Dear LeBron, Thank You

Photo Credit: Joe DiMauro @ Trilogy Photography

Dear LeBron,

They're saying that you're leaving and I can’t even think that thought without tearing up a little bit. I'm saying that they're underestimating your love for this city, you'd retire here in your home before you'd retire anywhere else, you'd ask for a better supporting cast before you just walked out on us and we would do whatever it takes to keep you before we let you go. But that's just me believing.

You have made my 23 years of life in Cleveland unique and exciting. Especially the recent years when I have been old enough to understand and appreciate your talents and even more than that, your love for this place and the way you have given back.

Basketball here without you will never be the same. The city wont be the same. I think the special thing about Cleveland is our sports teams bring so much love to this place. I remember when you announced your return to The Land I ran down the stairs like It was Christmas morning screaming “he’s coming home”. Because of you, we come together. I remember back in 2016 when you won the NBA championship for this place and we threw a parade. People were scared of the big crowds, they thought things could get violent. But i remember that day being squished into a crowd so large that you could barely breathe. I was surrounded by people of different ages, races, genders, but i was surrounded by nothing but love because we were all there to celebrate the same thing. You did that.

On and off the court you have touched people’s lives. What you’ve done is so much bigger than yourself and bigger than basketball. You have given back to the community that gave you so much. You’ve given the city of Cleveland hope again, something to believe in. You’ve even given Clevelander’s hope that their futures can be bright by paying for college, you believed in them so that they could believe in themselves. You did that. You are the greatest of all time.

They say if you truly love someone that means you want the best for them. So, LeBron, I know you have given all that you could, you have done whatever it takes, for this city, for your team and for your coach. Because we love you and want only what is best for you, we will let you go if that’s what we have to do. With heavy hearts but a lot of incredible memories and even more than that, love for you like you’ve loved this city. We do whatever it takes for you to continue your NBA career with a strong supporting cast because you deserve it and because you have done whatever it takes for us for so long. But because I've learned from you, I will believe that there is a chance that you will stay.

Thank you for giving me a reason to call this place Believeland. This city will never be the same without you but it will always be Home.

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