As expected, fans in Cleveland didn't handle news of LeBron James' departure well on Thursday night.

Fans set LeBron's No. 23 Cavaliers jersey on fire and threw rocks at a 10-story-tall billboard that features James with his head tossed back, arms pointing skyward.

Across the street from Quicken Loans Arena at a sports bar, grown men hid their tear-streaked faces.

"I think it was a slap in the face to this city, who had supported him and been behind him since he was in high school," said Earl Mauldin. "To go on national TV and spit in our face like that is very, very, very wrong."

The overwhelming feeling among fans was that if James was going to leave, he could have done it in private rather than televise the event.