Producer, businessman, former model and rapper Mark Wahlberg was in Cleveland yesterday afternoon for a VIP preview of Wahlburgers — an increasingly popular chain of restaurants owned by chef Paul Wahlberg and his brothers, Mark and Donnie.
During his walk of the red carpet, Mark, a Boston native and one of the more avid sports enthusiasts in the entertainment industry, was stopped for a few questions with regards to the Cleveland Cavaliers and their march through the playoffs. After asking his friend LeBron James to “go easy” on his beloved Celtics, Mark said that the Cavs seem to be “on a mission.”
“They seem to be on a mission,” Wahlberg said. “Because, you know, certain people were like, ‘Well, you know, they (the Cavs) started to slip in the month of March and they had a losing record.’ I think they weren’t even worried about the fact that they didn’t have home court (advantage in the playoffs). But, you know, we’re in the rebuilding stage, and we’ve got the (New England) Patriots, and i’m happy.”
“For him (LeBron) to come back here. For Dan Gilbert to bring him back. For them to win and give a city that’s worked — you know, you’ve got so many hard working people that most of the things they have, you know, the ability to kind of focus on as far as having some joy in their sports teams. And to have that, and that victory — come back the way they did (in the NBA Finals) — absolutely amazing.”
The reporter then asked Wahlberg if he thinks the Cavs can repeat as champions. Despite his affinity for the Celtics, Mark says the Cavs are looking good.
“It looks pretty good,” Wahlberg said of the Cavs’ chances at going back-to-back as champions. “And you know, he’s (LeBron) knocking on Michael Jordan‘s doorstep as far as legacy and greatest of all time. He just continues to go out there and do amazing things. I’m very happy for him.”
In his closing statemet, Wahlberg revealed that he bought a special gift for James after the Cavs won the 2016 NBA championship. The reporter asked Wahlberg what this gift was, but he wouldn’t give up an answer.
“I probably wont give him the same expensive gift that I gave him last year (if the Cavs win),” Wahlberg said. “He can tell you (what it is). You know, coming back from 3-1 has never been done before. And the way he did it — winning it in Golden State — it was pretty special.”
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