Comments on: LeBron situation brings player-to-player tampering into focus

By: stanjam

stanjam — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:00:30 +0000

Personally, I see nothing wrong with players talking about, or even trying to end up, all on the same team. Not one of them makes the hiring/firing decisions, they just play ball. If a bunch of guys are friends or whatever, and decide that they all would like to play for team X then fine, go for it! In the end it is the team that has to hire them, and some of them at least will probably have to make sacrifices to make that work, like accepting less pay.
Then again, at the rates some of these players get paid, taking less money hardly hurts their lifestyle or family.
Somehow it seems unAmerican to bar players from trying to end up on a certain team that they want to, or even on that team with some of their friends.
The league pretty much refuses to hinder teams that tamper, especially teams like the Jets (Goodell’s buddies). Why even BOTHER to make it look like they can prevent tampering by players. Is it even tampering? Tampering to me would be players actively trying to KEEP a player from signing with a team so they get him. THAT would be a problem.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 17:34:20 +0000

If Pat Riley, GM of the Heat and Michael Jordan met with LeBron in November 2009 in Miami about retiring the number 23 to honor MJs legacy, how is that not tampering compared to Steve Kerr of Phoenix, the GM at Atlanta or Mark Cuban making comments about wanting LeBron…….and getting fined. LeBron was under contract with the Cavs then.
What was the role of Mickey Arison’s (owner of the Heat) son Nick doing in 2006 in Japan with LeBron. How did that play into signing a three year contract.
Was D-Wade meeting with LeBron, knowing he was returning to the Heat, as an agent of the Heat’s plans to get LeBron. All questions for the integrity of the NBA and a true free agency process. I smell a skunk.

By: Audient

Audient — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 16:04:58 +0000

oruacat2 says:
Now, if Lebron had started bitching about his contract or holding-out in 2008, after talking to his buddies about playing together – THEN you’d have a point.
——
How about LeBron’s craptastic play against Boston in the playoffs? Seemed like his head and his heart were already off the team. And why not, given that he, Wade and Bosh all signed 3 year deals last time with their teams so that they could decide together where all they wanted to play.
I don’t know that there is anything that can really be done about it. But since it sure looks like that’s what they did, then the question bears being put: should we do anything about this? Even if not their situation, now that it has happened, but to prevent this sort of situation from occurring again? Or is this fine with everybody?

By: McB

__McB__ — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 15:46:07 +0000

The planning occurred for a lot longer than 1 week http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2010/07/inside_the_decision_miamis_cou.html

By: FNGS

FNGS — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 14:15:22 +0000

Arn’t these three players each going to make $20 million at least. That’s why it won’t work in the NFL, because there are so many me first players. You will not get 3-4-5 stars to sign on one team for 4-5 million each to win the SB. There will always be 1 or 2 that will always want the BIG bucks.

By: Ray Ray is soft

Ray Ray is soft — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 13:57:14 +0000

This is the reason I don’t watch Basketball.Now instead of team chemistry.You have every team looking for the big name.It reminds me of the Celtics when they bought in KG,RA,PP was already on the roster.I perfer the NFL because an addition of someone is only a piece of the puzzle.Miami will when a championship soon.It posses me off.

By: oruacat2

oruacat2 — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 13:34:59 +0000

I get the your point – you’re missing mine.
Who cares?
Now, if Lebron had started bitching about his contract or holding-out in 2008, after talking to his buddies about playing together – THEN you’d have a point. But he fulfilled his contract. Cleveland just needs to get over it.

By: Audient

Audient — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 12:32:50 +0000

I think many of you have missed the point. The discussions among these three players didn't just arise this past week. Apparently, it has been in the works for a very long time: http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2010/07/inside_the_decision_miamis_cou.html

By: jollyrob68

jollyrob68 — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 12:02:08 +0000

Free Agent. Free to do and go where ever they want. I like the NFL where you can sign once free agency starts. It’s stupid to wait a week and have the circus that surrounded LBJ this week.
Mark Cuban is the last person to talk about anything, He always whines like a little B*tch when he cant get his way. Let someone else complain and he can jump on board with support. It would probably make a difference if it came from someone else.

By: bluestree

bluestree — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 11:42:22 +0000

The pro bowl is the NFL’s annual player to player tamper fest. I remember Javon Walker, with years left on his contract, saying in an interview he was in Hawaii talking to the guys and seeing what other teams he might like to play for. It’s a joke. Tampering is common, and player to player is blatant and pervasive.

By: oruacat2

oruacat2 — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 11:40:05 +0000

Who cares how long they’ve been discussing/planning it? Lebron honored his end of the contract with Cleveland, period.

By: jth23

jth23 — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 11:28:37 +0000

hahaha this is the stupidest shit that people wont quit talking about. the bottom line is they are all friends!!!! they talk, thats what friends do. how will you ever have anything called player to player tampering when these guys are friends and you cant control what they talk about with themselves..

By: HereThere

HereThere — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 11:10:49 +0000

Good post by Florio. I hate agreeing with Cuban on anything, but he has a point as well.
Tampering on some level could have occurred–and I’m not saying it did–if Wade had on some level been working with Riley and talking at all about bringing Queen James and Chris Bosh to Atlanta. Funny how Miami had all that cap room. Almost like Riley knew it was a done deal and gutted his roster in anticipation. Incredible gamble if it doesn’t.
Proving he did–if he did–is another thing. Just amazing how these three ended up there. A lot of pieces had to fall into place and did so perfectly.

