The Cavaliers and NBA know that next weeks return of LeBron James to Cleveland is going to be emotionally charged. They want to make sure it doesn't spiral out of control. With nearly double the security, both for James and the Heat, and in the stands, the Cavaliers are trying to send a message that Cleveland is going to stay above all the drama, keeping the fans and city in a positive light on National TV.
According to the Cavaliers, no anti-LeBron signs or t-shirts will be permitted. If one is seen in the stands, personnel will ask you to remove it, and offer to replace it with a Cavaliers-branded replacement. Consider it an easy way to get a free Cavs t-shirt.
"We don't want to create a police state," said Tad Carper, the Cavaliers' senior vice president of communications. "We've always had a real energetic, super-charged home crowd and we want to encourage that for every game, including Dec. 2. We want people to enjoy themselves and express themselves, but we don't want fans to cross the boundaries of decency. We're not going to allow profanity and things like that. We'll have no tolerance for anyone trying to cross those boundaries."
Cavaliers personnel will also be on local radio and TV stations next week to get the message out.
The last thing Cleveland needs is to look foolish on national TV. LeBron and the Heat are already hated nationally, simply bask in the glory of that, and all of the Miami losses that are piling up, instead of giving the country reason to make jokes about Cleveland again.
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