Cleveland Cavaliers Fans Launching a ‘Come Home LeBron’ Campaign

The relationship between Cavs fans and LeBron James is, shall we say, complicated to say the least. Some hate him for leaving after The Decision; others desperately miss the superstar. The latter group is planning to launch a campaign to sway King James to return home to Ohio next summer when he becomes a free agent. Per the Akron Beacon Journal: “Seeing a fan rush the court at Quicken Loans Arena to tell LeBron James that he missed him sparked something inside Josh Raggi. It wasn’t necessarily the night he got over the Decision. Raggi, 24, isn’t sure he really has. But James Blair’s brazen act during a Cavs game against the Miami Heat on March 20, 2012, convinced Raggi, a former Walsh Jesuit High School pitcher and Kent State graduate, that he must take action to show James that not everyone in Northeast Ohio hates him. Raggi and three partners — with Blair the newest member — will put their plan in motion Wednesday, when James and the Heat visit the Cavs for a 7:30 p.m. game televised on ESPN. Their theme is ‘Come Home LeBron,’ with a logo designed by an agency this summer. They have accounts on Twitter (@ComeHomeLebron) and Instagram (comehomelebron216) and a web site (ComeHomeLeBron.com). […] Before the Cavs host the Heat, Raggi, Blair and supporters will pass out 2,000 bright green T-shirts at three tables outside the Q from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m. Those who take a picture wearing the shirt and tweet @ComeHomeLebron will be eligible to win 2014-15 Cavs season tickets. But that’s just the start of their campaign, aimed at getting James to leave Miami for the Cavs in free agency in July. On Monday, a Come Home LeBron billboard will go up near James’ alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, for four or eight weeks. Another is slated for Interstate 71 at Pearl Road at the end of December for one week; it will return in mid-February and remain until the end of March. The Cavs and two-time NBA champion Heat meet for three games this season, the last at the Q on March 18, when Raggi and his crew hope to distribute 10,000 T-shirts. Some will be passed out Dec. 14 at the opening of the renovated St. V-M gymnasium, funded by a $1 million donation from James. ‘A lot of our focus is on the younger audience,’ Raggi said. ‘We want the kids to have the same experience we did in high school, not only expecting to win, but expecting the Cavs to contend for a championship.’ The group does not want to make money but seeks a sponsor it can put on its T-shirts and billboards to help cover committed expenditures that have already reached $50,000. ‘Our main goal is not to beg him to come back,’ Raggi said. ‘Our main focus is to let LeBron know we’re going to accept him coming back. We’re not the group of haters. We realize LeBron had a point. He didn’t have the supporting cast here he needed to win. We have a young and vibrant team. We have the supporting cast. I believe that it’s 50-50 he leaves Miami. But if he leaves Miami, we think he’s coming to Cleveland.'”