CLEVELAND — There was no mass burning of jerseys or rioting. When LeBron James won his first NBA title, the city he scorned had a more subdued reaction.
Cleveland seemed to sigh in acceptance.
James, who played seven seasons for the Cavaliers before leaving two summers ago, finally got his first championship on Thursday night, leading his Miami Heat over Oklahoma City in the finals. James' victory was another blow to Cleveland fans who haven't celebrated winning a title since 1964. Some remain bitter toward James for bolting and announcing his decision on national TV.
A few callers to local sports talk shows vented about James, but other fans said they had moved on long before the three-time MVP, who grew up in Northeast Ohio, was handed the shiny Larry O'Brien trophy.