Looks like that angry letter that Cleveland Cavaliers’ owner Dan Gilbert fired off last week regarding LeBron James‘ decision to sign with the Miami Heat has gotten him into trouble – with Jesse Jackson.
Jackson harshly criticized Gilbert on Sunday, saying that the Cavs’ owner sees LeBron as a “runaway slave” and that the comments the owner made in the letter put the NBA superstar in danger.
In that letter, Gilbert ripped James, 25, and promised to win a world title before LeBron wins one with the Heat. He also referred to James’ decision as “cowardly” and later admitted that he thought James “quit” during several of the Cavaliers’ playoff games last season.
“He has gotten a free pass,” Gilbert said on Thursday night. “People have covered up for [James] for way too long. Tonight we saw who he really is.”
Jackson called the owner’s remarks “mean, arrogant and presumptuous.”
“He speaks as an owner of LeBron and not the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers,” the reverend said in a formal statement from his 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.”
Jackson said he also believes that Dan Gilbert’s comments are an attack on all players in the league and believes that the owner should face a “challenge” from the league and also from the players’ association.
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