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CLEVELAND – LeBron James sweaters of matching colors were hung inside the Cavaliers team shop, their retail price decreased by 40%.
Eight years ago, some were still smoking in the streets. announced that he is leaving Cleveland as a free agent for the second time since 2010, anger has given way to acceptance. There was still a deep disappointment that the best player in the world – Akron, Ohio, born and bred – is leaving, this time for the lights of Los Angeles and a chance to play with the Lakers.
The pain is real. Cleveland is coming out a lot better.
"It hurts at first, but it will be fine," said Dave Howes, who runs Harry Buffalo, a sports bar and restaurant just across from Quicken Loans Arena. "We will talk about it again."
If a city knows how to make a comeback, it is this one. Cleveland, once a source of nationwide jokes, is thriving with new hotels, boutiques, condominiums and trendy microbreweries popping up on both sides of the Cuyahoga River. Millennia have flocked to live in previously neglected neighborhoods transformed into thriving neighborhoods with trendy artistic and artistic scenes.
A horizon line once dotted with industrial chimneys now houses glittering residential buildings. There is new construction everywhere, including at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cavs, which is currently undergoing a $ 140 million renovation
Nothing resembles what it was a few years ago .
James did it. The LeBron effect. He put Cleveland on the map, changing the collective psyche of the city and keeping his promise by winning a championship in 2016 – the first in the city since 1964.
No wonder some have a hard time saying goodbye . But James's criticism was more discreet this time
[2]: "If someone gave me $ 154 million, I would probably go somewhere too," says Indian manager Terry Francona. I said. "I will miss him, because I liked going to the games when he was playing.It is hard to blame someone.He won it."
Stipe Miocic heavyweight champion of the UFC was confident that his hometown would fight.
"said Miocic in preparing his fight against Daniel Cormier at UFC 226." The city is alive now, we have food, good bars, good places to go, and I think that's will stay like this. The Browns are doing moves, the Indians are playing well … This is no longer just for the Cavs. "
Monday, as news of James 'departure was still sinking into another hot summer day, Sherwin-Williams announced that Nike plans to remove James' 10-story banner from the seat side global social of the painting company that had become a landmark and a symbol of renewal.
The massive mural, which shows James in his 23 jersey with his head back and his arms extended as to welcome everyone, also been kidnapped In 2010, he rushed to Miami
Tom Valentino, of Painesville, Ohio, standing on the sidewalk in front of the billboard, took some final pictures for posterity
"J & # 39 I discovered that it was coming down, and it's kind of an iconic image here in Cleveland, so I wanted to make sure I looked at it well and that I took some pictures before leaving, "he says.
Like many Cleveland sports fans, Valentino was at first disappointed to hear James. t re-sign with the Cavs. But by digesting this new reality, Valentino chose to reflect on James' enduring legacy
"Oh, man, where are you starting?" he said. "The phrase you hear from LeBron is that it's bigger than basketball. I really took that to heart as Clevelander and Northeast Ohioan, and just everything that he brought to our city and our community and our region. [19659002] "And let's be honest, basketball was a lot of fun. Whenever you went to play, you never knew what you were going to see from him, an incredible piece, the buzzer drummers and all that he had brought to the city.
"It's just something else."
And it will never be the same again.
Without James, the Cavs instantly went from title contenders to a team that would just fight for the playoffs. They fell on the scale of the three teams in the city behind the AL Central Indians who have not won the World Series since 1948 but ahead of the dismal Browns, who had a record of 0-16 last season but are optimistic about their future. 19659002] Without James, these bars and restaurants that are full of fans during gaming nights should hope that Cleveland will remain faithful to the Cavs.
"It could fall, but everything will be fine," Howes said, looking around him. crowd at lunch time. "Cleveland sports fans love their teams – thick and thin, I mean the Browns, we sell mostly games."
After the choice of LA was announced, Valentino's phone filled with friends texts weighing on the decision. There was no hatred towards James, but gratitude.
"I can not speak for everyone, but I know that's what I feel," he said. "It was so overwhelming when he left in 2010 because it was like we were so close to getting that title, and the thing I came back to in recent years is June 19th." 2016 (The Seventh Finals Game) was the most perfect sporting moment I ever had in my life
"I knew the time was right that it would never happen again. to do the experiment, I do not know what else you could ask for. "
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