When you play for a city's two biggest professional sports teams, you'd think that there would be a sense of unity and camaraderie among athletes. That doesn't seem to be the case with Cleveland Cavalier LeBron James and Cleveland Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards. According to a report from the Associated Press, after the Bengals beat down the Browns on Sunday, Edwards went clubbing at a venue where one of LeBron's good friends, Edward Givens, promotes club nights. An argument between Edwards and Givens ensued, and it ended with Givens at the hospital with a black eye and a cut. "Braylon comes up and started saying things, degrading me," Givens told the Cleveland Plains Dealer. "He said if it wasn't for LeBron or the Four Horsemen [James' friends and business partners], I wouldn't have what I have, nor would I be able to get girls. Everyone knows Braylon has a problem with LeBron.
"I had to speak up for myself. The conversation started to escalate. As some of his teammates started to pull him back, he punched me. As long as I've known Braylon, I've allowed him and his friends to come in to our events free of charge. Whatever jealousy he has with LeBron, he felt he needed to take it out on me."
To give perspective, Edwards is 6-foot-3, 215-pounds, and Givens is a paltry 5-foot-7, 135 pounds.
"I've never crossed paths with Braylon before, but it seems like there's a little jealousy going on with Braylon and me and my friends. I have no idea why," LeBron James told the Associated Press after a training camp practice. "I've never said anything to Braylon at all. But for him to do that is very childish. My friend is 130 pounds. Seriously, it's like hitting one of my kids. It doesn't make sense. The situation is very sensitive right now, but it's unfortunate that it happened. Hopefully, my friend is doing well."
After the reports of the fight came out, Edwards quickly took to his Twitter account to ease the situation.
"I have no issue with LeBron," Edwards wrote. "I respect and admire him."
Word about the incident reached Browns head coach Eric Mangini, and as he and the NFL were probably considering a punishment, the team traded Edwards to the New York Jets for special teams player Jason Trusnik, wide receiver Chansi Stuckey and a couple of draft picks.