Cavs fan on Cleveland's love for Bulls

While the Bulls pounded Miami in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, Mark Tomsic, a lifelong Cleveland sports fan, reached out to express how much it would mean to Cavaliers supporters to see the Bulls knock off the Heat and ex-Cavs star LeBron James.

Tomsic lives in Strongsville, Ohio, and he has relatives who live in Downers Grove. He agreed to share some insight into the Cleveland mindset.

James, an Akron native, spent seven years with the Cavaliers, reaching the NBA Finals in 2007. He announced plans to jump to Miami as a free agent on his infamous “The Decision” special last July.

“(Cleveland fans) didn't have an issue with the choice to go somewhere else,” Tomsic said. “They had an issue with The Decision.”

This is an odd partnership because the Bulls and Cavs have been heated rivals ever since Michael Jordan's famous shot at the buzzer in the 1989 playoffs.

The current Bulls feature a couple of Cleveland enemies. Carlos Boozer left the Cavs under controversial circumstances in 2004, and Joakim Noah poked fun at the city on Lake Erie during last year's first-round playoff series.

Tomsic believes Noah's insults have been largely forgotten. Noah also happens to be one of the few opponents who called out James for dancing on the sideline during games.

“As much as we're ingrained to hate Carlos Boozer, we absolutely don't want LeBron James to win, whoever beats him,” Tomsic said. “People are so focused on not wanting LeBron James to win that I don't think they care who. It could be (ex-Browns owner) Art Modell. I don't think they care.

“My earliest sports memories in Cleveland were ‘The Drive' and ‘Fumble' (two Browns disasters of the 1980s). I was in high school when Michael Jordan made the shot over Craig Ehlo. The feeling now is a little bit different. Even with John Elway or Michael Jordan — you hated the player for what he did on the court.

“People hate LeBron James not for what he did on the court, but what he did off the court. It's a different emotion.”

After beating Boston in the second round last week, James apologized for how last year's free-agent decision went down, but used the occasion to point out that he couldn't have beaten the Celtics without a better supporting cast than he had in Cleveland.

Of course, James neglected to mention that Boston was running on fumes and point guard Rajon Rondo was literally playing with one arm after dislocating his left elbow early in Game 3.

“I was really surprised how it lit up talk radio,” Tomsic said. “It was all they talked about all day. Even with the Indians doing as well as they are, it's almost pushed aside because of that apology. It really touched a nerve with people. That tells me it's very much alive a year later.

“I'm OK with the apology. I just think the timing was horrific. Don't do it after you win a series. That makes it come across wrong. Doing it after you beat Boston in the playoffs, and a hurt Boston, not a healthy Boston.

“He learned (in Game 1), the Bulls aren't Boston. It's that (same) defense, but a lot younger and a lot longer.”

There is still time for James to make things right in Ohio. He could always return to the Cavs when his Miami contract ends in five years or so.

“That's been talked about on the radio a few times,” Tomsic said. “If he did it right, if he apologized properly, I think it's possible. I don't know if it would be possible under this owner, Dan Gilbert, because of the letter he wrote. But I think the fans, in time, could accept it.”