ESPN Marvel Comics NBA Preview 2010: Slams Cleveland Cavaliers

by NowPublic Staff | October 22, 2010 at 09:12 am

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ESPN Marvel Comics NBA Preview Shows LeBron James Walking Away - Evokes Spiderman Cover from 1967

ESPN has teamed with Marvel Comics for the their upcoming preview where they use Marvel Superheroes, like the Hulk, Spiderman, and Iron Man to illustrate potential story lines for the teams in the NBA 2010/11 season.

But ESPN Marvel Comics NBA Preview of the Cleveland Cavaliers is getting the most attention. It shows LeBron James in a Miami Heat uniform and a Cleveland Cavaliers uniform in the trash. For Marvel Comics fans the cover of LeBron James is evocative of the Spiderman Cover from 1967 when Peter Parker decided he did not want to be a superhero anymore.

The comment section of the Cleveland Plain dealer was filled with comments from irate fans who know hate LeBron James for leaving them, and likely hate ESPN even more for making a prime time special out of LBJ's decision.

Yeah it shows the new Queen of South Beach turning his back on his home, the team that jumped at his every request and the icon status and adoration he had in Cleveland.

Boycott ESPN. Boycott Marvel. Go Cavs!

Well maybe it's time Northeast Ohio started watching some other channels than ESPN since they don't seem to respect us.

P.S. I think the entire comic book theme is nonsense anyway. Then again, most of their viewers probably can't read anyway.

ESPN is defending its decision for the depiction say though it may be unfortunate it is accurate. ESPN predicts in its NBA Marvel Comics Preview that the Cavaliers will not win 40 games.

The Cavs are the only team in the preview issue not illustrated by an image of a current player or owner.

Gary Belsky, ESPN the Magazine's editor in chief, said his staff was sympathetic to Cavs fans, but when ESPN writers and editors presented story lines for the season to Marvel artists, they decided this was the way to tell it.

"Honestly," he said, "we talked a lot about that and we didn't see it as kicking the city and Cavs fans while they're down."