Here's what LeBron's open letter is all about:
Before I was famous, I was just a kid from Northeast Ohio, where I grew up, ran, cried, and nurtured me. This place has always had a special place in my heart, where people watched me grow up. Sometimes I feel like their child, and their enthusiasm is unforgettable. This drives me and I want to give them hope. I want to motivate them as much as possible, my connection to Northeast Ohio (Cleveland) is more important than basketball, which I didn't realize 4 years ago. Now I realize. "
Remember when I was at the Boys & Girls Club in 2010? I was thinking, it was really hard. I could feel it. I left things that I spent a lot of time building. I'll choose again and I'll do it differently things, but I'm gone. Miami is to me what college is to other kids. The last 4 years have helped me become who I am, a better player and a better person. I learned from myself I want to learn from the team I want to join, and I will always regard Miami as my second home. Without the experience there, I would not be who I am today.”
I went to Miami because of Wade and Bosh. Slem made sacrifices and is happy to be Chalmers' big brother and I believe together we can do some amazing things and we did. The hardest thing about leaving is my friendship with these guys, I've talked to some of them and I'll talk to others. What we do doesn't change, we are brothers for life and I also want to thank Mitch Arison and Pat Riley for their amazing 4 years.
I'm writing this because I want a chance to not be interrupted, and I don't want people to think it's me who's at odds with someone and that the Heat can't integrate in the right way, and that's not right. I always believed that I would return to the Cavaliers and finish my career there.
I'm not going to have press conferences or parties, it's time to get back to work.
When I left Cleveland, I had a mission. I was looking for a championship and we won two. But Miami already knows the feeling. Our city hasn't felt that way in a long, long time. My goal is still to win as many championships as possible, no doubt, but the most important thing to me is to bring a trophy back to Northeast Ohio.
I always believed that I would go back to Cleveland and finish my career here. I just don't know when. After this season, free agency didn't even (I) think about it. But I have two sons and my wife, Savannah, is pregnant with a daughter. I began to wonder what it would be like to raise a family in my hometown. I've watched other teams, but I'm not leaving Miami for anything but Cleveland. The more time passes, the more right it feels. It makes me happy.
Making this change requires the support of my wife and my mother, which can be difficult for them. Letters from Dan Gilbert, boos from Cleveland fans, jerseys being burned — it's hard for them to see that. My emotions are complicated. It's easy to say, "OK, I don't want any more guagos with these people," but you jump out and think, if I were a kid who always looked up to an athlete who made me want to be my whole life better, and then he's gone, how would I react? I've met Dan, face to face, man to man. We got this out of the way. Everyone makes mistakes. I have also made mistakes. Why should I be jealous?
I'm not a promise champion, I know that's hard to do. We are not ready yet. impossible. Of course, I want to win (the championship) next year. But I am realistic. This will be a long process, much longer than in 2010. My patience will be tested. I know this. I was dealing with a young team and a new coach. I will be the most mature. But I'm flattered to be able to bring the team together to help them get to a level they didn't know they could get to. I see myself as a mentor and now I'm excited to lead these young talented guys. I think I can help Kyrie Irving become the best point guard in our league. I think I can help Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters improve. And I can't wait to be reunited with Anderson Varejao, one of my favorite teammates.
But this has nothing to do with the roster or the team. I think I came here in a broader sense than basketball. I have a responsibility to take it, not just one way, and I will take it very seriously. My presence can make a difference in Miami, but it means more to where I come out. I hope the kids of Northeast Ohio, like the hundreds of Akron third graders that my foundation has funded, can realize that there is no better place than where you grew up. Maybe they'll go back to their hometowns after college, start a family, and start a business. That would make me smile. Our community, which has struggled for so long, needs every talent it can get.
In Northeast Ohio, nothing is given, everything is earned. You work to get what you have.
I am ready to accept this challenge. I'm going home and
save a very important passage.
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