Fan wearing a James Heat jersey drew the ire of the crowd at the Indians-Yankees game last night and was escorted out of Progressive Field.
LeBron James showing off his Yankees hat during an Indians-Yankees playoff game on Oct. 4, 2007. Too bad, James. The Indians won, 12-3, and won the series.Cleveland, Ohio -- The young man who wore a LeBron James No. 6 Miami Heat jersey to Wednesday night's Indians game at Progressive Field against the Yankees learned well from James.
James, the lifelong Akron-area resident who signed with Miami as a free agent after playing seven years with the Cavaliers, angered Cavs fans with the well-documented and egotistical manner in which he conducted his departure -- let alone his poor, seemingly detached performance in the ill-fated playoff series against Boston.
James set an example for the fan who wore the jersey to Wednesday night's Tribe game. An example in agitating. In 2007, James wore a Yankees hat when he attended an Indians-New York playoff game at Progressive Field. Not only did it annoy Tribe fans, but it was disrespectful to Indians officials who had graciously arranged his attendance.
Nearly a year later, James showed up at the Browns' season-opener against the Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Again donning a Yankees hat, and wearing a blue-and-silver (Cowboys' colors) shirt, James spent the pregame along the Cowboys sideline, warmly embracing fellow showboats such as Dallas owner Jerry Jones and players Terrell Owens and Adam "Pacman" Jones.
Later, then-Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards commented, prophetically:
“As I’ve gotten to know LeBron, LeBron isn’t a Cleveland guy. LeBron only plays for the Cavaliers, and who knows if he even likes the Cavaliers? He doesn’t like the Indians. He doesn’t like the Browns. He’s a guy from Akron who likes everybody but his hometown.”
Edwards was criticized for the comment, but who turned out to be right? James has proven to be the ultimate front-runner, with his much-hyped loyalty little but myth.
Cleveland.com earlier posted an Associated Press report (including a NewsNet5.com video, separate from the one below) of Wednesday night's incident, explaining:
A fan wearing a Miami Heat jersey of LeBron James drew the ire of the crowd at the Indians-Yankees game last night and was escorted out of Progressive Field.
Fans in the left-field bleachers chanted obscenities and pointed at the man Wednesday night during the sixth inning of the game between the Indians and New York Yankees. Hundreds of fans joined in before security led the man out of the ballpark.
Video of the fan wearing a LeBron James Miami Heat jersey at Wednesday night's Indians-Yankees game: