 and Wade 28.

“I can’t say it was always in my plans,” James said. “I never thought it would be possible. But the things the Miami franchise has done this summer to have the cap space for all three of us and it was hard to turn down. Those are two great players, two of the greatest player we have in the game. I feel it’s time to change. It’s tough because I let a lot of people down.”

James addressed the death blow he delivered to Cleveland.

“It’s heartfelt, I never wanted to leave Cleveland but my heart will always be around that area. I don’t see it as leaving Cleveland,” he said. “It’s about joining forces with the other two guys and I feel we have a great chance of winning multiple years.”

“At the end of the day, I feel awful and feel even worse I wasn’t able to bring an NBA championship to that city because they’ve wanted it a long time.”

Earlier in the day, D’Antoni said Miami’s “Dream Team” could face chemistry issues, collecting three superstars with one ball.

“You hope that,” D’Antoni said. “I’m not saying we wouldn’t do that if we could. Everybody would do it. You hope it doesn’t have the synergy people think. You hope that it doesn’t go right.”

“I would take it, [but] it’s definitely not unbeatable,” D’Antoni said. “We have one piece [Stoudemire]. We’ll add another. We’ll develop some of our guys. It will set a high bar for the Eastern Conference and we’ll chase it.”

D’Antoni didn't watch “The Decision.”

Believing the reports the Knicks would finish third behind Miami and Cleveland, he took a flight to Las Vegas for today’s first Knicks summer-league practice.

“I’m just going to Vegas, if he wants to come, great, I’ll be happier than anything” D’Antoni said. “If not, we’ll go on.”

Walsh, too, said he would not watch the spectacle but said he was informed by James’ agent that the defeated teams would be notified right before the announcement. James, though, said he had only notified the Heat of his decision.

“We have a Plan B and will chose the best Plan B,” Walsh said.

“I don’t want to jump through one of my windows [in happiness],” Walsh said about not watching it. “And I don’t want to jump out of one of my windows.”

What a bizarre day in Knick history, holding a press conference for their biggest free-agent signing since Allan Houston, only to have it all overshadowed by LeBron’s king-sized ego.

There was hope in the Garden offices when word leaked Wednesday night that James was coming to Greenwich to announce his decision. One Knicks official received more than 100 texts and e-mails congratulating him on netting James.

But the locale was a gaffe by Team LeBron — not realizing Greenwich was so close to the Knicks' practice facility, LeBron pouring sweat into the wound.

Privately, the Knicks think James’ handling of his announcement was ego-driven and amateurish. One person familiar with the Nets thinking stated Nets minority owner Jay-Z was also furious at James’ display of poor communication with the teams.

D’Antoni said he was “shocked” the club lost to Miami and took subtle digs at James for not wanting the challenge like Amar’e did.

“I would be shocked if he didn’t come here,” D’Antoni said. “The opportunity to play on the biggest stage of world, Amar’e took that challenge. And it’s still there. You want to find the guys who will accept the challenge.”

Not LeBron.

nyk4ever wrote:that's an awesome article martin.. berger is definitely at the top of the list of writers right now

I like WOJ of Yahoo too but I think he flew off the cuckoo's nest in the last week or so.

jusnice wrote:Thanks Martin, best article I've read this whole time. I've remained mostly silent this entrie FA period, but I firmly beleive the Knicks will be better off without Lebron. Now we are not beholden to one man and we have flexibility to continue to build and acquire pieces.

Word. Thanks for a great article, Martin. I agree it was the best piece I have yet to read about this whole fiasco. It sums up my feelings more or less precisely. Lebron really blew it with last night's nonsense. I never realized what a puss he is. In hindsight (after watching his shameful and embarrassing show last night) I agree that we are better off without him because he is far too fragile for a place like MSG. We need guys with heart (Starks, Oakley, Ewing) who want to battle, want to overcome adversity and prevail.

I tell you, with every passing season I get more disenchanted with the NBA. I the NBA is more and more just a mission to sell advertising space, and not a sport for competitors to battle.

oohah

We'll be OK. The dark times are behind us. It's a new era. We'll get the last laugh.

jazz74 wrote:another thing i didnt like from his clown ass interview last night. when wilbon asked about new york and why he didnt pick it, lebron disrespectfully glazed over it and proceeded in talking about other frigging cities. this meant he had no realistic intention in coming here from the jump. using us like a puppet.

The Knicks have only themselves to blame for that aspect. If they had fielded a decent team the past 2 seasons, maybe the Knicks would have been a real option for him.

oohah