Prodigal son returns to Cleveland

CLEVELAND — They're coming armed with lingering anger from an emotional summer breakup. They're going to yell and scream and vent at someone who did them wrong. It's the Akron kid they watched grow up, the one they loved, the one who restored hope ... only to rip their hearts out.

Indeed, Cleveland fans are on edge this week and that can mean only one thing: LeBron James, Northeast Ohio's prodigal son, is coming home.

Tonight James returns to a city he captivated for seven seasons to face the Cavaliers, his former team and a franchise he lifted to unimagined heights and almost to an NBA title. But when the 25-year-old, wearing a No. 6 Miami Heat jersey, steps onto the floor of Quicken Loans Arena as a visitor, he will be the enemy and the eye of a fierce storm he created.

“I hope he's safe,” said Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant. “Just from everything that happened this summer, fans are very upset.”

This homecoming king won't be crowned or applauded, for sure. Not this time. On Thursday, James will be surrounded 20,000 against 1.

The same crowd he once thrilled will be outwardly hostile and hateful toward him, but hopefully, harmless. He'll be booed, taunted and subjected to ridicule beyond his imagination.

“He deserves every bit of it,” said Jim Osherow, a Cavaliers' season-ticket holder for 36 years. “When you leave a team the way he did, that's what you got coming.

“It was rotten what he did. It's not just that he ruined the fans' expectations of him, but he ruined this franchise from being able to pick up any other free agents. Then he goes and has his own show? Wrong. Wrong, man.”

James and Cavaliers fans went their separate ways in July. Five months later, they'll meet face to faces with the potential for closure.

Extra security measures have been implemented to prevent trouble and to protect James. The Heat typically distribute the team's travel itinerary as a courtesy to beat writers covering the team, but did not for the trip to Cleveland, which will begin following Wednesday night's home game against Detroit.

The Cavaliers, who were James' caretakers for seven years, are taking extra steps to safeguard the two-time league MVP. There will be uniformed and undercover police officers in the stands, near Miami's bench and lining the tunnel area leading to the Heat locker room.

Fans will pass through metal detectors as always when entering The Q and any purchased beverages will be poured into cups, so plastic bottles can't be thrown.

Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, fined $100,000 for blasting James and accusing him of quitting in the hours after the All-Star announced his intentions to leave, believes fans will react strongly ... but safely.

“I'm sure a lot of them will make their feelings known, but as long as everybody plays by the rules and doesn't go over the top, everything will be fine,” said Gilbert, who added he has “moved on” from James' departure. “I really believe that Cleveland people will do the right thing.”

That hasn't always been the case. Sadly, two of the most memorable instances of fan-related misconduct happened here. In 1974, Indians fans fueled by 10-cent beers, stormed the field during a game and fought with Texas players. In 2001, Browns fans pelted officials with plastic bottles after a controversial call.

With potential for violence once again, some in Cleveland have preached for peace. The city, after all, doesn't need another black eye. Bishop Prince J. Moultry of the inner-city In Touch for Christ Christian Center has urged his congregation to stay positive when James returns.

“Kill him with kindness,” Moultry said. “Don't be no fool, keep your cool.”

James would be foolish to do anything other than play, and accept what comes his way.

“I'm ready,” he said, “for whatever response that I'm going to get.”

Osherow used to toss bubble gum to James during pregame warmups. He'll be in his usual seat behind the Cavaliers bench on Thursday, hoping the superstar receives more than boos.

“I don't want us to play dirty,” he said. “But I wouldn't mind seeing someone lay him out with a good, hard, clean foul. It's something he deserves.”