Rev. (of what?) Jesse Jack-A$$ rips Cavs owners comments on LeBron
Manny Morgan
Updated: July 11, 2010, 8:30 PM ET
Jackson rips Gilbert's LeBron comments
Associated Press
CHICAGO -- Jesse Jackson criticized Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert on
Sunday, saying Gilbert sees LeBron James as a "runaway slave" and that
the owner's comments after the free-agent forward decided to join the
Miami Heat put the player in danger.
“
His feelings of betrayal personify a slave master mentality. He sees
LeBron as a runaway slave. This is an owner employee relationship --
between business partners -- and LeBron honored his contract.
”
-- Rev. Jesse Jackson on Cavs owner Dan Gilbert's comments about
LeBron James
Shortly after James announced his decision last week, Gilbert fired
off an incendiary letter to Cleveland's fans, ripping the 25-year-old
and promising to deliver a title before James wins one. He called
James' decision "cowardly" and later told The Associated Press he
believes James quit during a handful of Cavaliers playoff games.
"He has gotten a free pass," Gilbert told the AP in a phone interview
late Thursday night. "People have covered up for [James] for way too
long. Tonight we saw who he really is."
Jackson said Gilbert's comments were "mean, arrogant and
presumptuous."
"He speaks as an owner of LeBron and not the owner of the Cleveland
Cavaliers," the reverend said in a release from his Chicago-based
civil rights group, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. "His feelings of
betrayal personify a slave master mentality. He sees LeBron as a
runaway slave. This is an owner employee relationship -- between
business partners -- and LeBron honored his contract."
Messages were left Sunday night seeking comment from Gilbert, the
Cavaliers and James.
Jackson also called Gilbert's comments an attack on all NBA players
and said the owner should face a "challenge" from the league and the
players' association.
NBA spokesman Tim Frank declined comment.
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press