By Michael Ventura
DNAinfo Senior Editor
MANHATTAN — Despite a massive campaign to lure LeBron James to New York City, the hoops star would be better off staying in Cleveland, Giants defensive lineman Osi Umenyiora wrote in his blog.
Umenyiora, who's borne the brunt of a press beatdown this season, said the Cavaliers superstar should steer clear of the harsh spotlight that comes with playing professional sports in New York.
"I will say this, if he does come to New York, don't have a bad game," Umenyiora wrote on his PlaymakerMobile.com blog. "Not one because Knicks fans will come down on him. There is no better place to be when you're winning than New York. And there's no better place to be than New York, it's a great city with great energy. But it does go both ways. When you lose, it's tough."
The blog is password protected, and the quotes were excerpted on ESPN.com.
"I know New York would love to have him and I'm sure Knicks fans hope he comes," Umenyiora wrote. "Personally, I think he should stay in Cleveland. They need him and he's a Cleveland guy. It would be great to have him in New York but I think he should stay there. Ultimately, he has to make the decision that's best for him and his family."
Umenyiora faced the scorn of the sports pages and fans after a dismal season on defense and after he vowed to retire if he wasn't in the starting lineup next season.
He has since backtracked from those remarks, saying he's committed to helping the team win.
