...8 years ago.

good article, but the paragraph about gilbert as a heavyweight fighter was hilarious

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/2527 ... -cleveland

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Nearly eight years have passed, but LeBron James still remembers the exact date he played in Cleveland for the first time as a member of the Miami Heat -- Dec. 2, 2010 -- as if it was a birthday or an anniversary.

With Northeast Ohio's native son returning to Quicken Loans Arena some five months after "The Decision" rocked the fan base to its core -- dredging up decades of insecurity brought upon by repeated failures by the pro sports franchises in town -- a regular-season game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Heat became a spectacle unlike any other in the NBA's rich history.


The Cavs played a role in building up the intensity. The video board flashed between shots of James warming up and various Cleveland athletes and personalities who'd been invited to attend for this purpose. Browns stars Bernie Kosar and Josh Cribbs, Indians star Travis Hafner and actor Drew Carey made their entrances set against James. The culmination came when team owner Dan Gilbert entered, cast like a heavyweight fighter. The messaging was unmistakable: The fans were being prodded to believe it was us against him.

The crowd was in a frenzy. There were coordinated chants, dozens of signs, and objects being hurled onto the court. Despite the adversity, James delivered one of his best performances of that season. In the third quarter, he broke the crowd's spirit as he scored 24 of his 38 points. He made 15 of 25 shots and added five rebounds and eight assists. When he checked out for good at the end of the third quarter, Miami led by 30, en route to a 118-90 victory.

The Heat entered the game at 11-8. They won 19 of their next 20 games. The Cavs came in at 7-10. They lost 35 of their next 36 games.

To say it was a pivotal moment would be an understatement. So would be merely calling it memorable. With LeBron returning to Cleveland for the first time as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night, we take a look back at some of the memories of those who were there that night in 2010 for his first return:


LeBron James

"It was something that nobody had ever seen before. Everybody knew the emotions behind it. Cable television made sure that they captured every moment. It was an eerie feeling, just going back. It was an uncomfortable feeling going back because of the situation. And I knew how up in bunches everybody was.

"The only thing I was talking about was, 'How can I play well?' I wanted to play well. I wanted to play well more than anything. I knew that I had a group of guys that were going to ride for me that night, no matter what. That was just the makeup of our club. I wasn't worried about that. But it was an eerie night.

"Once I hit the court, I'm in my safe haven. Once I hit the court in warm-ups, you could hear the boos. It was probably the loudest I've ever heard boos in my life. I felt the animosity. I felt the scrutiny. But once the ball was tipped, I'm in my safe haven. There's nothing that can stop me from trying to be the best I can be.

"I mean, I will never forget it. I'll never forget both instances. I will never forget Dec. 2, 2010, and I will never forget us winning the championship in 2016 and that parade. Those are two things that will always be instilled in me for the rest of my career. It's both. There's a negative side and there's a positive side to it. It doesn't stop me from pushing forward, but it's something that I definitely, I don't forget."

Udonis Haslem, Heat forward

"Nobody liked it. There was a lot of negative, bad energy in the building that night. We knew it was real, but once you get in there you can feel it. You got nobody but your brothers, and it is you against literally everybody in that arena.

"We wanted to give him a little bit of a crutch, you know what I'm saying? Just be there for him, and take some of that weight off his shoulders and take along with him and let him know he's not there by himself. We definitely bonded together and got closer and stronger through that.

"It was just pure negativity. If I was out in the street, I would have been nervous."

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and about his return tonight:

warm ovations and shit, but the funny thing I read was this: ESPN always points out funny little details like this:

Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, who normally sits courtside near the Cleveland bench, wasn't in attendance as he was out of town at a long-planned family reunion for Thanksgiving, according to a team spokesman.

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The color commentator said "he never forgets where he came from". So, he bolts twice. Then the dopes in Cleveland give him a standing ovation.