By: rraider

rraider — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 11:00:39 +0000

In the NFL it doesnt matter for several reasons…
1) 53 man roster..so even if you get your guy you need about 8 more like him just to win 3 or 4 games more than last year….maybe.
2) Every joe blow isnt making between 10 and 20 mil so guys are going to take the money from wherever they can get it.
3) the NFL salary cap is real(unlike NBA) and you cant afford to have a team of all-stars unless many are underpayed in which case the team wont stay together for long.

By: condeclar

condeclar — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 10:55:05 +0000

He wasn’t a free agent in 2008. He wasn’t a free agent until 7/1/10…..
You think never talked about it until after the 7/1/10 free agency period?

By: danj0306

danj0306 — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 10:51:42 +0000

@Coyle… Yes LBJ was a free agent and anyone can talk to him then, but while he is under contract teams cannot talk to him. During this time players can talk about it… And that is the problem. It is thought that this was setup for years to come between Wade LBJ and Bosh. If that were true that is collusion between players.

By: brownsfn

brownsfn — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 10:25:54 +0000

These dumb asses can’t do anything but play a game and now they want to voluntarily walk away from that…hahahaha goood luck finding a real job…idiots…get the jail cells ready…

By: attackpack213

attackpack213 — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 09:41:45 +0000

This article, its author, and Mr. Cuban are all foolish. There is no such thing as player to player tampering (other than that these guys thought it up in heir heads). What “player to playyer tampering” really amounts to is players talking to each other about what they ought to do next. A contracted employee has every right to decide where to work next on his own. You wouldn’t ask a plumber not to talk to his friend the electrician about a home being built that they could possibly both work on. This typpe of communication is protected by federal law. I understand some people feel hurt by LeBron’s move and other feel scared of the Miami Heat, but there’s no way “player to player tampering” even exists let alone is something that can be controlled. You call it tampering, the federal government calls it two contracted workers talking about the possibility of working together on the same project.

By: Nick S.

Nick S. — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 09:39:22 +0000

Do you really think that NFL players don’t talk about playing together? Seriously?
When the season ends, and a player is set to be a free agent, and one of his best friends is set to be a free agent, you don’t think they call each other and talk about it? Do you really think ANYTHING will stop that from happening? Come on, man.

By: scorpiodsu

scorpiodsu — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 09:31:39 +0000

Are you guys just idiots? Obviously the article is pointing to the fact that some players discuss these decisions with other players before free agency begins. As I have no problem with it but if you’re pat riley and you can get your superstar to start talking to another superstar free agent to be before free agency then that’s a problem. Obviously if nothing happened until after free agency started then no harm no foul. But that’s likely not the case.

By: GBfanForever

GBfanForever — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 09:31:20 +0000

The nfl doesn’t enforce tampering rules if it deals with stars they are worried about pissing off. Everyone and their brother knows the vikings tampered with favre, the evidence is undeniable. The nfl did nothing.

By: Insomniac

Insomniac — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 09:25:37 +0000

I think the NFL’s larger rosters and hard salary cap make it difficult to have a team clear out a bunch of space to sign a group of players to high value contracts.
Also, if players really want to play with each other, nothing stops them from joining themselves together when looking around.

By: danny

danny — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 09:25:29 +0000

Desprate for some nfl news, huh? COME ON FLORIO!!!!!! Move on from LeBron already

By: WorldFamousChris

WorldFamousChris — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 09:16:53 +0000

wow…so this site has boiled down to Florio talking about Lebron I think its been 3 articles since Thursday and the other guys writing articles about ESPN a cable channel…wtf?

By: timpiker

timpiker — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 08:55:56 +0000

You guys don’t get it do you. Sure he can talk to anybody during the recruting phase after he’s a free agent.
These 3 talked and agreed and colluded 4 years ago and ever since.

By: efangule

efangule — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 08:48:21 +0000

Even if LeBron wasn’t a free agent, it doesn’t matter if he talked with other players. In fact, I would think it would be a bad thing if they DIDN’T talk to other players.

By: prophet of the light

prophet of the light — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 08:40:12 +0000

What about Agent to Agent tampering?!?!

By: Jaxeagle

Jaxeagle — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 08:36:16 +0000

The only problem with James and Bosh being free agents is the three of these guys have been talking about playing together since the Olympics 2 years ago. So if you think this was only talked about starting July 1st you guys are really naive.

By: Corey

Corey — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 08:34:19 +0000

When does Training Camp start?

By: Ralph Gre Nader

Ralph Gre Nader — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 08:32:11 +0000

LBJ likes it in the hoop

Comments on: LeBron situation brings player-to-player tampering into focus

By: stanjam

By: Charlie

By: Audient

By: __McB__

By: FNGS

By: Ray Ray is soft

By: oruacat2

By: Audient

By: jollyrob68

By: bluestree

By: oruacat2

By: jth23

By: HereThere

By: rraider

By: condeclar

By: danj0306

By: brownsfn

By: attackpack213

By: Nick S.

By: scorpiodsu

By: GBfanForever

By: Insomniac

By: danny

By: WorldFamousChris

By: timpiker

By: efangule

By: prophet of the light

By: Jaxeagle

By: Corey

By: Ralph Gre Nader

By: McB