How Will Cleveland Fans React to LeBron James When He Bolts Out of Town?

My favorite Cleveland Indians player in my late teenage years was Albert Belle. I had been a fan of his since long before he was a star with the Indians, as at that time I followed college baseball closely and managed to see some games of his at LSU. At LSU, he had the same type of personality issues that he had when he made it to the Major Leagues, but his tenacity and power were something to admire. He won over Indians fans with his big bat and his ominisous glare but when he left for Chicago in free agency, where the White Sox offered him a contract worth substainally more money, the town treated him like a villian from a horror movie. It always irked me because I had seen another side of Belle that didn't get too much ink. I worked as an usher the last season the Indians played at Cleveland Municipal Stadium and Belle was always the last one signing autographs after games. While his personality never was the most affable, not only would he sign autographs until the last person was there, he would also be the top contributer to the Indians charities on an annual basis. I never understood why the fans turned their back on him (most likely because he and the media had an oil and vinegar relationship) but I'm interested to see what happens when (if) LeBron James departs in free agency this season.

LeBron, despite his squeeky clean image that Nike portrays, is hardly a choir boy. In high school, he was somehow driving around in a Hummer in his senior season despite being labled as "poor". He's been clocked at going 100 miles per hour in his Mercedes. The local media doesn't like him too much because he will run for the cameras of ESPN but never want to speak someone in Northeast Ohio (ask a member of the media if you don't believe me). He is known to be the stingiest tipper in Northeast Ohio (again, ask a waiter if you don't believe me). Yesterday, a Portland TrailBlazers blog wrote:

And yet James the player could not have been more different than James the person I saw tonight . Where everything between tip and horn is so natural, everything else is so forced, so scripted. James is now approaching nearly 10 years of superstardom yet his interactions with the media trail far behind the likes of Kobe Bryant (or Brandon Roy) when it comes to comfort, depth and feel.
After the game, James made an off-color comment to a team attendant, stuttered through basic questions searching for words that he apparently doesn't have in his arsenal, addressed the media horde wearing only a towel (compared to Bryant who wore a full suit and tie to take questions on Friday night) and resorted to cliches that seemed to bore even himself.

And then add this shocking account of his pregrame activity:

Nearly two hours before the game I caught a glimpse of a more genuine James, and it wasn't pretty. James wore headphones as he warmed up, locked in a cocoon of his own creation, heaving shot after shot. At the time, the Rose Garden was mostly empty and courtside security was not yet in place. Four teenage boys -- mostly decked in Blazers gear-- gawked as James went through his paces, ESPN cameras tracking his every move. As he worked towards the right corner, his admirers were within reach of a man whom they probably consider a superhero.

James mechanically drained his three pointers and then paused briefly as a ballboy went to retrieve a rare miss. Sensing an opportunity, one of the group reached out to James and patted him on the butt, not unlike teammates do countless times during every NBA game. Perhaps with a little more cupping action than usual but, nevertheless, an innocent gesture. The move bordered on the bizarre because it was clear the two had no prior relationship.

James wheeled, removing both his headphones instantly, clearly flummoxed that a stranger had grasped his buttocks. Upon seeing the culprit, who eyed the player with what can only be described as awe, James looked incredulous and indignant. With no other recourse available, James stopped his shooting routine, striding defiantly towards a group of his teammates that were standing near half court. A string of profanities flew from his mouth as he relayed what had just happened to his teammates, who hadn't seen it. To a man, they were equally shocked to hear of the occurrence. James continued his chest-puffing diatribe, occasionally looking back at the group of teenagers. The young men were pretending to gaze out in a different direction, pretending to be invisible. While James's teammates assured him that the kid surely didn't mean any harm and that he was probably just wishing the player well, James continued to shake his head, failing to comprehend that someone he didn't know, someone outside his circle, someone so clearly unimportant, would have the gall to touch him. Him.
Eventually, the kids slunk away. James finally popped his headphones back in and continued his warm-up routine. He either didn't notice -- or pretended not to notice -- two young writers laughing hysterically nearby.

I am not saying it's normal to go around grabbing NBA superstars asses, but a reaction like that is hardly "fit for a King".

A local blog came running to his defense writing:

At what point is a fan allowed to simply reach out and touch a player – specifically an opposing team’s player – during his warm-up period? There are strict rules that are read before every game making fans aware of their rights. These rights extend about as far as sitting in an assigned seat with the privilege of the use of washroom facilities. And hey, if you want to spend some more money at the concession stand or team shop, have at it. But that is usually it, save for those invited on to the floor to take part in team-related games, events, etc. At no point is a fan allowed to make contact with a player, and just because the player in question is as transcendent as LeBron James does not make this issue any different.

I think that story would read a lot different if James did that in New York Knicks jersey and I am afraid we are going to find out next year just how short Cleveland sports fans' memories are.