A New York Post reporter who was in Cleveland last weekend describes fans here as apathetic and undeserving of a star like LeBron James.
New York Post writer Marc Berman thinks the turnout in downtown Cleveland for LeBron James on his first day of free agency was weak. Chasing down rumors about LeBron James' basketball future could be a full-time job. Every day we'll compile a list of the rumors we're hearing about James and his next contract. Just remember these are just rumors, not necessarily facts.
•Marc Berman of the New York Post thinks Cleveland doesn't deserve James.
At least that's the headline on his story Tuesday.
Berman was in Cleveland a couple of days last week for LeBron-A-Palooza and apparently was not impressed. Writes Berman:
"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."
If you want to read more: bit.ly/96SpRM
Remember, don't shoot the messenger.
•Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz tells Fred Kerber of the New York Post that James should sign with the Nets, who are expected to move to Brooklyn in a couple of years.
Said Markowitz to Kerber: "He can have it all. The Knicks on the exotic island of Manhattan will love him, but they have a thousand celebrities. He would be one of many. If he comes to Brooklyn, he will be instantly our No. 1 son. And in Brooklyn, we stick with you, good times and bad. You'll find no more passionate, enthusiastic, crazy fans anywhere. In Brooklyn, we're family. Come here, you're family, too.
"In Brooklyn, everything will be brand new. He can shape the team. He can make an imprint on the NBA. [Nets owner] Mikhail Prokhorov has a sense of the future, and it can do so much for LeBron."
Read more: bit.ly/at11ud
•Prokhorov has been an owner for a couple of months now, and he's got everything all figured out. According to Chris Broussard of ESPN The Magazine, Prokohorov thinks if James joins Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, he'll win two or three titles but diminish the LeBron brand because of the power-packed lineup. He thinks the Bulls, Knicks and Clippers are similar from a basketball standpoint but lack a clear-cut strategy for winning championships. Surprisingly -- not -- he thinks the Nets give James the best opportunity to build a dynasty, become a champion and emerge as a global icon. He's willing to pursue a trade for James' buddy Chris Paul and thinks if he can pull that off the Nets can win an NBA title in two years.
For the whole story: es.pn/bHNe78
•In its second poll of a variety of its personnel, five of six ESPN staffers listed Cleveland as the favorite to retain James, with Marc Stein's 75 percent leading the way. Chris Sheridan is the only one to select New York, saying there's a 45 percent chance James lands with the Knicks and a 25 percent chance he stays with the Cavs.
To see it: es.pn/aQNCOX
•The Cavs' odds of retaining James have increased with reports of a sign-and-trade for Bosh, according to sbrforum.com
To see them, go to bit.ly/alk7dp
-- Mary Schmitt Boyer