Kasich Proclaims Dallas Mavericks Honorary Ohioans

Apparently, some people haven't gotten over Lebron James taking his talents to South Beach.

Apparently, some people haven’t gotten over Lebron James taking his talents to South Beach. Ohio Governor John Kasich has decreed the “Dallas Mavericks organization, friends, family, and fans as honorary Ohioans” for their victory over James and the Miami Heat in the NBA finals, noting that they “displayed the loyalty, integrity, and teamwork essential to victory before the entire country, affirming that these admirable traits are as crucial as talent and athleticism.” He also singled out Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki for choosing “to re-sign with the Dallas Mavericks in the summer of 2010, forgoing free agency and keeping his talents in Dallas, thus remaining loyal to the team, city, and fans for whom he played his entire career.”

Classic.

via James Fallows

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. Chad S says:

    About as close as the Cavs will get to a title.

    LeBron left Cleveland because the owner refused to improve the team gambling that LeBron would always choose to stay to protect his image over better chances to win a title. The Cavs were cheap, lazy and wrong. Why LeBron is the villain here is beyond my comprehension.

  2. James Joyner says:

    Lebron had every right to leave. The problem was twofold. First, he was essentially a hometown boy, which made his choosing to leave more personal. Second, his prolonged media tour and the high publicity ESPN show announcing “The Decision” was rightly seen as a twisting of the knife. Third, he didn’t even have the courtesy to inform the team first, making them wait along with everyone else to find out on TV.

  3. Tano says:

    Petty pathetic pandering

  4. Chad S says:

    @james *shrug* I think that’s nitpickery. If LeBron had made the announcement quietly without any fanfare, the Cavs would be still bitter and people would still be dumping on Lebron. My point is that they caused him to leave, so they have no right to be claiming that they’re the injured party at all.

  5. James Joyner says:

    @Chad: Dan Gilbert can go pound sand. It’s the working stiffs in Cleveland who root for the Cavs and buy jerseys and game tickets that have a right to be miffed.

    The larger problem is that the Clevelands are going to have a very hard time competing in the current climate. With a cap, everyone pays the same and players would rather live in vibrant, young cities. Preferably warm cities and/or those with no state income taxes.