Former Indians slugger Albert Belle, loved and hated in Cleveland, is hoping for a peaceful resolution between LeBron James and Cavs fans on Thursday.
View full size"My advice to LeBron is to take the high road and act professional," former Indians outfielder Albert Belle -- no stranger to strong fan reaction -- said on Tuesday. "I hope the fans do the same. I don't want them to embarrass themselves on TV."CLEVELAND, Ohio -- From one Cleveland villain to another, Albert Belle hopes LeBron James and Cavaliers fans can play nice Thursday at the Q.
"My advice to LeBron is to take the high road and act professional," said Belle. "I hope the fans do the same. I don't want them to embarrass themselves on TV. I'd like to see everybody hug and kiss before the game and then the fans can boo the heck out of LeBron during the game."
Belle knows what the wrath of Cleveland feels like. He was a bad-tempered, power-hitting hero with the Indians for eight years before signing a then-record five-year, $55 million free agent deal with the rival White Sox after the 1996 season.
When Belle returned to Cleveland for the first time on June 3, 1997, he was the enemy. Playing left field at Progressive Field, fans showered him with fake and real money from the home run porch. It was a windy night, with dark clouds hovering over the ballpark, and the money swirled behind Belle on the warning track.
A prop plane, dragging a banner with a derogatory message directed toward Belle, flew over the ballpark.
Belle kept motioning the taunting fans to join him on the field. The more he motioned, the louder they yelled.
"It was crazy," said Belle. "They were throwing batteries. Someone threw a pair of binoculars."
At the end of an inning late in the game, Belle turned and flipped off the crowd. He was fined $5,000 for making the gesture.
"John Hart [former Indians general manager] had his little camera on me," said Belle.
Chicago won the game, 9-5. Belle had three hits, including a three-run homer. After the game, he called the fans "village idiots." For the last two games of the series, the home run porch in left field was blocked off and the Indians and MLB increased security.
"I fed off my teammates," said Belle. "They kept saying, "We're going back to Cleveland. I tried to keep my emotions under control, but it was emotional and stressful."
Now it is James' turn with Belle cast in the unlikely role of peacemaker.
Belle had no problem with James leaving Cleveland for Miami. He had no problem with "The Decision" being aired on ESPN.
"But he still should have had the courtesy and professionalism to call Dan Gilbert and say, 'I'm doing this show and I'm going to Miami.' When I signed with Chicago, I had my agent [Arn Tellum] call John Hart to see if the Indians would match it because I wanted to stay. John Hart said 'bull ... you don't have that kind of offer on the table.' My agent got mad and said, 'We'll be signing with Chicago tomorrow.'"
It's been reported that Gilbert, the Cavs owner, had little, if any contact, with James and his handlers before The Decision.
"If I'm Dan Gilbert and I've gone six weeks without talking to LeBron since the end of the playoffs," said Belle, "well, I know where LeBron lives. I'm going to go there and call LeBron and say, 'I'm standing outside your house. Are you going to let me in or what?'"
Belle, 43, offered this idea to ease the tension between James and the fans.
"What about the Cavs doing a video tribute of LeBron before the game?" said Belle. "Wouldn't that be a surprise? Then the fans could boo once the game started."
If there isn't a video tribute to James, Belle had another idea.
"Maybe they could do one of me," said Belle, with a laugh. "I never got one when I came back to Cleveland. They did it for Sandy Alomar, Jim Thome, Kenny Lofton. ... Now that LeBron is catching heat, maybe they can give me one."